The Skinny on the Metro Playoff Race

Evgeny Kuznetsov scored in the final minute to force OT but Victor Hedman's overtime goal gives Tampa Bay a 5-4 win over the Caps for their sixth straight win in the only game involving a Metro team on Wednesday.

The loser point gives the Caps a 3-point lead over the Isles; Washington has played 74 games and the Isles 73.   

So the standings through Wednesday's play looks like this:

Metro Playoff Watch

1. Caps 94 points/74 games/39 ROW (Friday vs. Minnesota, Sunday vs. Philadelphia)

2. Isles 91 points/73 games/38 ROW (Thursday at Montreal, Saturday at Philadelphia)

3. Penguins 89 points/74 games/38 ROW (Thursday at Nashville, Saturday at Dallas)

4. Hurricanes 87 points/72 games/38 ROW (Thursday vs Tampa Bay, Saturday vs. Minnesota)

5. Blue Jackets 84 points/73 games/39 ROW (Thursday at Edmonton, Sunday at Vancouver)

6. Flyers 78 points/73 games/33 ROW (Thursday at Chicago, Saturday vs. Isles)

Also in Wild Card Race

Canadiens 83 points/73 games/36 ROW (Thursday vs. Isles, Saturday vs. Buffalo)

The Blue Jackets currently hold the second Wild Card, so five Metropolitan Division teams are currently in playoff spots.

Magic Numbers:

The Isles' Magic Number to clinch a playoff spot is 11.  It could go as low as 7 (with a win vs. Montreal) on Thursday.

The Isles' Magic Number to clinch the Metropolitan Division is 20.  It could go as low as 18 on Thursday.   [Washington's magic number to clinch the division is now 16.]

Goal Differential

With the Caps losing by one goal tonight, the Isles now have a +30 goal differential to Washington’s +27. It is this tie-breaker that had the Isles in first place in the Metro Division entering play on Tuesday.