The Skinny on the Metro Playoff Race (updated Saturday PM)

After a disappointing afternoon, on the ice, the Isles got some help at night.  Four of the top five teams in the Metro played on Saturday, and only Carolina won.  Columbus was beaten by Boston in OT, and the Isles and Penguins both lost.  

In Montreal, Corey Crawford made 48 saves for Chicago in blanking Montreal, which lowers the Isles' magic number for clinching a playoff spot to 13.

So the standings through Saturday afternoon's play looks like this:

1. Caps 91 points/72 games/38 ROW (Tuesday at New Jersey)

2. Isles 89 points/71 games/37 ROW (Sunday at Minnesota)

3. Penguins 87 points/72 games/38 ROW (Sunday vs. Philadelphia)

4. Hurricanes 85 points/71 games/38 ROW (Tuesday vs. Pittsburgh)

5. Blue Jackets 84 points/72 games/39 ROW (Tuesday at Calgary)

6. Philadelphia 76 points/71 games/32 ROW (Sunday at Pittsburgh)

Also in Wild Card Race

Canadiens 81 points/72 games/35 ROW (Tuesday at Philadelphia)

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

Despite today’s loss, the Isles will skate off the ice on Sunday in first place if they can beat Minnesota in regulation or overtime.  No Islander team has been in first place this late in the season since the Isles won the Patrick Division in 1987-88.

Magic Numbers:

The Isles' Magic Number to clinch a playoff spot is 13.  It could go as low as 11 (with a win in Minnesota) on Sunday.

The Isles' Magic Number to clinch the Metropolitan Division is 23.  It could go as low as 21 (with a win in Minnesota) on Sunday.