The Skinny on the Playoff Race

The Isles got some help on Monday as Toronto beat Pittsburgh in overtime.  Pittsburgh moves within one point of the Isles in the Metro and ties Detroit (in points) in the Wild Card.  It means that the Isles will be in a playoff spot after Tuesday's play (and Wednesday's too, since everyone is idle), UNLESS the Rangers beat the Isles in regulation AND Washington beats Detroit in OT/SO.

Monday's Game

Toronto 3, Pittsburgh 2 (OT)

Playoff Chase

Metro Division

3rd  Isles   85 points (26 RW) in 77 games  (TUE vs. Rangers, THU vs. Montreal)

4th  Pittsburgh      84 points (31 RW) in 78 games  (THU vs. Detroit)

5th  Washington   83 points (28 RW) in 77 games  (TUE at Detroit, THU at Buffalo)

6th  Philadelphia  83 points (28 RW) in 78 games  (TUE at Montreal, THU at Rangers)

Wild Card

X 1st WC  Tampa Bay 93 points (35 RW) in 77 games  (TUE vs. Columbus, THU vs. Ottawa)

2nd  WC Detroit          84 points (27 RW) in 77 games  (TUE vs. Washington, THU at Pittsburgh)

3rd         Pittsburgh    84 points (31 RW) in 78 games  (THU vs. Detroit)

4th        Washington   83 points (28 RW) in 77 games  (TUE at Detroit, THU at Buffalo)

5th         Philadelphia 83 points (28 RW) in 78 games  (TUE at Montreal, THU at Rangers)

6th      New Jersey     79 points (32 RW) in 78 games  (TUE vs. Toronto, THU at Toronto)

7th       Buffalo         79 points (31 RW) in 78 games  (TUE at Dallas, THU vs. Washington)

X Clinched Playoff Spot

Maximum Points & Regulation Wins (two teams qualify)

• Isles 95/31

• Detroit 94/32

• Washington 93/33

• Pittsburgh 92/35

• Philadelphia 91/32

• New Jersey 87/36

• Buffalo 87/35

Magic Number Time

The Isles are guaranteed to finish ahead of Columbus, Montreal, and Ottawa. They need to finish ahead of (at least) five of these teams to make playoffs (Magic number in parenthesis):

New Jersey and Buffalo (3), Philadelphia (7), Pittsburgh (8), Washington (9), Detroit (10). Thus, their magic number is nine to clinch 3rd place in the Metro and is ten to clinch a wild card.   

Tuesday's Games

Rangers at Isles

Washington at Detroit

Philadelphia at Montreal

Toronto at New Jersey

Buffalo at Dallas

The Isles will be third in the Metro after Tuesday's games IF:

• Isles win 

• Isles lose in OT/SO

• Isles lose in regulation AND Washington loses in any fashion

The Isles will be 2nd in the Wild Card after Tuesday's games IF:

Isles lose in regulation AND Detroit loses in regulation

The Isles will be 3rd in the Wild Card after Tuesday's game IF:

Isles lose in regulation AND Detroit loses in OT/SO

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick