Speculation: The race for 97 points AKA the playoff push thread.

[Kevin27NYI]

And we have that last game of the year in Washington.....

That game is a must win for us. As long as we go into that game within 2 points of the caps, I believe winning it would get us the division. (A win would have us split the season series and I believe the tie breaker is goal differential, of which ours is currently better)

I feel like we're going to walk into that game at 103 points, them 102 and it's going to be a dogfight.

 

[PK Cronin]

That game is a must win for us. As long as we go into that game within 2 points of the caps, I believe winning it would get us the division. (A win would have us split the season series and I believe the tie breaker is goal differential, of which ours is currently better)

Would depend on ROW first, then it'd go to goal differential.

 

[bstash19]

Would depend on ROW first, then it'd go to goal differential.

That’s right. I forgot about ROW.

It’s row, then season series then goal differential.

 

[crasherino]

That’s right. I forgot about ROW.

It’s row, then season series then goal differential.

Which they're up on, 2-1, right? So if we win that game making it a tie, it goes to goal differential - which, as of now, we're up on.

Edit - sorry....came in late here. You've already covered all that.

 

[kmo429]

Magic number down to 15 (14 if we beat the 9th seed in ROW, currently 2 ahead of MTL)

So essentially, 6-6-0 gets us in even if Montral goes 9-1-1

 

[Kevin27NYI]

Magic number down to 15 (14 if we beat the 9th seed in ROW, currently 2 ahead of MTL)

So essentially, 6-6-0 gets us in even if Montral goes 9-1-1

Beating the Jackets and Habs in regulation secured our playoff position if not officially. Now we can reset the focus on winning the division or at least securing home ice in the opening round

 

[MJF]

I feel like we're going to walk into that game at 103 points, them 102 and it's going to be a dogfight.

Kind of thinking the same. The Metro Division will be decided that night.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

Kind of thinking the same. The Metro Division will be decided that night.

Nothing like a little pre playoff excitement! Leafs again on April 1st and Washington to close out. Revenge game vs Philly too, some games I'm really looking forward to.

 

[MJF]

Nothing like a little pre playoff excitement! Leafs again on April 1st and Washington to close out. Revenge game vs Philly too, some games I'm really looking forward to.

Hoping JB is back in the lineup for the Philly game.

 

[Islanders4Cups]

Records and points since Dec 31

Tampa	23	6	2	48
Boston	21	6	5	47
Carolina	22	7	2	46
NYI	20	9	3	43
Philly	19	10	3	41
Washington	18	11	4	40
Pittsburgh	18	11	3	39
Toronto	16	12	3	35
Montreal	16	13	2	34
Columbus	16	15	0	32

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[doublechili]

Depending on how things shake out, in that last game against WAS we could see the rare "pull the goalie late in the 3rd period of a tie game" thing.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

Hoping JB is back in the lineup for the Philly game.

Oh I hope so too. And I hope Mayfield and Martin step their physical game up. Simmonds is gone, what do they have now? Gudas?

 

[SI]

Islanders next 6 games -
@Det
@Minn (back to back, but so does Minny)
Bost
@Mont.
@phil
ARZ (back to back)

4-2 8 out of a possible 12 points puts this team at 97 points.
Wins against Montreal and Philly would be huge.

 

[BMOK33]

There’s a few games between those teams at the bottom which skews the numbers. In reality it’s unlikely someone won’t make it with 95-96 points even though a bunch of the percentages say you need 97. Columbus plays some meh teams but many of those games are on the road

 

[BrockLobster]

Nothing like a little pre playoff excitement! Leafs again on April 1st and Washington to close out. Revenge game vs Philly too, some games I'm really looking forward to.

I already booked my amtrak for next Saturday revenge game. Looking forward to it

 

[crasherino]

Oh I hope so too. And I hope Mayfield and Martin step their physical game up. Simmonds is gone, what do they have now? Gudas?

I f***ing hate Gudas! I would love to see him getting his ass kicked. If the Islanders were to administer that ass kicking, even better. That guy is on the ice with the primary purpose of hurting someone.

 

[Uncle Duke]

Who we rootin' for tonight, Columbus or Carolina? Reasons and point permutations in 500 words or less please.

 

[WorkHahdPlayHahd]

Who we rootin' for tonight, Columbus or Carolina? Reasons and point permutations in 500 words or less please.

I've had the same internal debate for about 5 hours now. Do you want a cushion or carolina as an almost lock for the playoffs? Huge 4 point game tonight.

 

[PK Cronin]

Who we rootin' for tonight, Columbus or Carolina? Reasons and point permutations in 500 words or less please.

Regulation win. That's it.

 

[Uncle Duke]

I've had the same internal debate for about 5 hours now. Do you want a cushion or carolina as an almost lock for the playoffs? Huge 4 point game tonight.

I'm leaning toward Carolina because to me the cushion is more important and the sooner we can take men off the chessboard the better. Counter arguments welcome.

 

[Riseonfire]

I ****ing hate Gudas! I would love to see him getting his ass kicked. If the Islanders were to administer that ass kicking, even better. That guy is on the ice with the primary purpose of hurting someone.

I hate him too, but if he wants to rough up PJ boy a bit I'm not going to complain anymore.

 

[13th Floor]

I'm leaning toward Carolina because to me the cushion is more important and the sooner we can take men off the chessboard the better. Counter arguments welcome.

My only counter argument is that this game essentially doesn't matter. Yes, yes, I want to see the asterisk next to our name, but the playoffs are essentially clinched. Of course, some major meltdown can happen, but to miss the playoffs, FOUR teams need to jump us in 12 games. And two of those four teams need to jump 8 points, and one of them only has 11 games to do it.

We pretty much need to lose out and all 4 teams go at least .500. If that happens, forget missing the playoffs by a point, we will be on a 12 game losing streak headed into a playoff series with Tampa. I'd rather golf.

 

[MJF]

Oh I hope so too. And I hope Mayfield and Martin step their physical game up. Simmonds is gone, what do they have now? Gudas?

If we create some space between us and the teams out of the playoffs I’d dress Ross Johnston in Philly.

 

[mm11]

I'm too stupid to figure it out but if the Isles come in second who would be the likely match up in the first round?

 

[doublechili]

I'm too stupid to figure it out but if the Isles come in second who would be the likely match up in the first round?

Whoever comes in 3rd: PIT or WAS probably. Finishing 1st would be better - let them play each other in round 1.