5. New York Islanders – 91
Columbus, Washington and the New York Islanders are all hunting down Philadelphia for the No. 3 spot in the Metropolitan Division.
The Blue Jackets, Capitals and Islanders can’t qualify as wild-card teams. Ottawa and Boston secured their postseason berths as wild-card squads on Saturday.
Sunday is a critical day for the chasing pack in the Metro. Washington is at home to a Pittsburgh squad that rested its veterans on Saturday, Columbus hosts Boston and the Islanders are on home ice against Montreal.
The Islanders have the trickiest of the three games because the Canadiens are still in the mix for a top-two spot in the Atlantic.
Any losses by that trio helps the Flyers’ cause. The Flyers can clinch a playoff spot with a win on Monday combined with a Columbus defeat on Sunday.
Buffalo and Tampa Bay have the inside track to the top two spots in the Atlantic. The Sabres should beat Chicago on Monday and they should get a Dallas team resting players on Wednesday. The Lightning face two eliminated sides to conclude the regular season.
The Canadiens seem destined for third in the Atlantic because they face the Islanders and Flyers.
Ottawa should claim the top wild-card spot and avoid Carolina in the first round. The Sens finish with New Jersey and Toronto and they enter Sunday on a four-game winning streak.