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Islanders Magic Number for the Playoffs is 94

Mar 24, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) and defenseman Calvin de Haan (44) look on in overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Islanders won 4-3 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) and defenseman Calvin de Haan (44) look on in overtime against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Islanders won 4-3 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) skates against the Minnesota Wild during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) skates against the Minnesota Wild during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Tampa Bay Lightning

Games remaining: 7
Opposition Breakdown: Established 2- Bubble 2- Bottom 3
Venue: H 4/A 3
Back-to-Back: 2

Since trading their Vezina finalist goaltender the Tampa Bay Lightning are 10-4-1, scoring an average of 2.86 goals per game and averaging a .917SV%. Before that, they were 25-27-8, scoring an average of 2.72 goals per game and stopping an average .906 of shots against.

The turnaround has been remarkable. And their remaining seven games might be the friendliest of the teams remaining.

The Lightning only have two dates against an “established” team, Montréal, who’s already locked into the playoffs.

Other than that its dates against teams they are competing with for that final wild card spot or teams already well out of the playoff picture. That’s five out of five games that are winnable for them.

I think Tampa drops two games. Montréal at home. Montréal’s road record is on par with Tampa’s home record. Then there’ that follow-up game less than a week later at the Bell Center.

That’s four points dropped. For a total of 93 on the season and tied with Boston. But with a superior ROW  Boston would stay in the wild-card spot.

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