Islanders Magic Number for the Playoffs is 94

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Mar 24, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Islanders head coach Doug Weight (top) reacts after a video review disallowed an Islanders goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Islanders won 4-3 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Islanders

Games remaining: 7
Opposition Breakdown: Established 2- Bubble 1- Bottom 4
Venue: H 2/A 5
Back-to-Back: 2

The Islanders need 94 points to push Boston out of the last wild-card spot. That’s eleven points of the 14 they have up for grabs. Two losses will be enough to keep the Islanders out of the playoffs.

Not a great proposal.

They have Philly tomorrow, before going on a four-game road trip to start April. If they’re guaranteed to drop any of those road games, its Nashville. The way Nashville played the other day they completely shut the Isles down who were completely helpless. That’s one loss.

Thankfully the Isles have a number of games against teams that aren’t any good. Two are against the third worst team in the league, the New Jersey Devils. And then there’s that Philly game and the Sabres on April 2nd. The Isles should take all of those games.

But we know the Isles are capable of. One of those will be an overtime loss. I’d put that last New Jersey game as the one. The first of a back-to-back and the end of their road trip.

And then there’s a date against the Hurricanes in Carolina. Twice this season the Islanders have lost lopsided games against the Hurricanes. First a 7-4 stinker in January and then that 8-4 embarrassment last month. This one is going to mean something.

They’ll show up and take it 5-4. These teams just can’t seem to keep scoring down when it’s against one-another.

Next: President Pat Brisson?

The Islanders need all the points, but a 5-1-1 record in their remaining seven doesn’t sound too far-fetched. That would give them the points needed to displace Boston for that wild-card spot and make it three years in a row. If they don’t then that should be curtians for Garth Snow. Win-win then?