Thursday night’s 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals certainly helped the Pittsburgh Penguins’ playoff cause, even if they didn’t move up in the Eastern Conference wild-card standings.
Work remains if they are to earn a spot in the field for the Stanley Cup postseason. The Penguins have won three straight games and five of their last six. They have gained points in their past seven games and are 6-2-2 in their past 10, which has allowed them to remain in the hunt for a playoff berth.
As the Penguins (35-30-11, 81 points) were beating Washington (36-29-10, 82 points) in the nation’s capital Thursday, the New York Islanders (34-27-15, 83 points) defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets to move into a wild-card position and tied the Philadelphia Flyers (36-29-11, 83 points) for third in the Metro (the Flyers hold the tiebreaker). The Detroit Red Wings (37-30-8, 82 points) also remain in contention.
Here’s a look at what remains for each team in the hunt in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Record: 36-29-11, 83 points
Where they stand: Third place in the Metropolitan Division
Remaining games: at Buffalo (April 5), at Columbus (April 6), at Montreal (April 9), at Rangers (April 11), vs. New Jersey (April 13), vs. Washington (April 16)
Notable: The Flyers have lost five straight games and are 2-5-3 in their last 10.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Record: 34-27-15, 83 points
Where they stand: Second place in the Eastern Conference wild-card standings; tied for third in the Metro
Remaining games: vs. Nashville (April 6), vs. Rangers (April 9), vs. Montreal (April 11), at Rangers (April 13), at New Jersey (April 15), vs. Penguins (April 17).
Notable: Thursday’s win over Columbus vaulted the Islanders past the Capitals and Red Wings in the wild-card standings. They have won three straight games.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Record: 36-29-10, 82 points
Where they stand: Third place in the Eastern Conference wild-card standings; fifth in the Metropolitan Division
Remaining games: at Carolina (April 5), vs. Ottawa (April 7), at Detroit (April 9), at Buffalo (April 11), vs. Tampa Bay (April 13), vs. Boston (April 15), at Philadelphia (April 16)
Notable: The Capitals have lost four straight, including a deflating 4-1 loss to the Penguins on Thursday.
DETROIT RED WINGS
Record: 37-30-8, 82 points
Where they stand: Fourth place in the Eastern Conference wild-card standings
Remaining games: vs. Rangers (April 5), vs. Buffalo (April 7), vs. Washington (April 9), at Penguins (April 11), at Toronto (April 13), vs. Montreal (April 15), at Montreal (April 16)
Notable: The Red Wings are 4-4-2 in their past 10 games and will face a challenge Friday night against the Metro-leading Rangers (51-21-4, 106 points).
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Record: 35-30-11, 81 points
Where they stand: Fifth place in the Eastern Conference wild-card standings
Remaining games: vs. Tampa Bay (April 6), at Toronto (April 8), vs. Detroit (April 11), vs. Boston (April 13), vs. Nashville (April 15), at Islanders (April 17)
Notable: The Penguins’ schedule will be a test the next two games against the Lightning (43-26-7, 93 points), who lead the wild-card standings, and Maple Leafs (43-23-9, 95 points), who are third in the Atlantic Division.
BUFFALO SABRES
Record: 36-35-5, 77 points
Where they stand: Sixth place in the Eastern Conference wild-card standings
Remaining games: vs. Philadelphia (April 5), at Detroit (April 7), at Dallas (April 9), vs. Washington (April 11), at Florida (April 13), at Tampa Bay (April 15)
Notable: Buffalo has hovered around .500 in all areas, including a 5-5 mark in its last 10 games and a 19-19-1 record at home. The Sabres also have an equal goals for (229) and against (229).
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
Record: 36-36-4, 76 points
Where they stand: Seventh place in the Eastern Conference wild-card standings
Remaining games: at Ottawa (April 6), vs. Nashville (April 7), vs. Toronto (April 9), at Toronto (April 11), at Philadelphia (April 13), vs. Islanders (April 15)
Notable: The Devils have dropped three straight games and are 4-6 in their last 10.
STANDINGS
Through April 4 games
Eastern Conference
Atlantic
Boston, 45-17-15, 105 points
Florida, 48-24-5, 101 points
Toronto, 43-23-9, 95 points
Tampa Bay, 43-26-7, 93 points
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Detroit, 37-30-8, 82 points
Buffalo, 36-35-5, 77 points
Ottawa, 33-38-4, 70 points
Montreal, 29-34-12, 70 points
Metropolitan
N.Y. Rangers, 51-21-4, 106 points
Carolina, 47-22-7, 101 points
Philadelphia, 36-29-11, 83 points
N.Y. Islanders, 34-27-15, 83 points
Washington, 36-29-10, 82 points
Pittsburgh, 35-30-11, 81 points
New Jersey, 36-36-4, 76 points
Columbus, 25-39-12, 62 points
Wild-card
Tampa Bay, 43-26-7, 93 points
N.Y. Islanders, 34-27-15, 83 points
Washington, 36-29-10, 82 points
Detroit, 37-30-8, 82 points
Pittsburgh, 35-30-11, 81 points
Buffalo, 36-35-5, 77 points
New Jersey, 36-36-4, 76 points
Ottawa, 33-38-4, 70 points
Montreal, 29-34-12, 70 points
Columbus, 25-39-12, 62 points
• The top three teams in each division, as well as two wild-card teams from the Eastern Conference qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs.