The Washington Capitals had an opportunity to tangibly claw themselves back into real contention for a playoff spot against the New York Rangers. With their playoff odds rising to around 20 percent after a victory over the Sabres, Washington was about even with the New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Now, after their blowout 8-1 loss to the Eastern Conference’s worst team, the Capitals’ chances are back in single digits and back near zero. MoneyPuck, after an update this morning, has the Caps’ odds at 6.3 percent. The only other Eastern Conference team below them and still in contention is the New Jersey Devils at 0.1 percent.
After the Ottawa Senators (90 standings points) and Philadelphia Flyers (90) were both victorious last night, the Capitals (87) are now three points out of a playoff spot — both for the Metropolitan Division’s third spot and the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot with four games in their season.
Ultimately, the biggest problem for the Capitals is that they have essentially, using Spencer Carbery’s metaphor, run out of runway. At this point, they can only get a maximum of 95 standings points even if they win all four of their remaining games against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins (2), and Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators both have a game in hand and their maximum number could still be 100 points. The Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets (88 standings points) have a game in hand and could still reach 98. And while the New York Islanders (89) have slid out of the Metro’s third spot and the second wild card position with their poor play lately, losing four in a row and firing head coach Patrick Roy, they can still reach 97 points — two more than the Capitals.
So it isn’t over yet, but the Capitals will need a lot of help from other teams and will have to win the rest of their games to even be in the conversation.
