Caps need 6 more standings pts to guarantee a playoff birth.
There. I said it.
Prepare for the sky falling
Hmm .... I have it at 3 standings points. The bottom 2 teams in the Metro are already eliminated from catching the Caps. The Rangers can accumulate no more than 98 standings points, so their next loss, even after regulation, or the Caps' next point eliminates them from catching the Caps. Columbus and NYI have a max of 100 standings points, so the Caps can eliminate each of them from catching them with any combination of the Caps getting 3 more points/they lose out on 3 points. Once the Caps make sure those 3 teams can't catch them, they are guaranteed a top 3 spot in the Metro, which gets them in the playoffs.
Montreal can still accumulate 103 standings points as the 5th team from the other Division, but it is actually easier for the Caps to clinch top 3 in the Metro than it is for them to clinch one of the top 8 standings points spots.
After tonight, a tough stretch coming up - FLA to finish the homestead, then WIN/MINN on the road.