If the season ended today, the New York Islanders would be on the outside looking in on the playoff picture. With their recent struggles, the Carolina Hurricanes are now in the second Wild Card spot.
Both teams have 79 points in 67 games, a pace of 97 over a full 82 game season, but the Hurricanes have the tiebreaker with 26 regulation wins to the Isles 24.
Ahead of both the Islanders and Canes is Columbus who has 81 points in 70 games. They are just two points ahead and with three extra games played.