A look at how the Penguins fit into the NHL Playoff picture today

Monday starts a fresh work week, but the grind of the NHL stretch run never really takes a break or a breather. Sunday saw several important games in the East, with Washington and Philadelphia winning, and NYI and Columbus suffering regulation losses.

Add it up and there’s a new leader in the Metropolitan Division:

The Capitals bump up to the top spot, though the Islanders have a game in hand and a regulation/OT win would push them back into first on the tiebreaker.

Right now, the arrow is definitely pointing up for the Carolina Hurricanes too, who are riding a five-game winning streak.