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Blue Jackets tie for Metro lead, but Isles’ loss isn’t all bad news for Capitals

Columbus Blue Jackets v New York Rangers

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 26: Cam Atkinson #13 of the Columbus Blue Jackets celebrates his powerplay goal at 6:47 of the first period against the New York Rangers and is joined by Alexander Wennberg #10 at Madison Square Garden on February 26, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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Thomas Greiss did what he could - and helped the New York Islanders earn a “charity point” - but eventually he couldn’t contain Cam Atkinson and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

John Tavares scored the goal that sent a fairly one-sided game (Columbus generated a 38-22 shot advantage) to overtime, but ultimately the Blue Jackets edged the Islanders 3-2 in OT on Saturday afternoon.

With that, a variety of races get more interesting. Let’s begin with the top of the Metro (and generally the top of the East/NHL):

1. Capitals- 98 points, 70 games played
2. Blue Jackets - 98 points, 70 GP
3. Penguins - 97 points, 70 GP

Yes, that’s a tight squeeze, especially since both Washington and Columbus boast 44 regulation/overtime wins, the first tiebreaker. One would think that the Blue Jackets winning in overtime was a totally crummy break for the Caps, but there is this fun caveat: with a victory tonight, the Caps can be the league’s first team to clinch a trip to the playoffs.

As far as the three-team race for the top spots in the Metro goes, some teams will get more of an opportunity to “control their own destiny” than others:

The Blue Jackets thwarted the Islanders’ attempt to climb back into the East’s final wild card spot:

Final wild card: Maple Leafs: 78 points in 69 GP

Islanders: 78 in 71 GP
Lightning: 77 in 70 GP

Yeah, that’s a skin-tight race too, with this loss really stinging for an Islanders team that now must watch the Bolts and Maple Leafs while biting their nails a bit more.