Why finishing 1st in Metropolitan Division greatly matters

Over the final three weeks of the season, the race to watch is atop the Metropolitan Division standings.

What happened Sunday?

With a win over New Jersey, the Columbus Blue Jackets earned their 100th point of the season, and not only matched the Washington Capitals for first in the Metro and the NHL as a whole, but also became the second team to clinch a playoff spot.

Not to be outdone, the Pittsburgh Penguins benefited from a natural hat trick by Sidney Crosby to beat Florida, climbing within one point of both Washington and Columbus.

All three teams, therefore, are in the running for first in the Metro, as well as the Presidents' Trophy as the league's best team in the regular season (the Blackhawks, with 97 points, are the next-best club).

Finishing first in the Metro, however, matters on a much deeper level.

What's at stake?

Based on the NHL's current playoff format, the team that finishes first in the Eastern Conference - which, at this point, will definitely come from the Metro - would be matched up with the second wild-card team in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Meanwhile, the second- and third-place teams in the Metro - and quite possibly the NHL - would meet, with the loser facing the harsh reality of getting bounced in the first round despite one of the league's best regular-season records.

As of Sunday ev, here's a look at the relevant matchups:

• Washington (46-17-8, 100 points) vs. Toronto (32-23-15, 79 points)
• Columbus (47-18-6, 100 points) vs. Pittsburgh (45-17-9, 99 points)

With all due respect to the Maple Leafs and what they've achieved this season, that's a steep drop in quality of opponent for the first-place team.

Washington, Columbus, and Pittsburgh all have 11 games remaining on the schedule. Don't expect any of them to coast into the playoffs when a point or two could mean the difference between a long playoff run with home-ice advantage and an early postseason exit.