from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,

The Columbus Blue Jackets dispatched the New York Islanders 4-0 Sunday, easing the pain of Friday night's painful loss to Chicago in which the Blackhawks scored with 3.9 seconds left to win the game in regulation. Thankfully for the Jackets, the Toronto Maple Leafs were unable to take advantage of that gift, dropping a 4-2 decision at home to the woeful Winnipeg Jets.

Sunday's win puts the Jackets three points ahead of both New Jersey and Toronto and pretty much in control of the second Eastern Conference wild card berth as the final week of the regular season beckons.

Columbus hosts Phoenix on Tuesday night before finishing the regular season on the road with games Wednesday at Dallas (where they will start with a 1-0 lead in the resumption of the game postponed by Rich Peverly's cardiac incident on the bench), then Friday at Tampa Bay and Saturday at Florida.

The Devils host Calgary on Monday night, followed by games Thursday at Ottawa and then home dates Friday versus the Isles and Sunday afternoon against Boston.

The Leafs are on the road to finish off their miserable stretch, at Tampa on Tuesday in Florida on Thursday and at rival Ottawa to wrap things up Saturday night.

I don't see the Jackets opening a window for either team, meaning we should see Columbus in the playoffs for only the second time in team history.

read on for Burnside on the Pacific Divisioon and Custance on the Dallas Stars...