from Katie Strang of ESPN,

The third-place Capitals and ninth-place Jets are separated by a mere two points heading into the penultimate weekend of the season, each team with four games left on its schedule.

Washington, whose eight-game winning streak was snapped by the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night, remains in the division lead with 50 points, but the Jets trail by two after edging the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime Thursday 4-3.

Though the Jets are tied with the New York Rangers at 48 points, the eighth-place Rangers have a game in hand.

The two competing storylines are both compelling: one a team that has essentially risen from the dead after a dreadful start to the season, much in part to Alex Ovechkin's dynamic play; another club desperate to earn its first playoff berth since 2007.

Who has the advantage from here?

Three of the Caps' final four games are against playoff teams -- Montreal, Ottawa and Boston. The other game?

That's right, an all-important four-point match against the Jets at home Tuesday.

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