The Penguins once again got zero help around the NHL as it pertained to their postseason fate on Monday night.

Pittsburgh knocked off the Predators, 4-2, to wrap up its regular-season home schedule at PPG Paints Arena, which was the kind of self-help necessary to stay alive for at least one more day. However, both the Capitals and Red Wings won their respective games to stay one point ahead of Pittsburgh and remain in a tie for the second wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference.

The second wildcard is the only playoff spot still up for grabs in the Eastern Conference, and that’s because the Islanders clinched the third seed in the Metro Division with a 4-1 road win over the Devils on Monday night.

The good news is that New York will have nothing to play for when the Penguins travel to UBS Arena for the regular-season finale on Wednesday night. The bad news is that Pittsburgh may not have anything to play for either.

That all will be determined on Tuesday when the Red Wings take on the Canadiens on the road in a back-to-back to end their regular season. If Detroit picks up two points, the Penguins are eliminated. But what if the Red Wings don’t pick up two points? Pittsburgh could still be eliminated if the Capitals defeat Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center.

The good news is that the arena is located in Philadelphia, which means the Capitals will be on the road. The bad news is that it’s the Flyers home venue, which means you’ll have to root for them if you’re a Penguins fan.

What’s that? You can’t do it? OK, you don’t have to, but a Flyers victory is still going to have to be part of the equation if you want Pittsburgh to still be alive for the postseason on Wednesday night.

The good news is that Philadelphia is still alive for the final wildcard at 87 points. The Flyers need a few things to happen–including a victory over Washington in their regular-season finale and both the Red Wings and Penguins losing in regulation in theirs–but they will have yet to be eliminated at faceoff time on Tuesday night.

To sum it all up, the Capitals and Red Wings both have to lose on Tuesday night. If that were to happen, Pittsburgh would enter its regular-season finale still alive for the postseason.

You still can’t root for the Flyers? OK, but just hold your nose and do it. It’s not that deep, man. It’s just sports.

You like seeing the Penguins in the playoffs, don’t you?