There's a new leader in the Eastern Conference, and it's a team that looks primed to make a run to MLS Cup.
After the New York Red Bulls' 3-2 win over the Chicago Fire on Friday night, they finally grabbed the top spot in the East after sitting behind D.C. United for much of the season.
United's draw with the Colorado Rapids on Saturday wasn't enough for them to re-take No. 1; New York hold the tiebreaker over D.C. by virture of a superior goal differential.
- POWER RANKINGS:See where RBNY ended up this week
The Red Bulls have a huge game against the New England Revolution on Wednesday (7:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE) as they bid to remain atop the East, which rewards the leader with a bye to the Conference Semifinals.
Does your team sit above or below the red line? Check out the current standings and the new 2015 playoff rules. Then take a gander below at the current playoff scenarios, if the season ended after Week 28:
EASTERN CONFERENCE (Seed in Parentheses)
Byes to Conference Semifinals:
(1) New York Red Bulls, (2) D.C. United
Conference Knockout Round Matches:
(3) Columbus Crew SC vs. (6) Montreal Impact
(4) New England Revolution vs. (5) Toronto FC
WESTERN CONFERENCE (Seed in Parentheses)
Byes to Conference Semifinals:
(1) Vancouver Whitecaps, (2) FC Dallas
Conference Knockout Round Matches:
(3) LA Galaxy vs. (6) Portland Timbers
(4) Seattle Sounders vs. (5) Sporting Kansas City
And don't forget about the Supporters' Shield! There's a tight race at the top, with the Vancouver Whitecaps (48 points) leading after a midweek win against the Colorado Rapids. Sitting right behind them are FC Dallas and the LA Galaxy, who each have 47 points.
Dallas also has a game in hand on the 'Caps. Another team to look out for are the New York Red Bulls – just three points back of Vancouver, with two games in hand.
Will the playoff matchups and Shield standings hold through the final weekend of the season? Take a look at the table below, which illustrates each team's remaining matches and the strength of schedule.
The strength of schedule metric takes into account the average points per game (PPG) each team's oppponents earn at home and on the road. The lower the PPG, the easier the schedule.
For example, if FC Dallas traveled to play the LA Galaxy, who have averaged 2.5 PPG at home, and then hosted the Vancouver Whitecaps, who have averaged 1.53 PPG on the road, their opponents PPG would be 2.02.
| Road to the Playoffs | ||
| Team | Games Remaining | Strength of Schedule Rank (Opp. PPG) |
| Eastern Conference | ||
| New York Red Bulls | 8 (@NE, @POR, ORL, CLB, MTL, @TOR, PHI, @CHI) | 11 (1.38) |
| D.C. United | 5 (CLB, @MTL, NYC, CHI, @CLB) | 2 (1.20) |
| Columbus Crew SC | 5 (@DC, POR, @NY, @TOR, DC) | 19 (1.64) |
| New England Revolution | 6 (NY, @MTL, PHI, @CHI, MTL, @NYC) | 3 (1.22) |
| Toronto FC | 7 (@NYC, COL, CHI, PHI, NY, CLB, @MTL) | 1 (1.08) |
| Montreal Impact | 9 (@SJ, NE, CHI, DC, @ORL, @NY, @COL, @NE, TOR) | 8 (1.33) |
| Orlando City SC | 5 (@CHI, @NY, MTL, NYC, @PHI) | 7 (1.32) |
| Philadelphia Union | 5 (HOU, @NE, @TOR, @NY, ORL) | 17 (1.56) |
| New York City FC | 6 (TOR, SJ, @VAN, @DC, @ORL, NE) | 12 (1.42) |
| Chicago Fire | 6 (ORL, @MTL, @TOR, NE, @DC, NY) | T-13 (1.47) |
| Western Conference | ||
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 6 (SEA, NYC, @SJ, DAL, @DAL, HOU) | 5 (1.26) |
| FC Dallas | 7 (@SKC, @LA, HOU, @VAN, VAN, @RSL, SJ) | 20 (1.66) |
| LA Galaxy | 5 (@RSL, DAL, @SEA, POR, @SKC) | 18 (1.62) |
| Seattle Sounders | 5 (@VAN, @SKC, LA, @HOU, RSL) | T-13 (1.47) |
| Sporting Kansas City | 8 (DAL, @HOU, SEA, @POR, @SJ, COL, LA) | 6 (1.31) |
| Portland Timbers | 6 (NY, @CLB, SKC, @RSL, @LA, COL) | 16 (1.54) |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 6 (MTL, @NYC, RSL, VAN, SKC, @DAL) | 4 (1.24) |
| Houston Dynamo | 6 (@PHI, SKC, COL, @DAL, SEA, @VAN) | 10 (1.37) |
| Real Salt Lake | 6 (LA, @SJ, @COL, POR, DAL, @SEA) | 9 (1.34) |
| Colorado Rapids | 6 (@TOR, @HOU, RSL, MTL, @SKC, @POR) | 15 (1.53) |
PLAYOFF CLINCHING SCENARIOS
D.C. United will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF
D.C. United will clinch a berth in the Audi Presents the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs IF
D.C. United win vs. Columbus Crew SC on Saturday
OR
D.C. United tie vs. Columbus Crew SC on Saturday
AND
New York City FC lose or tie vs. Toronto FC on Wednesday OR vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday
AND
Orlando City SC lose or tie vs. Chicago Fire on Saturday
OR
New York City FC lose or tie vs. Toronto FC on Wednesday OR vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday
AND
Philadelphia Union lose or tie vs. Houston Dynamo on Sunday
AND
Orlando City SC and Chicago Fire tie on Saturday
New York Red Bulls will clinch a berth in the Audi Presents the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs IF
New York Red Bulls win vs. New England Revolution on Wednesday OR vs. Portland Timbers on Sunday
OR
New York Red Bulls tie vs. New England Revolution on Wednesday OR vs. Portland Timbers on Sunday
AND
New York City FC lose or tie vs. Toronto FC on Wednesday OR vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday
AND
Orlando City SC lose or tie vs. Chicago Fire on Saturday
OR
New York City FC lose or tie vs. Toronto FC on Wednesday OR vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday
AND
Philadelphia Union lose or tie vs. Houston Dynamo on Sunday
AND
Orlando City SC and Chicago Fire tie on Saturday
Columbus Crew SC will clinch a berth in the Audi Presents the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs IF
Columbus Crew SC win vs. D.C. United on Saturday
AND
Orlando City SC lose or tie vs. Chicago Fire on Saturday
New England Revolution will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF
New England Revolution win vs. New York Red Bulls on Wednesday OR vs. Montreal Impact on Saturday
AND
New York City FC lose or tie vs. Toronto FC on Wednesday OR vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday
AND
Orlando City SC lose or tie vs. Chicago Fire on Saturday
Do you think your team will make the playoffs? Let us know why in the comments below.
