Many NASL playoff spots can be clinched over the next two days

OK, get the calculators out. All eight NASL teams are in action over the next two days — and a series of playoff spots can be clinched.

For Canadian fans — the big games go on Wednesday. FC Edmonton hosts the last-place Atlanta Silverbacks, while the Montreal Impact head to Bayamon to face a Puerto Rico Islanders team that will be short of many of its key players because of World Cup qualifiers being held Tuesday. That includes seven members of the Puerto Rican national side that faces Canada Tuesday and Dominican Republic striker Jonathan Fana, the Islanders’ offensive sparkplug.

A combination of an FC Edmonton win and a Montreal tie or loss clinches a playoff spot for the Eddies.

The Eddies have not lost to Atlanta so far this season.

FC Tampa Bay clinches a playoff spot if it beats the NSC Minnesota Stars tonight. A win would put third-place FCTB 12 points up on the seventh-place Impact. While the Impact would still have four games left (three after the date in PR), the Florida side has the tiebreaker between the two teams.

But, no worries. Montreal fans will be cheering for FCTB — as the Impact is just four back of the Stars for sixth place and the final playoff spot. Catching Minnesota is Montreal’s most realistic goal after its loss to Fort Lauderdale over the weekend.

Fort Lauderdale hosts the first-place Carolina RailHawks Wednesday. The Strikers are currently in fifth, two points behind FC Edmonton. The RailHawks will clinch first spot with a win or draw. And, if the Strikers win, Carolina still clinches top spot if the Impact manages to get even a point out of its visit to Bayamon.

If the Strikers beat the RailHawks and the Impact loses its match in Puerto Rico, the Strikers clinch a playoff spot.

Whew! Caught your breath yet?