Playoff Push

With most teams having about nine or ten games left the sprint that was the NHL regular season is down to its last few yards. While top contenders like Chicago and Pittsburgh (with Anaheim and Montreal not far behind) have already wrapped up playoff spots, others are still up for grabs. Even the Maple Leafs look poised to return to the post season. There is now a bit more separation from teams in tenth place and down but the bottom seeds in both conferences are still looking over their shoulders.

St. Louis Blues - The Blues have been getting better goaltending from Brian Elliott of late and with a at least one game at hand on the teams below them need to stay the course to make the playoffs.

Detroit Red Wings - The Wings grip on a spot is a little more tenuous. They currently sit in eighth spot in the west, three points up on Phoenix and four ahead of the Stars, Oilers and Blue Jackets. They can't afford a skid at this point.

Ottawa Senators - What a difference a week makes. Four straight losses have the Sens once comfy cushion fade away. They are four points up on the ninth place Devils with a game at hand but can ill afford to have this streak go any longer.

New York Rangers - The Rangers have underperformed this season but are in seventh in the East tied in points with the Islanders. They have been playing better hockey of late, despite last nights loss to the Leafs, and if Henrik Lundqvist can hold the for they may get it.

New York Islanders - One of the seasons biggest surprises finds the other New York team on the verge of a playoff spot. John Tavares and company have the slimmest of margins, just a two point gap on the Devils and Jets so it will come down to the wire here.

New Jersey Devils - Last years eastern conference champs have fallen off as predicted well, here, but are still a threat to go on a run and make the playoffs. Martin Brodeur is back and the Devils are never an easy out so look for them to push hard to the end.

Winnipeg Jets/Washington Capitals - The Jets and Capitals are in the odd position of possibly being the thrid seed or right out of the playoffs. The Capitals recent streak has them two points ahead of Winnipeg for the South East Division lead but should they falter they may find themselves out of the playoffs all together.

Who gets in? Who's ticket is left unpunched?