In case anyone is wondering ... the Canes now sit 2 points up on New Jersey in the Metro with 2 games in hand. The Devils have dropped 4 out of their last 5 games, but picked up two loser points in the process ... which effectively wipes out one of the losses. They are off until Friday, so Thursday's Canes/Rangers game burns one of Carolina's games in hand. Carolina has cleared the road portion of their gauntlet stretch, with 4 homes games in a row coming up against 4 Eastern playoff locks.
Wildcard standings in the East have gotten pretty well segmented now that Pittsburgh has skidded into an effective dead heat with Florida for the 8th spot. The Isles are looking pretty good in 7th, so other than the final spot it's all pretty much a matter of sorting out the seeds and the Metro title. Toronto, Tampa and the Rangers aren't going anywhere, but they aren't going to move up either. Boston has clinched and are absolutely jetting away with the Atlantic so that Metro race is the most entertaining thing happening in the East.
Out West everything is still a jumble although Calgary keeps refusing to join the chase, which means the 8 likely playoff teams are playing for position. Both divisions are wide open and 7 of the 8 current qualifiers are playing very, very solid hockey. The only straggler is Winnipeg, but again ... Calgary seems disinterested in actually making the post season, so the Jets can likely muddle in even if they never get going again.
Wildcard standings in the East have gotten pretty well segmented now that Pittsburgh has skidded into an effective dead heat with Florida for the 8th spot. The Isles are looking pretty good in 7th, so other than the final spot it's all pretty much a matter of sorting out the seeds and the Metro title. Toronto, Tampa and the Rangers aren't going anywhere, but they aren't going to move up either. Boston has clinched and are absolutely jetting away with the Atlantic so that Metro race is the most entertaining thing happening in the East.
Out West everything is still a jumble although Calgary keeps refusing to join the chase, which means the 8 likely playoff teams are playing for position. Both divisions are wide open and 7 of the 8 current qualifiers are playing very, very solid hockey. The only straggler is Winnipeg, but again ... Calgary seems disinterested in actually making the post season, so the Jets can likely muddle in even if they never get going again.
