Race For The Cup, March 25

The Stanley Cup won't be handed out until June, but this is the time we see teams make a run at the playoffs. You can't win the Cup if you don't make the playoffs. Follow us daily to find out where your favorite team stands as the season dwindles.

We keep waiting for playoff teams to separate themselves from the non-playoff pack, and nothing seems to be happening. Races are still exceptionally close, as it seems at least some teams aren't capable of getting on the kind of roll they need in order to sew up a playoff spot. Others look to be in meltdown mode at the worst possible time.

In the East

Eastern Conference, 3/24 1. y-Boston Bruins 102 pts 2. New Jersey Devils 97 3. Washington Capitals 96 4. Philadelphia Flyers 90 5. Carolina Hurricanes 87 6. Pittsburgh Penguins 86 7. New York Rangers 84 8. Montreal Canadiens 81 9. Florida Panthers 81 10. Buffalo Sabres 76 11. Ottawa Senators 74 12. Toronto Maple Leafs 73	Eastern Conference, 3/24	1.	y-Boston Bruins	102 pts	2.	New Jersey Devils	97	3.	Washington Capitals	96	4.	Philadelphia Flyers	90	5.	Carolina Hurricanes	87	6.	Pittsburgh Penguins	86	7.	New York Rangers	84	8.	Montreal Canadiens	81	9.	Florida Panthers	81	10.	Buffalo Sabres	76	11.	Ottawa Senators	74	12.	Toronto Maple Leafs	73	Eastern Conference, 3/25 1. y-Boston Bruins 102 pts 2. New Jersey Devils 97 3. Washington Capitals 97 4. Philadelphia Flyers 90 5. Carolina Hurricanes 87 6. Pittsburgh Penguins 86 7. New York Rangers 86 8. Montreal Canadiens 83 9. Florida Panthers 81 10. Buffalo Sabres 76 11. Toronto Maple Leafs 75 12. Ottawa Senators 74	Eastern Conference, 3/25	1.	y-Boston Bruins	102 pts	2.	New Jersey Devils	97	3.	Washington Capitals	97	4.	Philadelphia Flyers	90	5.	Carolina Hurricanes	87	6.	Pittsburgh Penguins	86	7.	New York Rangers	86	8.	Montreal Canadiens	83	9.	Florida Panthers	81	10.	Buffalo Sabres	76	11.	Toronto Maple Leafs	75	12.	Ottawa Senators	74
Eastern Conference, 3/24
1.	y-Boston Bruins	102 pts
2.	New Jersey Devils	97
3.	Washington Capitals	96
4.	Philadelphia Flyers	90
5.	Carolina Hurricanes	87
6.	Pittsburgh Penguins	86
7.	New York Rangers	84
8.	Montreal Canadiens	81
9.	Florida Panthers	81
10.	Buffalo Sabres	76
11.	Ottawa Senators	74
12.	Toronto Maple Leafs	73
Eastern Conference, 3/25
1.	y-Boston Bruins	102 pts
2.	New Jersey Devils	97
3.	Washington Capitals	97
4.	Philadelphia Flyers	90
5.	Carolina Hurricanes	87
6.	Pittsburgh Penguins	86
7.	New York Rangers	86
8.	Montreal Canadiens	83
9.	Florida Panthers	81
10.	Buffalo Sabres	76
11.	Toronto Maple Leafs	75
12.	Ottawa Senators	74

The Canadiens beat Atlanta 6-3 to reclaim sole possession of eighth place in the Eastern Conference. They're two points ahead of fading Florida.

John Tortorella's New York Rangers continued their rebound, beating Minnesota 2-1. For the Rangers, fourth place in the East might not be attainable, but they can make a run at it if they keep playing well.

Yes, the Maple Leafs beat Washington in a shootout, but Montreal's win means Toronto's still eight points out of the eighth spot. They've had a nice little run going here in the second half, but it's hard to imagine they'll make the playoffs.

In the West

Western Conference, 3/24 1. y-San Jose Sharks 106 pts 2. x-Detroit Red Wings 105 3. Calgary Flames 90 4. Chicago Blackhawks 87 5. Vancouver Canucks 85 6. Columbus Blue Jackets 82 7. Edmonton Oilers 79 8. Nashville Predators 77 9. Anaheim Ducks 76 10. Minnesota Wild 76 11. St. Louis Blues 75 12. Dallas Stars 74	Western Conference, 3/24	1.	y-San Jose Sharks	106 pts	2.	x-Detroit Red Wings	105	3.	Calgary Flames	90	4.	Chicago Blackhawks	87	5.	Vancouver Canucks	85	6.	Columbus Blue Jackets	82	7.	Edmonton Oilers	79	8.	Nashville Predators	77	9.	Anaheim Ducks	76	10.	Minnesota Wild	76	11.	St. Louis Blues	75	12.	Dallas Stars	74	Western Conference, 3/25 1. x-Detroit Red Wings 107 pts 2. y-San Jose Sharks 106 3. Calgary Flames 90 4. Chicago Blackhawks 87 5. Vancouver Canucks 87 6. Columbus Blue Jackets 83 7. Edmonton Oilers 79 8. Anaheim Ducks 78 9. Nashville Predators 78 10. St. Louis Blues 77 11. Minnesota Wild 76 12. Dallas Stars 74	Western Conference, 3/25	1.	x-Detroit Red Wings	107 pts	2.	y-San Jose Sharks	106	3.	Calgary Flames	90	4.	Chicago Blackhawks	87	5.	Vancouver Canucks	87	6.	Columbus Blue Jackets	83	7.	Edmonton Oilers	79	8.	Anaheim Ducks	78	9.	Nashville Predators	78	10.	St. Louis Blues	77	11.	Minnesota Wild	76	12.	Dallas Stars	74
Western Conference, 3/24
1.	y-San Jose Sharks	106 pts
2.	x-Detroit Red Wings	105
3.	Calgary Flames	90
4.	Chicago Blackhawks	87
5.	Vancouver Canucks	85
6.	Columbus Blue Jackets	82
7.	Edmonton Oilers	79
8.	Nashville Predators	77
9.	Anaheim Ducks	76
10.	Minnesota Wild	76
11.	St. Louis Blues	75
12.	Dallas Stars	74
Western Conference, 3/25
1.	x-Detroit Red Wings	107 pts
2.	y-San Jose Sharks	106
3.	Calgary Flames	90
4.	Chicago Blackhawks	87
5.	Vancouver Canucks	87
6.	Columbus Blue Jackets	83
7.	Edmonton Oilers	79
8.	Anaheim Ducks	78
9.	Nashville Predators	78
10.	St. Louis Blues	77
11.	Minnesota Wild	76
12.	Dallas Stars	74

With the West staying close, every regulation loss is killer for the Wild. Making matters worse is Michael Russo hinting that Mikko Koivumight have skated his last shift of the season. If that's the case, it's time to unpack the golf clubs.

The Stars' free-fall continues. They dropped a 5-2 decision to Vancouver and are now four points out in the West. It doesn't sound like much, but it's going to be really tough to make it up, especially if they keep playing like they've been.

Edmonton blew a third-period lead and lost to Detroit. While losing to the Red Wings is hardly shameful, it's a lost opportunity for the Oilers, who are only one point clear of ninth-place Nashville.

It was a fantastic night for Anaheim, as they looked like the Ducks of old in a 2-1 shootout win over Nashville. A strong defense held the Predators to 13 shots in the first two periods, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere was fantastic in the third period before stoning Nashville in four rounds of the shootout. With the win, Anaheim now holds the eighth spot in the West.

Patrik Berglund scored two third-period goals in the Blues' 2-0 win over Los Angeles. St. Louis is now one point out of the eighth spot.

What's Next

You hate to say it at this point, but Florida-Buffalo could be a playoff elimination game, especially if it's decided in regulation.

Carolina and Ottawa are both on fire, and any chance the Senators may have of being a real factor in this race probably hinges on them continuing to win. They take a 9-1 record over their last ten into Wednesday night's game in Raleigh.

Sadly, despite their consistently inconsistent play, Minnesota heads to Long Island in the thick of the playoff race.

x - Clinched Playoff Spot, y - Division Champ, z - Conference Champ; green - Rise in the Standings, red - Fall

Race For The Cup, March 25 originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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