With three weeks remaining until the beginning of the playoffs, the race for the Stanley Cup is reaching full steam.
While the usual suspects are still leading their respective divisions, the major excitement is in the relentless fight for the coveted eighth seed. In both conferences, there are at least four teams within striking distance with about 10 games left to play.
As of Wednesday, the Montreal Canadiens are edging out the Atlanta Thrashers by a mere five points in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens have been playing great hockey as of late, winning five of their last six games. Captain Saku Koivu has led the team with his magical passing, tallying seven assists over the run.
The biggest influence for Montreal, however, has been the play of goaltender Cristobal Huet. Huet had been sitting behind former Vezina Trophy winner Jose Theodore all season, until Theodore was injured and subsequently traded to the Colorado Avalanche in a deadline move. The Avs sent their young stud, Swiss goaltender David Aebischer, to the Canadiens in return, sparking a battle for the position between him and Huet. Huet has emerged as the dominant choice, rescuing the Canadiens from the jaws of defeat on several occasions over their 5-1 streak.
The teams that pose the most substantial threat to the Canadiens and their playoff dreams are certainly the Thrashers and the Florida Panthers. Though the Thrashers have not made a definitive push for a post-season berth, they have been consistent all season. Led by superstars Ilya Kovalchuk and Marion Hossa, the Thrashers should never be counted out of any game or race.
The Panthers, meanwhile, have until recently made it their business to hang out at the bottom of the pack this season. Despite the play of goalie Roberto Luongo, arguably the most dynamic goalie in the NHL, the Panthers have only turned it on in the last month, going 10-3-1 in March. They are only six points behind the Canadiens after their 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are also in contention. They have not made a substantial impression on the conference in March, but they did end the red-hot Philadelphia Flyers' five game winning streak on Tuesday. Toronto thrives on its stellar goaltending and veteran leadership, and an eye should certainly be kept on the Leafs' performance. They are currently seven points behind Montreal with 12 games left in their schedule.
The Western Conference, meanwhile, has been shaping up for a photo finish all season long. The big story is undoubtedly the play of the San Jose Sharks. As of last week, the Sharks were running three teams behind in the race for the eighth spot. As of Wednesday, the Sharks find themselves only one win back of the Edmonton Oilers. The Sharks are 8-3 since Mar. 9, led by former Boston Bruins star Joe Thornton and the elusive Jonathan Cheechoo. Their competition, notably the Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings, slipped up in March. The Oilers have gone 6-5-4 in March while the Kings recorded a mediocre 6-6.
Potential long shots include the Minnesota Wild and the Phoenix Coyotes. The Wild is threatening to play spoiler, led by Brian Rolston and goalie Manny Fernandez. The Coyotes, led by Shane Doan and coach Wayne Gretzky, should never be discounted, despite the nagging knee injury to star left wing Ladislav Nagy. While both teams hover near 10 points out, a well-placed winning streak could catapult them into contention.
While the front running teams, such as the Detroit Red Wings, the Dallas Stars, the Ottawa Senators and the Carolina Hurricanes have their playoff spots locked up, the mid-level teams will be out for blood over the next three weeks. Be sure to catch upcoming games on NESN and OLN.
