Flames Nearing Northwest Title

The Stanley Cup won't be handed out until June, but this is the time when we see teams making runs at the playoffs. And you can't win the Cup if you don't make the playoffs. Race for the Cup is your daily check of where your favorite team stands as the season dwindles.

It looked like a foregone conclusion not that long ago, but the Calgary Flames had trouble sealing the deal. Fortunately for them, Vancouver couldn't seize the opportunity to take control of the Northwest Division, and the Flames find themselves on the cusp of a division title. A 4-1 win over Los Angeles Monday night gave the Flames a two-point lead with three games to go.

In the East

Eastern Conference, 4/6
1.	z-Boston Bruins	112 pts
2.	x-Washington Capitals	104
3.	x-New Jersey Devils	102
4.	Philadelphia Flyers	95
5.	x-Carolina Hurricanes	95
6.	Pittsburgh Penguins	93
7.	Montreal Canadiens	92
8.	New York Rangers	89
9.	Florida Panthers	89

Eastern Conference, 4/7
1.	z-Boston Bruins	112 pts
2.	y-Washington Capitals	104
3.	x-New Jersey Devils	102
4.	Philadelphia Flyers	95
5.	x-Carolina Hurricanes	95
6.	Pittsburgh Penguins	93
7.	Montreal Canadiens	92
8.	New York Rangers	89
9.	Florida Panthers	89

We bid "adieu" to the Sabres, who were beaten at home Monday by Detroit, thus destroying any serious chance they had to make the playoffs. Sure, they're still alive if you look at the math, but it's not all about that here. The Sabres need too much help.

In Montreal, the Canadiens blew a third-period lead and lost to Ottawa, 3-2. While the Habs lead ninth-place Florida by three points, Florida has a game in hand, while Montreal has to deal with the slumping and potentially desperate Rangers at the Garden Tuesday.

In the West

Western Conference, 4/6
1.	y-San Jose Sharks	115 pts
2.	x-Detroit Red Wings	109
3.	x-Calgary Flames	94
4.	x-Chicago Blackhawks	95
5.	x-Vancouver Canucks	94
6.	Columbus Blue Jackets	90
7.	Anaheim Ducks	88
8.	Nashville Predators	86
9.	St. Louis Blues	86
10.	Minnesota Wild	83
11.	Edmonton Oilers	83

Western Conference, 4/7
1.	y-San Jose Sharks	115 pts
2.	y-Detroit Red Wings	111
3.	x-Calgary Flames	96
4.	x-Chicago Blackhawks	97
5.	x-Vancouver Canucks	94
6.	Columbus Blue Jackets	90
7.	Anaheim Ducks	88
8.	Nashville Predators	86
9.	St. Louis Blues	86
10.	Minnesota Wild	83
11.	Edmonton Oilers	83

In the only games involving teams in the West, the Flames won in Los Angeles, and Detroit picked up the win at Buffalo.

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What's Next

Plenty of games Tuesday involving either playoff teams trying to improve their position, teams trying to make the playoffs, or both.

Among the big ones are Florida traveling to Philadelphia, where the Panthers are trying to get in, and the Flyers are in a dogfight for a home-ice position in the first round. Also in the East, Montreal visits the Rangers, trying to at least hang on to seventh in the East.

In Nashville, the Predators continue their push for a playoff spot as they host Chicago. The Blackhawks are in good position for the fourth seed in the West, but they need to keep picking up points.

Meanwhile, Vancouver's last chance to take a shot at the Northwest Division title is a home date with Calgary.

x - Clinched Playoff Spot, y - Division Champ, z - Conference Champ; green - Rise in the Standings, red - Fall. The top three teams in each conference are division leaders.