Leaders coming back to the pack

As recently a month ago it looked like most of the races in the NHL were all but decided but coming to the close of February things have gotten much tighter for everyone (especially in the East) outside of the city of Boston. The Bruins are playing Warden supervising the fray in the yard as the other inmates fight for both seeding and survival. There is a little gap between the 8 and 9 but the margin between hosting a first round game and an all expense trip to Boston and a first round exit is razor thin as seeds 4-8 all have 66 points but the Rangers (2-6-2 last 10) are heading in the wrong direction and one more loss may cause a coaching change. On the outside looking in are the defending Eastern Conf. champions who need a serious run to get into the picture, and the Hurricanes who missed a chance to move up by getting blown out by the Bruins in their last meeting. In the Western Conference that “insurmountable” Sharks lead is down to three points over the hard charging Red Winds. Hard to believe the team that was as close to ‘unbeatable’ at home as there has been in recent history m may let home ice slip away (4-2-4 last 10). Calgary and Chi Town are notted at 72 to round out the first round home ice, after that, from 5 thru 10, a cold streak can send you to an early vacation. Even the LA Kings, who have not seen late spring hockey since the Regan administration find themselves 5 points out of the last playoff spot with the young guns playing well. Who will fade down the stretch? Who are the pretenders and contenders? Let us know here and in the NHL chat rooms.