Instead of ranking the NHL teams this week, the focus is on each team's chance of making the playoffs. Most teams have about five games left in the season. The top eight teams in each conference qualify for the postseason.

Eastern Conference

1. Pittsburgh Penguins – The Penguins are a lock for the playoffs. They are currently fighting with Montreal for the top seed in the east.
2. Montreal Canadiens – The Canadiens are also a lock for a playoff spot.
3. Carolina Hurricanes – The Canes hold the Southeast division lead, giving themselves the conference's three seed. However, they are currently only two points from losing the division and missing the playoffs completely.
4. Ottawa Senators – The Senators are in barring a huge collapse in their final four games. They still have a chance to catch Montreal for the division title.
5. New Jersey Devils - The Devils are in a similar situation to Senators. They're in barring a massive collapse.
6. New York Rangers – The Rangers are tied with the Devils, and in the same situation as New Jersey and Ottawa.
7. Boston Bruins – The Bruins are in a tie for seventh and two points ahead of ninth. They still have a lot to play for. Winning three of their last five should do it.
8. Philadelphia Flyers – The Flyers are in the same spot as the Bruins.
9. Washington Capitals – The Caps are realistically the only team on the outside that still has a shot at getting in. They have four games left, with the last three at home. Sweeping those four might be the only chance they have.
10. Buffalo Sabres – The Sabres need too much to happen in their favor and they aren't playing good enough.
11. Florida Panthers – By the numbers, they still have a shot. However, the Panthers aren't going to be in the playoffs this year.
12. Toronto Maple Leafs – Out
13. New York Islanders – Out
14. Atlanta Thrashers – Out
15. Tampa Bay Lightning – Out

Western Conference

1. Detroit Red Wings – Detroit has clinched its division and will likely be the top seed in the West.
2. San Jose Sharks – The Sharks are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs and will likely be the two seed.
3. Minnesota Wild – The Wild don't have a firm grasp on a playoff spot yet, but should be playing playoff hockey.
4. Anaheim Ducks – The Ducks are guaranteed to make the playoffs and will likely be the four seed.
5. Dallas Stars – The Stars will have to fall hard to miss the playoffs.
6. Calgary Flames – The Flames are in the same situation as Dallas.
7. Colorado Avalanche – The Avalanche have a four-point lead and if they can manage four points in four games, they will be in the playoffs.
8. Vancouver Canucks – The Canucks have a thin two-point lead for the final spot. They will need to get at least seven points in their final five games or have the non-playoff teams collapse to be in the playoffs.
9. Nashville Predators – The Preds have struggled of late and that leaves them two points out of the playoff picture. They will likely need four wins in their final five to get in.
10. Edmonton Oilers – The Oilers have only four games left and are three points out of eighth. They have been playing the best hockey out of the bubble teams and could sneak up if they get a few lucky bounces.
11. Chicago Blackhawks – They're holding on by a very thin thread. They basically need a miracle.
12. Phoenix Coyotes – The Coyotes are in the same situation as the Blackhawks.
13. Columbus Blue Jackets – By the numbers, the Columbus still has a shot. However, the Blue Jackets aren't going to be in the postseason this year
14. St. Louis Blues – Out
15. Los Angeles Kings – Out

Ovechkin reaches 60

Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals has become the first NHL player to score 60 goals since 1995 and is the scoring leader going into the final stretch of the season.

Ovechkin currently has 61 goals with four games left to play. The games are crucial for the Caps chance at the playoffs and that could mean several more goals by Ovechkin.

As I said three weeks ago, Ovechkin is going to make it hard on the voters for the major awards come seasons end. If the Caps don't get in, I don't see him getting the MVP award.

However, if Washington finds a way into the playoffs, Ovechkin will have earned what should be his MVP award.

Ice Bears win regular season title

The Knoxville Ice Bears won the regular season title in the Southern Professional Hockey League. The Ice Bears (32–16-4) finished three points ahead of Jacksonville to claim the regular season championship and earn the top seed in the playoffs.

The Ice Bears are currently playing Columbus in the first round of the playoffs in a best-of-five series. The Ice Bears took game one 4–2 with the second game of the series coming tonight night at 7:35 p.m.

The winner of the series moves into the SPHL's Championship series.

Ice Vols finish ninth in national tournament

The Ice Vols finished ninth in the ACHA National tournament before spring break. Tennessee went 3–1 at the tournament. Game stories from the tournament can be found on the sidebar to the right.

The team is finished playing games until next fall.