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Race for the playoffs: Inside the stretch run for Anaheim, Chicago and Dallas

Chris Stewart, Jamie Benn

Colorado Avalanche right wing Chris Stewart (25) and Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) crash into each other during the first period of a NHL hockey game in Dallas, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

AP

With the season winding down and the playoff picture sorting itself out, we’ll be taking a look at the night’s games and how they’ll potentially affect the playoff races. This is ProHockeyTalk’s “Race for the Playoffs.”

Western Conference playoff race

p - 1. Vancouver - 113 pts (3 GR)
y-2. San Jose - 103 pts (2 GR)
y-3. Detroit - 102 pts (2 GR)
4. Nashville - 97 pts (2 GR)
5. Los Angeles - 98 pts (2 GR)
6. Phoenix - 97 pts (2 GR)
7. Anaheim - 95 pts (2 GR)
8. Chicago - 95 pts (2 GR)
e-9. Calgary - 93 pts (1 GR)
10. Dallas - 91 pts (3 GR)

p- clinched Presidents’ Trophy
z - clinched conference title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
e- eliminated from playoffs

Colorado @ Dallas - 7:00 pm ET

Being that it’s plainly obvious the Stars need to win this game and no other West teams play in important games (the Canucks play against the Wild), let’s instead take a look at the stretch run for the Stars, Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks. To keep it reasonable, we’ll go in order of highest record to lowest.

7. Anaheim Ducks (45-30-5 for 95 pts with two games left)

Home vs. Los Angeles (Friday) and away vs. Los Angeles (Saturday).

Thoughts: All the Ducks need is two points - not even a win - to clinch a playoff spot because they already hold six more non-shootout wins than the Stars. The Kings will be slightly less motivated having already clinched a spot, although their final two games should have a big impact on their playoff seed.

Besides, they hate their division rivals, and spite is often a solid motivator. Back-to-back games will make this tough for the Ducks, although it will also encourage the Kings to take it easy and possibly even rest a player or two.

8. Chicago Blackhawks (43-28-9 for 95 pts with two games left)

Away game vs. Detroit Red Wings (Friday), then a home game against Detroit in the NBC Game of the Week on Sunday.

Thoughts: It’s exciting to see that both the Blackhawks and Ducks must make the playoffs by beating their hated division rivals. Much like the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference, the ‘Hawks could clinch a playoff spot by earning three points.

Then again, Chicago could also clinch the spot with one non-shootout win. One more would leave them with 38 regulation or overtime wins and 44 overall, while the Stars can only max out with 38 regulation or overtime wins and 43 overall.

If the ‘Hawks lose tomorrow - especially in regulation - and the Stars take care of business, then Chicago’s last game of the season might really be their first “playoff” game.

The ninth place Calgary Flames have been eliminated.

10. Dallas Stars (40-28-11 for 91 points with three games left)

Home vs. Colorado today, away against Colorado on Friday and away against Minnesota on Sunday.

Thoughts: On paper, this is a a pretty manageable group of games, but three games in four days isn’t exactly an effortless draw. It’s an interesting scheduling quirk that the Stars also face a home-and-home series against a hated rival, with back-to-back games against Colorado today or tomorrow. They might not be division rivals, but they don’t like each other either.

Again, Dallas needs to win every game (probably in regulation or overtime) and get some help from Detroit and/or Los Angeles to make a breathtaking gallop to the playoffs.

Obviously, the odds are against the Stars, but a late run remains possible. We’ll keep you informed as the last days of the season determine who will make the playoffs and who gets an early vacation.