Panthers Win, Stay Alive in East

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.

Thanks to a loss to Atlanta on Friday, the Florida Panthers had their backs against the wall Sunday evening. With Pittsburgh in town, Florida needed a win to keep up with the Eastern Conference playoff race. As we enter the final week of the season, the Panthers are indeed still alive, and Pittsburgh's hopes for a fourth seed took a huge hit.

In the East

Eastern Conference, 4/5 1. z-Boston Bruins 112 pts 2. x-Washington Capitals 102 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 87 10. Buffalo Sabres 85

Eastern Conference, 4/6 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 10. Buffalo Sabres 85

Florida beat Pittsburgh 4-2 and tied the Rangers for eighth. New York has more wins, so they keep the position for now. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, missed a chance to create a three-way tie for fourth with Carolina and Philadelphia.

Washington's 6-4 win over Atlanta gives them sole possession of second in the East, but the Devils still have time to make the pass this week.

In the West

Western Conference, 4/5 1. y-San Jose Sharks 113 pts 2. x-Detroit Red Wings 107 3. x-Calgary Flames 94 4. x-Chicago Blackhawks 95 5. x-Vancouver Canucks 94 6. Columbus Blue Jackets 89 7. Anaheim Ducks 88 8. Nashville Predators 86 9. St. Louis Blues 86 10. Minnesota Wild 83 11. Edmonton Oilers 83

Western Conference, 4/6 1. y-San Jose Sharks 115 pts 2. y-Detroit Red Wings 109 3. x-Calgary Flames 94 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

No movement in the West standings, but there were a couple meaningful results. Minnesota's failure to hold on for at least a point against Detroit probably cost them any remaining chance to make the playoffs. Anaheim's winning streak ended at home against San Jose, and it keeps them within shouting distance of the ninth-place Blues.

Chicago got a significant two points with a 1-0 overtime win over Columbus, while the Blue Jackets got a point out of their second straight game. It appears Columbus is virtually locked into sixth.

Colorado stunned Vancouver, 4-1. That puts the Flames in good position to win the Northwest.

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What's Next

Detroit goes to Buffalo, hoping to end what's left of the Sabres' hopes. Also, Montreal is home for Ottawa, and Calgary hosts Los Angeles.

The Flames have clinched a playoff spot, while the Canadiens are in good shape for one, but both need wins. Calgary is trying to hold off Vancouver for a Northwest Division title that seemed to be a lock a month ago, and Montreal could conceivably finish as high as fourth if they keep playing well.

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.