Who Will be Knocked Out?

It's down to the wire and someone is going to get hurt! Who will it be!

With only 1 game left there are still 2 playoff spots up for grabs after a dramatic night last night.

Campbell Conference

Oilers 6 Dallas 2

In the Campbell Conference the Oilers steam train just kept rolling as they notched their 9th win in their last 10 after making a controversial trade of their number 1 goalie for a goalie who had played the maximum number of games. Ty Conklin stepped into the net and is as hot as a player has ever been in the last 10 games. The Oilers ripped 6 goals into the Dallas twine and won what was a closely contested game that could have gone either way.

Sharks 4 Blues 3

Whilst they were doing so (yes whilst!) the Blues may have ended their season by failing to show up in the first period against the Sharks. They left the first period down four goals to a chorus of boos from their home fans. They staged a heart stopping comeback in the third by potting three but couldn't score with the goalie pulled.

Canadians 5 Blues 2

The worst performance of the "must win" games came from the Los Angeles Kings, however, as they were pounded by the Montreal Canadians 5-2 and outshot 39-21. The Kings appeared disintrested in the first and second when they went down 2 nothing and then Josef Balej set up three straight in the third to put the Canadians up 5-0. The Kings managed 2 goals late in the third but most fans had already left the building.

The Skinny

The schedule for tonight gaurantees the Oilers will make the playoffs with a win. The Kings and Blues play and a loss or a tie by either team will put the Oilers into the playoffs as they have more wins than the Kings and are ahead in goals if they end up with the same record as the Blues (which is what a tie would result in).

The Oilers future is in their hands...but they have to beat the Predators!

The Avalanche, Flames, and Red Wings all need wins to prevent themselves from dropping in the standings as well.

The Wales Conference

Washinton 4 Devils 3

The Devils went into the night desperately needing a win. The game was a dramatic see-saw affair that saw an outstanding performance from Mario Lemieux...albeit in a losing cause. The Capitals pulled ahead 3 times only to see the Magnificent one work his magic and tie it. David Vyborny - a player the Caps picked up in a trade so controversial it led to the firing of their GM - potted the winner at 7:50 of the third and the Caps walked away with their 2nd win over the Devils in the last 3 games.

Hurricanes 4 Lightning 3

With the Devils loss a win by the Lightning would have cemented their playoff spot but it was not to be. The Lightning came out flying and took a 2 - 0 lead into the first intermission on a superb goal and then a highlight reel set up by team captain Pavel Kubina. They went into the third up 3-2 but forgot that they had 20 more mintues to play as the Hurricanes skated circles around them. The 'Canes pounded 18 shots at Jani Hurme, scored two, and won the game 4-3.

The Skinny

The Devils must beat the Capitals tonight and pray that the Lightning lose to the Flyers in order to make the post season. Both the Caps and the Flyers will be motivated as a win will alter their playoff standing. The Caps have beaten the Devils soundly twice and the shockingly poor play all season of Khabibulin is a major concern. On the other hand the Lightning have had a miserable season after their championship. I'm betting on the Lightning to win though.

And after tonight... It's all settled and the post season rumble will be on!