Hockey's real battles

Prelude - While fighting is all that seems to be the talk of hockey followers right now, let's take the high road and get you ready to discuss the battles that actually matter. If you know a fan of Toronto, Vancouver, or Edmonton test their emotional state as those teams play their season's most crucial games this week.

Sport - Hockey

Event - Both the Leafs and Oilers are within a few points of making the playoffs.

Toronto is playing Boston twice this week (Boston won the first game). Edmonton played Minnesota twice this week (won one and lost one). They next play Colorado on Thursday.

Vancouver should be safe to make the playoffs, however they lost their third straight game yesterday (6-3 to Colorado) and their goalie may need to leave the team as his wife is expecting to deliver their baby very soon.

Point to say - "Do you think (insert team name here e.g. Toronto, Edmonton) will make the playoffs?"

Follow up point - "Do you Vancouver will make the playoffs if their goalie has to leave the team next week?"

Get out of the conversation - "Did you go anywhere for March Break?"

Backgrounder
Who makes the playoffs? The top eight teams of each conference make the playoffs. Making the playoffs is based on winning your division and for the rest of the teams, who has the most points. Edmonton, Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver and Minnesota are all teams within six points of each other. That's not very much. This is very tight race.

Vancouver is in the playoffs if the season were to end today. But their goalie is about to leave their team as his wife is ready to give birth to their child. Meaning he could be away during their last games of the season. Anyone who follows Vancouver will tell you, Roberto Luongo, the goalie in question, has been the Canucks best player this season.

Regarding the Toronto Maple Leafs, they currently are out of a playoff spot. Leafs have won a few games lately, including a win over the Senators last weekend, but with a loss to Boston last night, those wins can now be seen as "too little, too late."

Edmonton Oilers are very much like the Leafs. Once thought to have no chance of making the playoffs, they have now won six of their last seven games and 12 in their last 15. This has resulted in the Oilers now being 3 points or two wins away from getting into the playoffs.

Links
See the NHL standing here.