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The Dallas Stars have brought back a familiar name to their front office: Bob Gainey has agreed to join the NHL club as a consultant.

"I think it’s good thing for the organization and it’s a good thing for everybody involved," Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk told ESPN.com Thursday.

Stars president Jim Lites confirmed the move Wednesday, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Gainey spent 12 years with the Stars organization in both Minnesota and Dallas as coach and later as GM. He was GM of the 1999 Stanley Cup-champion Stars, with Nieuwendyk as one of his key players.

"Bob is a well-respected guy in our town and within our organization," Nieuwendyk told ESPN.com. "He’ll be an adviser not only to myself but also to Jim on the business side. I think he’s going to be valuable to everybody.’’

Gainey, who went back to Montreal to be GM from 2003-09, was an adviser to Pierre Gauthier in Montreal the past few years. But Gainey parted ways with the Habs the same day Gauthier was fired as GM.

The Stars jumped at the chance to bring Gainey back.

"Talks intensified with Bob after that," Nieuwendyk said.

Gainey will still be based in Montreal. He also has a place in Florida.

Lidstrom update

There is still no decision from seven-time Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom on his future, not that the Red Wings are expecting one for a while longer.

"I don’t really need to know until the middle of June,’’ Red Wings GM Ken Holland told ESPN.com Thursday.

"I saw him on the weekend," added Holland. "But we didn’t really touch on it. I’m letting him go through whatever process he needs to go through to make a decision."

The Wings obviously want to know before the June draft so they can react either way in terms of trade talks.

Meanwhile, veteran top-four blueliner Brad Stuart will also be an unrestricted free agent July 1. There has been talk that he might want to return to the West Coast due to family reasons (he still has a home in San Jose), but Detroit is keeping the door open to re-sign him if he chooses to return.

"I told Stuey, 'Go home, take a month with your family'; told his agent I would talk to him prior to the draft,’’ Holland said.

My guess is, if the San Jose Sharks have any interest in bringing back Stuart -- he began his career there -- and they make him a reasonable offer, he could be in San Jose next season.

Personnel compensation

A subject that just won’t go away when talking to team executives around the league is the desire by some to revive team compensation for lost front-office personnel, which I wrote about on March 7. In conversations with executives over the past week, the topic has crept up again, with Marc Bergevin leaving the Blackhawks to become Montreal’s GM. Bergevin then approached Toronto about hiring Rick Dudley from their front office.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman abolished compensation for teams that allowed front-office personnel to join other teams in the wake of Peter Chiarelli’s controversial departure from Ottawa to Boston in 2006. The commish was tired of being dragged into debates between organizations about what form of compensation was fair in those cases. And I don’t blame Bettman for that.

One GM I spoke with last week said the solution lies in standardizing the compensation so that the league doesn’t have to play a role in any transaction of team personnel.

"So, for example, to me, if you lose someone from your organization and he either becomes a head coach or a GM elsewhere, you get a second-round pick," said the GM. "That’s across the board, no arguing. And if you lose someone so that he joins another team to become an assistant GM or an assistant coach, it’s a fourth-round pick. Something like that. The team that comes calling you looking to hire one of your guys knows ahead of time what compensation is in play."

It’s a topic for NHL governors and owners to bring up if they choose, but my sense is the league still has zero appetite to open that door again.

"I don't anticipate this matter being on the board agenda in June -- or at any time in the near future," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told ESPN.com via email Thursday. "It has been raised and discussed at the board level several times now in recent years, and there has not been an appetite to change our current policy.''

Former Blackhawks' goalie Ed Belfour discusses coming back to Chicago to be honored by the team.

Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun discuss the pending punishment for Duncan Keith and the playoff races in the East and West.

BURNSIDE: Well, my friend, it's the end of another week. We have just a little more than two weeks left in the regular season, yet there have been significant developments. Tops on the list has to be the loss of Vancouver Canucks star winger Daniel Sedin, who took a nasty elbow to the head courtesy of former Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith earlier this week and left the team to return to Vancouver. There's no real timetable for Sedin’s return, who suffered a concussion, and that could spell real trouble for the defending Western Conference champions. Although his numbers may be off a bit from last season's Art Ross scoring turn, Sedin leads the Canucks with 30 goals and 10 power-play goals. Can we start to calculate the potential impact his loss would have on the Canucks’ Stanley Cup dreams? They rebounded nicely with a big 2-1 win in Dallas on Thursday, a win that set the dominoes tumbling in the crazy Pacific Division, but it’s hard to imagine the Canucks advancing deep in the playoffs if their top goal scorer isn’t able to play.

As for the Pacific, the Stars' loss coupled with the Los Angeles Kings’ shootout win over St. Louis vaulted the Kings into the top spot in the Pacific. Phoenix, without Shane Doan, who was serving the first of a three-game suspension for elbowing in a play not all that different from the Keith-Sedin incident, held off Colorado. The Avs technically dropped out of the top eight in the Western Conference, although they’re tied with Dallas in points. Finally, the beleaguered San Jose Sharks came up with a monster 2-1 win over the defending Cup champs from Boston. How tough are things out West? San Jose is currently in 10th place, a point behind Dallas and Colorado. Wow!

LEBRUN: I'm going to require a cat nap on my office couch at some point today, Scotty, because I couldn't resist staying up to watch those Pacific Division games Thursday night. Just wish my 9-month-old twins would learn to sleep past 6 a.m. Speaking of twins, Henrik Sedin rocked on without his brother Daniel, showing leadership in a strong effort with two assists -- setting up the opening goal by Mason Raymond -- as the Canucks bounced back in Dallas. I spoke with Canucks assistant GM Laurence Gilman on Thursday, and Daniel was going to require further medical evaluation before the club would have any idea what it was looking at in terms of his absence.

In the meantime, the fate of Duncan Keith took a bizarre twist Thursday. At first, from what my sources told me, the league informed the Keith camp that he would have a phone hearing (meaning a suspension five games or fewer) on Friday at 2 p.m. ET. Later in the day, according to a source on Thursday night, Keith was asked about waiving his rights for an in-person hearing. In other words, the league would have the right to suspend Keith north of six games per the terms of the CBA (but it doesn't necessarily mean the league would). As of Thursday night, it wasn't clear whether Keith was going to waive his right to an in-person hearing or to fly to New York. But it certainly muddied the picture on his hearing.

But back to the ice, where the action was furious Thursday night, I was flipping back and forth especially between the games in L.A. and San Jose. There was some big-time hitting in both games. The Kings made it a season-high six in a row with the Jeff Carter shootout winner. They’re now 10-3-0 in their past 13 games, outscoring opponents 42-25. I wouldn't want to face this Kings team in the first round, Scotty. And the Sharks -- on life support -- pulled off a must-win over the Cup champs. I spoke with Sharks captain Joe Thornton Thursday morning, and it was clear in his voice that he would make sure his troops understood they had run out of chances and needed to buckle down. He led the way on the opening goal by creating the turnover that led to Joe Pavelski's marker. That set the tone for the evening.

BURNSIDE: You know how Vancouver fans and the local media will respond if Keith isn’t given a hefty suspension given their constant paranoia vis-a-vis conspiracies and the like. And there was no need for Keith to make that play on Daniel Sedin regardless of whatever transpired earlier in the game.

Meanwhile, you’ve got to feel a bit for Dallas. How tough would it be for the Stars to fall out of the playoffs after such a nice run for a team that was an afterthought for many prognosticators this past fall? I spoke to Stars owner Tom Gaglardi and president Jim Lites this week, and they’ve really seen the fan base respond in recent days, and not making the playoffs would be a real kick in the shins. But there they are in eighth place as we speak Friday morning. They’ve won one of their past four and now face a home-and-home with Calgary on Saturday and Monday. The Flames are on their last playoff legs and need to sweep this series to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive.

But let’s turn our attention eastward, my friend. Speaking of flickering, the Winnipeg Jets have an absolutely must-win situation on their hands Friday night in Washington. The Jets are five points back of eighth-place Washington with a game in hand. The Caps lost in a shootout in Philadelphia on Thursday, so the door is open for the Jets to close the gap a little. You can bet Buffalo will be cheering for the Jets or at least keeping a close eye on the scoreboard at Madison Square Garden, where the Sabres will be Friday night for a date with the Rangers. The charging Sabres are just a point out of eighth, and you know a surprise playoff berth would take some of the sting out of a largely disappointing season for the Sabres.

LEBRUN: I can’t let you get away with that Vancouver conspiracy comment, my friend. That was a nasty hit on a franchise player. I don’t blame Canucks fans for being up in arms. Keith isn’t a dirty player, but he deserves to get suspended for that one. Originally, I was thinking two to three games, but the more I watched it, I’d be more comfortable with four to five games for that hit -- an outright blow to the head, and the puck wasn’t around.

OK, now that I’ve tapped your knuckles a bit, let’s move back to the Eastern playoff race. Friday is a massive night in the battle for eighth, indeed, and let’s face it: The Jets need two points in regulation or it’s over. The Sabres, meanwhile, face a mighty tough one at MSG. I have a Ryan Miller Q&A blog today, Scotty, and you’ll be interested to read how he explains his team’s charge up the standings after a disastrous first half to the season. He’s certainly a huge reason the Sabres have rocketed up the standings, sporting a .939 save percentage in his past 15 starts (11-1-3). Does Miller remind you right now of the dude who nearly stole the gold medal for Team USA in February 2010?

BURNSIDE: Just so we’re clear, I’m not suggesting Keith doesn’t deserve to take a seat for his hit on Sedin. But you also understand that, whatever the penalty, it won’t be enough for the riotous fans in Vancouver. That’s just the way it is.

As for the Sabres, Miller is leading, as franchise netminders do, by putting aside all the external distractions and giving his team a chance every night. But it needs more, in my books, and this is the time for guys like Thomas Vanek, Drew Stafford and Derek Roy to show their stuff, to show their mettle. This is a team that has failed to rise to the challenge in recent years -- witness its turn against Boston two years ago in the first round of the playoffs or last season when it had Philadelphia on the ropes in the first round and couldn’t close the deal. Although the Sabres' surge to the edge of the playoff bracket is admirable, it will mean absolutely zero if they can’t get over the hump. I still think the Caps, with Alex Ovechkin playing his best hockey of the season, will keep the Sabres outside the dance and will set up a long summer of reflection for the underachieving Sabres.

LEBRUN: After Friday night, the Sabres have seven games left: home games against Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Toronto; road games at Washington, Toronto, Philadelphia and Boston. While ending the season at Philadelphia and Boston seems like a daunting task, those two teams may have nothing to play for come April 5-7. Call me crazy, but I think the Sabres are going to pull this off, my friend.

Have a great weekend, Scotty, and stay clear of Vancouver fans.

1. A-Lightning Rod:Alexander Ovechkin has been a lightning rod for criticism over the past couple of seasons, especially this season, as the Washington Capitalshave listed aimlessly for much of the season and are in the unusual position of battling for a playoff berth. Ovechkin's production has been down and his leadership skills have been called into question as captain of a team that has lacked a spark for long periods. Much of that criticism has been fair, but it’s also fair to point out that recently, when his team has needed the old Ovechkin most, the Caps captain has responded. Heading into Thursday’s important tilt with the Philadelphia Flyers, Ovechkin ranks third in goals scored since Dec. 15 with 23. Only NHL scoring leader Evgeni Malkin and goal-scoring leader Steven Stamkos have scored more over that period.

In his past seven games, Ovechkin has six goals and an assist as the Caps continue to hold down eighth place in the Eastern Conference (Buffalo is now tied in points, but the Caps have a game in hand).

Not only is he producing, but Ovechkin is producing in a manner that is reminiscent of his play of a few years back, when he was as dynamic a player as there was in the NHL. He has scored off the rush a number of times in recent games, blasting pucks past goaltenders.

“I think that’s fair. I think that’s an accurate observation,” GM George McPhee told ESPN.com when asked if he’d seen more of the old Ovechkin in recent days.

“He’s playing like the guy we’ve known for a long time,” he said.

The veteran GM has no real answer for the sudden uptick in production other than to note that a player’s career rarely follows a straight line.

“He hasn’t changed his approach,” McPhee said.

The problem for the Caps moving forward might not be the captain but the rest of the guys wearing the Caps jersey. With Nicklas Backstrom still sidelined after taking an elbow to the jaw from Rene Bourque, there has been a dearth of secondary scoring. Ovechkin’s 32 goals lead the Caps, but there’s a significant drop-off to Alexander Semin and Troy Brouwer, who are tied for second with 18 goals. Backstrom hasn’t played since Jan. 3 and is still third among all Caps forwards in point production.

“Yeah, we’re going to need some scoring. It can’t come from one or two people all the time,” McPhee acknowledged.

2. Varlamov, as in paying off: Speaking of the Caps, remember when everyone was making fun of Colorado GM Greg Sherman after he traded a first- and second-round pick for Semyon Varlamov, who was threatening to bolt for the Kontinental Hockey League because his stock had fallen so dramatically with the Caps?

Remember the suggestions that the Avs might be so bad that the first-round pick might actually end up being a lottery pick?
No? Didn’t think so.

With fewer than 10 games to play in the regular season, both Colorado and Washington are fighting for their playoff lives.

But if the Avs do hang on -- they are currently in seventh place -- it will be in large part to Varlamov’s contributions.

If the Caps do not, it will be due in large part to the lack of consistent goaltending.

As of Wednesday, the Avs were 12th overall in goals allowed per game. The Caps ranked 22nd.

With his overtime win over Calgary on Tuesday, Varlamov stretched his personal winning streak to five games. He is 10-2-0 with a 1.48 GAA and .951 save percentage in his past 12 starts.

His 10 wins in the past month lead all NHL netminders and his four shutouts this season have all come on the road. Varlamov has been unbelievable is 8-0 in the shootout, allowing two goals on 24 attempts, a record that in the end might mean the difference between an invitation to the postseason dance or not.

Head coach Joe Sacco isn’t a goaltending coach, so he doesn’t profess to understand any technical changes in Varlamov’s game, but he does know there’s been a real growth in Varlamov’s confidence and hence his role with the team.

“To me what I’ve seen is more of a take-charge kind of attitude,” Sacco told ESPN.com shortly before the Avs jetted off for a crucial matchup at Phoenix on Thursday night. “He just appears more confident. I think he feels that he fits in more than he did."

That kind of confidence is contagious, especially for a young team whose players don’t have much experience with the pressure-cooker atmosphere of a playoff race.

“That allows our team to go out and play our game, to play to our own identity,” which is based on speed and energy, Sacco said.

3. You are like a Hurricane:Shssssshhhh, don’t look now, but the Carolina Hurricanes have shouldered their way back into the playoff discussion in the Eastern Conference. Yes, the Canes have their work cut out for them given that they’re five points out of eighth with eight games to go and three teams to jump over. But the fact this team is even part of the discussion is a testament to the impact rookie head coach Kirk Muller has had in this young squad, and the drive of guys like captain Eric Staal, who has kept the playoff dream percolating for a team long left for dead.

“I don’t think the hockey world knows how good (Staal) is playing,” Muller told ESPN.com Thursday before the Hurricanes headed off to Columbus for a game there Friday night.

Indeed, the Hurricanes are the ultimate under-the-radar team, riding a four-game winning streak and having gone 19-10-9 since Christmas, including a sterling 12-3-4 record at home.

Staal has been on a tear since the All-Star break, scoring 12 times and adding 18 assists in 23 games, including a franchise-record 11-game assist streak. He is plus-10 over that stretch after being a woeful minus-23 in the first 51 games of the season.

The playoffs might be a pipe dream -- the team’s brutal 3-15 record in overtime and the shootout, where they’re 0-for-6, will likely keep the Canes on the outside of the playoff bubble when the dust clears -- but their play certainly bodes well for the future.

Muller acknowledged that the first 10 or 15 games after he replaced Paul Maurice were a kind of in-season training camp, where he was experimenting with his roster, finding out who could do what and what roles his players could accept.

“The biggest thing was learning the personnel,” Muller said.

Regardless of how things shake down over the final eight games, Muller is already anticipating exit interviews where he will reinforce to his young squad that they need to build off this terrific run next fall at training camp.

“It doesn’t mean anything if we don’t start (next season) that way, too,” Muller said.

4. Stars filling in the holes: Dallas Starspresident Jim Lites likes to describe the process of reviving the franchise’s fortunes on and off the ice in terms of a hole in the ground.

As in, once the Stars resolved their long-standing ownership issues, they stopped digging one.

“We’re filling it in now, game to game, week to week,” Lites told ESPN.com this week.

The hole -- really a crater -- was created by a combination of previous ownership’s financial woes that led to an ownership vacuum and an on-ice product that saw fans become increasingly disenfranchised.

New owner Tom Gaglardi reassured the team of its direction under GM Joe Nieuwendykand rookie head coach Glen Gulutzan, and reassured the fan base the Stars are for real -- again.

“He’s a real guy and he’s a real hockey guy,” Lites said of his new boss.

When Lites returned to the post he held twice previously after Gaglardi took over the team late last year, the team dropped ticket prices, and with the Stars making an unexpected charge to the top of the Pacific Division, the fans have swarmed back to the previously sparsely populated American Airlines Center.

The price reduction that coincided with Gaglardi’s ratification as owner began with a Dec. 19 game versus Anaheim, and in the 22 games since, home attendance jumped almost 4,000 per game.

The past seven home games' average attendance is more than 17,000, including a franchise-record 19,099 against Chicago on March 16, which included standing-room-only tickets that were sold in suites.

“I see empty seats in my sleep. It kind of haunts you,” Lites said. “When I see the building full and going, I sleep a little better.”

There have been walk-up crowds of 4,000 as the Stars’ surprising second-half run has continued.

“Nobody does that,” Lites said.

That said, this is a team that’s still far removed from the constant sellouts that marked the franchise around the time of its only Stanley Cup run in 1999.

“It’s a lot of hard work winning fans back. They’re pretty cynical,” Lites acknowledged.

If Gulutzan can keep his squad on track, that road back to relevancy in the tough Dallas market might not be as long as some had believed.

The team sold the equivalent of 55 full season ticket packages last week and Lites hopes that through the summer there will be upward of 2,000 additional season ticketholders, numbers that would drive the Stars’ season-ticket base back toward 9,000.

“Some people thought we were never going to get it back,” Lites said.

For his part, Gaglardi said he wouldn’t have pursued the team had he not thought they could return to being a top-10 team again in terms of attendance and revenues.

What’s been impressive about the attendance turnaround is that the numbers for the most part reflect real human beings in the seats, as the team has reduced the number of comp tickets allocated by about 75 percent, Gaglardi said.

It’s been tough, the owner said, “but you have to educate the market. You’re not going to be able to watch NHL games for free.”

5. Chemistry experiment: One of the most intriguing parts of this season’s HBO 24/7 reality series was watching New York Rangers forward Artem Anisimov apologize to his teammates after making a mock firing motion with his stick after scoring a goal against Tampa, a celebration that sparked an on-ice brouhaha and might have indirectly led to a loss.

It was a window into the nature of a team’s chemistry, the dynamics of a dressing room where players have each other’s backs and where errors of judgment effect more than just the player in question but the greater good.

We wonder, then, what does Alexander Radulov say to his teammates behind closed doors, now that he has landed back in Nashville, that will in some way make up for running out on his teammates at the end of the 2007-08 season four years ago?

GM David Poile and Radulov spoke with the media Wednesday and said all the right things about putting the past in its place and moving forward. But Radulov’s return to the NHL represents a great clash of two motherhood issues for pro athletes and specifically for hockey players: the desire to win and loyalty to your team and teammates. Radulov straddles those two imperatives. He enhances the Predators’ chances for their longest playoff run ever. But he has shown zero loyalty to the franchise that drafted him.

Captain Shea Webertold ESPN.com’s Pierre LeBrun in no uncertain terms that the players were comfortable with Radulov’s return, regardless of the circumstances of his departure, but one wonders whether there are enough mea culpas in the world to make up for what might have been.

Think Radulov would have helped against Chicago in 2010 when the Preds had the eventual Cup champs on the ropes in the first round? Or last spring, when they were battling Vancouver and couldn’t find enough goals to dislodge the Presidents’ Trophy winners?

How many millions of dollars in playoff revenues did Radulov’s selfishness cost the franchise that owns his rights?

Those questions, though, seem moot when confronted with what is believed to be this franchise’s best opportunity for a long playoff run and perhaps a shot at their first Stanley Cup.

In short, winning -- or the lure of winning -- trumps all, even the shame of having turned your back on your teammates.

Time to debate the hot topics of the day, with Scott Burnside and Craig Custance. Here we go.

BURNSIDE: Greetings, my friend. As the days dwindle down toward the end of the regular season, I am more and more convinced that there will be only room for either the San Jose Sharks or the Los Angeles Kings in the postseason dance. Shocking, really, given that I think most prognosticators liked both teams to easily qualify for the playoffs and battle tooth and nail for the Pacific Division title. Now, given the mediocrity in the Pacific, I suppose that’s still possible. But the schedule-makers have set up a dynamic that suggests only one will survive, and right now it looks like the talented Sharks will be on the outside looking in. In spite of getting Martin Havlat back into the fold, the Sharks continue to stumble around without a clue. Tuesday night they were mauled by the Kings in Los Angeles by a 5-2 count. They were outshot 42-22 as the Kings won their fifth straight and jumped into eighth place in the conference. The Sharks, meanwhile, languish in 10th place. Yes, they’re just two points out of eighth place but is there anything that suggests they’re capable of mounting a challenge to the teams ahead of them? The Sharks have won just three of their past 11 games and, perhaps worse for them, finish the season with a home-and-home against the Kings. Their goaltending has been shoddy, they can’t get timely scoring and seem to lack the kind of leadership needed to get over the hump. After two straight trips to the Western Conference final, this would be a huge setback, needless to say, but would it be the kind of setback that causes a dramatic change at the top?

CUSTANCE: There's no doubt that the Sharks missing the playoffs would be a colossal failure, and not just because I picked them to win the Stanley Cup. How you can get blown out 5-2 in an absolutely crucial game against the Kings is beyond me. That kind of effort is mystifying.

If this team misses the playoffs, some decisions in team construction will definitely be scrutinized. Hitching the wagon to Antti Niemi isn't looking like the smartest move. Since the All-Star break, Niemi is 7-10-4 with a 2.81 goals-against average and .903 save percentage. The deadline-day decision to send Jamie McGinn to Colorado for T.J. Galiardi and Daniel Winnik isn't panning out either. McGinn has 10 points in 11 games for the Avalanche, while Galiardi and Winnik have combined for exactly one point. Playoff teams need secondary scoring and the Sharks aren't getting it.

But if you look at the big picture, there aren't many GMs who have put their teams in position to win in the playoffs more often than Doug Wilson has in his tenure with San Jose. I'd have a real hard time making any changes to the duo of Wilson and coach Todd McLellan considering they've made two consecutive trips to the West finals. And the playoffs are a funny thing. Let's say the Sharks manage to grab the No. 8 seed in the West and face the Blues in the first round. Which team would you bet the kid's college fund on?

BURNSIDE: Well, I don’t think the Sharks are going to make it so your excellent question of whether the Sharks could affect a major upset in the playoffs is going to be moot (and I’m not just saying that because you picked the Sharks to win the Cup, although I do kind of enjoy that part of it). One of the reasons the table is tilted against San Jose, beyond having two more games against the Kings, is that Dallas, Phoenix and Colorado continue to collect points. I watched that Dallas-Phoenix tilt Tuesday night and, with the Pacific Division lead on the line, the teams didn’t disappoint with an often chippy performance that had definite playoff intensity (ask Jamie Benn, who took a nasty Shane Doan elbow to the noggin). The Coyotes erased a 3-1 lead and then had three or four glorious chances to win it in overtime but Kari Lehtonen was superlative. You and I have saw Lehtonen up close in Atlanta during his formative years and I remain skeptical he is a franchise goalie kind of guy. But his play in the last month or so for a Dallas team that looked like it was a bubble playoff team has been impressive. He stopped 27 of 30 shots and then all three in the shootout. He has won eight of 10. I spoke with president Jim Lites Tuesday and the Stars’ strong play is translating into terrific crowds for the Stars after playing to an empty house for much of the first half of the season. Good news for the Stars. Bad news for the Sharks.

CUSTANCE: Oh, I think Lehtonen has done more than enough to earn the franchise label during the second half of this season. He's answered questions regarding his durability and the only question remaining is how he'll respond to the pressure of the playoffs. Last time I saw him get ready for the postseason, he dyed his hair Thrashers blue in a stunt that rubbed veteran teammates the wrong way. I think it's safe to say he's grown up considerably since 2007, when he gave up 11 goals in two playoff games against the Rangers. That kick save he made last night on Oliver Ekman-Larsson in overtime was absolutely phenomenal. Remember that one if Dallas wins the Pacific by a point. And Joe Nieuwendyk's quiet offseason addition of Michael Ryder continues to pay off. He had another two goals last night in helping the Stars hold off the Coyotes and now has 32 goals this season. He has 10 points in nine games this month. Unbelievable. You mentioned that Shane Doan elbow on Jamie Benn, I'm thinking that could be trouble for Phoenix. Doan was fined last week and Brendan Shanahan hasn't gone easy on players he's had to have multiple conversations with this season. Doan has a hearing with the league Wednesday and if he's out any length of time, that could crush playoff hopes in Phoenix. That team is remarkably resilient, but Doan is the Coyotes' heart and soul.

BURNSIDE: Ah, how fondly I remember that blue dye job during the Thrashers’ one and only playoff run (stumble?). One game I’ll be keeping an eye on Wednesday night will be Vancouver’s visit to Chicago. The Blackhawks are on a tear. Even without captain Jonathan Toews, whose continued absence due to concussion symptoms remains a major concern for Hawks fans, Chicago has turned in some of its best all-around performances in recent days. Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane were impressive in 5-2 spanking of Washington on Sunday and they will put a four-game winning streak on the line tonight against the Canucks. A win could put the Hawks in a tie with Nashville and Detroit after it looked not so long ago that Chicago was destined for a fourth-place finish in the Central. Meanwhile, a fan asked during my chat Monday whether the Canucks’ tepid play of late was cause for concern, and I suggested that this is a team with little left to play for at this stage of the season. They’re too far behind St. Louis for a realistic run at the top seed in the conference or the Presidents’ Trophy and they’re miles ahead of Colorado in the Northwest. But their seeming inability to get ready for games, especially for games against lesser opponents like Minnesota, which beat them 2-0 on Monday, or Montreal has to be troubling for Canucks fans. Vancouver has won just three times in 10 games and one of those wins was against lowly Columbus. In short, one would imagine Chicago is a team Vancouver shouldn’t have any trouble getting up for. Should be a fun one.

CUSTANCE: It's always fun when those two teams go at it. I agree with you on the Canucks. Things are so tight in this league that if a group is even the slightest bit off or a step behind the opponent, it makes winning nearly impossible. A lot of the good teams have gone through stretches like we're seeing Vancouver endure right now and I think motivation plays a big part in that. The Canucks face a Chicago team that is clicking. You mentioned the strong play up front but I also think the Blackhawks are starting to reap the benefits of the Johnny Oduya trade that allowed Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith to reunite. Those two are playing well, with Keith putting up four assists in the win over Columbus. Seabrook led the team in ice time and was a plus-2. If those two are clicking and Toews can get healthy, that's an extremely dangerous team come playoff time. We joked about it on the podcast yesterday but they might want to ease up on the throttle. They're sitting comfortably in the No. 6 spot, which would mean a first-round series against the Pacific winner. To me, that's much more attractive than moving up to No. 5 and potentially facing a loaded Predators team that gave Chicago fits the last time they squared off in the postseason. Speaking of the Predators, time to get ready for the Alexander Radulov news conference. It's been fun Scott, enjoy the games.

Today, the guys are hanging out by the pool at the GMs meetings in Florida. Debating the serious issues, that is!

BURNSIDE: Greetings, my friend. Another beautiful day in South Florida, where we will be reconvening for Day 2 of the GMs meetings. But let’s talk a little on-ice action, and if there was ever an illustration of how hard it is to make a move in the NHL standings at this time of the season, it was Monday night. All four games on the docket Monday night were decided by one goal, two in overtime and one in a shootout. Those three-point games are killers for teams such as Calgary, Winnipeg and Los Angeles that are on the bubble trying to dislodge teams in front of them. But Monday did see a couple of key victories for teams that hope to find their way into the playoff dance. The slumping San Jose Sharks edged the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 for their first win in six games. The Sharks, still outside the playoff bubble in the Western Conference thanks to a brutal stretch, won’t get much time to savor that win as they head to Calgary for a crucial tilt with the Flames. It's still a bit hard to believe the Flames are right in the thick of the playoff race given all their injuries, but there they are, just two points out of eighth and a point back of the Sharks, who crept into ninth place with their win Monday. We’ve been waiting for the Sharks to show that they still have some mojo left after two straight trips to the Western Conference finals; think we’ll see it tonight against the Flames? My guess, for what it’s worth, is that Miikka Kiprusoff continues his all-world play and the Flames leap back over the Sharks.

CUSTANCE: That's been the big difference between the Flames and Sharks, as both fight for a playoff spot. Kiprusoff has been outstanding for Calgary and probably deserves more attention than he's received for his efforts lately. He hasn't lost in regulation yet in March, with a record of 4-0-1, and he's coming off a February that was his best month of the season. Antti Niemi had a rough February and is showing signs of improvement, but he needs to get better if the Sharks are going to emerge from this funk. But I'll take that bet on Tuesday night's game since Niemi and the Sharks have played Calgary tough this season. In three starts against the Flames, the goaltender is 2-1 with a 1.64 goals-against. We'll see if coach Todd McLellan turns to Niemi again on back-to-back nights. The team the Sharks are chasing in the Pacific, the Stars, have a chance to create even more separation with a winnable game against the Wild on Tuesday night. I had a chance to chat with GM Joe Nieuwendyk on Monday about his team's recent run after he opted not to blow things up at the trade deadline.

"They really made a statement even 10 days to two weeks prior to the deadline. The thing you hope gets accomplished is they come together as a team, respect and trust one another, and that's what our team is showing," he said.

It doesn't hurt that Kari Lehtonen has been lights-out for the Stars.

"It helps when you get good goaltending," Nieuwendyk said, smiling.

BURNSIDE: Speaking of goaltending, another interesting clash Tuesday will see New Jersey in Philadelphia to take on a Flyers team that has seen Ilya Bryzgalov morph from crazy netminder to crazy good in the past few weeks. The Flyers have worked hard with their franchise netminder to get him refocused after a roller-coaster ride through the first half of the season. He’s won five straight starts and earned shutouts in three of those games. Now, no one is going to build a statue a la Rocky Balboa until Bryzgalov gets it right in the playoffs, but the Flyers are looking a lot more like the team most of us expected them to be this season, and that means a team that will be tough to dislodge come playoff time. They’re tied in points with the Devils but have played one less game. Both teams still entertain thoughts of home-ice advantage in the first round, although I have to wonder about the lure of finishing sixth in the conference, which would mean a first-round matchup against the Southeast Division winner. With all due respect to Florida, Washington et al, that looks to be a much easier way to start the playoffs than playing Philadelphia, New Jersey or Pittsburgh, assuming the Penguins don’t catch New York for the top spot in the Atlantic. This will be the second time this week the two Atlantic Division foes will play. The Devils spanked Philadelphia with Sergei Bobrovsky between the pipes on Sunday by a 4-1 count. My guess is the Flyers get even Tuesday night.

CUSTANCE: Bryzgalov has been great for the Flyers, and Martin Brodeur gave us a reminder on Sunday at just how consistently great he's been by earning his 650th career win. Unbelievable. Bryzgalov will have his hands full as fellow Russian Ilya Kovalchuk looks to stay hot. The streaky Kovalchuk has nine points in his last five games, and like Brodeur, Kovalchuk is closing in on a milestone. He needs one goal to hit the 400-goal mark at just 28 years old, and chances are he'll get there Tuesday night. In five games against the Flyers this season, Kovalchuk has put up eight points. They don't seem to have an answer for him. Meanwhile, the usually potent Flyers have actually struggled to score goals lately. They're coming off two consecutive games in which they scored just one goal. That won't be enough to get past Kovalchuk and the Devils. Another interesting clash Tuesday night is the Central Division showdown between the Blues and Blackhawks. They played earlier this month in St. Louis, where the Blues beat Chicago quite handily, 5-1. A win would be a nice statement from the Blackhawks, who have concerned GM Stan Bowman with the extreme highs and lows this season.

"The biggest thing we've battled this year is consistency," he said Monday. "When we play well, we're a really good team. When we don't, we've had a little bit more variability than we have had in the past." He said he didn't think Jonathan Toews would be ready to go Tuesday night but remains optimistic that the captain will be back in the lineup within the week. That will help.

BURNSIDE: The Blackhawks are a funny team. You and I watched that game against Los Angeles on Sunday and there were some curious moments defensively for the Hawks. Speaking of the Kings, I might have to stay up late for this one, but I’m curious to see how Tuesday night’s Detroit at Los Angeles game turns out. The last time these teams met, in Detroit on Friday, the Wings scored twice late to stun the Kings 4-3. But the Wings are beat up, and with Nashville’s shootout win over Phoenix on Monday night they are just two points back of the Blues. St. Louis has really opened up space on their Central Division brethren, so it looks like we’re going to see the Preds and the Wings go at each other in the first round -- so getting home-ice advantage is going to be key. The Wings have lost three of four and there is significant concern about their play on the road. We know how dominant they are at home, but away from Joe Louis Arena they are just 16-18-1. The Kings, meanwhile, are clumped together with Calgary and San Jose just outside the playoff grid. Counting Tuesday night’s game, they play five of their next six at home and then play five of seven on the road to close out the season, so they need to start getting the job done. What’s your gut tell you on this one? I think the Wings sneak by, maybe in overtime.

CUSTANCE: I'll pick against you one final time and go with the Kings. I had a good conversation on Monday afternoon with Red Wings senior vice president Jimmy Devellano, and Detroit is very aware of its dramatic road/home splits. That's why it's absolutely necessary for the Red Wings to earn a top-four seed to set things up in the first round. Of all the teams fighting for position at the top of the Western Conference, Detroit needs the home-ice advantage the most. Makes for a great game between a pair of teams that need the points. Well, Scotty, time to go chase down general managers. It's been fun.

BURNSIDE: Greetings, my friend. Another week is almost in the books and the playoffs are that much closer. A handful of compelling games Thursday night, but the one that caught my eye was the Dallas Stars upending San Jose in a shootout to strengthen their grip on the Pacific Division lead. The Sharks blew 2-1 and 3-2 leads, allowing the Stars to tie the game with less than two minutes to go in regulation; San Jose continues to be a team that seems to find ways not to get the job done. The Sharks still hang on to eighth place in the conference, but that’s only because Los Angeles and Colorado both lost on the road Thursday night (in Columbus and Nashville, respectively).

For me, though, the Stars remain an interesting team to watch down the stretch and into the playoffs, because I have no doubt they’re going to be a playoff team, something few of us thought likely in September. I remember spending some time with Michael Ryder last year during the playoffs when Ryder was with the Bruins. Coach Claude Julien told some pretty funny tales about trying to get the easygoing Newfoundlander to dig in as a junior and later in the American Hockey League and the NHL. Ryder’s nickname was Easy, as in Easy Rider. But he chipped in some timely goals for the Bruins, and here he is, having signed as a free agent with Dallas, leading the way for the surprising Stars with 29 goals (he scored the first goal Thursday night). He is second on the team with five game winners.

The other guy who really stood out for me was Stars netminder Kari Lehtonen. I saw a lot of Lehtonen in Atlanta, and for a long time it looked like he would never be able to live up to his billing as a first-round draft pick (second overall in 2002), but he seems pretty comfortable carrying the freight for the surprising Stars right now.

LEBRUN: Despite a busy NHL night, I focused mostly on watching the Sharks-Stars game, and San Jose, for my money, played its best game in nearly a month. Sometimes before a good streak, a terrific effort in a losing cause is what can turn things around, and that was the feeling I got from Thursday night. The Sharks launched 48 shots at Lehtonen, and his masterful display of netminding was the only reason the Sharks didn’t get two points instead of one. As Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman was saying the other day, the shootout proves nothing. It’s a roll of the dice. It was important for San Jose to show there is still a heart beating in there after what has been a miserable few weeks. But let’s see if that was just a blip as opposed to a new direction for the final four weeks of the regular season.

I’m glad you brought up Ryder. Amazing that he was a free agent in our media fantasy league about six weeks ago. I have to admit I scooped him up only because I had some injuries. Boy, am I ever happy I did. He’s been en fuego. Try 10 goals in his past 15 games. Heck of a signing by GM Joe Nieuwendyk, indeed, and a bargain at $3.5 million for the kind of offense Ryder is bringing this season. And for the Stars, this was a statement win as they look to prove they’re legitimate threats for the Pacific Division title. It was nice to hear the crowd roar in that rink Thursday night after what has been a disappointing season for attendance on most nights for the Stars.

BURNSIDE: Only four games are on tap Friday, but all four have significant playoff implications, and you have to wonder what the Los Angeles Kings' mindset will be as they head to Joe Louis Arena after being nipped 3-1 in Columbus on Thursday night. That’s four straight wins for the mighty Blue Jackets and, to add insult to injury, former Kings defenseman Jack Johnson scored the winner with nine seconds left in the first period.

The Red Wings have hit a bit of a wobble since their record-breaking home winning streak came to an end, but they remain an elite team, and the Kings’ heavy road schedule is one of the reasons I don’t think they will be able to crack the top eight in the Western Conference. The Wings have fallen four points off the pace in the Central Division as St. Louis continues to roll along at the top of the division, the conference and the league standings. So you know the Wings will be a bit ornery Friday. The Wings have won just twice in their past seven outings and are still without Jimmy Howard, although Joey MacDonald has certainly proven he’s a more-than-capable backup in recent weeks. I figure the Kings take another one on the chin Friday. You?

LEBRUN: Well, you would be wobbling, too, if you had both Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk out of the lineup at the same time. Of the two superstars, Lidstrom should be back sooner, although Wings GM Ken Holland told me this morning via text that the seven-time Norris Trophy winner is out through the weekend. Call me crazy, especially with the Kings in a back-to-back situation and the Wings so mighty at home, but I have this gut feeling L.A. is going to squeeze one out at Joe Louis. The playoffs start now for the Kings.

Speaking of the playoffs, the bottom bracket of the East (and the Southeast Division title race) continues to be a turtle affair. Florida, Winnipeg, Tampa Bay and Buffalo all lost Thursday night, with only Washington taking home two points with a comeback, overtime victory over the Lightning at home. The Sabres actually played a decent road game in Boston but, playing on back-to-back nights, ran out of steam in the third period against the Cup champs. The Sabres remain two points out of the eighth and final playoff spot now held by Washington. The Caps are tied with the Jets at 72 points, while the Panthers hang on to the third seed in the East with 74 points. It doesn’t get any easier for the Cats with a game in Pittsburgh on Friday.

BURNSIDE: If the Kings are going to steal a couple of points in Detroit, Friday would be a good night to do it given the Wings’ injury issues. The Panthers, meanwhile, have shown an incredible ability to pull out of slides that could potentially wreck what has been an impressive season. Can they do it now? What’s troubling is that when they go sideways, they go all the way. The Panthers were waxed 5-0 by Philadelphia on Thursday (I guess all is right in Ilya Bryzgalov's universe at the present moment). A week earlier Winnipeg toasted them 7-0. Kris Versteeg didn’t join the Panthers on this current road trip, and his absence has been problematic to an offense that isn’t all that deep to start with. And now they’re headed into Pittsburgh, where I expect they’ll face netminder Marc-Andre Fleury. Pittsburgh has won seven straight and actually has pulled to within six points of division and conference-leading New York. Like you and your hunch on the Kings, I’ll go with the Cats to pull out a surprise victory in Pittsburgh.

The Panthers are of course perpetually looking over their shoulder, and the Washington Capitals are closest in the rearview mirror thanks to Alex Ovechkin's overtime winner against Tampa. The up-and-down Caps are in Boston for a matinee affair on Saturday, but will they have Mike Green at their disposal? I know you didn’t think much of Green’s hit Thursday on Tampa rookie Brett Connolly.

LEBRUN: I did not like that hit on Connolly whatsoever. There was no penalty on the call, but Green has a hearing with Brendan Shanahan on Friday, and my guess is Green is facing anywhere from three to five games. For starters, Connolly had no chance to see Green coming since Dmitry Orlov was draped all over Connolly, but what makes the hit illegal is targeting and elbowing the head. Secondly, you’d think Green would know better than to deliver that kind of hit given his own history with concussions. Not smart.

Well, Scotty, have a great weekend.

1. NHL promotes You Can Play

Anyone who spends any time around the game understands there’s a powerful amount of good work that gets done. Each team has its own foundation helping charities in their communities to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars annually. The NHLPA’s Goals & Dreams fund does a remarkable job of helping kids who couldn’t otherwise afford to play hockey get a chance to enjoy the game. But every once in a while you run across something that gives you a special sense of pride at being connected to the game and its people. One of those moments came watching the new public service advertisements promoting the You Can Play initiative that hopes to break down the homophobia that exists in athletics.

You Can Play is the brainchild of Philadelphia Flyers scout Patrick Burke -- son of Toronto Maple Leafs president and GM Brian Burke and brother of Brendan Burke, who championed the cause of the gay community in athletics prior to his death in a car accident in early 2010. Brendan Burke told his family that he was gay in 2007 and then came out publicly to the University of Miami Ohio hockey team, for whom he worked as a manager in 2009.

The public service spots, produced by HBO, features top NHL players delivering a simple message: If you have the skills and drive and determination, you can play the game regardless of who you are or what your orientation might be.

Patrick Burke said the idea came to him after sitting in on countless scouting meetings over the years. Invariably when discussing a player someone will ask the simple question: "Can he play?"

“That’s all that matters, can he play,” Burke told ESPN.com.

In memorializing his brother, Patrick thought that simple query was apropos given the path his brother had forged in trying to break down the barriers that often confront the gay community vis-a-vis team sports.

“That line just kind of stuck with me,” he said.

Working with a couple of investors, including Glen Witman and Brian Kitts, who are members of the high-profile GForce Sports organization in Denver, Burke established the You Can Play initiative as a tool for helping to break down homophobia across the athletic landscape. Then he approached the NHL’s 30 GMs about getting some players to help out.

He admitted more than a little nervousness about the response, but all 30 teams committed to supporting the project and then the players contacted were universally supportive.

In all, 35 NHLers have committed to be involved with You Can Play.

“I had a real faith that our guys would step up and they did,” said Burke, who appeared in the first spot with his father talking about Brendan and his efforts to promote understanding and acceptance.

The first of the public service spots appeared on NBC’s national broadcast Sunday and featured New York Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist, Philadelphia’s Scott Hartnell, Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson, former Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith of Chicago and defending Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry of Anaheim. Filming of the spots with other players continues, and by next spring Burke said he and the group’s other directors hope to have produced a "playbook" for athletic directors, sports team managers, coaches and others about how to create a safe environment for athletes from the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

There are also plans to expand the video PSAs into other sports and broaden the message by employing athletes outside of North America.

Young people look to players like the ones that appear in the ads for cues on how to behave, how to tape their sticks, how to celebrate a goal or a win. And to hear these players talking about treating people with respect and judging them solely on their abilities is key, Burke said.

“That’s when the message gets across,” he said.

Hartnell said he thought the campaign was a “huge step” not just for the NHL but all of athletics, and he said he’s been impressed with the response from the public to the ads.

“We live in a diverse world now,” Hartnell told ESPN.com. “It’s been very positive. I haven’t had one bad thing said to me."

The rough and tumble winger, who is having a career year with the Flyers, said he had no hesitation about doing the spots.

“It was a no-brainer,” he said. “It just shows the quality of the guys there are in the NHL and I’m happy to be one of those guys.”

2. 2014 Sochi Olympics

Lots of pre-Olympic discussion this week as Hockey Canada made the unusual decision to anoint Steve Yzerman executive director of the 2014 Canadian Olympic team two years out from the Sochi tournament -- without even knowing if the NHL will be involved, something that will have to be bargained this summer with the NHLPA.

Still, it got us thinking about what the rosters would look like and specifically how the U.S. defense -- which played extremely well in Vancouver, when the Americans lost the gold medal game in overtime to Canada -- would look dramatically different by the time the 2014 Games rolled around.

Ryan Suter is a lock for 2014 and in our estimation so, too, is Brooks Orpik, given his tough-as-nails approach and the leadership he brings to the table. Orpik’s teammate in Pittsburgh, Paul Martin, was injured for the Vancouver Games but would provide a steadying influence and some veteran leadership along the U.S. blue line.

But there are a handful of young emerging defensemen who will give Brian Burke (assuming he returns as GM) and his management team pause. For instance, hard to imagine a guy like Ryan McDonagh won’t be part of the mix for Team USA given his emergence as a key part of a New York Rangers team that is among the most difficult to play against in the league. Keith Yandle, the slick young defenseman for the Phoenix Coyotes, would appear to be an almost sure bet to be on the team, while Kevin Shattenkirk of the St. Louis Blues has become an integral part of the Blues’ surprising success. John Carlson made his mark on the international stage for the U.S. juniors a few years back and is a mainstay for the Washington Capitals. And how about a guy like Nick Leddy, who has shown great promise since coming over to Chicago? Where will Jake Gardiner, one of Burke’s prized young defensive assets, be in terms of his evolution in two years? Or Justin Faulk, who has matured so quickly along the Carolina blue line? Those young players are going to put a lot of pressure on incumbents like Jack Johnson and Ryan Whitney. If Burke is going to assemble a fast, skilled puck-moving blue line for the big ice in Sochi, it appears he'll have lots of options and lots of hard decisions.

3. Hemsky versus Grabovski

Some folks were wondering why we were so critical of Ales Hemsky's two-year, $10 million deal with the Edmonton Oilers and less skeptical of Mikhail Grabovski's new five-year, $27.5 million pact. Well, it’s really a case of simple math.

First, let’s start by saying it’s a moot point to debate whether anyone who has never scored 30 goals in an NHL season or topped the 60-point plateau is "worth" more than $5 million a year, as is the case with Grabovski.

What is more illuminating is to examine the two teams’ options when it came to these players and what were their relative needs.

The Oilers have a plethora of young talent up front. They are woefully thin on defense. Hemsky, while skilled, has shown nothing to suggest he can play more than 60 or so games per season given his lack of durability, so his two-year deal seems more than a little bloated and a misguided use of resources for a team that appears stuck in a perpetual rebuild. The fact he wanted to stay in Edmonton is a bonus for a team that struggles to attract top players, and he does not have a no-trade or no-movement clause, although one GM told ESPN.com that the $5 million annual cap hit is in effect a no-trade clause, so all in all, his deal remains a curiosity.

As for Grabovski, he is a moderately skilled center on a team with virtually no depth down the middle. Furthermore, what were Toronto’s options if it didn’t sign Grabovski, who could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1? Even if you thought you could convert Zach Parise to a full-time center, think the Devils’ captain is packing his bags for a team that is on a collision course with missing the playoffs for a seventh straight year? Uh, no. Olli Jokinen? The Flames would like to re-sign the veteran pivot and he’s older than the 28-year-old Grabovski by five years and has shown no signs throughout his career of being a significant difference-maker (he has played in a grand total of six playoff games in his career). Further, Jokinen is likely looking at similar dollars and term given the dearth of quality centers that look to be available July 1.

In short, the Leafs were boxed in. Hard to imagine that Grabovski will ever live up to the expectations created by the contract, but that’s life in this NHL, and all in all, his deal still makes more sense than the Hemsky deal.

4. West Coast math

All five Pacific Division teams, all with a bead on the playoffs with fewer than 20 games to go in the regular season, are in action Thursday night, including the top four teams in the division that are separated by just three points.

With teams like Colorado and Calgary in the mix, it’s possible that in spite of the closeness just the division winner will qualify for the postseason dance. So, how do you handicap the often weak-kneed but nonetheless wooly Pacific?

The problem is that there appears to be few patterns on which to hang your hat.

The Dallas Stars are the current division leader and have shown remarkable resolve in going 7-0-1 in their past eight heading into an interesting showdown with the slumping San Jose Sharks on Thursday. In their seven victories over that period, the Stars have not given up more than two goals in any one game, a testament to rookie head coach Glen Gulutzan’s defensive game plan and the play of netminder Kari Lehtonen. But the Stars have a road-heavy schedule down the stretch with five of their last seven away from the American Airlines Center. Will that prove a tipping point when it comes to deciding the top post in the division and a possible playoff berth?

The Los Angeles Kings likewise appear to be peaking at just the right time, having won four in a row including a big 5-4 win over Nashville on Tuesday. They are in Columbus on Thursday for Jeff Carter's homecoming, but counting Thursday’s game, the Kings face nine of their final 16 games on the road. They close the season on April 7 in San Jose as part of a home-and-home to close things out and one wonders just how important that tilt will be. The Kings have won two in a row on the road but are just 4-4-2 in their past 10 road games and that record won’t get them into the playoffs.

Phoenix, currently second in the division and seventh overall in the conference, remains a mystery. After roaring through February without a single regulation loss, the Coyotes have gone sideways, losing four straight, including two to woeful Columbus. They have been outscored 14-7 in those four games but face another soft touch, in theory, Thursday night with the Wild in town. The Yotes play four of their last six at home and finish with Minnesota on the road, which could be enough to push them into the playoffs for the third straight year.

The most perplexing team of the lot is the San Jose Sharks, who have managed to win just twice in their past 11 outings but still miraculously hold onto the last playoff spot in the conference -- they are tied with L.A. and Colorado in points -- heading into Thursday’s showdown with the Stars in Dallas.

It seems no one in San Jose has a handle on how to arrest this skid, but they could also control their own destiny, which is a meaningful statement only if you’ve got the wherewithal to actually win some games -- something the Sharks seem to have misplaced. The Sharks close out the season with a home-and-home against the Kings, so stay tuned.

Anaheim, meanwhile, remains the ultimate playoff dark horse, sitting six points back of eighth in 12th place heading into Thursday’s tough test in St. Louis. The Ducks have just five more games against division opponents and it’s not a stretch to suggest they will need to run the table in those five games plus keep winning in order to have a shot at the postseason.

Here’s how we figure things to shake down: Dallas on top with Phoenix the only other Pacific Division team to crack the top eight.

5. Avs' moves paying off

There is a pretty small sample to look at with the trade deadline less than two weeks ago, but you have to hand it to Colorado GM Greg Sherman for making moves that have paid immediate dividends, while also looking to bolster his club long-term. Sherman is a bit of an unknown quantity in the hockey world, even though he’s a longtime Avs employee. He was roundly ridiculed for spending a first- and a second-round draft pick on erstwhile Washington netminder Semyon Varlamov. Then he traded an everyday defenseman in Kyle Quincey for agitating forward Steve Downie, and then traded two everyday forwards in Daniel Winnik and T.J. Galiardi to San Jose for Jamie McGinn. From the outside, all of the pre-deadline maneuvering looked a little like shuffling the deck chairs, but Sherman’s plan may just get his squad into the postseason as it has won six of eight with both Downie and McGinn playing significant roles.

Downie has two goals and eight assists and is plus-10 in seven games since joining the Avs. McGinn, buried in the Sharks' offensive depth chart, has three goals and an assist in his first four games in Denver and has scored the game winner in the past two games.

Scott Burnside and Craig Custance preview a full night of action in the NHL and discuss the playoff implications surrounding the games.

BURNSIDE: Good day, my friend. How is Columbus? Is the city abuzz over Thursday's Jeff Carter homecoming as the suddenly smoking-hot Blue Jackets entertain the L.A. Kings? Interesting tilt to say the least, but that's the great thing about this time of the season: Every night seems to have at least one "statement" game on the docket.

For me, I like to see how teams under extreme pressure respond, not just to setbacks, but to success too. Take Buffalo. The Sabres were bounced in a big game Monday in Winnipeg that could have moved them back into the playoff bracket but rebounded Wednesday to beat Carolina in overtime at home. The power play managed to score twice in one game for the first time since Dec. 26. The Sabres are 7-1-2 in their past 10, but they head to Boston on Thursday to play a Bruins team that is more than a little ornery given their tepid play of late. The two teams have lots of bad blood between them thanks in large part to Milan Lucic steamrolling Sabres netminder Ryan Miller earlier this season. For me this is one of those "show me" games. Buffalo is just two points out of eighth once again and a win in Boston would go a long way to suggesting their renaissance is more fire than smoke. What say you -- are you a Buffalo believer or not? My prediction, by the way: Boston 5, Buffalo 2.

CUSTANCE: Columbus is fantastic, especially the sweet potato fries from Tip Top, but part of me does wish I could be in Boston to watch what should be an intense game. I have to admit that I thought it was a bit puzzling the Sabres weren't more active in selling off pieces at the deadline, but maybe GM Darcy Regier had a better feel for how close his team was to getting back in the race. Since the deadline, in which Regier landed the ultra-talented Cody Hodgson, the Sabres are 4-1. Now, if you're looking at the Eastern Conference playoff race and you're betting on goalies, who better than Ryan Miller? Since the All-Star break, he's 11-3-3 with a 1.84 goals-against average and .939 save percentage. And not to oversimplify the race, but if you look at the teams fighting for the No. 8 spot -- Winnipeg, Buffalo, Washington, Tampa Bay, Toronto -- not one of them has a winning record on the road, and that's being kind. It could just come down to who plays at home the most. But I'll pick the Sabres in Boston. Miller is 2-1 against the Bruins this season with a 1.45 goals-against average. He'll keep it going.

What about your favorite division, the Southeast? Big one Thursday in Washington, where the Lightning can actually catch the Capitals in the standings with a regulation win. Can they pull it off?

BURNSIDE: The Lightning remain an enigma wrapped up inside a paradox covered by a layer of "huh?" And the questions keep coming for a team that stayed in the playoff hunt in spite of unloading three everyday players before the deadline in Dominic Moore, Pavel Kubina and Steve Downie and now have no No. 1 goaltender with the surprising Mathieu Garon gone long-term with a groin injury. Last year’s playoff hero, Dwayne Roloson, has been, well, awful, and that leads me to believe that Guy Boucher will give AHL call-up Dustin Tokarski every chance to keep the Lightning’s modest playoff hopes alive. The 22-year-old has been on a tear for the Lightning’s AHL squad in Norfolk, but this will truly be a baptism by fire as the Lightning are just four points out of eighth with a game in hand. They have to leap over three teams to get to the playoffs, including their opponent Thursday, the puzzling Washington Capitals.

The Caps continue to suggest they are a team without a clue as they blew a 2-0 lead against Carolina the other night and lost in overtime. I know this isn’t all about Alex Ovechkin; it’s never about one guy, but if there ever was a time for Ovechkin to prove he’s "the man," that he’s a leader and that this is his team, now would be it. Honestly, though, I don’t see it. With Steven Stamkos making a late bid for a Hart Trophy a la Corey Perry of last season, I think the Bolts keep it interesting and the Caps keep floundering. You?

CUSTANCE: Well, if Brad Thiessen can all but end Toronto's playoff hopes, I guess Tokarski can extend Tampa's. The Lightning are proving to be a stubborn group, which shouldn't be surprising considering Martin St. Louis is the heart and soul of that group. And Stamkos has certainly propelled himself into Hart Trophy consideration, but boy, games like the other night scare me. Ottawa put up seven on Tampa, and I know two were empty-net goals, but still, five goals is a lot to surrender in the midst of a playoff race. I realize Tokarski was down in the AHL setting records with his eight-game winning streak, but now he's in the middle of an NHL playoff race. That's a lot to ask of a 22-year-old. I guess the bottom line is, all these teams fighting for that No. 8 spot in the East have serious flaws and it's hard to get really excited about any of them.

Can we talk about the West instead? Big one in Dallas on Thursday between the Sharks and Stars. San Jose is reeling and struggling to score goals, but the Sharks have owned Dallas this season. The Stars are playing great and coming off an impressive 5-2 win in Vancouver and absolutely killed it during a Western Canadian road trip. But I see an opportunity for the Sharks to come out of their slumber. We've seen them struggle for long stretches in the past before putting it together in time for the playoffs. It needs to happen soon for the Sharks, and I say they come out on top 4-2. What about you?

BURNSIDE: The Sharks remind me of the Washington Capitals both historically and in their current state. So much talent. So much promise. And yet they seem to be missing some key ingredient. The Sharks have managed to win just twice in their past 11 games. Given the mediocrity of the Pacific Division, they should have been running away with the division lead. Instead, they appear aimless. We’ve asked all season (and beyond, really) about the leadership abilities of Ovechkin. OK, so where is Joe Thornton in all of this? Dan Boyle? Patrick Marleau? When GM Doug Wilson struck out on the Rick Nash front at the deadline, he seemed to have settled on an acceptable Plan B by beefing up his offensive corps with Daniel Winnik and T.J. Galiardi, whom he acquired from Colorado for Jamie McGinn. Now it’s McGinn lighting it up for the Avs and Colorado is now tied in points with the Sharks (although the Avs have played three more games).

Whether the Sharks have owned the Stars or not, I am becoming a believer in Glen Gulutzan and, yes, even Kari Lehtonen, whom you and I have both seen wilt under the pressure of being "the man," so I see the misery continuing for the Sharks on Thursday. In fact, I’ll be a bit surprised if we don’t wake up tomorrow to find that the Sharks are outside the playoff bubble altogether.

But before I leave you to the city of Columbus, I want your prediction for Thursday’s homecoming ball at Nationwide Arena.

CUSTANCE: The Kings are going to keep things rolling in Columbus. We've seen nearly every other Western Conference team go on a long winning streak, except for Los Angeles. The Kings have now won three games in a row, and they're actually scoring goals, which wasn't the case earlier this season.

"We're playing well, we're getting pucks to the net -- couple lucky breaks," center Mike Richards said when we chatted following practice Wednesday. "We're giving up a little too much defensively right now, but we're winning hockey games."

Jeff Carter is proving to be a good fit with the Kings and has clearly sparked the team offensively, but just as importantly, Los Angeles is excited about the ability of defenseman Slava Voynov, who is helping fill the void created by Jack Johnson's departure.

"You look at how [Dean Lombardi] built his team -- you don't weaken one to strengthen another," Darryl Sutter said. "Voynov for his age is a pretty good player. And he's going to be a really good player."

Columbus is playing well right now under Todd Richards, but the Kings are just three points out of first in the Pacific and fighting for their lives in the playoff race. They need this one.

Well, Scott, it's been fun. Enjoy the games!

In the end, the trades that weren’t pulled off had sexier overtones than the ones that were actually registered Monday.

And unless there are dramatic changes in the next collective bargaining agreement, we’re going to have to get used to that.

The current system has produced bigger-than-ever parity, which has clogged the standings and minimized the true sellers. And because teams cannot retain salary in trades in this CBA, eating up part of a player contract like in other sports, it makes it that much more difficult to move big salaries.

It certainly wasn’t for a lack of trying Monday.

The San Jose Sharks like their team, especially with Douglas Murray and Martin Havlat coming back before the playoffs, plus Monday’s solid acquisitions of forwards Daniel Winnik and T.J. Galiardi, but, oh, there could have been a bigger move.

Sources tell ESPN.com there was renewed dialogue between the Sharks and Columbus Blue Jackets regarding our favorite headline-grabbing, non-traded player, Rick Nash. And why not? Nash has listed San Jose as go-to team for him, based on the desire to play with his buddy Joe Thornton.

But the talks hit the same roadblock they did over the past weeks: Logan Couture. The Jackets demanded him in any deal right to the end. The Sharks were never, ever, going to pay that price.

Another player the Sharks inquired about was winger James van Riemsdyk in Philadelphia. Like the Jackets, the Flyers wanted a lot for JVR, and the two sides could not find a fit.

Still, it’s why Doug Wilson is one of my favorite GMs in the NHL. He ain’t scared of the big deal. But it doesn’t mean he’s going to do something stupid. The price has to be right.

Rick Nash was the most talented player on the market, but wasn’t the most sought-after player. That would be Steve Ott, who, when the clock struck 3 p.m. ET, was still where it all began for him in his NHL career. The Dallas Stars, a source told ESPN.com, fielded calls from "12 to 14 teams" over the past few weeks, including several on Monday. The Vancouver Canucks were hot and heavy for the agitator, but offering Mason Raymond wasn’t good enough for Dallas. And I don’t think Cody Hodgson was ever offered to the Stars, even though he ended up in the biggest trade of the day between the Canucks and Sabres.

For the Stars, despite the massive interest in Ott, all along it needed to be a home run deal. They needed to help themselves this season and beyond in any deal. Sitting in a playoff spot in the Western Conference, the Stars were not going to sell off Ott for picks or prospects. They wanted a hockey deal that made them a better team. They wanted a young top-six forward in return who would have upgraded their skill. It didn’t materialize.

They also held on to veteran blueliner Sheldon Souray, slated to be a UFA July 1. There was much debate about whether or not to move him, but the Stars balanced the fact they were possibly playoff-bound with the knowledge that Souray was a tremendously popular player in the room.

The Toronto Maple Leafs also stayed clear of any major NHL trade, although I like the acquisition of prospect Carter Ashton from Tampa.

In the end, the Leafs didn’t get the top-six forward (they were never that close on Nash) or goalie upgrade (no, thanks, was the answer to the offer to Edmonton for Nikolai Khabibulin) they had hoped for, refusing to overpay in young assets they had worked so hard to stockpile over the past few years. They also refused to sell off assets from their NHL roster, despite attractive offers. Notably, a Leafs source told ESPN.com that they were offered first-round draft picks for each of Luke Schenn, Nikolai Kulemin, Clarke MacArthur and Mikhail Grabovski. GM Brian Burke said no, not wanting to send a message to his dressing room that the Leafs were giving up at all on their struggling playoff chase. I give Burke a ton of credit. The easy thing here would have been to make a panic move that would destroy your long-term chances. Yes, Leafs fans would love to make the playoffs for the first time in eight years, but Burke has a high standard he’s trying to get to: building a contender.

Similarly, kudos to Washington Capitals GM George McPhee. I know what you’re saying, why exactly? Because he took a knee. That’s why. This just isn’t their year. One big trade isn’t going to put the Caps over the top and make them contenders. One big trade isn’t going to clear star center Nicklas Backstrom of his concussion symptoms. McPhee did the hardest thing of all, resist the short-term fix. That takes guts.

Sure, McPhee took calls on veteran blueliner Roman Hamrlik, but couldn’t find the right fit. He wanted a young forward in return. The teams that were interested in Hamrlik couldn’t afford him that. He wasn’t interested in just getting futures for Hamrlik because he didn’t want to just get rid of a salary. He was trying to make a hockey deal, player for player. He toed the line of a team that hasn’t given up on the season because the playoffs are a possibility, and that of a team that wasn’t a move or two away from winning the Cup.

In other words, McPhee made the right call to stay quiet.

The Detroit Red Wings are a big-time Cup contender. Again. They added defenseman Kyle Quincey last week in what was a solid addition, but weren’t able to fill their other need, bottom-six forward size and grit. They tried on Paul Gaustad but didn’t have what it took to make the deal: a first-round pick, which they dealt for Quincey. They checked on Samuel Pahlsson but didn’t have the pair of fourth-round picks the Jackets wanted. Such is life. I’m not too concerned for the Wings, they’re still a big-time powerhouse and now have all kinds of cap room ($20 million-plus) for the offseason.

Did I really just write 1,000 words on trades that didn’t happen? Heck, it was more interesting than the alternative.

Here’s a look at teams that took a step in the right direction before the trade deadline and some that stubbed their toes on a day that failed to live up to expectations because of a small number of sellers and the high prices being asked by those willing to deal.

Nashville Predators
Having already bolstered the blue line with the earlier acquisition of veteran defenseman Hal Gill Nashville, GM David Poile got a top-six forward in Andrei Kostitsyn. Then, late in the day, the Preds added big center Paul Gaustad from Buffalo. Kostitsyn comes with significant baggage, having fallen out of favor in Montreal, and he will join his younger brother, Sergei Kostitsyn, who has shed his own baggage to come an important part of a Nashville Predators team that has Stanley Cup aspirations. Kostitsyn will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and what better way to ensure a big payday come July 1 then by proving his many detractors wrong? Gaustad cost the Predators a first-round pick (the Preds got a fourth-round pick back in the deal), which is a lot to give up for a player who can become an unrestricted free agent in July but he will give the Predators added depth down the middle and will be expected to provide depth scoring, which will be key come playoff time.


San Jose Sharks
Not able to come up with the goods to pry Rick Nash out of Columbus, the Sharks addressed size and toughness issues by adding two NHL regulars in Daniel Winnik and T.J. Galiardi from the Colorado Avalanche. Both are 6-foot-2 and will help flesh out a Sharks lineup that has been revealed this season as being too top-heavy. The Sharks had to give up Jamie McGinn and a couple of prospects but depth is going to be key for a slumping Sharks team and they got more of that with this deal.

Colorado Avalanche
The Avs have done some shuffling in the past few days and completed that roster juggling by acquiring McGinn on Monday afternoon. The earlier addition of Steve Downie from Tampa for defenseman Kyle Quincey (who savaged the franchise after he was flipped to Detroit) has paid immediate dividends, and that move set the stage for GM Greg Sherman to make the moves with the Sharks. The Avs are right in the thick of the playoff race in spite of subtly changing the complexion of the team.

Tampa Bay Lightning
After shipping off regulars Dominic Moore, Pavel Kubina and Steve Downie in the days leading up to Monday’s trade deadline, GM Steve Yzerman began the process of restocking his defensive shelf by adding promising defensemen Keith Aulie from Toronto and Brian Lee, who was the ninth overall pick in 2005. Yzerman sent a big forward prospect in Carter Ashton to Toronto and former Hobey Baker winner Matt Gilroy to Ottawa. Nothing to suggest Lee is going to be a Norris Trophy winner, but Aulie will get a chance to be an everyday NHLer with a Tampa team that needed to get younger on the blue line. Yzerman also added veteran defenseman Mike Commodore, who couldn’t break into the Detroit lineup with regularity. That is a move that helps fill out the Lightning roster for the rest of the season.

Vancouver Canucks
A bold move for the Vancouver Canucks late in the day Monday as they were rebuffed in their efforts to land Dallas forward Steve Ott -- and instead brought in big, rugged winger Zack Kassian and defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani from the Buffalo Sabres for promising center Cody Hodgson and defenseman Alexander Sulzer. Kassian is 6-foot-3, 228 pounds and having watched the Canucks get pushed around by the Boston Bruins in last season’s final, this is the kind of player GM Mike Gillis was looking for to ensure that won’t happen again. The Canucks also added veteran checking center Sami Pahlsson. Now, Pahlsson is not the same guy who was such a key part of the Anaheim Ducks’ run to the Stanley Cup in 2007, when he was part of the game’s best shutdown line with Travis Moen and Rob Niedermayer and scored two game winners. But the Vancouver Canucks, who acquired the veteran checking center for two fourth-round draft picks and defensive prospect Taylor Ellington, don’t necessarily need him to be that player. But his experience in the trenches and defensive responsibility has the potential to be another important piece to what the Canucks hope will finally be a Stanley Cup puzzle.

Boston Bruins
The Bruins would have liked to add a significant piece up front, especially with Rich Peverley and Nathan Horton sidelined with injury, but did come up with veteran Brian Rolston, who returns to the B's for a second go-round. He still possess a hard shot but was recently waived by the New York Islanders and it’s hard to imagine him making a significant impact. Still, all it will take is a timely power-play goal or two and this deal will be justified. We also liked like the addition of veteran rearguard Greg Zanon from Minnesota late in the going on Monday. Zanon adds another hard-to-play-against defender who should quickly become a favorite of coach Claude Julien. Mike Mottau, who came over in the Rolston deal, gives the Bruins even more depth along the blue line, which will come in handy given that GM Peter Chiarelli confirmed Monday that Johnny Boychuk is out with a “mild” concussion.

Buffalo Sabres
This has been a nightmare season for the Buffalo Sabres but kudos to GM Darcy Regier for squeezing a first-round pick out of Nashville for Paul Gaustad, who didn’t fit the long-term plans of the Sabres. And then to add a talented center in Cody Hodgson and a depth defenseman in Alexander Sulzer for Zack Kassian and Marc-Andre Gragnani, that’s a pretty good return. Hodgson was buried on the Vancouver depth chart behind Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler, so this will give Hodgson a chance to get more quality ice time with the Sabres, and his up-side is extremely high. Buffalo remains a smallish team but perhaps Regier will get a chance to address that in the offseason.


When the clock ticked down to 3 p.m. ET, there were lots of teams that didn’t quite get to where they wanted to go. Here’s a look at the biggest.

Columbus Blue Jackets
In spite of intense pressure from the Rick Nash camp to move the big winger, GM Scott Howson wouldn’t budge off his high asking price, and so the deadline came and went without a move of the unhappy captain. This will set up an interesting few weeks and Howson will take another run at dealing Nash in the offseason. Should Howson, who did well in acquiring Jack Johnson for Jeff Carter before the deadline, backed off to eliminate the ongoing distraction of the Nash saga? Time will tell.

New York Rangers
The Rangers were one of the most ardent suitors of Nash but they would not part with all the pieces that Howson wanted, and then came up empty in an effort to add offensive zip, acquiring hulking John Scott from Chicago as their only roster move of the day. Are the Rangers still the best team in the Eastern Conference? Sure. But that gap might not have been as pronounced as it was before the trade period.

Washington Capitals
A bit curious that GM George McPhee didn’t unload disgruntled defenseman Roman Hamrlik, although he was good to his word that he wouldn’t trade veteran winger Mike Knuble, who had recently been a healthy scratch under head coach Dale Hunter.

Dallas Stars
The Stars would really have liked to move Steve Ott and Mike Ribeiro, but were interested in making a hockey deal. It’s believed the Stars coveted James van Riemsdyk of the Philadelphia Flyers but in spite of intense interest in Ott a deal that made sense for GM Joe Nieuwendyk didn’t materialize and so the Stars stood pat. Given that they’re currently a playoff team, maybe that’s not such a bad thing.

Carolina Hurricanes
We know that GM Jim Rutherford thought he had a deal done for Jaroslav Spacek, but that ended up falling through. And so in the end he ended up re-signing Tuomo Ruutu and Tim Gleason, and hanging onto defensemen Spacek and Bryan Allen.

Toronto Maple Leafs
No Rick Nash and no goaltending help, which will further enrage Leaf Nation. But in the end, Brian Burke might end up being happy with his non-moves as he didn’t disrupt the core of his team, even though they have fallen back in the playoff pack. Burke did ship out promising defensive prospect Keith Aulie for a big forward prospect, Carter Ashton, whom Burke likes for his size (he’s 6-foot-3, 215 pounds) and skill.

Chicago Blackhawks
GM Stan Bowman was in much the same position that Boston GM Peter Chiarelli was in looking to add a forward with some skill and grit, but those players simply weren’t available. Bowman did bring in Johnny Oduya from Winnipeg, where he was averaging 19:20 a night in ice time. He should help boost the Blackhawks’ depth, although this marks Oduya’s third team (fourth if you count the Atlanta Thrashers’ move to Winnipeg) since breaking into the NHL in 2006-07.

Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings had significant interest in Paul Gaustad, but having traded their first-round pick in the 2012 draft for Kyle Quincey, Detroit GM Ken Holland didn’t have the resources needed to get a deal done.

Pittsburgh Penguins
Ray Shero has never been shy at the deadline but really his only need this season -- apart from getting Sidney Crosby back on the ice, of course -- was to look into goaltending depth to give Marc-Andre Fleury a break down the stretch, but that didn’t happen.

From the official NHL release:

KARLSSON, PURCELL AND LEHTONEN NAMED NHL ‘THREE STARS’ OF THE WEEK


NEW YORK (February 27, 2012) – Ottawa Senators defensemen Erik Karlsson, Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Teddy Purcell and Dallas Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen have been named the NHL’s ‘Three Stars’ for the week ending Feb. 26.

FIRST STAR – ERIK KARLSSON, D, OTTAWA SENATORS

Karlsson led all skaters with eight assists and 12 points and had a
+5 rating as the Senators won three of four games to maintain their hold
+on
seventh place in the Eastern Conference. He scored two goals, including the winner, and collected two assists in a 6-0 victory at the New York Islanders Feb. 20, registered one goal and two assists in both a 5-2 win against the Washington Capitals Feb. 22 and 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins Feb. 25 and recorded two assists in a 5-2 victory against the New York Islanders Feb. 26. Karlsson has 14-51—65 in 63 games, an Ottawa single-season franchise record for points by a defenseman. He leads all NHL blueliners in assists and points and is tied for the League lead in goals among defensemen. The 21-year-old has 6-11—17 during a seven-game point streak dating to Feb. 11.

SECOND STAR – TEDDY PURCELL, RW, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Purcell ranked second with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) and led all skaters with five power-play points (one goal, four assists) as the Lightning earned four out of a possible eight points to remain within six points of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. He scored the winning goal and added two assists in a 3-2 victory against the Anaheim Ducks Feb. 21, recorded a goal and two assists in 4-3 loss at the Winnipeg Jets Feb. 23, scored Tampa Bay’s lone goal in an 8-1 defeat against the Pittsburgh Penguins Feb. 25 and collected three assists in a 4-3 win at the New Jersey Devils Feb. 26. Purcell has 4-9—13 during a six-game point streak dating to Feb. 16 and 17-29—46 in 61 total games, putting him on pace to establish career highs in each category.

THIRD STAR – KARI LEHTONEN, G, DALLAS STARS

Lehtonen started three out of four games as the Stars recorded four consecutive victories to claim the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
He made 31 saves for his second shutout of the season in a 3-0 win at the Montreal Canadiens Feb. 21, recorded 28 saves in a 4-1 victory against the Minnesota Wild Feb. 24 and stopped 24 shots in a 3-2 overtime win against the Vancouver Canucks Feb. 26. The Helsinki, Finland native has a 24-15-3 record in 43 appearances with a 2.32 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.

From ESPNDallas.com: It’s easy to get caught up in the Stars’ recent little run here and lose sight of the big picture, which is the future. The Stars want to be a consistent contender, not a team battling for a lower playoff spot year in and year out. It will take a little time to build that contender. The Stars want to do that by getting younger and building around Jamie Benn, Loui Eriksson, Alex Goligoski, Trevor Daley and Kari Lehtonen.

For more, drop by the Stars blog.

The high-stakes game of poker that is trade deadline day begins with many NHL general managers with lots of chips on the table but unsure where to place their bets.

GMs who spoke to ESPN.com in recent days describe this as one of the most curious trade periods in recent memories. So many teams would like to add pieces but there are so few teams that are actually out of contention. Seven points separate seventh and 13th in the Western Conference, and teams like as Dallas and Colorado have assets they’d like to move including Steve Ott, Mike Ribeiro, David Jones, T.J.Galiardi and/or Daniel Winnik, but they would like to make a hockey trade and bring back every-day players.

In the Eastern Conference, there remains a furious battle for the Southeast Division lead and the last playoff berth in the conference.

Much of the attention Monday will be focused on whether the Columbus Blue Jackets will move captain Rick Nash, but as of Sunday evening it appeared that the top suitor, the New York Rangers, were unprepared to meet the demand for top assets in return. Will the asking price drop as the day progresses?

Will Toronto GM Brian Burke, looking to make a move for an impact forward and perhaps a goaltender, find a deal that works for the slumping Leafs? And what kind of Plan B exists for the many teams looking for offensive help? Andrei Kostitsyn in Montreal, Paul Gaustad and Derek Roy in Buffalo will be players whose names are bandied about.

Defensemen are always at a premium on deadline day and this year is no different, with Jaroslav Spacek and Bryan Allen in Carolina likely to be on the move to teams looking to shore up their defensive lineup. Will there be a trade out of left field? Given the strange dynamics of this year, it’s entirely within the realm of possibility. Stay tuned.

Some quick nuggets from Saturday morning as I make my way from Toronto to Bristol, Conn., where the ESPN team will assemble (picture Ron Burgundy assembling his team) for trade deadline coverage:

Hemsky Signing Changes Things
Ales Hemsky's re-signing with the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night eliminated the most sought-after rental for teams hoping to add a top-six forward.

Notably, it eliminated a target for the Nashville Predators, who had their eye on the slick Czech winger.

Now what?

There isn’t much left out there. Andrei Kostitsyn of the Montreal Canadiens is on the block. Kostitsyn will be an unrestricted free agent July 1, and he needs a change of scenery. But he’s had a mediocre season. My sense is that the Preds have discussed him internally.

There would be pros and cons in bringing him in. On the one hand, you’d be getting a three-time 20-goal scorer with a chip on his shoulder, hungry to prove himself again in a new setting. On the other hand, having the two Kostitsyn brothers together in Montreal proved to be a handful for the Habs (Sergei Kostitsyn is now with the Preds). But that was then, when they were young players, and now they’re a little older. Isn’t that what the Los Angeles Kings were betting on with Jeff Carter and Mike Richards?

And so I’d say it’s a 50-50 bet that Kostitsyn ends up in Nashville before Monday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.

Veteran Preds GM David Poile, as is the custom, refused to discuss names from other teams Saturday when reached by ESPN.com, but generally pointed to a difficult trade market.

"We’d like to add a forward, but right now there’s not a lot going on," Poile said. "Look at last night again with the teams winning. The standings are so close on both sides. There aren’t a lot of sellers. It’s not really your normal trade deadline situation compared to other years."

Certainly, between players re-signing with their teams and the parity in the standings, it has not created the buyer/seller market of most years. Some teams on the bubble, such as Dallas and Buffalo, are trying to make "hockey deals," where roster players are dealt for roster players, as opposed to players dumped for futures.

As for the Predators, they’ll keep working the phones looking for a forward. And you don’t have to worry about Ryan Suter, who is slated to be an unrestricted free agent July 1. He’s not going anywhere.

Stars at the Deadline
The Dallas Stars keep winning and the playoffs look more real than ever, so it’s hard to imagine they’ll be too eager to move Mike Ribeiro or Steve Ott, two players other NHL sources told ESPN.com earlier this week were in play for the right price.

Unless, of course, the Stars can entice the Philadelphia Flyers when it comes to young winger James van Riemsdyk. As I reported earlier this week, my understanding is that the Stars really covet JVR and will continue to pursue him. No question, he’d be a terrific long-term fit alongside Jamie Benn.

And what about Sheldon Souray? He’s UFA July 1 and the Stars would certainly be getting offers on him from contenders. But he’s a popular player in the Stars' dressing room, and as pointed out above, the Stars could be playoff-bound. My sense is that it will be an 11th-hour decision on him before Monday’s deadline.

Goalie Talk
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers had a conversation regarding Nikolai Khabibulin, although I don’t think the Leafs are too keen on the extra year on Khabibulin’s contract. I think Evgeni Nabokov (UFA July 1) remains the best bet, if the Leafs do indeed do anything in goal. That’s no sure thing after James Reimer played well in a 2-1 loss to San Jose on Thursday night, which might have cooled off GM Brian Burke’s desire somewhat. Then again, the Leafs host Washington on Saturday night, so let’s see how that goes. Nabokov might not go anywhere. His agent, Don Meehan, was slated to resume contract talks with Isles GM Garth Snow on Saturday. But even if there’s no extension, Snow might just decide to keep him.

The Ottawa Senators are without Craig Anderson for a bit after he suffered a hand injury using a kitchen knife. My sense is that despite the fact that Dwayne Roloson and Marty Turco could be options, GM Bryan Murray will make a deal only if he can find a younger netminder who can grow along with Anderson over the next few years.