In case you’ve yet to catch on to the trend in the Western Conference this year, every single point is absolutely vital. The race from fourth place to 11th place is only separated by six points, which means for these teams bunched up in these spots, the playoffs are already here.
Kings Vs. Stars: Michal Handzus Scores Late For L.A., Keeps Dallas From Earning Points
For the Los Angeles Kings and Dallas Stars, who entered Sunday night's contest just one point apart from one another, this is all the more true. You can understand L.A.'s excitement then, when Michal Handzus of the Kings scored with just 21 seconds left in regulation time to boost his team to a 3-2 win.
Not only did the win give the Kings those all-important two points, it kept the Stars from earning anything in the game, which at this stage is just as important. The Kings now sit one point ahead of the Stars in the West -- but we all know things won’t stay that way for long, if this year’s playoff situation thus far is any indication.
Elsewhere in the NHL...
Penguins 5, Oilers 1: Despite a recent stretch that’s seen them go only 6-7-4, Pittsburgh has been able to stay in the thick of the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division playoff races thanks to an ability to get games to overtime. They have just three regulation wins over that stretch, but games like Sunday’s against the lowly Oilers will certainly keep them happy.
Sabres 6, Senators 4: Just hours after the passing of team legend Rick Martin, Sabres fans tried to urge their team on to a seventh goal in this game, to honor the No. 7 worn by Martin. That never came, but seventh place in the Eastern Conference is a decent enough consolation, right?
Coyotes 5, Ducks 2: Dan Ellis has more problems, it seems. The Ducks goaltender gave up five goals on 21 shots in the first two periods before Ray Emery, seeing his first NHL action in over a year, came in to stop nine of nine in the final frame. It wasn't enough to help the Ducks to victory, but it certainly cast some doubt on Ellis and the situation in the Anaheim nets.
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