NHL Scores And More: Zdeno Chara, Bruins Crush Montreal As Habs Send Wrong Message

Well, uh, time to look in the mirror.

That usually happens, of course, when one team is too embarrassed to even get angry.

The Kings came out on top in the shootout to earn two vital points in that Western race, bringing their total to 90, four points ahead of ninth-place Dallas. The assurance that the Kings will be in the playoffs is a shaky one, admittedly, but it’s a position of comfort based on the way they’re playing right now. They’ve gained points in three straight games now, including a shootout loss to the Ducks, and they’ve won seven of their last eight games.

The Sharks, meanwhile, after earning a single Bettman point, jumped up to 95 points, good for a tie with second-place Detroit. The Wings hold a game in hand, but remember: this is the same Sharks team that was questioning their playoff hopes as late in the season as January.

What’s the best way to put yourself into a position of comfort in a tight playoff race?

Anaheim loses a big chance at moving up in the West with the loss, and now they sit uncomfortably in eighth-place, with one extra game played than ninth-place Dallas and only a one point lead. Nashville, meanwhile, isn’t safe just yet having played a few extra games than everybody else and only a four-point gap on ninth-place Dallas. If they keep winning, though, there won’t be any issues.