NHL scores 2015: Flames, Stars keep Western Conference race exciting with wins

You can tell just how chaotic the end of the regular season is going to be in the Western Conference by watching the "bubble" teams lately.

Each of the four teams jostling for the eighth and final playoff seed won on Saturday, continuing a trend that's developed over the last week. When Winnipeg, Dallas, Los Angeles and Calgary are not playing each other, they're winning more often than not. It's led to a frustrating, yet interesting gridlock where teams are left within a couple of points of each other every other night.

And it's kept teams like Dallas and Minnesota, who dug huge holes for themselves early in the year, alive and kicking as the season creeps towards its second half. The Wild can go 3-6-1 and still be six points back of eighth. Dallas can fall nine points back with two losses, win one game and find itself just four points back.

That's the kind of race you see in March or April. The fact that it's starting in January means we're in for one heck of a second half.

All the NHL Scores

Canadiens 6, Islanders 4

Red Wings 5, Predators 2

Flyers 4, Sabres 3

Blue Jackets 3, Bruins 1

Blues 3, Maple Leafs 0

Oilers 3, Panthers 2 (SO)

Lightning 3, Avalanche 2 (SO)

Hurricanes 3, Senators 2

Stars 5, Capitals 4

Wild 3, Coyotes 1

Flames 4, Sharks 3 (OT)

Ducks 3, Kings 2 (SO)

1. Devan Dubnyk's start in Minnesota is encouraging. Dubnyk won his second straight game since the Wild traded for him, just the first time since November that Minny has won two in a row. It's a small sample size, but if Dubnyk can keep this up then it makes the Western Conference race even tighter. The teams ahead of the Wild (Dallas, L.A., Colorado, Calgary) are woefully inconsistent and there for the taking if Minnesota gets their act together.

2. Buffalo is officially on the fast track for Connor McDavid. After a brief stretch of competitive hockey, the Sabres have now lost 10 straight to drop below the Oilers for the worst record in the league. Everyone knew the plummet was coming; Buffalo has had atrocious possession numbers even in their best moments. Of course, this is probably for their benefit in the long run. Connor McDavid has 60 points in 23 games this season.

3. Rob Blake's kid is adorable.

Cc: @Rich_Hammond pic.twitter.com/I6zlur374a

— Brian McCarthy (@brianmccarthy1) January 18, 2015

And he has great taste in superheroes.

The Bruins just can't seem to shy away from controversy this week. Two days after Brad Marchand was suspended for a slew foot, Carl Soderberg came under fire for a dangerously high hit on Matt Calvert.

Calvert was okay (he eventually scored the game-winning goal) but that doesn't mean the NHL won't give Soderberg a call anyways.

David Clarkson has one goal and one assist in the #leafs last 19 games.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 18, 2015

• Zac Rinaldo forgot which team he was on.
• Have you ever heard of Wayne Gretzsky? Neither have we.
• Finally, the Red Wings created a new phenomenon: an own butt goal!