Oilers Playoff Charge: 12 Games To Go

The Edmonton Oilers are still in the playoff race. They continue to win games and keep the pressure on the teams above them. No one can afford to take time off at this time of the season. Let's see where the Oilers stand today.

If NHL Western Conference teams finished at the same level at which they have played up to this point in the season, the top nine teams would finish as follows:

• 1st Place - Detroit Red Wings - 115 points
• 2nd Place - San Jose Sharks - 105 points
• 3rd Place - Calgary Flames - 96 points
• 4th Place - Dallas Stars - 101 points
• 5th Place - Anaheim Ducks - 99 points
• 6th Place - Colorado Avalanche - 95 points
• 7th Place - Minnesota Wild - 95 points
• 8th Place - Vancouver Canucks - 94 points
• 9th Place - Nashville Predators - 90 points

There has been some movement in the last week near the top of the standings with Calgary and Minnesota flipping places along with San Jose and Dallas. Colorado has also made a move and jumped into a projected 6th place now. Nashville has also fallen off the pace and looks to be in a struggle for the final spot.

The one thing that the teams know right now is that a significant losing streak is going to hurt and a big winning streak is going to help. San Jose is on a 10 game winning streak and consequently moved up to first in the Pacific. Edmonton has done a good job in the last 3 weeks too going 7-3. Unfortunately, the only team in contention that is not up to near the same standards is Minnesota.

The Oilers are in a situation now where they have 73 points and 12 games left.  It appears they are now going to need 95 points to make the playoffs, which means they need 22 points of the possible 24 still available.  An undefeated week and they still lost ground. They will now have to go 11-1 to finish the season.

It is getting closer to too little too late time in the season. With 4 games this week, the season could be decided by this time next week. They have two road games against teams currently in the playoffs which includes the red hot San Jose Sharks and the almost as hot Colorado Avalanche. The other two games are a home and home with Phoenix. All the Oilers can do is continue winning and hope the other teams falter.