NHL Playoffs: 5 Games with Huge Playoff Implications To Watch This Week

We are approximately six weeks away from the most exciting time of year for a hockey fan: the playoffs.

Sixteen teams will gear up for battle in an attempt to capture the Stanley Cup.

It's crunch time in the NHL, and although every game is important, some may carry more weight than others.

Here's a list of five games that you won't want to miss this week; they should all be playoff quality in their own right.

If you don't subscribe to NHL Gamecenter, it may be a good time to start.

Let the games begin!

**Please note that this list was published on the morning of Mar. 7: Points and standings will change as the week goes on, but the games should remain relevant.**

Washington Capitals-Tampa Bay Lightning: Monday, Mar. 7, 7:00 PM EST

This game showcases two teams in the Southeast Division heading in opposite directions.

The Capitals seem to have righted the ship after a busy trade deadline—winning four straight—while Tampa Bay is mired in a bit of a slump, losing their third consecutive game against the Montreal Canadiens this past Saturday night.

With a 3-2 win in overtime against the Florida Panthers on Mar. 6 the Caps took over the lead in the division and became the third seed in the Eastern Conference.

It's a must-win for the Lightning. If they don't reverse the trend, they could play themselves right out of the fight for the coveted home-ice advantage in the playoffs.

Boston Bruins-Montreal Canadiens: Tuesday, Mar. 8, 7:30 PM EST

Elsa/Getty Images

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 09: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins collides with Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens on February 9, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Canadiens 8-6. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The streaking Habs look to climb their way up the standings against their Original Six foes, the Bruins.

The last time the two teams met, they accumulated 182 penalty minutes collectively after 12 fighting majors were assessed. The Bruins won the game 8-6 and the Canadiens are going to want to exact some revenge.

If their storied rivalry isn't a good enough reason to play with great intensity, there is a distinct possibility that the teams will be playing each other in the first round of the playoffs. The Bruins currently sit in second and the Habs in sixth.

Expect a good one this Tuesday.

Los Angeles Kings-Detroit Red Wings: Wednesday, Mar. 9, 7:30 PM EST

The Los Angeles Kings have a chance to test out their playoff-tweaked lineup against an elite team in the Western Conference: the Detroit Red Wings.

The Kings currently sit in eighth place in the Western Conference, one of the eight-team mess in the standings that is only separated by five points.

Detroit is a very likely first-round opponent for the Kings and this game will be a real litmus test.

Will the acquisition of Dustin Penner at the trade deadline be the difference for the Kings moving forward?

They have a chance to show everyone what they're made of this Wednesday night in Detroit. 

Calgary Flames-Phoenix Coyotes: Thursday, Mar. 10, 9:00 PM EST

Mike Ridewood/Getty Images

CALGARY, AB - SEPTEMBER 28: Tim Jackman #15 of the Calgary Flames battles Ed Jovanovski #55 of the Phoenix Coyotes in NHL preseason action on September 28, 2010 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Mike Ridewood/Getty Images

These two teams are jockeying for position in the Western Conference.

Only one point separates the two as they are trying to keep up with the red-hot Chicago Blackhawks for home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

The Flames and Coyotes showcase two of the best goalies in the league (Miikka Kiprusoff and Ilya Bryzgalov, respectively), so expect a hard-hitting, defensive battle.

The game will look a lot like playoff hockey in the regular season.

Buffalo Sabres-Toronto Maple Leafs: Saturday, Mar. 12, 7:00 PM EST

These two teams must play their best hockey if they want to be a part of the postseason.

The Sabres currently sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with 72 points, clinging to the eighth-and-final playoff seed, leading the Carolina Hurricanes by one meager point.

The Leafs sit five points behind the Sabres.

This is an important four-point game if I've ever seen one.

Although the Sabres have dominated the Leafs in their season series thus far (they've won three out of the four games that they've played), the Leafs are the latest victors, winning 2-1 on Feb. 16 in Buffalo.

I have a feeling that Leafs Nation will be intently watching this game, fully aware that their playoff hopes are all but lost if Toronto can't manage a win in this grudge match.