NHL Playoff Update: Toronto Maple Leafs and the Race in the East

Over the weekend, the playoff race in the Eastern Conference tightened up, largely because the Toronto Maple Leafs got a crucial regulation win against the Buffalo Sabres.

The New Jersey Devils continued their incredible run by winning back-to-back overtime games to stay in the race and the Atlanta Thrashers kept their heads above water too.

Here's a recap of each playoff hopeful team's performance and their week ahead.

New Jersey Devils, 12th Place

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NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 12: Goaltender Martin Brodeur #30 of the New Jersey Devils clears the puck behind the net against Zenon Konopka #28 of the New York Islanders on March 12, 2011 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty

Most Recent Game: The New Jersey Devils were trailing 2-1 to start the third period against the New York Islanders.

David Clarkson scored early in the third to tie it, and Anssi Salmela got the winner in overtime to keep the Devils' dream alive.

Current Record: 68GP 32W 32L 4OTL 68P

Points Back: 8

Games in Hand: 2

Week Ahead: Tuesday vs. Atlanta, Thursday @ Ottawa, Friday vs. Washington, Sunday @ Columbus

Chances: The Devils are 22-3-2 since January 9, and they'll have to keep up that pace to make the playoffs. Their chances are mediocre at best.

Atlanta Thrashers, 11th Place

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 12: Radek Dvorak #20 of the Atlanta Thrashers controls the puck against Nick Boynton #24 of the Philadelphia Flyers on March 12, 2011 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Most Recent Game: Many had thought the Atlanta Thrashers were falling so quickly that they couldn't possibly rejoin the playoff race, but they had one of those wins that can change a season on Saturday.

The Thrashers were down 3-0 heading into the third period, in Philadelphia against the Eastern-leading Flyers. They scored two, then gave one up to trail 4-2 with three minutes remaining.

The Thrashers scored twice in the final three minutes and again in overtime to stun Philadelphia and get a huge win to stay in the race.

Current Record: 69GP 29W 28L 12OTL 70P

Points Back: 6

Games in Hand: 1

Week Ahead: Tuesday @ New Jersey, Thursday vs. Philadelphia, Saturday @ Buffalo

Chances: Not good.

Toronto Maple Leafs, 10th Place

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TORONTO,CANADA - MARCH 12: Clarke MacArthur #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs is all smiles after scoring his 20th goal of the season in a game against the Buffalo Sabres on March 12, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Claus Anderse

Most Recent Game: The Toronto Maple Leafs have gotten themselves closer to a playoff spot than they've been in several years, due in part to their game on Saturday.

The Leafs erased a third period deficit against the seventh place Buffalo Sabres and got a regulation time game-winning goal from red-hot sniper Phil Kessel to capture the elusive "four-point swing".

Current Record: 69GP 30W 29L 10OTL 70P

Points Back: 6

Games in Hand: 1

Week Ahead: Monday vs. Tampa Bay, Wednesday @ Carolina, Thursday @ Florida, Saturday vs. Boston

Chances: The Leafs chances still aren't great, but hope is alive in Leafs Nation.

Carolina Hurricanes, 9th Place

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CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 04: Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck under pressure from Tim Gleason #6 of the Carolina Hurricanes at the United Center on March 4, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Blackhawks defeated the Hurricanes 5-2. (Ph

Most Recent Game: The Carolina Hurricanes suffered a costly loss in regulation at home to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are all but out of the Western Conference playoff race.

The Canes were down 2-0 early in the second and made a valiant comeback effort, but lost in regulation like they have three of their last four games.

Current Record: 69GP 31W 28L 10OTL 72P

Points Back: 4

Games in Hand: 1

Week Ahead: Tuesday @ Buffalo, Wednesday vs. Toronto, Friday vs. NYI

Chances: If the Hurricanes can turn things around quickly, their chances are still pretty good, but they need to win Tuesday and Wednesday. If they lose to Buffalo and Toronto, their season is all but over.

New York Rangers, 8th Place

Al Bello/Getty Images

NEW YORK - MARCH 06: Mats Zuccarello #36 of the New York Rangers celebrates a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during their game on March 6, 2011 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Most Recent Game: The New York Rangers went into San Jose on Saturday night and beat the Sharks in a shootout.

Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was phenomenal, stopping 31 of 33 shots in regulation and five of six attempts in the shootout to help the Rangers get a critical win.

Current Record: 70GP 36W 30L 4OTL 76P

Points Back: N/A

Games in Hand: Everyone chasing the Rangers has at least one game in hand.

Week Ahead: Tuesday vs. NYI, Friday vs. Montreal, Sunday @ Pittsburgh

Chances: The Rangers chances are still very good, but they need to keep winning. They haven't had a winning streak in two months and it's allowed many teams to close the gap on them.

Buffalo Sabres, 7th Place

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 12: Jochen Hecht #55 of the Buffalo Sabres screens James Reimer #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs in a game on March 12, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. The Leafs defeated the Sabres 4-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Ge

Most Recent Game: The Buffalo Sabres let a third period lead slip away to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre on Saturday night.

It was a costly loss for the Sabres as they didn't manage to get a point for the overtime loss. If the Sabres had won that game, it could have killed the Leafs' chances to catch them.

Current Record: 69GP 34W 27L 8OTL 76P

Points Back: N/A

Games in Hand: 1

Week Ahead: Tuesday vs. Carolina, Saturday vs. Atlanta, Sunday vs. Nashville

Chances: The Sabres still have the best chance of any team in the race as they have a game in hand on the eighth-place New York Rangers, a four-point lead on ninth place and five of their next six games at home.

Weekly Outlook

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 28: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Carolina Hurricanes is kept in check by Dion Phaneuf #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs in a game on December 28, 2010 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto,Ontario. The Hurricanes defeated the Leafs 4-3. (Phot

With the four-point gap between eighth and ninth place in the Eastern Conference, one week could be enough to sort out the playoff picture.

The Carolina Hurricanes' games Tuesday against Buffalo and Wednesday against Toronto could decide their fate for the season.

The New Jersey Devils' four games this week will close the gap if they continue their recent excellence, but could just as easily condemn their season.

The Atlanta Thrashers have a tough week ahead with games against New Jersey, Philadelphia and Buffalo, and they could be out of the playoff picture by week's end.

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