AND DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME!!

The top of the Eastern Conference tomorrow morning:

1. New Jersey Devils 86 points

Record in last ten games: 7-2-1

13 games remaining (6 home, 7 road)

Division games left: 9 (3 vs. Rangers, 2 vs. NYI, 2 vs. Philly, 2 vs. Pittsburgh)

Other games: at Montreal, at Minnesota, at Colorado, Boston

2. Montreal Canadiens 85 points

Record in last ten games: 6-4-0

12 games remaining (8 home, 4 road)

Division games left: 9 (3 vs. Ottawa, 2 vs. Boston, 2 vs. Buffalo, 2 vs. Toronto)

Other games: New Jersey, NYI, St Louis

3. Carolina Hurricanes 79 points

Record in last ten games: 7-2-1

11 games remaining (5 home, 6 road)

Division games left: 8 (2 vs. Atlanta, 2 vs. Florida, 2 vs. Tampa, 2 vs. Washington)

Other games: at Chicago, at Buffalo, Ottawa

4. Pittsburgh Penguins 85 points

Record in last ten games: 5-3-2

12 games remaining (7 home, 5 road)

Division games left: 10 (3 vs. Rangers, 3 vs. Philly, 2 vs. NYI , 2 vs. Devils)

Other games: Buffalo, Tampa

5. Ottawa Senators 83 points

Record in last ten games: 3-5-2

12 games remaining (6 home, 6 road)

Division games left: 10 (3 vs. Boston, 2 vs. Montreal, 2 vs. Buffalo, 2 vs. Toronto)

Other games: at Carolina, St. Louis

6. New York Rangers 83 points

Record in last ten games: 8-0-2

12 games remaining (6 home, 6 road)

Division games left: 10 (3 vs. New Jersey, 3 vs. Pittsburgh , 2 vs. NYI, 2 vs. Philly)

Other games: at Florida, at Tampa Bay

7. Boston Bruins 80 points

Record in last ten games: 6-2-2

13 games remaining (6 home, 7 road)

Division games left: 9 (3 vs. Ottawa, 3 vs. Buffalo, 2 vs. Montreal, 2 vs. Toronto)

Other games: Tampa, Philly, at Washington, at New Jersey

8. Philadelphia Flyers 78 points

Record in last ten games: 5-2-3

13 games remaining (6 home, 7 road)

Division games left: 9 (3 vs. Pittsburgh, 2 vs. NJ Devils , 2 vs. Rangers, 2 vs. NYI)

Other games: at Toronto, Toronto, at Boston, Atlanta

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Looking at how 7 of the teams are from two divisions and given how many times they play each other there should be no doubt in your mind that "playoff hockey"--that is extremely physical, tight checking games with little in the way of taking too many risks--will be in full effect these final few weeks of the season.