West watch

Pretty quite on the Jackets front today so let's take a look at the West and see how things are shaping up.

Last night there was only 1 key Western Conference game as that was the Nashville Predators vs. L.A. Kings. As much as I want Nashville to go away they just won't. They won their second straight on the road knocking off those Kings 4-3.

Here are the current standings:

Western Conference Team GP W Pts 1. Detroit 70 46 101 2. San Jose 68 45 100 3. Calgary 69 40 86 4. Chicago 67 37 83 5. Vancouver 68 36 81 6. Columbus 70 36 78 7. Nashville 70 35 75 8. Dallas 69 33 74 9. Edmonton 68 32 73 10. Minnesota 69 32 72 11. St. Louis 69 32 72 12. Anaheim 69 32 70 13. Los Angeles 69 29 68 14. Colorado 70 31 63 15. Phoenix 69 28 62

As you can see the Jackets are just 3 points out 5th but also just 3 points out of 7th and 4 points out of a playoff spot all together. Every team still in the race outside of Nashville still has games in hand on the Jackets.

Which leads us to tonight. There are lots of key Western Conference games.

Let's start with the Jackets opponent tomorrow night in the Chicago Blackhawks.

* Blackhawks @ Devils - the 'hawks are struggling having gone just 3-6-1 in their past 10 games. Right now they are endanger of getting passed up by the Vancouver Canucks who sit just 2 points behind them in 5th spot - the 'hawks do have a game in hand however. They'll try to get back on track against New Jersey which is a place where the Devils have lost just 10 times (24-10-1) this season.

The Jackets do have the advantage of the Blackhawks playing a back to back tomorrow but make no mistake about it -- win or lose in NJ -- the Jackets will get the 'hawks best game come Wednesday night as they will be looking at that game not only as payback for the Jackets win at the United Center this past Friday but also as a must win to solidfy their playoff position and get back on track.... The Jackets will need to be at the top of their game.

Other games include:

* Avalanche @ Wild - the Avs could do the Jackets a big favor by winning this one as the Wild sit just 6 points behind the Jackets in 10th place with 72 points. The Avalanche are a non playoff factor sitting in 14th place with 63 points (insert Foote joke here). The bad news is that the Avs are doing their best Tavares tank job down the stretch as they've gone just 3-7 over their past 10.

* Blues @ Oilers - the Blues have 72 points and sit in 11th while the Oil are 9th with 73 points. The last thing the Jackets need is a 3 point game in this matchup.

* Stars @ Canucks - similar to the game above the last thing the Jackets need is a 3 point game. I think we want the Canucks to win here as IMO win, lose or draw (wait.. no more draws in the NHL) they will make the playoffs... the Stars are still hanging around in 8th place with 74 points and with a win could close the gap on the Jackets within 2 points.

With 12 games to go the Jackets schedule shapes up as the following:

Home: 6
Away: 6
vs. Conference: 10
vs. Division: 8
vs. East: 2
Back to backs remaining: 3

Projected point total to make playoffs: 90
Projected record of remaining games for Jackets to make playoffs: 6-6; 6-5-1, etc.

Bottom line is the Jackets have to keep winning...especially at home in this last half dozen games...and they are going to have to do it against teams directly in competition with them. Keep winning and the playoffs and positioning takes care of itself.

This race should make for some fantastic Jackets hockey down the stretch. The kind of hockey this market has never seen.

In the meantime we need to continue to pack Masonwide and support these guys! If you don't have your tickets, get out there and get em!!

Have a green beer today and GO JACKETS..... (and Devils/Canucks/Avs..and no 3 point games)!!

-LTL