Not only was it a rough night for the Jets on the ice in Chicago, but the out-of-town scoreboard wasn’t kind to them either as both the Predators and Wild picked up wins.

The Nashville Predators are starting to get back on track after a bit of a two game skid as they cooled off the streaking San Jose Sharks by a 5-3 score. The Preds widen the gap over the Jets for first in the division to seven points with five games left to play for both sides.

Minnesota meanwhile narrowed the gap behind the Jets to eight points after they beat the Dallas Stars 5-2. In doing so, they also increased their lead over the fourth place – and first wild card team – St. Louis Blues by five points.

The Los Angeles Kings win over the Arizona Coyotes puts them three points ahead of the Anaheim Ducks who hold down the second wild card spot.

Colorado is one point out of the wild card race, while poor Dallas five points out and at this point need to win out and hope that the three teams ahead of them – Colorado, Anaheim and St. Louis – all stumble poorly.

The Magic Numbers

Playoff spot: CLINCHED!

Points needed to clinch second place in Central: 2
This is any combination of points earned by Winnipeg or lost by Minnesota.

The Standings

The Teams

Winnipeg Jets

Last Game: Loss @ Chicago 6-2 (03/29)
Next Game: @ Toronto – March 31
Games Remaining: 5
2 Home: CGY, CHI
3 Road: TOR, OTT, MTL
Headline: Laine, Connor & Ehlers have 40% of the goals (Winnipeg Sun)

Nashville Predators

Last Game: Win Vs San Jose 5-3 (03/29)
Next Game: Vs Buffalo – March 31
Games Remaining: 5
2 Home: BUF, CBJ
3 Road: TBL, FLA, WSH
Headline: Tolvanen signed to ELC (ESPN)

Minnesota Wild

Last Game: Win Vs Dallas 5-2 (03/29)
Next Game: @ Dallas – March 31
Games Remaining: 5
1 Home: EDM
4 Road: DAL, ANA, LAK, SJS
Headline: Dubnyk controls Wild fate (The Hockey Writers)

Colorado Avalanche

Last Game: Loss Vs Philadelphia 2-1 (03/28)
Next Game: Vs Chicago – March 30
Games Remaining: 5
2 Home: CHI, STL
3 Road: ANA, LAK, SJS
Headline: Maximizing forward lines (Mile High Sticking)

St. Louis Blues

Last Game: Win Vs San Jose 3-2 (03/27)
Next Game: @ Vegas – March 30
Games Remaining: 6
2 Home: WAS, CHI
4 Road: VGK, ARI, CHI, COL
Headline: Tarasenko both under-performs and is under-appreciated (TSN)

Dallas Stars

Last Game: Loss @ Minnesota 5-2 (03/29)
Next Game: vs Minnesota – March 31
Games Remaining: 4
1 Home: MIN
3 Road: SJS, ANA, LAK
Headline: Frustrated Stars on the brink after loss to Wild (Dallas News)