Here is where the Western Conference playoff picture stands today:
Calgary Flames (41-17-7)
Where they stand: 89 points; first in Pacific Division
Games remaining: 17 (10 home; seven road)
Key games: March 26 at Winnipeg Jets; March 31 at San Jose Sharks
If playoffs started today: Would play the Minnesota Wild in first round
Need to know: On Saturday, the Flames began a stretch that will see them play 10 of 14 games at Scotiabank Saddledome, where they are 20-6-5.
San Jose Sharks (39-19-8)
Where they stand: 86 points; second in Pacific Division
Games remaining: 16 (10 home; seven road)
Key games: March 18 vs. Vegas Golden Knights; March 31 vs. Calgary Flames
If playoffs started today: Would play the Vegas Golden Knights in first round
Need to know: The Sharks have won their past five home games against Calgary, including 3-1 on Nov. 18. They play the Flames at SAP Center on March 31.
Vegas Golden Knights (36-26-5)
Where they stand: 77 points; third in Pacific Division
Games remaining: 15 (seven home, eight road)
Key games: March 18 at San Jose Sharks; April 4 vs. Arizona Coyotes
If playoffs started today: Would play the Sharks in first round
Need to know: Marc-Andre Fleury's eight shutouts are the most in the NHL this season and the second-highest single-season total of his NHL career. He had 10 with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2014-15.
Winnipeg Jets (39-22-4)
Where they stand: 82 points; first in Central Division
Games remaining: 17 (seven home, 10 road)
Key games: March 12 vs. San Jose Sharks; March 23 vs. Nashville Predators
If playoffs started today: Would play the Dallas Stars in first round
Need to know: The Jets are the only playoff contender that ends its regular season without a home game in April. Winnipeg plays four road games in the final six days of the season.
Nashville Predators (38-25-5)
Where they stand: 81 points; second in Central Division
Games remaining: 14 (seven home, seven road)
Key games: March 23 at Winnipeg Jets; April 6 vs. Chicago Blackhawks
If playoffs started today: Would play the St. Louis Blues in first round
Need to know: The Predators lead the NHL in power-play opportunities at home (128) but have scored on 16 of them (12.5 percent).
St. Louis Blues (34-25-6)
Where they stand: 74 points; third in Central Division
Games remaining: 17 (eight home, nine road)
Key games: March 12 vs. Arizona Coyotes; April 1 vs. Colorado Avalanche
If playoffs started today: Would play the Predators in first round
Need to know: The Blues don't face a Central Division opponent again until they play the Avalanche at Enterprice Arena on April 1. Seven of their next 13 games are against Eastern Conference teams, the other six are against teams from the Pacific Division.
Dallas Stars (33-27-5)
Where they stand: 71 points; fourth in Central Division, first wild card from Western Conference
Games remaining: 17 (10 home; seven road)
Key games: March 7 vs. Colorado Avalanche; April 6 vs. Minnesota Wild
If playoffs started today: Would play the Jets in first round
Need to know: The Stars are the only team in the Western Conference that hasn't been involved in a shootout this season.
Minnesota Wild (32-27-7)
Where they stand: 71 points; fifth in Central Division, second wild card from Western Conference
Games remaining: 16 (eight home; eight road)
Key games: March 19 vs. Colorado Avalanche; April 6 at Dallas Stars
If playoffs started today: Would play the Flames in first round
Need to know: The Wild play their next three games on the road, where they've won four in a row, before returning to Xcel Energy Center for a five-game homestand.
Arizona Coyotes (32-28-5)
Where they stand: 69 points; two points out of second wild card
Games remaining: 17 (nine home; eight road)
Key games: March 29 at Colorado Avalanche; March 31 vs. Minnesota Wild
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: The Coyotes have won six in a row for the first time since Feb. 16-28, 2012. That was the last time they qualified for the playoffs.
Colorado Avalanche (28-26-12)
Where they stand: 68 points; three points out of second wild card
Games remaining: 16 (10 home, six road)
Key games: March 7 at Dallas Stars; April 1 at St. Louis Blues
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: Forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen share the Avalanche lead with 82 points and each is on pace to finish with 102. The only time Colorado has had multiple 100-point scorers in the same season since moving to Denver from Quebec was 1995-96, when Joe Sakic (120) and Peter Forsberg (116) did it.
Edmonton Oilers (28-30-7)
Where they stand: 63 points; eight points out of second wild card
Games remaining: 17 (10 home; seven road)
Key games: March 28 vs. Dallas Stars; April 6 at Calgary Flames
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: Center Connor McDavid has scored or assisted on exactly 50 percent of Edmonton's goals this season (90 points on 180 goals).
Chicago Blackhawks (27-30-9)
Where they stand: 63 points; eight points out of second wild card
Games remaining: 16 (eight home; eight road)
Key games: March 24 vs. Colorado Avalanche; April 3 vs. St. Louis Blues
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: Forward Patrick Kane has 94 points (40 goals, 54 assists) in 65 games and is on pace to surpass his NHL career high of 106 in 2015-16, when he led the NHL in scoring.
Vancouver Canucks (27-30-9)
Where they stand: 63 points; eight points out of second wild card
Games remaining: 16 (11 home; five road)
Key games: March 17 at Dallas Stars; March 30 vs. Dallas Stars
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: The Canucks need to capitalize on a stretch when they play 11 of their next 14 games at Rogers Arena, including seven straight from March 20-April 2. Vancouver is 14-12-4 at home.
Anaheim Ducks (25-32-9)
Where they stand: 59 points; 12 points out of second wild card
Games remaining: 16 (nine home; seven road)
Key games: March 14 at Arizona Coyotes; March 26 at Vancouver Canucks
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: The Ducks are last in the NHL in goals scored (141) and goals per game (2.14). They're 4-6-0 since general manager Bob Murray replaced Randy Carlyle as coach Feb. 10.
Los Angeles Kings (24-33-8)
Where they stand: 56 points; 15 points out of second wild card
Games remaining: 17 (10 home; seven road)
Key games: March 9 at Arizona Coyotes; March 26 at Edmonton Oilers
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: Center Anze Kopitar has three games with at least three points. He leads the Kings, who are 30th in the League in goals scored (156) and goals per game (2.40), with nine multipoint games and 48 points (19 goals, 29 assists).
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