Hype for April 01, 2010

The Dallas Stars might be making playoff plans if they'd played more games the way they did against the San Jose Sharks.

Steve Ott had three goals for his first career hat trick, scoring short-handed early in the first period and adding even-strength and power-play goals in the Stars' 5-1 victory over the Western Conference-leading Sharks on Wednesday night.

A six-game winning streak had the Montreal Canadiens practically assured of a playoff spot. Getting only one win in six games since has put the post-season back in doubt.

Cam Ward kept the Hurricanes in it long enough to allow Eric Staal to score the winner in the third period as Carolina hampered the Canadiens' playoff chances with a 2-1 victory Wednesday at the Bell Centre.

Closing the deal on the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot is becoming quite a struggle for the Colorado Avalanche.

They ran into another setback Wednesday night, victimized by an Anaheim Ducks team trying to keep its own slim playoff hopes alive.

The family issue that has kept Vancouver Canucks centre Pavol Demitra away from the team is over.

Demitra skated by himself Wednesday morning and while he won't make the team's trip to Los Angeles, he will work to get back in shape and possibly play on Sunday in Anaheim.

The Pittsburgh Penguins didn't recognize some of the Tampa Bay players. Worse still, the Penguins didn't recognize their own game against an opponent they figured to beat.

Steven Stamkos scored his 46th goal to edge within one of NHL leader Sidney Crosby and the Lightning prevented Pittsburgh from gaining ground in the Eastern Conference race, beating the lethargic Penguins 2-0 on Wednesday night.

Nearly left for dead four days ago, the Calgary Flames are right back in contention in the Western Conference playoff race.

The Flames' fading playoff hopes got a boost Wednesday night as Calgary's Miikka Kiprusoff made 29 saves in a 2-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes.