EASTERN CONFERENCE

	TEAM		GP	W	L	OT	GF	GA	PTS
1		NYR	72	45	20	7	199	160	97
2		BOS	72	42	27	3	236	178	87
3		FLA	72	36	23	13	182	198	85
4		PIT	72	45	21	6	239	184	96
5		PHI	73	42	23	8	232	206	92
6		NJD	74	42	27	5	201	191	89
7		OTT	74	37	27	10	221	214	84
8		WSH	73	37	30	6	198	208	80
10		BUF	73	34	29	10	187	207	78
9		WPG	73	34	31	8	196	211	76
11		CAR	73	29	29	15	194	217	73
12		TOR	74	32	34	8	210	232	72
13		TBL	72	32	33	7	202	247	71
14		NYI	73	30	32	11	174	218	71
15		MTL	73	28	32	13	191	203	69

COMPLETE STANDINGS

The Winnipeg Jets playoff outlook dimmed slightly with last night's 8-4 loss to the red-hot Pittsburgh Penguins. In Pittsburgh, there was an opporutunity for the Jets, but that opportunity was met head-on by an incredibly talented Penguins squad led by James Neal, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.

Tuesday's loss didn't change the Eastern Conference Standings for the Jets, but with only nine games remaining on the regular season schedule, Winnipeg finds itself four points back of the magic line that separates playoff contenders from all the rest. With 76 points, the Jets are going to need a good combination of some solid winning, along with a bit of help from some other teams down the stretch.

TODAY'S KEY MATCH-UPS:

Montreal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres (6:00 PM)

The Montreal Canadiens are sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference, and although not yet mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, the will really only play the spoiler role in the final weeks of the season. The Buffalo Sabres are the first step on the ladder to playoff position for the Jets. Currently the Sabres are holding on to ninth spot in the conference with 78 points, just two ahead of the Jets.

The Sabres have been good of late, going on a 6-2-2 run in their past 10 games, thanks to some of their best players stepping up. Buffalo is coming off a 7-3 rout of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night. The Habs and Sabres met just nine days ago, with Montreal scoring with five seconds remaining in the third period to force overtime. Buffalo went on to win in OT thanks to a timely score by defenceman Tyler Myers.

Ideal Jets outcome: Canadiens Win

OTHER MATCH-UPS:

• Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes (6:00 PM)
• Detroit Red Wings at New York Rangers (6:30 PM, TSN2)
• Vancouver Canucks at Chicago Blackhawks (7:00 PM, TSN)
• St. Louis Blues at Anaheim Ducks (9:00 PM)