EASTERN CONFERENCE

	TEAM		GP	W	L	OT	GF	GA	PTS
1		NYR	73	46	20	7	201	161	99
2		BOS	72	42	27	3	236	178	87
3		FLA	73	36	24	13	183	201	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	74	35	29	10	190	207	80
9		WPG	73	34	31	8	196	211	76
11		CAR	74	30	29	15	197	218	75
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	74	28	33	13	191	206	69

COMPLETE STANDINGS

The Winnipeg Jets will remain idle in the Eastern Conference standings for another day as they prepare for the next big game this Friday night against the Washington Capitals. Yesterday the team practiced in Washington, focusing on having fun and keeping loose, but today the team gets back to business as they focus on the task at hand.

In the meantime, we look at the results from yesterday in the National Hockey Leauge, along with tonight's critical match-ups. We recognize that the greatest opportunity for the Winnipeg Jets to get into a playoff position is for them to win games, but a little help from the rest of the league will also improve their post-season outlook.

NOTES: With their 2-1 win last night over the Detroit Red Wings, the New York Rangers were the first team to clinch a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

YESTERDAY'S GAMES:

Montreal Canadiens 0, Buffalo Sabres 3

Winnipeg was hoping for a little help from the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night, but it was a disappointing outcome for Jets fans. Former Manitoba Moose Cody Hodgson scored his first and second goals as a Buffalo Sabre, while Ryan Miller made 32 saves for his sixth shutout of the 2011-2012 season to secure the 3-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens.

The Sabres' victory vaulted them to ninth spot in the Eastern Conference standings with 80 points, evenly tied with the Washington Capitals. This now sets both of the Jets' playoff competitors four points ahead, but directly in Winnipeg's line of sight.

Florida Panthers 1, Carolina Hurricanes 3

The Carolina Hurricanes continue to surprise some with their late season success, now having won four games in a row, and going 6-2-2 in their last 10 games. This streak continued as they defeated the Southeast Division leading Florida Panthers 3-1 on Wednesday night. Eric Staal notched his second straight two-goal performance.

The win takes Carolina into 11th spot in the Eastern Conference, only a single point behind the Jets (however, the Jets have a game in hand). Don't count the Hurricanes out of things yet, their chances are slim but they can make some serious noise down the stretch.

TONIGHT'S KEY MATCH-UPS:

Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers (6:00 PM)

The Washington Capitals travel to the city of brotherly love to face the Philadelphia Flyers in the first of back-to-back games for the Caps. Washington has sputtered most of the season, and their inconsistency has continued down the stretch. On the other hand, Philadelphia has found some recent success, winning seven of their last ten games.

The Jets would love a little help from the Flyers tonight, first with a clean win over the Capitlas, and second by wearing them down so by Friday's match-up in Washington the Jets are primed for a win.

Ideal Jets Outcome: Flyers Win

OTHER MATCH-UPS:

• Nashville Predators at Pittsburgh Penguins (6:00 PM)
• Edmonton Oilers at Tampa Bay Lightning (6:30 PM)
• Calgary Flames at Minnesota Wild (7:00 PM)
• Vancouver Canucks at Dallas Stars (7:30 PM)
• Colorado Avalanche at Phoenix Coyotes (9:00 PM)
• St. Louis Blues at Los Angeles Kings (9:30 PM)
• Boston Bruins at San Jose Sharks (9:30 PM)