Just how competitive is the Central? Look no further than Tuesday night.
Five of the six teams in playoff contention were in action, with Minnesota in Nashville, Winnipeg hosting Boston, Philadelphia playing in Dallas and St. Louis going against San Jose.
Four of those five teams gained two points in the standings. The other earned one by taking the game to overtime.
At one point late in the evening, with the games being played simultaneously, all four games were tied in the third period.
St. Louis was the first to gain two points, winning on a goal by Vladimir Tarasenko.
Winnipeg and Nashville wrapped up shootout victories right around the same time, relegating Minnesota to a single point.
Shortly after, following a late start, Dallas won in overtime when Alexander Radulov finished off a 2-on-0 rush with Tyler Seguin, keeping the Stars' playoff hopes alive.
Four games, five teams, all gaining ground in the standings.
It seems like a nightly occurrence in the neck-and-neck division. Earlier this season, when the Wild was on its five-day bye week, divisional rivals went 8-0-1 while Minnesota sat at home, unable to accumulate any points.
The Blues, who have won six straight games and seven of their past eight, have managed to work their way into the top wild card spot in the West. But because they're not in action again until Friday, they could find themselves out of a playoff spot entirely by the time their next game goes final.
Colorado, 6-3-1 in its past 10 games, currently sits outside the playoff bubble.
Minnesota, which hasn't lost in regulation in seven games, has lost ground on second-place Winnipeg and has been unable to put much distance between itself and the teams below it.
Such is life in the Central.
Related:
- Central Intel: Minnesota's place in the playoff picture
- Central Intel: Wild's East Coast success a rarity
