Games that matter, 3/6/11

YESTERDAY: The Columbus Blue Jackets didn't play, and the rest of the NHL's Western Conference bubble teams kept on, keepin' on.

• Coyotes beat Red Wings in shootout
• Stars beat Sharks
• Canucks beat Kings
• Blackhawks beat Maple Leafs

The Canucks' win was the only bright spot of a night that saw the Blue Jackets' playoff chances drop by another .57% to 6.4%.  And perhaps just as important, the CBJ fell another point behind 8th place.

TODAY: No CBJ game until tomorrow (in St. Louis), so here are the three games to keep an eye on.

• Sabres over Wild
• Canucks over Ducks
• Flames and Predators resolve the game in regulation

HUNT FOR THE TOP DRAFT PICK:  When one's team gets to a single digit percentage playoff chance, one's mind starts thinking of other things...like the June NHL Draft....


With the Buffalo and Edmonton wins, the CBJ dropped a first pick slot down to 10th and lessened the gap between themselves and the first pick.