5 Things We’ve Learned About the Western Conference in 40 Games

December 27, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Trevor Lewis (22) moves the puck ahead of San Jose Sharks center Joe Pavelski (8) during the second period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Playoff Bound?  It’s A Race to the Finish

There’s a clear divide between the upper and lower echelon in the Western Conference.

For those teams looking to the playoffs it’s going to come down to the wire.

For the teams looking forward to the draft, it might be a race as well.  A turtle race.

The 5th place team is 5-points back from 4th place in the Central Division.  For the Central the top four teams are pushing to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.

In the Pacific 4-points are the difference between 2nd place and 5th place.  Every game influences fluctuations within the division.

For teams in the Pacific, no one is safe.  Playoff bound teams will certainly be in a race to the finish.