As tickets are being punched to the postseason at the top of the Eastern and Western Conference, the race for the wild card spots is getting incredibly tight. The reward for achieving the 7th and 8th spots is a showdown with one of the top two seeds, but history has shown that anything is possible as long as you get in.

It’s pretty obvious that the east will feature the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins as the top two seeds. The west looks a little more complicated with St. Louis, Anaheim, San Jose, Colorado and Chicago looking like they could completely reshuffle themselves in the standings when the regular season ends.

Let’s take a look at the bottom of the playoff picture and handicap the potential wild card entrants in the Eastern Conference.

Detroit Red Wings—36-26-14, 86 points

Games Remaining-Six-Home: Buffalo, Carolina Road: Montreal, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, St. Louis

Odds: 5:3

The Red Wings are in the driver’s seat right now in the east and are licking their chops for a shot at the second seeded Penguins. It is hardly an ideal road to the Stanley Cup with the Bruins possibly waiting for them at some point, but the banged up Wings are happy to be here with their best players on the mend.

Columbus Blue Jackets—38-30-7, 83 points

Games Remaining-Seven-Home: Chicago, N.Y. Islanders, Phoenix Road: Philadelphia, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Florida

Odds: 3:1

While the Jackets are certainly holding the ticket to their own fate, they have some tough sledding against their next seven opponents. Five of the seven teams are, or are competing for a playoff spot. If Columbus wants to get to the postseason for the second time in franchise history, they’ll need to win at least four of these games.

Washington Capitals—34-29-13, 81 points

Games Remaining-Six-Home: Chicago, Tampa Bay Road: New Jersey, N.Y. Islanders, Carolina

Odds: 8:1

After a no-show performance at home against Dallas, the Caps lost their fourth straight, blowing yet another opportunity to make up ground on Columbus.  The Capitals seem to lack the motivation to reach the playoffs and their star captain Alexander Ovechkin hasn’t scored an even strength point since February.

Toronto Maple Leafs—37-32-8, 82 points

Games Remaining-Five-Home: Boston, Winnipeg Road: Tampa Bay, Florida, Ottawa

Odds: 10:1

How weird is it that the Maple Leafs literally need to win their final five games in order to have a real shot at the playoffs? Toronto will need some help from the teams above them in the standings if they hope to sneak into the playoffs at the 11th hour. Wouldn’t it be poetic and sad if the Leafs and Ottawa wrapped up the season in Ottawa for a game that means absolutely nothing?