Sean Gentile

Malkin's older, still hasn't been playing very well.

Letang, not.

We can have a Letang conversation in a little bit.

But Eric Carlson's playing his best hockey in a decade since his Ottawa Senators days when he almost willed Ottawa to an Eastern Conference final victory over the Penguins.

And right now,

looking at staring down the barrel of a 92% chance of making the playoffs.

If they beat the Red Wings in overtime, it's 91%.

If they lose to the Wings in overtime, still take a point, 84%.

If they lose to the Wings in regulation, it drops a little bit, still 75%.

And the way that the schedule has played out and will continue to play out

Look, after they got beat down by the Stars and Colorado got them good after they went to their barn and beat them 7-2, you could see some wins on the horizon.

You get the Red Wings at home.

Tampa Bay's a little beaten up.

You get Florida in a back-to-back at home.

It's a little strange, but you get them on a Saturday and a Sunday, and they're not going to make the playoffs.

How much into it will they be?

They're last in their own division.

Followed by the Devils, they're not good.

The Caps twice, home and home.

And at the St.