In Toe Tag Mode

This is the funny thing about hockey. As a fan, writer, player, coach or team executive, you are either witnessing a team making good progress or getting an all too real glimpse of a total meltdown. There is no middle ground or grace period. The team needs to be winning, needs to be in collection mode when it comes to points in the standings. Those are my points. No? Pay up. POW. Thank you.

Instead, everyone sees the team through bloodshot eyes. It hurts to see a struggle. Losses pile up and and suddenly it's hard for the eyes to close at night. Put together a few victories and sleep is fast and deep.

Bubble teams (Los Angeles, Minnesota, Dallas, Colorado, Pittsburgh, Washington, Toronto and Winnipeg) have limited room to dream. The Wild appears to be in a death spiral. The Kings have picked up a lot of points in overtime and the shootout, which means they are skilled in sessions that will not exist during the playoffs. Toronto needs Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul to stay healthy amid the added physical play the two seem to be drawing lately. Winnipeg needs to win on the road. But like I said, teams like these still have some hope for hockey in the spring.

The above Mayer Hawthorne song appears written just for the Sabres and Canadiens. We'll be playing it again every time you two hit the ice for the rest of the season. I've seen enough of you. I've heard all the whining and rationalizations. You two are done.