EAST IS PRETTY MUCH SET, BUT WEST IS STILL WILD

Let the races begin!

With three-quarters of the season in the books, the white flag has been waved as teams gear up for that final stretch run towards a playoff berth. In the East, things are pretty much set except for that final wild-card spot, where the Islanders have a four-point lead on the Hurricanes and Panthers.

Things are much tighter in the West. Heading into Wednesday night’s games, there was only four points separating San Jose (second in the Pacific Division) from the ninth-place Flames. Here is what the final 18 games look like:

SAN JOSE, 2ND IN PACIFIC, 77 POINTS

The skinny: The Sharks, who picked up Evander Kane at the deadline, ended a threegame losing streak with him in the line-up.

Strength of schedule: Have two more backto-back games on their schedule, where San Jose is 5-3-3.

LOS ANGELES, 3RD IN PACIFIC, 75 POINTS

The skinny: Few players were hotter in February than Anze Kopitar, who had eight goals and 17 points in 14 games.

Strength of schedule: Are home for 12 of their remaining 18 games, where Los Angeles is 15-11-3.

DALLAS, 1ST WILD CARD, 76 POINTS

The skinny: Did nothing at the deadline, which management said was a sign of faith in the group. A day later, Dallas defeated Calgary 2-0.

Strength of schedule: Only five of their final 19 games are against non-playoff teams.

ANAHEIM, 2ND WILD CARD, 74 POINTS

The skinny: Back-to-back losses to Arizona and Edmonton — the two worst teams in the West — are not how you hold down a playoff spot. Strength of schedule: Eight of their remaining 18 games are against non-playoff teams.

CALGARY, 9TH PLACE, 73 POINTS

The skinny: Matthew Tkachuk, who scored seven goals in 14 games in February, will need to continue scoring down the stretch.

Strength of schedule: Have two games against the Sharks, where they could theoretically control their destiny.