A late-season tailspin likely torpedoed the Chicago Blackhawks' bid for a division title and may have cost them a chance for home ice in the first round of the playoffs. The situation is more precarious for the Boston Bruins, who are fighting for a postseason spot as they prepare to visit the Blackhawks on Sunday afternoon.

A late-season tailspin likely torpedoed the Chicago Blackhawks' bid for a division title and may have cost them a chance for home ice in the first round of the playoffs. The situation is more precarious for the Boston Bruins, who are fighting for a postseason spot as they prepare to visit the Blackhawks on Sunday afternoon.

Two of the hottest teams in the league look to continue their surge toward the postseason when the Philadelphia Flyers visit the Metropolitan Division-rival Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday. The Penguins have won five in a row after recording a 5-0 rout of the New York Islanders on Saturday to clinch a playoff spot while the Flyers were edging Ottawa 3-2 for their third straight triumph.

The Minnesota Wild have an opportunity to secure a playoff berth for the fifth consecutive season on Sunday, when they visit the Central Division-rival Winnipeg Jets. The Wild own a five-point lead over Colorado for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference and will clinch a trip to the postseason with a victory over the Jets and a loss by the Avalanche to the visiting St. Louis Blues on Sunday.

The St. Louis Blues jolted the Colorado Avalanche's postseason hopes early last week and can possibly eliminate their Central Division rivals from postseason contention when they pay a visit to Pepsi Center on Sunday. The Avalanche have dropped four of their last five contests and trail Minnesota by five points for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference with four games to play.

The Dallas Stars are closing in on the Central Division title and top overall seed in the Western Conference by using a strong finishing kick against a flurry of playoff opponents. Winners of four in a row and seven of its last eight, Dallas looks to complete an impressive back-to-back when it visits the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.