The most interesting part of being out of the playoffs is acting as the arbiter of other teams' fates. The Maple Leafs have an enormous part to play in who faces who in the Atlantic (as their games against Tampa and Florida proved), and even in who makes the playoffs and who doesn't.

Detroit's magic number is 8, according to Prashanth Iyer of Winging It In Motown. He says that incredibly bad things happen if the Red Wings lose tonight. "If they lose in regulation tonight, even if they beat Boston in regulation but Boston wins their other 3 games, DET would not get in. DET would [max] at 95, Boston would be at 96."

The Red Wings have been unable to play well on the second night of a back to back all season, says WIIM's Lauren Bedard.

"Yup," agrees Prashanth, "Really not looking forward to watching it."

I have an enormous soft spot for the Detroit Red Wings, and my fellow women denizens of PPP have soft spots for the Flyers, but there's one thing we all have in common: F*** the Bruins. Here's hoping that somehow, the Wings manage to oust the Bruins from 3rd in Atlantic, even if the Leafs win tonight.

Go Leafs go!

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