from Craig Custance of ESPN,

It's amazing what stringing together a few wins can do to your playoff position.

With another win -- that's now five straight -- on Monday night, the Minnesota Wild are starting to pad their lead over teams outside the playoff bubble. Their win over the Calgary Flames, a team that continues to play hard for coach Bob Hartley, gave the Wild a nine-point edge on Winnipeg and Vancouver in the Western wild card race.

If GM Chuck Fletcher was on the fence about adding a significant piece at the deadline, his team is certainly helping make the case that they deserve a shot.

read on for Burnside on the Stars and Strang and LeBrun on the Kings...