from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

Of all the questions to consider as the 2008-09 NHL season heads into the home stretch, the one on everyone’s mind in Western Canada is: Is this the year the region’s three Canadian-based teams qualify for the playoffs together?

At the all-star game break, the Calgary Flames were third on the Western Conference list, with the Edmonton Oilers holding down sixth place and the Vancouver Canucks, despite a six-game losing string, hanging on to seventh.

If the playoffs began today, the Flames and Oilers would meet in the opening round, setting up the first playoff Battle of Alberta since their memorable 1991 meeting, won by the Oilers in seven games.

continued with a look at the Wings, Ducks and some trade options…