The Stanley Cup playoffs are just over two weeks away and the push to the postseason continues to heat up.
Throughout the league, there are several storylines to keep an eye on as the second NHL season is almost set to begin. Only four teams have qualified for the playoffs thus far, but with time winding down, the other 12 clubswill be determined soon.
Here are five key storylines to keep an eye on as the Stanley Cup playoffs draw near.
1) Presidential Push
It would only be fitting for the Presidents' Trophy to end up in Washington, D.C. -- and that's looking more and more like a reality. The Capitals have had a magical season, the kind that has seen them lose just 15 games in regulation here in late March, so the Presidents' Trophy seems to be in their grasp.
Washington enters Friday with an NHL-best 109 points, while the Stars are the next-closest team with 97, which is a pretty big cushion. The Capitals are looking to advance past the second round for the first time in the Alex Ovechkin era.
The Presidents' Trophy doesn't always mean a Stanley Cup, but the last club to win both were the 2012-13 Blackhawks. Since the Presidents' Trophy's inception in the 1985-86 season, only eight teams have won both prizes.
2) Hart of the Race
The race for league MVP is heating up and while Patrick Kane of the defending champion Blackhawks may have had a stranglehold on the race all season, he isn't a lock. Kane enters Friday leading the NHL with 93 points, ranking second with 39 goals and tied for third with 53 assists.
While it appears likely Kane will win the Hart Trophy for the first time in his career, he does have some competiton. Jamie Benn (36 goals, 46 assists, 82 points), Alex Ovechkin (NHL-best 43 goals for league-leading Capitals) and Sidney Crosby (31-45--76), who bounced back from a rough start, are also in the conversation.
3) Wild, Wild West
The Western Conference boasts some of the NHL's best teams, so it's no wonder it's a tightly-contested race down the stretch.
The Central Division lived up to its pre-season expectations of being the best in the league. The Stars (97 points) enter Friday in first place and have clinched a berth, while the Blues (95) and Blackhawks (91) are right on them, despite Chicago's recent struggles.
The Predators (89) and Wild (83) may also represent the division as wild card teams, while the Avalanche (80) are right in the mix.
In the Pacific Division, there is a lot of California love this season. The Kings (93) and Ducks (91) have already clinched a berth into the playoffs, while the Sharks (88) are on the cusp. Playoff series' between these teams will be must-see.
3) Beasts In The East
While the Capitals have run away with the Metropolitan Division and clinched home-ice throughout the first three rounds, a lot needs to be settled in the Eastern Conference.
The Rangers (92) and Penguins (88) are jockeying for second place in the Metro, while the Islanders (87) and Flyers (85) hold down wild card spots, but could easily jump either team in the division by the time the puck drops on the playoffs on April 13.
In the Atlantic Division, the Panthers have been the best story of the season and currently hold down the fort with 91 points. The defending Eastern Conference champion Lightning (89) are right behind them, while the Bruins (86) remain in third despite a rough stretch of play (0-5-0).
The Red Wings (85) are just on the outside looking in of both the divison and wild card standings as they seek their 25th straight trip to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
5) Rookie Rush
This has been a tremendous season for rookies in the NHL, and a lot of them will get to show what they have on the playoffs stage for the first time. Blackhawks first-year player Artemi Panarin leads all rookies in goals (25), assists (39) and points (64).
The Red Wings Dylan Larkin (21-22--43) has made a tremendous impact, while Flyers defenseman Shayne Gotisbehere has also made a name for himself.
Though rookies such as Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Max Domi, Anthony Duclair and Sam Reinhart won't get to display their skills in the postseason, this last stretch run will still be exciting to watch.
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