Every Tuesday, theScore's hockey editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."
With the All-Star Game in the rear-view mirror, it's now crunch time. There are just over eight weeks remaining in the regular season, and teams are making that final push for a playoff spot.
Let's discuss who among the seven Canadian franchises is a contender for a playoff berth, and who's primed for an early offseason:
Calgary Flames
Status: Pretender
Take: The Calgary Flames have been too inconsistent for their own good.
The team has remained in the playoff conversation for most of the season, but on the back of - once again - unreliable goaltending, the Flames have failed to get over the hump.
Brian Elliott and Chad Johnson have failed to turn in the seasons expected to make the Flames a threat in the West, combining for the eighth-worst team save percentage.
Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau have been hot of late, but are still set to see their point totals take a dive.
Factor in the club facing a strong Pacific Division, an inspired St. Louis Blues club, and the always dangerous Los Angeles Kings, and it's likely the Flames sit this one out.
Edmonton Oilers
Status: Contender
Take: It's the first time in a long time the Edmonton Oilers have fit this bill.
The club has skyrocketed up the standings with a healthy Connor McDavid, the outstanding play of Cam Talbot, and a more sound defensive system.
They're playing a more structured game, and, along with McDavid's surge and Leon Draisaitl's breakout, the team has quickly become one of the premier offensive threats in the league.
They can hang with the big boys, and while their full potential may still be a year or two down the road, the Oilers are quickly making a name for themselves.
Montreal Canadiens
Status: Contender
Take: While Montreal fans may have thought the sky was falling after P.K. Subban was shipped out to Nashville, the Canadiens appear to be better for the deal eight months later.
Much like the Oilers, Montreal has thrived since dealing away one of its top talents. Shea Weber has made a seamless transition with the club, gifting the team with a more defensively sound option on the back end. Having the hardest shot in the league certainly doesn't hurt, either (actually it does, just ask Brendan Gallagher).
Factor in that Carey Price has been healthy and Alexander Radulov has been among the best offseason signings of the year, and the team is primed for a deep playoff run.
Ottawa Senators
Status: Contender
Take: The Ottawa Senators continue to defy skeptics, posting the second-best record in the Atlantic Division with a near-identical club from a season ago.
A tip of the hat to new head coach Guy Boucher is in order. In quick stead, Boucher has turned the Senators into a defensively sound club, and made Erik Karlsson a better all-around player.
The team's penalty kill - which ranked 29th last season - is now the 10th most reliable unit in the league. And, after giving up a league-high 32.8 shots per game last season, the Senators are allowing 30.1 - a jump to 13th.
The Senators have done this without their No. 1 goaltender, and the team could surprise some when it reaches the postseason.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Status: Contender
Take: Talk about a changing of the guard.
Just one year removed from finishing with the worst record in the league, the Maple Leafs have rebounded on the strength of their numerous rookies, and look poised for their first playoff berth since the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.
Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner haven't skipped a beat since being thrown into the fire, while Frederik Andersen - minus his initial and current slumps - has been a rock on the back end.
The team's defense remains a question mark, to put it lightly, but with an elite offense and Andersen's ability to provide elite goaltending, the Maple Leafs are much closer to being contenders than pretenders.
Toronto has the third-best point percentage in the Atlantic, fast-tracking its rebuild.
Winnipeg Jets
Status: Pretender
Take: The Winnipeg Jets have proven on several occasions that they have what it takes to contend, but - like the Flames - are impeded by their goaltending.
The trio of Michael Hutchinson, Connor Hellebuyck, and Ondrej Pavelec has faltered. Hellebuyck is the only goalie with a save percentage over the .900 mark (.908), while his 2.82 goals-against average is actually the best on the team.
The team is averaging the fourth-most goals against per game, and is riding the fifth-worst team save percentage at .899.
The trio of Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Patrik Laine has been among the best lines in hockey, but you can only go so far when you can't keep the puck out of your own net.
Vancouver Canucks
Status: Pretender
Take: The Canucks have shown glimpses of promise, but always seem to come back to earth.
The team is scoring at the third-worst rate in the league, and for that reason has mounted the third-worst goal differential at -27.
Bo Horvat has taken great strides in his development, but few others have aided him along the way. Loui Eriksson looks primed for a buyout down the road - a huge disappointment for the team.
The Canucks would be better off tearing it down and rebuilding, but with the Sedins still in the fold, that appears unlikely. Instead, the team is on pace to finish in no-man's land.
Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.