Every Tuesday, theScore's editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."

Four weeks remain in the NHL schedule. Marking an incredible comeback from a year ago, all clubs north of the border have a chance at a playoff spot after Canada was shut out from postseason play in 2016.

Look for these seven players to be the biggest contributors for their clubs with the playoffs on the line:

Calgary Flames

The Flames are hot, winning seven in a row, with a chance to push that streak to eight straight victories when they face the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

Over that stretch, Calgary's top player has been speedy forward Johnny Gaudreau, putting up nine points in seven games. Since Dec. 1, Gaudreau's points per game has climbed to 0.85 after struggling to 0.65 through the season's first two months.

A playoff date for the Flames would mark their second postseason appearance in the past three years, and just their third since 2009.

Edmonton Oilers

No goaltender has seen a heavier workload this season than Oilers netminder Cam Talbot, already with 58 games under his belt. The 29-year-old is on pace for 73 contests this season, after setting his previous high-water mark a year ago, at 56 games.

Poor showings from Edmonton's second stringers - the club has already shuffled out Jonas Gustavsson for Laurent Brossoit - has left Oilers bench boss Todd McLellan little choice other than to regularly call on Talbot.

Edmonton has missed the playoffs 10 straight seasons, last showing up in the postseason in 2006 following a miracle run to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Oilers hope Talbot holds up while the club locks down its first playoff match in over a decade.

Montreal Canadiens

Every club has an MVP, but no player is more important to his squad than Canadiens goaltender Carey Price.

After missing all but 12 games last season following a devastating knee injury, Price has returned to Montreal's crease and hasn't missed a beat. The 2015 Vezina winner holds down a 29-16-5 record this season, while his .922 save rate ranks second among netminders with as many starts.

For the Canadiens to make any noise in the playoffs, they'll need to rely on Price. It's evident the club isn't the same without their franchise netminder. Price caught a cold streak coming out of the bye week, while the Canadiens picked up just three points in seven games.

Ottawa Senators

The Senators aren't known for their offense - with just 170 goals on the season, Ottawa ranks 19th league-wide.

Ottawa has relied on a scoring by committee approach this season under new coach Guy Boucher. Three forwards have reached both 20 goals and 40 points, with winger Mark Stone topping the list. The 24-year-old has struggled since returning from a neck injury, putting up just two assists in five games, and the Senators will need Stone to return to form in order to do damage in the spring.

The Senators have flown under the radar for much of the season, but thanks to some key performances, the club is a good bet to return to the postseason after missing out a year ago.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The young Maple Leafs hit a wall coming out of the All-Star break, following up the Jan. 29 weekend with a 5-7-5 showing.

Part of that recent sagging performance coincided with the loss of rookie Mitch Marner, out five games with an upper-body injury. Marner is one of a trio of key rookies making names for themselves in Toronto this season, alongside Auston Matthews and William Nylander.

Toronto sits one point back of the New York Islanders for the last playoff spot in the East. A postseason appearance would be the Maple Leafs' first since 2013, and a chance to win their first playoff series since 2004.

Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver has the tallest task in locking down a playoff position, sitting six points back of the St. Louis Blues for the second wild-card seed in the West. Couple that with the fact the team sold off pieces at the recent trade deadline, and the Canucks have their work cut out of for them.

In the meantime, no doubt the Canucks would like to see some more noise from their big-ticket free agency addition, veteran winger Loui Eriksson. The Swedish-born forward was injured Sunday versus the Anaheim Ducks, but is not expected to miss much time.

Eriksson has accounted for 11 goals and 13 assists with the Canucks this season. He was added in the offseason, given his chemistry with countrymen Daniel and Henrik Sedin. The 31-year-old is signed through the 2021-22 season.

Winnipeg Jets

No freshman has been as electrifying this season as Jets winger Patrik Laine. The Finnish forward leads all rookies in goals with 32 and in points at 59. He's averaged a point-per-game pace this season, appearing in 59 contests.

As for the Jets, the team has rebounded in recent weeks to put itself back in the playoff picture, with just two regulation-time losses in their past nine outings (5-2-2). Winnipeg is now just three points back of the Blues for the West's final playoff seed.

Since uprooting from Atlanta in 2011, the Jets have a single playoff appearance, falling in a 4-0 sweep to the Ducks in 2015. Laine and the Jets have a chance to find some playoff success this spring.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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