VANCOUVER — Whatever happened to the turtle derby?
The Pacific Division, which was like the National Hockey League's B-flight throughout the fall, suddenly looks legit again. This is not good news for the Vancouver Canucks, who have clung to the playoff race through bad injuries and a worse schedule but now have to play catchup down the stretch.
The division-leading Los Angeles Kings would need to slide into the ocean to lose the Pacific. But the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks have each won seven of their last 10 games and are on pace to finish with 94 and 91 points, respectively.