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 lost eight of 10 games going into the All-Star break after leading the Pacific Division at the midway point of the NHL season.

They're still safely in a playoff spot in the Western Conference, but they can't keep it up.

“We’re still in a good position — that's the way we look at it,” 

 said. “There’s not too many teams that can cruise home the last 30 games in this league, and we’re certainly not one of them.”

, probably could. They're atop the NHL and running away with the Atlantic Division.

With 39 wins and 83 points through 51 games, Boston is on pace to break the record for the best regular season in NHL history. The 

, who beat Boston in seven games in the first round last year, are next in the standings at 76 points.

“Top to bottom, there’s no weaknesses,” Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said.

The Bruins are in a class of their own, but the playoff races behind them in the East and West should be hot down the stretch with roughly 30 games to go before the chase for the Stanley Cup begins.

The Hurricanes rode a seven-game winning streak into the break, putting some fear into the Bruins in the race for the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage through the postseason. 

Winger Max Pacioretty re-tearing his right Achilles tendon

 five games into his return didn't slow them down, and if their goaltending holds up, Carolina stands a good chance of reaching the East final.

“This team, it’s a special group of guys,” said Brind’Amour, who captained Carolina to the Cup in 2006 and is in his fifth year as coach. “We kind of show that nightly. It’s just very consistent, and they take their job real serious. They do it right.”

 are contending for the first time since 2018. Bottoming out the next season helped them win the lottery for 

, a two-time All-Star who has them winning ahead of schedule.

“Much better than being out of the mix," Hughes said. “We’re really excited because it’s going to be a lot of important hockey, and it’s going to be really competitive and we’re really pumped to be where we are.”

They're followed by the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders. All three New York-area teams could make it, which was the expectation for 

 after reaching the East final last year.

“I think the run last year really taught us a few things and stuff that we obviously could build on for the rest of this year,” 2021 Norris-Trophy winning defenseman Adam Fox said.

The Rangers lost to the Lightning in six games last spring, when 

 reached the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive season before getting 

The Lightning are almost certain to face the 

 — who haven't won a playoff series since the NHL salary cap era began in 2005 — in the first round and remain a threat to the Bruins.

But Boston has separated itself despite starting the season without top left winger Brad Marchand and No. 1 defenseman Charlie McAvoy. The Bruins have lost only 12 games under 

“You just keep winning,” said All-Star right winger David Pastrnak, who's tied for third in the league in scoring. “Every single line and every single guy is going and it obviously builds our confidence. It’s funny sometimes what confidence can do in hockey.”

The Islanders should have some more confidence after 

acquiring 30-goal scorer Bo Horvat from Vancouver,

 but still need to make up ground to get in.

Defending champion Colorado climbed in the standings — winning seven of eight going into the break despite an injury-riddled first half of the season. Captain Gabriel Landeskog still has not made his season debut 

. It would be foolish to bet against the Avs coming out of the West again.

"It’s up to us: We control our own fate," 

 said. “We need to definitely keep playing the way we were before the break. No matter who’s in the lineup we were playing well, playing hard, so it would definitely help with healthy bodies.”

They still trail the Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild in the Central, and the Nashville Predators are on their heels. Only the Stars and Jets are essentially guaranteed a spot.

 said. “Every point’s going to be a dog fight, so it’s going to be a fun 30 games down the stretch.”

, who were swept by Colorado in the West final, have a little bit of catching up to do in the Pacific Division.

The top spot is held by the Seattle Kraken, who surprisingly are on pace to make the playoffs in their second season but still need to fend off the Los Angeles Kings and the Vegas Golden Knights.

the Battle of Alberta rival Calgary Flames

 — have the talent to not only get in but make a run. McDavid leads the league with 41 goals and 92 points, 16 more than No. 2 scorer and teammate Leon Draisaitl, and is producing unlike anyone since Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux in the mid-1990s.

Now he'll try to carry the Oilers into the playoffs and beyond.

“It hasn’t been easy at all for our group. We’ve kind of had to battle for everything that we’ve got,” McDavid said. “We’ve always been a second-half team for whatever reason. Even since my first year, we’ve always been better in the second half, so we’ll definitely look to continue that. That being said, we’re not going to hang our hat on that and expect that to carry us to the playoffs. There’s a lot of work to be done.”

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The Boston Bruins are atop the NHL standings and running away with the Atlantic Division going into the second half of the season. But the playoff races are hot in the Metropolitan, Central and Pacific with roughly 30 games left to go down the stretch.

Bruins rolling, rest of NHL making final push for playoffs

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