Some are home and cooled, with nothing but their playoff seed and opening round opponent to be determined.
Others remain in a tenacious battle for the post-season, where every point over the final third of the season will determine if they climb on a plane for Game 1 of a series or step up to the first tee the day after the conclusion of the regular season.
OK, so Sidney Crosby isn't on the list but, in my defense, there is sound reason. It goes without saying that Crosby is one of the impact players in the game, but he isn't going to put the Penguins in the post-season himself. Once he returns, Evgeni Malkin should have them knocking on the door of the playoffs.
If any of the following bubble teams are looking to punch their ticket to The Dance, here are the players that will have to step up, keep up and cowboy up:
10. OLLI JOKINEN, Panthers
With trade rumors swirling around Jokinen, he may not even be in South Florida to help the Panthers make a charge. But with six points in his past five games as of Wednesday, Jokinen may be sticking around for one final push. Should he be moved, goaltender Tomas Vokoun gets control of the Cats' hopes by default.
9. RYAN MILLER, Sabres
With the Sabres missing the obvious firepower of Chris Drury and Daniel Briere for the stretch drive, it will be up to Miller to carry the load if the Sabres are to see the post season. He is doing his part to date and will have to continue that trend. It's Miller time in Buffalo.
8. ILYA KOVALCHUK, Thrashers
Gee, do ya think? With Marian Hossa all but on his way out of town, the Thrashers' playoff aspirations rest with Kovalchuk. If he goes in the tank, the Thrashers may as well dust off the golf clubs. They'll need them in the first week of April.
7. ILJA BRYZGALOV, Coyotes
The darkhorse of the 2008 season has the desert dogs on the cusp of a playoff berth. Shane Doan and Radim Vrbata are going to have to fill the net, but Bryzgalov will be needed to keep them out. If he can hold down the fort, Phoenix could be one of the Sweet 16 this spring.
6. MARC SAVARD, Bruins
Many will point to Tim Thomas' Cinderella run as the thesis for the turnaround in Beantown, but Savard holds the key to a playoff spot. Savard has scored 25 more points than any other Bear and he will need to keep up the pace if the B's are to be playing once the real season starts.
5. JAROME IGINLA, Flames
In a ten-game stretch from Jan. 8 to Feb. 4, Iginla had just five points. That won't cut it in Cowtown. Iggy found his touch Tuesday night with two points, including the tying goal in the dying seconds, as the Flames picked themselves up off the scrap heap to fight back and beat the Coyotes. Should Iginla get back on pace, not only will the Flames make the playoffs, but they may do a lot of damage once they get there.
4. CHRIS MASON, Predators
Perhaps a bit of a surprising pick here, but the Predators still find themselves inside the playoff cutline despite a very vanilla season from Mason (16-16-4, 2.69, .905). Simply put, if Mason gets back in his groove, the Preds are in. If he continues to struggle, Nashville will remain on the bubble, perhaps until the final week of the season.
3. PAUL STASTNY, Avalanche
Even with injuries to Stastny, Joe Sakic and Ryan Smyth, the depleted Avs have kept their heads above water in the playoff race. The looming return of Stastny, who had his appendix removed last month, is a welcome relief for Colorado, who are still missing Sakic and Smyth.
2. ROBERTO LUONGO, Canucks
It goes without saying that the Canucks will only go as far as Luongo carries them. With Luongo missing recent games with a wonky hip, it's no wonder the Canucks took a dive. Fans in Vancouver had better hope Luongo returns to form; if not, it will be curtains for the Orcas.
1. ALEXANDER OVECHKIN, Capitals
How's that for a no-brainer? The Capitals, with Ovechkin leading the way, are sniffing around for a playoff spot and, with a little luck, could end up wearing a division crown. Ovechkin may single-handedly carry them to both.