Along the boards

Buffalo Sabres The Sabres probably can't catch Philly for the No. 4 spot in the East, but Buffalo could be peaking at just the right time. Steve Heinze has six points (4-2-6) in three games since his arrival from Columbus. Donald Audette suited up for the first time Saturday night after serving a two-game suspension. Vancouver Canucks Losing Markus Naslund really puts a sting on what has been a great season. The Canucks won't fold, but they cannot beat too many playoff teams without Naslund, their leader and leading scorer. San Jose Sharks Teemu Selanne played Saturday and Vincent Damphousse is progressing well in his rehab. Jeff Norton returned via a trade with Pittsburgh. Watch out. Flames GM Craig Button He fired Don Hay, the coach he hired, after less than one season. Too bad GMs can't fire themselves -- or can they? Edmonton's Tommy Salo Despite allowing five goals in Saturday's OT loss to N.J., Salo has been sensational during the later portion of Edmonton's recent winning streak. By season's end, Salo will have more than 70 starts. The Oilers hope he won't tire. Hot seat: Keith Tkachuk is gone, so Jeremy Roenick needs to prove he can carry a team. After a hot start to their season, the Coyotes are close to missing the playoffs. Hot seat, Part Deux: Bruins GM Mike O'Connell didn't give coach Mike Keenan any new talent -- the Bruins didn't have much to give. So it's up to Keenan to squeeze playoff water from his stony roster. If he doesn't, there is a chance Keenan may not return next season.

In two games since the NHL trade deadline, the Wild haven't scored a goal, losing 1-0 and 3-0.

It's no surprise considering Minnesota traded away three of its most senior players -- Sean O'Donnell, Curtis Leschyshyn and Scott Pellerin.

GM Doug Risebrough is building for the future by stockpiling draft picks and prospects. However, it's difficult to compete in the present when a team thin on talent is thinned even more.

Risebrough felt OK with the moves because of his faith in coach Jacques Lemaire and team's proven resiliency.

"It hasn't been easier without them," Risebrough said. "It's just that our players have the ability to say 'Hey, let's continue this.'"

The Wild have continued to keep games close -- two of their last three losses were in OT -- but it remains to be seen whether the reconfigured squad can win those close ones.

"A team will grow with time, and roles are established early," Risebrough said. "We have to go in a youthful direction and can't make the mistake of assuming these guys (the ones traded away) will be the same players in three years when they are 31 now."

Therein lies the rub in the efforts to re-sign Pellerin and Leschyshyn: They were looking for long-term deals. So when contract agreements weren't reached, Risebrough dealt all three of his pending unrestricted free agents.

The other new guys ...
The Blue Jackets, the other first-year team, traded away Steve Heinze and lost Geoff Sanderson for two weeks with a knee injury. Yet since Tuesdays' deadline, the Blue Jackets won two consecutive 3-0 games and tied the Islanders on Saturday night. Unlike Minnesota, Columbus started with more veterans. So even though the Jackets' offense is somewhat depleted, players like Tyler Wright and Lyle Odelein are still around for leadership.

Meanwhile, second-year Atlanta has struggled mightily after sending Donald Audette to Buffalo. They lost 8-1 to Ottawa and 3-0 to Columbus.

Games to watch ... and why
Beyond the Stars-Wild game, this week's theme revolves around the standings. Each of the three games pits teams which could easily catch one another in the playoff races.

Monday: Dallas at Minnesota
The Stars can't forget the last time they visited St. Paul because they got smoked, 6-0, on Dec. 17. The fans won't be as cranked up as the initial Stars return to Minnesota, but there's little doubt that the Wild and their fans view this matchup as a rivalry.

Monday: Phoenix at Los Angeles
The Kings find themselves nipping on the Coyotes' heels. Head-to-head matchups are the easiest way to play catchup, and this is one of two remaining games between the two teams.

Felix Potvin's play the last dozen games has provided a stability in net the Kings haven't had. Because of L.A.'s offensive weapons, the Coyotes would be best served slowing the game down, keeping it close and winning it in the third period.

Tuesday: Toronto at Buffalo
The No. 7 spot in the East is a bad one -- the occupant likely plays Ottawa or New Jersey in the first round. While there are no easy opponents in the postseason, but the Leafs and Sabres hope to avoid the Senators and Devils as long as possible.

This is one of the better NHL rivalries because the cities are so close to each other and the game is attended by fans of both teams.

Wednesday: Edmonton at Los Angeles
This is the third game of a five-game homestand for the Kings. These games are crucial because L.A. finishes the season with three on the road and the Oilers sit just above the Kings in the standings.

Edmonton's recent hot streak put a bit of distance between the two teams, so the Kings are no longer a direct threat. However, the Oilers have a chance to finish as high as fifth, improving their chances of avoiding Colorado, Detroit or Dallas in the first round.

Mailbag
Got a question? Send it in and Breakout will break it down.

Pat Cook, Michigan: Why has Nicklas Lidstrom been overlooked for the Norris trophy in the last three years?

Answer: Lidstrom has been the runner up all three years to winners who were just as deserving -- Chris Pronger, Al MacInnis and Rob Blake respectively.

Because Lidstrom has yet to win it, the other names are usually mentioned first in discussion. However, this season, Pronger and MacInnis have missed significant time due to injury. Blake has missed some time as well, but his numbers are strong. One other possibility is Brian Leetch, who is averaging better than a point per game, but is minus-18 for a horrible Rangers team.

Even if the heavyweights hadn't missed time, this should be Lidstrom's year in many ways. After not scoring a goal until November, Lidstrom is peaking at the right time with 19 points a a plus-6 rating in his last 19 games (4-15-19). The Red Wings are 12-2-5 in those 19 games.

Lidstrom's one weakness is his plus-minus. He is even on the season, nowhere near the top of the heap -- MacInnis is plus-25.

Brian A. Shactman covers the NHL for ESPN.com. He can be reached at brian.shactman@espn.com.