Western Conference playoff race tightest ever at this point in the season

The logjam out West is apparently unprecedented.

Entering Thursday's games, seven teams were either four points above or four points below the playoff line in the Western Conference for the first time this late in the season since the advent of the conference format in 1993-94, the Anaheim Ducks revealed to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

That doesn't include seasons shortened by a lockout.

The Los Angeles Kings came into Thursday's action occupying the second Western Conference wild-card spot with 87 points.

Four teams - the San Jose Sharks (91), the Minnesota Wild (90), the Ducks (88), and the Colorado Avalanche (88), were ahead of them by four points or less, while the St. Louis Blues (85) and the Dallas Stars (84) also sat within four points of the Kings and the eighth postseason position in the West.