Hot and not

Jeff Carter, Los Angeles Kings

Carter figured in every Kings goal in a 3-0 win over the Calgary Flames, scoring twice and assisting on another goal. He now has seven points in his past four games.

Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

Lundqvist allowed all four goals in a 4-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, his second straight loss and the fourth time in his past seven games that he's allowed four goals.

How dangerous are the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators?

@Real_ESPNLeBrun: So if you're the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks, would you rather face San Jose or Nashville in the first round? I was asking myself that as I watched the Kings blank the Calgary Flames by a 3-0 count on Thursday, to leapfrog one point ahead of the Ducks for first place in the Pacific Division. Anaheim has a game in hand and hosts the Vancouver Canucks on Friday, the same Canucks who who beat the Sharks 4-2 on Thursday. San Jose and Nashville, who play each other Saturday, are just a point apart in the standings. Perhaps the Kings and Ducks don't really care which one they face in the opening round? Nashville lost its third straight Thursday night after a brilliant 12-2-2 run preceding that (I cursed them with my Monday feature on them). The Preds look just as dangerous as the Sharks, but I'd bet if you could get them to admit it privately, the Kings and Ducks would rather avoid San Jose. The road to the Western Conference finals is more palatable if you don't have to beat California rivals in the first two rounds. Those all-California series -- any combination of the Ducks, Sharks and Kings against each other -- have been brutally physical and emotional series the past several years, and I've covered many of them. You're left gasping for air as the winning team. And imagine if the Sharks get the Kings in the opening round, and a chance to redeem themselves after blowing a 3-0 series lead against L.A. in 2014? No question in my mind that despite Nashville's quality lineup, both the Kings and Ducks would rather play the Preds than the Sharks. Thoughts?

@ESPN_Burnside: I disagree, my friend. Yes, the Predators have taken a slight turn sideways in recent days, but they are locked into the top wild card spot in the West after that stunning run you chronicled so beautifully, so I think these recent losses have little meaning. The slide does nothing to diminish their ability to make life difficult for either of the big boys from California, Anaheim or Los Angeles. Martin Jones has had a fine season for the Sharks, and adding James Reimer at the deadline as a Plan B in goal could turn out to be a key move by San Jose GM Doug Wilson. But if Pekka Rinne is the same player he's been for most of the second half of the season, the Predators are in a better position to pull off the upset in the first round. The play of Ryan Johansen has given the Predators as deep a group down the middle as they've ever had, and the blue line remains among the deepest in the NHL. So, if you could ever get a moment of absolute truth from either the Ducks or the Kings, my guess is they would be happier making the short flight to San Jose in the first round and leave the possibility of Music City mayhem to the other California squad. Just saying.

@CraigCustance: Typically, when I talk to players and coaches about potential playoff matchups, their biggest concern is travel. You're going to have to go through the California teams eventually out West, so you might as well stay close to home in Round 1 if you're L.A. or Anaheim and save the wear and tear that comes with leaving the state. Plus, the Predators have matched up pretty well against the Ducks this season. Anaheim is 1-2 against Nashville, compared to 3-1 against San Jose. Personally, I'd like to see a rematch between the Sharks and the Kings in the first round. How badly must Joe Thornton and the Sharks want a shot at redemption after losing that series a couple years ago? That's the series I want to see.

Around the league