Saturday Night Special in NHL Eastern Conference

Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning (photo by USPresswire/Kim Klement)

The playoff push heats up on this Saturday in the Eastern Conference and the top teams battle for playoff positions and home ice advantage here in March, the last full month of the NHL regular season.

At the top of the Eastern Conference only two points sit between the first, second and third place.

Tonight the first place Montreal faces off in Phoenix and the second  place Islanders face off in Sunrise, Florida vs the Panthers and the third place Lightning face off at home vs Dallas.

The Montreal Canadiens currently sit in first place with 88 points, winding down a tough Western Conference road trip.  The New York Islanders sit in second place with 87 points and The Tampa Bay Lightning sit at third with 86 points.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have home ice advantage tonight which speaks volumes this season being 25-6-1.  So, hang on to your hats (or hopefully you will throw one) as Stammer the Hammer and your Tampa Bay Lightning try to climb to the top of the Eastern Conference standings tonight.

Puck drops at 7pm 401 Channelside Drive The Amalie Arena as Lindy Ruff and the Dallas Stars come to visit.