Islanders captain Doug Weight says this is when the pressure starts to build.

Twenty-eight games from the finish line. Teams bunched up in the East, a point or two separating them, all close to playoff position.

"It can be fun, too," Weight said today. "But what we all want is to be in the top eight at the end, because anything can happen then, and we have to know every point is precious."

Except for the Canes. They're more or less out of the playoff chase now, playing the part of spoilers.