I propose the adoption of two new phrases:

1. The "Lay Line." This term is borrowed from open-ocean racing. In a hockey connotation, it means the point at which a team can average one Bettman point for each game remaining in the season and still get to 96 points, the cut-off number for a playoff slot historically. Thus Toronto, with 27 games left in the season and 74 points in the bank, is above the Lay Line and should comfortably earn a playoff spot barring some calamitous collapse.

2. The "Sunset Line." This is the obverse of the Lay Line: if a team wins all of its remaining games and still can't reach 96 points, it's below the Sunset Line. For example, my Once-Mighty Ducks also have 27 games left; if they won every single one of them, those 54 points plus the 40 they have now adds to only 94 points, so they are already semi-officially eliminated from playoff contention.