The standings are incredibly tight in the East, with 10 teams separated by just two points

Yesterday was Thanksgiving in the United States. The NHL calendar is therefore representative enough to analyze.
In the East, no fewer than 10 clubs are currently separated by just two points in the overall standings.
You read that correctly.
(Credit: NHL.com)
If you take out the three best and three worst clubs in the Association, all the teams have between 26 and 28 points. So tonight’s games can change everything.
That explains why nobody wants to sell in the East: everybody’s in.