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The Noise: 4 players impacting their team's playoff chances, for better or worse

Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports / USA TODAY Sports

theScore's new series, "The Noise," is published every Monday. It kicks off each week with a quick look at teams or players making headlines, good or bad.

Nikita Kucherov

Nikita Kucherov is keeping the Tampa Bay Lightning in it.

The 23-year-old has been the league's most productive player over the last three weeks and has become the catalyst for a club that has collected seven wins in its last 10 games.

Kucherov has been a monster over the team's last nine contests, scoring 10 of his team's 25 goals, contributing a total of 18 points.

The Lightning sit three points out from the final playoff spot in the East, but could very well make up that ground if Kucherov keeps it up.

Claude Giroux

Two straight losses by the Philadelphia Flyers and suddenly the team is sitting six points back of the final wild-card spot in the East.

The onus doesn't fall strictly on captain Claude Giroux - especially considering he has strung together a three-game point streak. However, there is something to be said about his goal totals of late.

Giroux has put up just 13 goals in 67 contests this season, and just one in his last 15. He's on pace for 15 which would be his lowest goal total of his career in a full 82-game season.

What's more, Giroux has just seven points over that stretch. He must be better if the Flyers are to make a serious playoff push.

Brian Elliott

The Calgary Flames are the league's hottest team right now, and that's no joke.

The team has rattled off nine straight wins and has bumped the Edmonton Oilers down to the first wild-card spot in the West.

Brian Elliott has been monumental in the team's current run, especially over his past seven games. During that stretch he is a perfect 7-0-0 with a .963 save percentage and a 1.13 goals-against average.

Of course, it's worth noting the 31-year-old is currently riding a streak of back-to-back shutouts.

James Reimer

Unfortunately for James Reimer things haven't gone nearly as smoothly of late.

The Florida Panthers netminder had a forgettable week, going 0-3-0 with a .876 save percentage and a 4.8 goals-against average, while being yanked midway through his team's 5-2 pounding by the New York Rangers.

Related: Even-strength play, goaltending hampering Panthers' playoff hopes

Reimer's slump highlights the club's struggles. With just two wins in their last 10 games, the Panthers have fallen seven points back of the final playoff spot in the East.

The team currently holds a mere 0.6 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to Sports Club Stats. If the Panthers have any hope of resurrecting their season, Reimer will need to step up his play.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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