As the NHL season enters its final stretch, fans are on the edge of their seats, eagerly watching the playoff picture unfold in the Eastern Conference. In the latest installment of Mailbag, NHL.com's experts tackle the most pressing questions surrounding the conference, from which teams are poised to make a late push for the postseason to which squads are already all but eliminated. Meanwhile, the impact of John Tortorella's coaching tenure on the Columbus Blue Jackets has been a hot topic of discussion, with many wondering if the veteran bench boss can lead his team to a surprise playoff berth. With the stakes higher than ever, NHL fans are in for a thrilling ride as the regular season hurtles towards its conclusion.

Mailbag: Playoff race in Eastern Conference; Tortorella's impact  NHL.com