(Credit: Texas Stars) It's officially post-All-Star and this year post-Olympics. The trade deadline looms. March starts this weekend, and I regret to inform you that we'll all jump ahead by an hour in just a week and a half. Sorry about that. This time of year also brings the start of playoff speculation in the American Hockey League. Due to the unbelievable start they had to their season (and their continued strong play), the Griffins could be the first team to clinch a playoff spot this evening if they can defeat Manitoba. Texas, somehow and someway, found its footing after a once-in-a-decade bad start to the season. Now, we are honestly and truly discussing potential first round playoff matchups for the Stars. You could have made a decent amount of money betting on this outcome back in November. The odds weren't looking good. Illusions in the Standings The very first thing to note about the standings is that they are an illusion. Texas had an absolutely packed schedule u...