11.   Any other result will extend the playoff race to Sunday, the final day of the season.

12.   Beating the Flames, who two weeks ago were ahead of the Kings in the playoff race, was critical.

13.   A loss means dropping further out of the playoff race.

14.   All would have been appropriate on a night when two native Texans pitched the Rangers back to the top of the American League wild-card playoff race.

15.   Brown also has lost playing time because his team is still in a playoff race.

16.   But I decided I was becoming a distraction to a team that was in the middle of a playoff race.

17.   But in the heat of the playoff race, feelings are changing.

18.   But no matter if a race is great or not, just being in a playoff race is special.

19.   But the life they showed Wednesday night was a necessary development in this end stage of the playoff race.

20.   But with his team out of the playoff race, McGwire has been able to swing for the fences on every pitch.