21.   After the Rangers missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year, they acquired Eric Lindros from Philadelphia and traded Adam Graves to San Jose.

22.   Boston missed the playoffs by a tiebreaker with Carolina.

23.   Bourque had wanted to go to a contender when it became clear the Bruins were going to miss the playoffs last spring and the Bruins accommodated him.

24.   But in the past three years the Dodgers have missed the playoffs once and have been eliminated in the first round without winning a game twice.

25.   But if the Rams and Bucs somehow tie, New Orleans could still miss the playoffs.

26.   But now, with the Jets risking a second consecutive collapse to miss the playoffs, Testaverde faces his crucible.

27.   But miss the playoffs?

28.   But the Canadiens have won just two championships in the last two decades, and they have missed the playoffs the last two seasons.

29.   But the Magic missed the playoffs by only one game, and Rivers was voted coach of the year.

30.   But they still missed the playoffs after a promising start.