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The 2012 MLS season is far from over, but the Chicago Fire are going to have to step on the gas at some point if they want be assured of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. With a 4-2-3 record, the Fire currently sit behind D.C. United, Sporting Kansas City and the New York Red Bulls in the East. According to PlayoffStatus.com, Chicago has a 13 percent chance of taking the top spot, but they also have a 34 percent chance of missing the playoffs all together. A couple hot weeks would do wonders for the Fire, but they've managed to take victories and follow them up with less-than-dominating performances lately. In any case, there is quite a bit of time to make things work out well for Chicago.
Here is an updated look at the MLS Standings in the Eastern Conference, as of May 14:
| # | Club | PTS | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Home | Away | Last 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York Red Bulls | 22 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 23 | 16 | 7 | 4-0-1 | 3-3-0 | L-W-W-W-W |
| 2 | Sporting Kansas City | 21 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 4-1-0 | 3-2-0 | W-W-L-L-L |
| 3 | D.C. United | 18 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 16 | 4 | 3-1-2 | 2-3-1 | W-W-L-W-L |
| 4 | Chicago Fire | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 2-1-2 | 2-1-1 | W-L-W-T-W |
| 5 | New England Revolution | 12 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 3-1-0 | 1-5-0 | L-L-W-L-W |
| 6 | Montreal Impact | 12 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 16 | -4 | 2-0-2 | 1-5-1 | L-T-W-W-T |
| 7 | Houston Dynamo | 11 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 1-0-0 | 2-3-2 | T-T-L-L-W |
| 8 | Columbus Crew | 11 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 11 | -3 | 2-2-1 | 1-2-1 | L-T-L-T-W |
| 9 | Philadelphia Union | 7 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 12 | -5 | 1-3-1 | 1-3-0 | W-W-L-L-L |
| 10 | Toronto FC | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 18 | -12 | 0-5-0 | 0-3-0 | L-L-L-L-L |
For more on this game, stick with SB Nation Chicago. If you want more news and analysis on the Fire, be sure to visit Hot Time in Old Town. For more news and notes around MLS, check out SB Nation's soccer news hub.