Photo by Kevin Jairaj/USA Today Sports

By RYAN TOLMICH

Several more playoff tickets can be punched this weekend, as the MLS regular season continues to wind down.

Out West, the LA Galaxy and FC Dallas collide in a battle of MLS Cup contenders. In the East, the surging Montreal Impact look to continue their hot streak against a D.C. United team that is very much in need of a win.

The Columbus Crew can book their spot in the playoffs with a win over the postseason-chasing Portland Timbers, while the New England Revolution and Vancouver Whitecaps can also lock down playoff berths with a victory.

Here’s a closer look at this weekend’s MLS action:

NEW YORK RED BULLS vs. ORLANDO CITY (Friday, 7 p.m., UniMas)

Looked upon as favorites to win the Supporters’ Shield, the New York Red Bulls must continue to validate their claim against an Orlando City team with nothing to lose.

The Red Bulls enter the weekend in pole position to claim the regular season crown, which would be the club’s second in three seasons. Winners of three of their last four, the Red Bulls are peaking at the right time, and will be boosted by the return of captain Dax McCarty and Connor Lade following last week’s yellow card suspensions.

Orlando City, meanwhile, are in a fight for their playoff lives, as the expansion side sits four points out of the final postseason position with two extra games played. Good news for head coach Adrian Heath is that Kaka is expected to return, joining recent returnee Brek Shea as the Lions move closer and closer to full strength for one last playoff push.

TORONTO FC vs. CHICAGO FIRE (Saturday, 2 p.m., MLS Live)

Toronto FC looks likely to snag the first playoff berth in the club’s history, but could certainly further improve its case with a home win over the lowly Chicago Fire.

Following a streak-snapping win over the Rapids, TFC sits five points above the red line despite maintaining a game in hand. Last week’s performance saw also a return to form for Sebastian Giovinco, who netted twice while providing an assist after being held scoreless for four straight games.

The Fire, on the other hand, are trending downward in the aftermath of an organizational shakeup. Interim head coach Brian Bliss’s first game in charge yielded yet another loss, and the Fire patiently await a chance to rebuild for 2016. A loss Saturday will officially see the Fire become the league’s first team to be eliminated from postseason contention.

MONTREAL IMPACT vs. D.C. UNITED (Saturday, 5 p.m., MLS Live)

Didier Drogba and the Montreal Impact have picked up some big time wins in recent weeks, but a defeat of D.C. United on Saturday would still serve as a major statement despite the latter’s struggles.

Since Drogba joined the starting lineup, the Impact are unbeaten and Drogba has scored five times in four games in that span. As a result, the Impact are four points above those chasing them for the East’s final playoff spot and have two games in hand.

D.C., meanwhile, remains in a complete freefall, having lost four of five to drop all the way to fourth place in the conference. The team’s recent struggles leave them in striking distance on the table for the Impact, who were, coincidentally, the last team to lose to D.C. in the now-infamous contest that saw D.C. register just one shot.

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., MLS Live)

After seeing their recent win streak snapped in their last game, the New England Revolution look to get back on track while all but ending the Philadelphia Union’s season.

Prior to last week’s setback against the Montreal Impact, the Revs had won six straight, vaulting the team towards the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Riding the hot feet of a surging Lee Nguyen and returning Jermaine Jones, the Revs can clinch with a win Saturday and are once again looking like the team that came close to lifting the MLS Cup last season.

The Union, on the other hand, look nowhere near MLS Cup contenders, as the club’s postseason chances are all but extinguished. Six points adrift with three teams to leapfrog, the Union will need a miracle that would certainly need to start Saturday at Gillete Stadium.

COLUMBUS CREW vs. PORTLAND TIMBERS (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., MLS Live)

The Portland Timbers continue to fight for a postseason berth out West, while the Columbus Crew could book their ticket and position among the East’s elite.

Entering Saturday, the Timbers have a one-point gap between themselves and the Earthquakes, while maintaining one game in hand. Winless in four straight, Portland has opened the door for a slip down the table and can certainly use the breathing room that comes with three points.

The Crew have few such concerns, as the club can book its postseason spot with either a win or draw. Helping the cause will be forward Kei Kamara, who faces a team in the Portland Timbers that is the only one in MLS that he has yet to score against.

HOUSTON DYNAMO vs. COLORADO RAPIDS (Saturday, 8:30 p.m., MLS Live)

The Houston Dynamo kept hopes up with a midweek victory, but Owen Coyle’s club still faces an uphill climb to keep the season alive.

With the return of fullback DaMarcus Beasley helping immensely, the Dynamo topped Sporting Kansas City midweek to remain within three points of a playoff berth. Having played an extra game than the Timbers, the Dynamo will be glad to see a struggling Rapids team visit BBVA Compass Stadium in a game that is essentially a must-win for the hosts.

Facing a Dynamo side without Boniek Garcia, the Rapids are still a major longshot to reach the playoffs, making most of the homestretch’s efforts about setting building blocks for next season. Following a three-game win streak, the Rapids are now without a victory in three and Pablo Mastroeni’s side is looking to set a better tone as the season comes to a close.

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS vs. NEW YORK CITY FC (Saturday, 10 p.m., MLS Live)

For weeks, New York City FC has preached that every game is a cup final. Now, the club has to contend with a team that may be playing in one come December.

The Vancouver Whitecaps can book a playoff spot with a win and some help on Saturday, as Carl Robinson’s club remains one of the serious contenders out West. Still leading the conference, the club will be tasked with bouncing back a bit following a pair of 3-0 losses to the Sounders in MLS and CONCACAF Champions League play.

With the form of their three Designated Players improving, NYCFC fought well to earn six points last week, keeping hopes alive for a late-season run. Jason Kreis has appeared to discover his team’s best formation, as David Villa, Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard have each contributed in recent weeks with the likes of Ned Grabavoy, Mix Diskerud and Andrew Jacobson all slotting in to contribute in the midfield.

SPORTING KC vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS (Sunday, 5 p.m., ESPN)

Two Western Conference contenders battle for positioning Sunday in a potential playoff preview.

Unbeaten in four games, the Sounders have been boosted by the play of Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey in recent weeks, while seemingly overcoming the loss of centerback Roman Torres. Having rested a majority of the team in the midweek’s CONCACAF Champions League victory over the Whitecaps, Seattle will be locked and loaded as it looks to rise above its current spot of fourth in the Western Conference.

The opponents, Sporting KC, enter on more of a low, having fallen, 1-0, to the Dynamo last time out. Making matters worse will be the absence of MVP candidate Benny Feilhaber, who will miss the festivities due to yellow card accumulation. Veteran centerback Matt Besler joins him on the sidelines for the same reason. Sporting KC will still be aiming to make a push towards home-field advantage, however, as the club is currently trailing Sunday’s opposition by just one point with a game in hand.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES vs. REAL SALT LAKE (Sunday, 7 p.m., Fox Sports 1)

Both the San Jose Earthquakes and Real Salt Lake are very much alive, making Sunday’s clash at Avaya Stadium a possible postseason eliminator.

As things stand, the Quakes sit two points above RSL, the latter of which maintains a game in hand. Chasing the Portland Timbers, both sides face what is pretty much a must-win game Sunday if a playoff berth is to remain a possibility.

The two clubs will likely be without key contributors, as Clarence Goodson will serve a one-game suspension for San Jose while Salt Lake’s Luis Silva is doubtful with a calf issue. Chris Wondolowski is healthy for the Quakes, however, and the in-form striker will surely test the RSL backline after scoring in each of his previous two games.

LA GALAXY vs. FC DALLAS (Sunday, 9:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1)

Two Western Conference and MLS Cup contenders collide Sunday night in the weekend’s final game.

The LA Galaxy enter the affair on a bit of a cold streak and are winless in three after last week’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Real Salt Lake. FC Dallas, on the other hand, recently saw a three-game win streak snapped by Sporting KC.

Sunday’s clash will be all about postseason positioning, with the winner remaining in the hunt for the Supporters’ Shield. The two sides sit level on points, although FC Dallas enjoys two games in hand, so Sunday’s game could be a must-win for the Galaxy if they want to avoid playing in the postseason’s opening round.