Photo by Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports

By RYAN TOLMICH

With roughly a month remaining in the MLS regular season, several MLS teams can further their playoff cause with multiple matches this week.

Still entrenched in a dogfight in the Western Conference, Sporting KC takes on a Houston Dynamo team that sees its playoff hopes hanging by a thread. Currently six points out of a playoff spot, the Dynamo are alive, but barely, and will need a victory Wednesday at BBVAA Compass Stadium to keep any hope alive.

In the East, the Montreal Impact remain favorites to make the postseason, but must fend off the Chicago Fire to keep the club’s case strong. Riding the dismissal of head coach Frank Yallop, the Fire are entering a new era, one that could use a positive start in Montreal.

Here’s a closer look at the two midweek games:

 

MONTREAL IMPACT vs. CHICAGO FIRE (Wednesday, 8 p.m., MLS Live)

For virtually the entire 2015 campaign, the Montreal Impact have been blessed with games in hand, and Wednesday offers yet another opportunity to make good on the advantage.

Entering Wednesday, the Impact sit on 36 points through 27 games, good for the sixth and final postseason berth. One point ahead of seventh-place Orlando City despite three less games played, the Impact are in pole position should the team maintain any sort of form going forward.

In the Fire, the Impact take on a team on the other end of the spectrum, despite the many ties the teams share. The two teams are the only MLS sides to make a coaching change this season, with the Fire’s recent dismissal of Frank Yallop signaling an overhaul for the club currently sitting in MLS’ basement.

The Fire are now tasked with taking on Impact forward Didier Drogba, a player the club pursued feverishly during the summer window. Since joining the Impact, the Ivorian star has scored four goals, including three against the Fire in his first MLS start on September 5.

HOUSTON DYNAMO vs. SPORTING KC (Wednesday, 8:30 p.m., MLS Live)

The Houston Dynamo’s road to the playoffs looks all but impossible, but Owen Coyle’s club can still keep their hopes alive Wednesday while playing spoiler to Sporting KC.

As things stand, Sporting KC is just as close to the Supporters’ Shield as the team is to missing the postseason entirely, showing just how tight the West’s playoff race is. Currently in fifth place, Sporting KC has reached a bit of a turning point, as the club can either make a run at the regular season crown or settle for a playoff battle to close the season.

The Dynamo are in a much more difficult predicament, chasing six points from all the way in ninth place. With just one win in six games, the Dynamo appear to have played themselves out of the postseason, despite being still alive mathematically.

Furthering the Dynamo’s woes is a laundry list of injury issues, as Jermaine Taylor remains out, while DaMarcus Beasley and Alex remain questionable after limited practice time this week.

With the defense weakened, the Dynamo will have to contend with an in-form Benny Feilhaber, who furthered his MVP campaign yet again with two goals against FC Dallas last time out.