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Team
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Pvs.
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W-L-T-OL
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The skinny
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1. Red Wings
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1
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30-8-3-2
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After their OT loss to Nashville, the Red Wings were worried about squandering leads. Poor things.
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2. Blackhawks
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3
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25-12-8-0
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Do Jocelyn Thibault's back-to-back shutouts have asterisks next to them? After all, they were against the Lightning and Penguins.
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3. Flyers
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2
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22-12-5-1
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Input: Flyers vs. Blackhawks for No. 2 or No. 3. Output: Let Donald Brashear and Bob Probert settle it.
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4. Bruins
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4
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23-12-3-4
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P.J. Stock vs. Stephen Peat was a sight for sore Boston eyes.
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5. Maple Leafs
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9
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24-12-3-3
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Every now and then they show flashes of being dominant.
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6. Oilers
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6
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23-14-6-2
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Does the Oilers' success say anything about Doug Weight? Just wondering.
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7. Avalanche
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7
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23-16-5-0
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From the Master of the Obvious Department: The return of Peter Forsberg will answer questions about the second line.
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8. Sharks
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10
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21-11-6-3
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Three straight wins after three straight losses sounds like a team equipped for the playoffs, doesn't it.
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9. Rangers
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5
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22-17-3-3
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File that last road trip under character building, or team bonding, or whatever.
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10. Islanders
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8
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21-13-5-2
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No truth to the rumor that if the injury bug keeps biting that Mike Milbury will make another comeback.
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11. Blues
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13
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20-12-6-3
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When "right line combinations" are really three lines "with the third group co-mingled as one," one can't help but wonder.
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12. Devils
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15
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18-15-5-2
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Martin Brodeur to the Bergen Record on how the Devils can prepare better: "Put a Rangers jersey on all the other teams. Well, maybe not."
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13. Stars
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14
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18-13-6-4
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Ed Belfour is 32nd in the league in goals-against average. In case you were wondering.
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14. Senators
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12
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21-15-4-1
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Forget toughness, a little more consistency would be nice.
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15. Hurricanes
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11
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20-16-5-5
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The 'Canes have just three wins against Eastern Conference teams over .500.
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16. Flames
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16
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18-14-8-2
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Edmonton Sun columnist Terry Jones, as quoted in the Calgary Sun regarding pregame pyrotechnics on New Year's Eve: "The Flames better watch out or they'll burn their one and only Stanley Cup banner."
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17. Coyotes
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17
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18-16-6-3
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No one's got more than 15 goals, no one's got more than 20 assists.
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18. Kings
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20
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16-16-7-2
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Second time this season the Kings have hit .500.
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19. Canadiens
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18
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17-18-5-2
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Word was Doug Gilmour was going to call it quits if he didn't start scoring.
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20. Wild
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21
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15-18-6-3
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Gotta admire Jacques Lemaire, despite Andrew Brunette, Marian Gaborik and Jim Dowd combining for 104 points, he's separated them occasionally because of defensive liabilities.
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21. Capitals
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19
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16-19-7-0
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Olie Kolzig needs a vacation.
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22. Canucks
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24
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18-22-4-0
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Right about now, the Canucks are discovering the size of the hole they dug for themselves.
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23. Predators
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23
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15-19-7-0
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True, back-to-back games at New Jersey and at Minnesota isn't fair, but everyone's gotta do it.
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24. Lightning
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22
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16-20-3-2
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That nasty scoring problem is rearing its head again.
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25. Sabres
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25
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16-21-4-1
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The word "desperation" is being tossed around the Buffalo locker room. It's been some time since that was last heard.
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26. Panthers
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28
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13-22-3-3
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If Mike Keenan can't get from Val Bure what others couldn't, it's going to get pretty cold in Sunrise.
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27. Penguins
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27
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15-19-5-2
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How many different ways can we say they miss Mario? Heck, so do we.
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28. Blue Jackets
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30
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11-23-6-1
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Center Mike Sillinger on the Jackets' four goals against Nashville: "I guess that's an outburst for us."
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29. Mighty Ducks
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26
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13-23-5-3
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One resignation says a thousand words: The team president of the Ducks and Angels quit because he's tired of losing.
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30. Thrashers
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29
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8-26-5-3
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At least they aren't going to set the record for fewest points in a season (21, Washington, 1974-75).
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