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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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2
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36-9-5-2
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Brett Hull after Friday night's win over Phoenix: "Who has more fun than the Wings?" No one?
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2. Avalanche
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6
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30-16-6-1
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They've won six in a row without a goal from Joe Sakic, whose goalless drought is up to 18 games.
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3. Flyers
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1
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30-13-6-2
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Bill Barber's best coaching move this season was resting the team before Saturday's game against Carolina. Now about that goalie issue...
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4. Blackhawks
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4
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30-15-9-0
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The Hawks are 6-2-2 against the Red Wings, Blues and Avalanche.
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5. Blues
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3
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28-14-6-3
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Losses to Chicago and Detroit make that 10-game winning streak a distant memory and third place in the Central a grim reality.
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6. Bruins
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5
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27-15-3-7
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What's the over-under on how long it takes for David E. Kelley to write Joe Thornton into a show?
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7. Senators
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11
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26-17-6-3
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The celebration of let's-practice-coming-from behind week moved from Detroit to Ottawa.
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8. Maple Leafs
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7
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26-17-5-4
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The Leafs fell in the standings last year because they were distracted by trade rumors. What's the excuse this time?
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9. Stars
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9
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23-18-6-4
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Now what?
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10. Islanders
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10
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25-17-5-3
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The Islanders' 6-2 win over the Lightning was just their second four-goal victory of the season.
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11. Sharks
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8
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25-16-7-3
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Owen Nolan misses three games and the Sharks go 0-2-1-0. Now there's a shock.
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12. Canucks
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18
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25-24-4-1
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You know you're firing on all cylinders when Brett Sopel, a defenseman, scores four goals and three assists in four games.
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13. Kings
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13
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23-19-7-2
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The Kings have lost only five of their last 23 games.
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14. Rangers
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16
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25-21-4-3
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Didn't you know Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde play hockey?
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15. Oilers
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12
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25-20-7-2
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VP of hockey operations Kevin Prendergast to the Edmonton Sun to all the scouts in Edmonton lately: "Teams are always willing to help you out, right?"
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16. Hurricanes
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14
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22-19-9-5
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A division leader just three games above .500 ... please.
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17. Canadiens
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17
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22-21-8-2
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Doug Gilmour to the Montreal Gazette: "If you're asking whether or not we're a playoff team, it's too soon to say."
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18. Penguins
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24
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22-22-5-2
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Mario Lemieux has 4-10-14 in his last five games. The Penguins are unbeaten in their last six.
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19. Coyotes
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21
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21-19-7-4
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When Scotty Bowman says you're for real because you aren't easy to play against, you know you've arrived.
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20. Devils
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15
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21-20-7-3
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Lou Lamoriello's statment that "the players don't differentiate between kindness and weakness," is compelling. Maybe that's why Scotty Bowman doesn't talk to his players.
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21. Wild
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20
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17-22-9-4
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A slew of interchangable parts comes in handy when injuries hit.
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22. Sabres
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22
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22-25-4-1
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Rhett Warrener to the Buffalo News: "Maybe some of the guys think working hard is good enough. Working hard is good, but it's not good enough."
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23. Flames
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19
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20-21-8-2
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Below .500 for the first time this season. On the bright side, it took 51 games for it to happen.
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24. Predators
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23
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19-24-9-0
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They've got the ability to win at Philadelphia one night, but not the focus to beat Anaheim at home the next.
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25. Capitals
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25
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20-25-8-1
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Chris Simon is the only player to participate in all 53 games.
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26. Lightning
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26
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18-26-5-2
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Buffalo defenseman Jay McKee after their 4-1 over the Lightning: "They just seemed like a team that didn't have it going." Ouch.
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27. Mighty Ducks
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30
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17-29-6-3
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Word leaks that GM Pierre Gauther was shopping a group of 10 players, and the Ducks win two in a row. Imagine if he was shopping the whole team.
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28. Thrashers
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27
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13-29-6-4
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Curt Fraser to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "We're so much better now." Could they have gotten any worse?
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29. Blue Jackets
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29
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14-29-7-1
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The Jackets have the worst road record in the NHL. We vote for ditching the plane.
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30. Panthers
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28
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16-29-4-3
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Roberto Luongo has started 25 of the 28 games since Mike Keenan took over as head coach on Dec. 3.
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