1. Washington Capitals (46-14-9, 101 points, 1st Eastern Conference) - The Capitals have the most prolific offense in the league, averaging over 3.9 goals per game. Oveckin, Backstrom and Semin are having outstanding years again for the Capitals up front. The only question looming for the Capitals is who starts in the net come playoff time, Theodore or Varlamov?
2. San Jose Sharks (43-15-10, 96 points, 1st Western Conference) - The Sharks are having another great year, leading the Western Conference by two points over the Blackhawks. Thornton, Heatley, Marleau and Boyle all came back from the Vancouver Olympics with gold medals. Hopefully, goaltender Evgeni Nabokov’s shaky performance for Team Russia is behind him.
3. Chicago Blackhawks (44-18-6, 94 points, 2nd Western Conference) - Despite have a subpar performance on Sunday against the Red Wings, the Blackhawks are still in contention to take first place in the Western Conference. Goaltending has been an issue for this young team. Hopefully, that can be corrected so this exciting team can make another deep run in the playoffs.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (41-23-5, 87 points, 2nd Eastern Conference) - The defending champs are poised to make another run at the title. GM Ray Shero made some key acquisitions at the trading deadline, bringing in defenseman Jordan Leopold from the Panthers and forward Alex Ponikarovksy from the Maple Leafs.
5. Vancouver Canucks (43-23-3, 89 points, 3rd Western Conference) - Roberto Luongo stood tall in net for Team Canada, and Vancouver needs the same type of performance if it wants to go on a run in this year’s playoffs. Henrik Sedin is on pace to break the 100 point barrier.
6. New Jersey Devils (41-24-3, 85 points, 4th Eastern Conference) - With the acquisition of Ilya Kovalchuk, the Devils have helped their offense immensely. Kovalchuk, a two-time 50 goal scorer, will help take some of the pressure off Zach Parise to score every night.
7. Phoenix Coyotes (42-22-5, 89 points, 4th Western Conference) - Coach Dave Tippett has done a great job taking over the helm after Wayne Gretzky stepped down last season. Ilya Bryzgalov has been solid in net, a great waiver acquisition from last year. The Coyotes also helped their offense by bringing in forwards Lee Stempniak and Wojtek Wolski at the trading deadline.
8. Los Angeles Kings (49-23-5, 80 points, 5th Western Conference) - With a balanced offense and solid goaltending from Jonathan Quick, the Kings are going to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2001-2002 season. Defenseman Drew Doughty was impressive for Team Canada throughout the Olympic tournament.
9. Colorado Avalanche (39-23-6, 84 points, 6th Western Conference) - This young team, led by first-year coach Joe Sacco, has come out of nowhere to within two points of division leading Vancouver. Rookie Matt Duchene (21-24-45) should be considered for Rookie of the Year.
10. Buffalo Sabres (36-21-10, 82 points, 3rd Eastern Conference) - Without Ryan Miller, Team USA would have probably never made it to the finals against Canada. Hopefully, those two weeks playing game after game in Vancouver did not burn Miller out.
11. Detroit Red Wings (34-23-12, 80 points, 8th Western Conferenc) - Detroit is finally healthy and this is not good news for the rest of the Western Conference. Johan Franzen, aka “the mule”, will bring some much needed offense after being sidelined most of the year with a torn ACL.
12. Ottawa Senators (37-27-5, 79 points, 5th place Eastern Conference) - Ottawa has rebounded from last year’s disappointing season and is only three points behind division leading Buffalo. Brian Elliott has stepped in between the pipes and has done a great job for the Sens. Trading for Andy Sutton will bring some much needed depth back on the blueline.
13. Philadelphia Flyers (36-28-4, 74 points, 6th place Eastern Conference) - Expectations were high for this Flyers team heading into the season, and those expectations have yet to be met. Losing goalie Ray Emery for the season will not help matters. Flyers fans hope Michael Leighton will be able to shoulder the load.
14. Nashville Predators (38-26-5, 81 points, 7th Western Conference) - Adding Denis Grebeshkov should help Nashville’s powerplay, which is 22nd in the league right now. Defensemen Ryan Suter - for Team USA - and Shea Weber - for Team Canada - both played huge roles for their respective countries.
15. Montreal Canadiens (35-29-6, 76 points, 7th Eastern Conference) - Montreal has the second best powerplay in the league, behind only the Capitals. The Canadiens need to start finding a way to score 5v5, or the Habs might find themselves on the outside looking in.
16. Boston Bruins (30-26-12,72 points, 8th Eastern Conference) - The Bruins have struggled to score all season after having one of the more potent offenses last season. It looks like the troubles will continue after leading scorer Marc Savard sustained a season ending concussion against the Penguins.
17. Calgary Flames (34-26-9, 77 points, 9th Western Conference) - Calgary is seventh in the league in goals against. They are 27th in the league in goals for. Trading for forwards Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman and Ales Kotalik should help rejuvenate Calgary’s stagnant offense.
18. New York Rangers (31-29-9, 71 points, 9th Eastern Conference) - Perhaps a change of scenery will help Oli Jokinen after being traded to the Rangers from Calgary. You can never count out the Rangers with Henrik Lundquist in net.
19. St Louis Blues (32-27-9, 69 points, 10th Western Conference) - St. Louis is only five points from the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. The Blues are 16-11-2 since replacing Head Coach Andy Murray with Davis Payne.
20. Anaheim Ducks (31-29-8, 70 points, 13th Western Conference) - With J.S. Gigure traded to the Maple Leafs, the torch has been passed to Jonas Hiller. Hiller needs to come up huge for the Ducks down the stretch if they want any chance to make the playoffs.
21. Atlanta Thrashers (28-29-11, 67 points, 11th Eastern Conference) - Atlanta was unable to sign Ilya Kovalchuk to a long-term deal and were forced to trade him at the deadline. Expect this Atlanta team to falter down the stretch without Kovalchuk.
22. Tampa Bay Lightning (28-28-12, 68 points, 10th Eastern Conference) - Steven Stamkos has had a great sophomore season for the Bolts with forty-two goals on the season and an outside chance at fifty. Tampa Bay is only four points out of the playoffs, but will have to be better on the road if it wants to make a push (10-19-6).
23. Dallas Stars (29-26-13, 71 points, 12th Western Conference) - Dallas is a -27 in the goal differential column and it boasts a subpar 11-17-7 record on the road. Somehow, this team is only six points out of the playoffs.
24. Minnesota Wild (33-29-6, 72 points, 11th Western Conference) - Like the Stars, the Wild are an abysmal 11-20-3 away from the Xcel Center. Martin Havlat needs to be more productive offensively to give the Wild any chance.
25. Florida Panthers (28-29-10, 66 points, 12th Eastern Conference) - Thomas Vokoun has quietly had another strong season for the Panthers (23-22-10, 7 shutouts, .930 save %). However, don’t expect the Panthers to be able to leap frog four teams into the playoffs.
26. Carolina Hurricanes (28-32-8, 64 points, 14th Eastern Conference) - Carolina has no chance at making the playoffs, but has improved since starting the season 4-17-5. Second year player and former first-round pick Brandon Sutter is on pace for his first 20 goal season.
27. New York Islanders (28-32-9, 65 points, 13th Eastern Conference) - The future looks bright with young guns Tavares, Okposo and Bailey up front. However, this year the Islanders will not be playing in the postseason.
28. Columbus Blue Jackets (28-31-11, 67 points, 14th Western Conference) - Columbus has been a disappointment after making the playoffs last year for the first time in franchise history. Only the Leafs and the Oilers have given up more goals than the Blue Jackets.
29. Toronto Maple Leafs (23-34-12, 58 points, 15th Eastern Conference) - First year Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke will be given a free pass this year from the Toronto media and fans. But, after this year, the Leafs will have to produce or Burke will be on the hot seat.
30. Edmonton Oilers (21-41-7, 49 points, 15th Western Conference) - A season to forget for the Edmonton Oilers.
