Sports Editor
After a prolonged lockout that seemed
never ending, the NHL’s 2013 season has finally hit its midway point. With such a short season, it didn’t take very
long to reach. For the first 24 games of
the regular season the Chicago Blackhawks proved to be the dominant force in
the NHL. Chicago made NHL history by
becoming the first team ever not to have lost a single game in regulation for
24 straight losing only three in extra time.
Not only did they record 24 straight points, but they also won all of
their first 11 games. Patrick Kane
currently leads the team with 14 goals and 16 assists for a total of 30 points. Their streak finally came to an end in a 6-2
loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Friday, March 8. Could they have recorded this streak if they
played outside of their conference?
The only team in the Southeast Division
that would be in the playoffs if they started now would be the Carolina
Hurricanes leading the division with 29 points in the standings. During the offseason, general manager Jim Rutherford
acquired Alexander Semin from free agency and Jordan Staal from a trade with
the Pittsburgh Penguins. Semin is
currently the leader in assists with 19 while playing on the top line with Eric
Staal and Jiri Tlusty. The top line of
Staal, Semin, and Tlusty has completely exploded with all three players leading
the team in points totaling 77. On a
negative note, Cam Ward is out for six to eight weeks with a sprained MCL. Ward suffered the sprain after a collision
with teammate Justin Faulk on Sunday, March 3 against the Florida
Panthers. Since the injury, head coach
Kirk Muller has been alternating between goalies Dan Ellis and Justin Peters
and has only recorded one loss since the injury. If the top line keeps providing points and
the rest of the team contributes, they could be looking at another possible
Stanley Cup run.
It’s been seven years since the Toronto
Maple Leafs struck a berth in the NHL playoffs and 45 years since they won
their last Stanley Cup or even scratched the surface of the Stanley Cup
Finals. Captain Phil Kessel currently
leads the team in points with 25. This
year’s difference is that players are actually helping Phil Kessel put points
on the scoreboard. Goaltending in Toronto
has been better in comparison to last season.
Ben Scrivens and James Reimer have been competing for the starting
goaltender spot and both have great save percentage and goals against
averages. Toronto must keep up their
goaltending or they might result in another season that’s built up and quickly
torn down.
A big surprise in the west, after
finishing last in the Pacific Division and 13th in the conference, the Anaheim
Ducks are currently second place in the west with 18 wins and 3 losses. After acquiring former Washington Capitals
head coach Bruce Boudreau during the 2011-2012 season, they struggled. Whatever method Boudreau used unsuccessfully in
Washington, it’s definitely working in Anaheim.
It’s not a surprise that his method is working since he has group of skilled
guys. Their rookies, all-stars, and
veterans all even out to look like a possible Stanley Cup team.
