This is my rendition of how the fifteen teams in the Eastern Conference fared in the first half of the 2008-09 NHL season.

I measure my grade based on overall performance and weather or not the team has failed, met, or gone beyond expectations put on them at the start of the season.

1. Atlanta Thrashers

Well, what can you say about the Thrashers? Have they failed to meet expectations, or have they done exactly what we all thought they would do?

They are doing what I thought they would do, simply blamed on Kari Lehtonen.

This "starting" goalie has allowed four or more goals nine times this season.  Nine times! The Sharks haven't even lost nine games, neither have the Bruins.

Simply put, without a goalie, you're not going to win in this league. Maybe Atlanta should move to the KHL.

Grade: D-

2. Boston Bruins

This team's first half can be summed up by one word: Wow!

Who in the world predicted this start for the Bruins? I know I sure didn't. 

The B's have benefited from the emergence of players like Lucic, Wheeler, Kreiji, Kessler, and Thomas. Put these players along side guys like Chara, Savard and Bregeron, then the result is wins—and a whole bunch of them at that.

Grade: A+

3. Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres are quite a hard hockey team to figure out. On one hand, they can put together a string of brutal outings and lose three or four games in a row. On the other, they look like the team that won the Presidents trophy two years ago.

They have a top-five penalty kill, and a top-five goalie. With Derek Roy and Tim Connolly starting to heat up look for the Sabres to solidify a playoff spot and challenge for home-ice advantage.

Grade: B

4. Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes are a team playing up to their potential. Sitting right around eighth in the conference, Carolina will battle the rest of the season for the final spot. Cam Ward is having a better season than last, but players like Stall and Brind'amour are not.

The biggest reason for the Hurricanes struggles this season is their power play, which is ranked 23rd overall.  And with a penalty kill like Carolina has, no team could make it to the playoffs not named the Detroit Red Wings.

Grade: C

5. Florida Panthers

When the Panthers lost Olli Jokinen in the off season, nobody gave this team a chance. Look at them now! Sitting in eighth place in the conference, and I bet there isn't a non-Florida fan out there who can name their starting goalie.

The Panthers are where they are because they play as a team—oh yeah, and David Booth. Already a 20-goal scorer this season the Panthers are looking good for a playoff run. I don't think they will make is simply because of their goaltending.

Grade: C

6. Montreal Canadiens

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