(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Most of the teams have reached the 10 game mark with a few surprises. The Avs have got to a hot start, and the Red Wings have not played like the Red Wings who have made the playoffs every year since the 1990's. Anyways, let's get started. Enjoy!
*Note - Records are as of October 28th, 2009.
1) New York Rangers (8-3-1)—The Rangers have had a real good start, beating a lot of good teams, despite only winning one of the past four, they are at the top of my rankings.
2) Pittsburgh Penguins (9-2-0)—Now I realize that there are no style points in the NHL. 9-2-0 is a great record, but the defending cup champs have only played against five playoff teams last year, only one of those making it past the first round (Carolina). Plus an unimpressive shutout loss to the Coyotes, who soon might not even be the Coyotes. Plus the loss of Gonchar can be a real blow to this team's start.
3) Chicago Blackhawks (7-3-1)—The Hawks have had a good start to their season. With the addition of Marian Hossa, this could be the year we don't see the Red Wings atop the Central Division.
4) Buffalo Sabres (6-1-1)—The Sabres are starting hot. In eight games they have only given up 16 goals. After missing the postseason last year, it looks as if they can make it back.
5) Calgary Flames (7-2-1)—Other than that heartbreaking loss to the Blackhawks, the Flames look to be in the form they were before the lockout, a high octane offense, and you always have to take Miika Kiprusoff in factor, he'll heat up eventually.
6) Washington Capitals (7-2-2)—After a tough start to the season, facing six playoff teams in the first seven games, have won five straight. The big question remains, can the Caps defense and goaltending hold. When they are playing D, this is a Stanley Cup caliber team.
7) Colorado Avalanche (9-1-2)—I'm not a believer yet in the Avs. Remember, they were in the basement of the Western Conference last year. But they have played well against a very difficult start to their schedule, and so far are proving me wrong.
8) San Jose Sharks (7-4-1)—The Sharks have time and time again had a solid season, and then stumble in the playoffs. If they want to win a cup, people better stop jinxing them...cough*ESPN*cough...They also have had another solid start to the 09-10 year.
9) New Jersey Devils (6-3-0)—The Devils always have to be taken into factor with Brodeur in the net, despite the heartbreaking loss to Carolina last postseason.
10) Philadelphia Flyers (5-4-1)—The Flyers are looking to get back the Atlantic Division crown from the Penguins and Devils and have a Top-Three seed for the first time since 2004. With the addition of Chris Pronger and Ray Emery playing pretty well between the pipes, the tough Flyers just got tougher.
11) Ottawa Senators (5-2-2)—The Sens have gotten off to a good start to the year, coming off the first time they missed the playoffs this decade. Canada's Capital have lost two OT games in a row, but they are always a team to be reckoned with.
12) Los Angeles Kings (8-4-0)—THE KINGS ARE ATOP THE PACIFIC DIVISION! TIME TO PANIC! Not yet, the Kings have not played a very hard schedule at all so far, playing five playoff teams, two against a disappointing Detroit team. They should come back to earth soon.
13) Montreal Canadiens (6-5-0)—The 24-Time Stanley Cup winners are on a hot streak right now, winning four straight after dropping five in a row. With the addition of veterans Scott Gomez and Hal Gill, the Habs are looking good to grab a playoff spot yet again.
14) Edmonton Oilers (6-5-1)—In my mind the Oilers have had a very tough start to their schedule, playing nine of their first 11 games against teams that made the postseason last year. With the addition of a solid goaltender in Nikolai Khabibulin, this team could see a return to that 1980's form.
15) Vancouver Canucks (6-6-0)—After having a rough time getting their year going, dropping their first three, the 'Nucks have won six of their last nine. Roberto Luongo played poorly to start, but is hot right now, just racking up his 48th career shutout.
16) Columbus Blue Jackets (6-4-0)—The Jackets have dropped three of their last four, but still find themselves at six and four. With veteran Rick Nash leading the offense and new goalie Steve Mason in the net, this could be the year for Columbus to go places.
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