Under the Radar: NHL Midseason Trends

If you live in southwestern Ontario, there are some telltale signs it’s early January:

The snow is starting to melt, you’ve probably already broken your New Year's resolution, and the Toronto Maple Leafs have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs halfway through the NHL season.

Okay, so I may have stretched it there on the Buds, but the rest is true—especially with regards to the midway mark of the season.

So without further ado, whether your team is first or last, flaming or floundering, or your goalie is just an angry young man trying to find himself behind Martin Gerber—here are some eye-catchers from the NHL’s first half...

Goalies Emerge

Face it, you thought Carey Price was in the minors for another year, Pascal Leclaire would never amount to anything in Columbus, Chris Osgood would never rebound from his tear-filled performance in the '93-'94 playoffs, and Manny Legace couldn't carry the St. Louis Blues in NHL 2008.

Well, Price is playing exceptionally well (and at only a year older than me, is making me wonder what I’m doing with my life), Leclaire is leading the NHL in shutouts (eight) and still isn’t injured yet, Osgood is looking like a redheaded Rambo in net, and Legace is pulling a Steve Yzerman by playing on one good leg while the Blues sniff a playoff spot.

Go figure.

The Philadelphia Flyers

They’re tied for eighth in the conference, and they keep proving their new motto for this season—“Back with a Vengeance”—to be true.

Meanwhile, I can’t figure out how I’m the only one to see the correspondence between their actions (including 52 games in suspensions) and their motto.

Seriously, people get paid to notice these kinds of things and I’m doing it for free. Next up? World Hunger!

The Chicago Blackhawks

You’re probably thinking that I’m crazier than one of those used car salesmen from the 70s for doing this...but the ‘Hawks are for real baby!

Sure, they’re second-to-last in their conference, but they’ve scored the sixth-most goals in the conference (surpassing four playoff teams), and they’ve allowed fewer goals than third-ranked Calgary.

With Toews, Kane (whom I’m still surprised is making the impact he is), and a plethora of other talented young players, this Chicago team is bringing respect back to the Windy City.

All told, despite the fact that scoring is down, the competition in the NHL is at its highest level since the lockout.

Sidney Crosby isn’t alone in his chase for the scoring race, there are at least five teams in each conference within five points for the final playoff spots, and if the Leafs keep playing the way they are, they might get a top-five pick in this year’s draft!

And then they might trade it! For a goalie! Because that’s what they do!

(I promised myself I wouldn’t cry...)