Taken a look at the NHL standings in the past day or so? Some interesting stuff out there:
- Philadelphia (FLA’s next opponent; live chat Monday at 6) leads Detroit by two wins and six points (49-43 as of Sunday a.m.). Five victories in a row for the Flyers ties Colorado for the longest current streak.
- Not your father’s Southeast Division: one point separates first from third place in the SE. Atlanta (41 points) stole the division lead Saturday with a jarring 7-1 win over New Jersey. Tampa Bay technically holds the second spot, sharing 40 points with reeling Washington – seeking to skirt a spectacular ninth-straight loss this evening.
- The Panthers continue to lead non-playoff Eastern rivals in goals-allowed (78) and goal differential (+2); remain the only club without an overtime or shootout loss.
- Speaking of goal differentials, PHI leads the NHL with a +35; somehow the Devils (9 wins) have found a way to surpass the Isles (6) with a thoroughly tragic -40.
- At 18-10-4, the Lightning have managed to accumulate 40 points on the solid backbone of a -9. No goaltender issues there.
- Edmonton – at fifteenth in the West – has more points (29) than Florida, Toronto (both with 28), New Jersey (20), and the Islanders (18).
- In a funky irony to the above stat, the East’s playoff cut currently stands at 38 points – one better than that of the West.
- Six points separate second from twelfth in the Campbell; it’s thirteen in the Wales.
- Lastly, franchise defenseman Jay Bouwmeester has 11 points (3g) in 33 games for Calgary. That’s 4 points fewer – and three games more – than either of Bryan McCabe and Dennis Wideman . In fact, Florida’s blueline duo has matched the point production of one of the Flames’ more notable forwards.