A couple of weeks into the season, I realize the Western Conference is playing better than the Eastern Conference. To many, including myself, it’s not a huge surprise. The Devils, Sabres, and Sharks have yet to win a home game. The Bruins and Blue Jackets remain undefeated on the road. The Nashville Predators are still unbeaten in regulation after eight games played. The Tampa Bay Lightning are currently leading their division, with Steven Stamkos racking up 15 points (8G, 7A) in just eight games.
What is surprising, though, is that the New Jersey Devils have just five points after nine games.
The Rankings
| Rank | Team | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville Predators | They’re still unbeaten in regulation and lead the toughest division in the NHL - every team is in double digits. |
| 2 | Detroit Red Wings | They’d be #1 if Nashville weren’t unbeaten. |
| 3 | LA Kings | Off to a great start behind goaltender Jonathan Quick. Hopefully Doughty can return soon from his concussion. |
| 4 | Dallas Stars | They have four of the top five +/- guys and are +7 as a team. Can Kari Lehtonen keep winning games? |
| 5 | St Louis Blues | They’re 4-0 at home, but can they win on the road? |
| 6 | Montreal Canadiens | They’re playing better than expected. The play of Carey Price and their 2nd-ranked penalty kill is certainly helping. |
| 7 | Tampa Bay Lightning | They have no problem scoring goals, but they need to find a way to stop other teams from scoring. |
| 8 | Boston Bruins | They have beaten the Capitals twice to this point, and Tim Thomas is outplaying Tuukka Rask and the rest of the NHL netminders. |
| 9 | Washington Capitals | They can win at home, but they need to win on the road too. |
| 10 | Toronto Maple Leafs | After their hot start, they’ve lost three in a row. |
On the Bubble
Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, Columbus Blue Jackets
