NHL Midseason Report

I'm shocked to report that the NHL regular season is halfway over. As fantasy football has ended (except for you crazy playoff managers) and bowl season is dwindling, I have started devoting my my attention to hockey (about time). For the most part, I found most things as I expected them to be. But, as always, there were some shocks as I scanned what had played out in the first 41 games.

The Sabres, who finished 2008-09 in 18th place, are sitting comfortably atop the Northeast Division and have the 4th most points in the league. Thanks to the Vezina-quality play of goaltender Ryan Miller, Buffalo is allowing just 2.22 goals per game, good enough for 3rd in the NHL. Miller, who appeared in just 59 games last year due to injury, is dominating statistically. He is tied for the league lead in both Save % (.934) and shutouts (5), and is 2nd in Goals Against Average (2.02) and wins (23) as of Wednesday. Buffalo has also been benefiting from the health of scoring leader Tim Connolly, who has appeared in every game so far this season (knock on wood). Connolly had only played 98 games in the previous three seasons. It's worth mentioning that the Sabres won seven of their ten final games in 2008-09.

Heading south, the Carolina Hurricanes have experienced a dramatic fall from Eastern Conference Finalists to owners of the league's worst record. They have 29 points in 41 games (.354), primarily due to three wins in 20 road games. They have been outscored 146-102 thus far, easily the worst differential in the league. The only player anywhere near a point-per-game pace is center Eric Staal, who has 8 goals and 19 assists in 31 games. Staal has scored 327 points over the past four seasons, including a 100 point campaign in 2005-06. There is not a single player on the roster with a positive +/- record. Tom Kostopoulus and Pat Dwyer are the only players with even +/- to appear in at least 10 games. Carolina is only converting on 15.6 % of their power plays (26th) and killing 77.8% of their own penalties (25th), down from 18.7% and 80.4% last season. They're a mess.

The Western Conference has had a major shakeup as well. The bottom three teams from last year (Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Colorado) would all be in the playoffs, were the season to end today. Detroit, Western Conference champions each of the last two years, currently sits five points out of the playoffs with only one game in hand.

Colorado owes their success largely in part to the surprising play of rookie centers Matt Duchene and Ryan O'Reilly, who have combined for 55 points thus far. Between the pipes, free-agent acquisition Craig Anderson and Peter Budaj have combined for .918 Save %, tied for 7th in the NHL. An offseason trade brought them defenseman Kyle Quincey, who has helped jumpstart the power play, up from 15.7% in 08-09 to 18.2% this season.

In return for Quincey, a minor league prospect, and a late draft pick, the Kings received right wing Ryan Smyth, who has 26 points in 28 games. Drew Doughty, the #2 overall pick in 2008, has developed into a franchise-caliber defenseman, second on the team with 32 points, 19 of those coming on the PP. Anze Kopitar was tearing it up at the start of the season, scoring 30 points in his first 19 games. He has returned to Earth since the injury of Smyth, but still has 42 points in 43 games thus far.

Phoenix is making hay from Ilya Bryzgalov's 4th ranked Save % (.926) and #3 GAA (2.08). He has guided the Coyotes to a 23-11-4 record in his 38 starts, including five shutouts. While no individuals have stood out offensively, the team is playing great D in front of Bryzgalov, allowing the 10th lowest shots per game in the league.

As for Detroit, they have been ravaged by injuries. Only four players have appeared in every game this season. Forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Dan Cleary are both expected to return to the lineup Thursday against LA. They have been on the shelf with separated shoulders. Coach Mike Babcock has started leaning on youngster Jimmy Howard, who spent the last few years in Grand Rapids of the AHL, only seeing NHL action when injuries befell either Chris Osgood or Dominik Hasek. Howard has started 24 games this year, including 12 of the Wings' last 15.

Teams will be busy in January, playing hectic schedules before the Olympics begin. For those players who get to stay home (though they wish they weren't), the break will be relaxing. But for us fans, the viewing will get even more involved as we follow all the action in Vancouver. If you like plenty of hockey, you'll be in paradise for the next month and a half.