| Team | GP | Pts | |
| 1. | * Nashville | 8 | 13 |
| 2. | * Los Angeles | 8 | 12 |
| 3. | * Calgary | 8 | 10 |
| 4. | Detroit | 7 | 11 |
| 5. | Chicago | 10 | 11 |
| 6. | St. Louis | 7 | 10 |
| 7. | Dallas | 7 | 10 |
| 8. | Columbus | 8 | 10 |
| 9. | Minnesota | 8 | 8 |
| 10. | Vancouver | 8 | 8 |
| 11. | Colorado | 8 | 8 |
| 12. | San Jose | 7 | 7 |
| 13. | Phoenix | 7 | 7 |
| 14. | Anaheim | 9 | 7 |
| 15. | Edmonton | 6 | 4 |
A lot of people who watch the standings late in the year often look at how we can make up ground. To Follow my first week or two of this, visit the blues forums at stltoday.com
Looking Back on the first 6-10 games of the season...
Rather than look too far ahead, lets first look back at what the blues have done thus far and how other teams have done thus far. First off, no team in either conference is still perfect on the year. The closest two teams are both in the Central Division in the Western Conference with the blues... as the Red Wings are 3 off of a perfect pace, as are the Nashville Predators. And the fact that the blues are just 1 off of the perfect pace thus far bodes well for them. Meanwhile, the team in the worst shape is Edmonton, who after winning twice early in the year has dropped 4 straight, or .66-.67 points per game. To get into the playoffs, they need to make up 6 points over 7 teams, and have only one game-in-hand over 3 of the 5 easier teams to catch. They hold 4 games in hand over the blackhawks, but do you really want to be looking back at a top 6 forward top 4 defensive pairing that they have in 8th place? Nobody does. So the fact is, whether or not you consider the season at this point in the season to be relevant or not, it in fact can be.
The Blackhawks are still at a 90 point pace through 1/8th of the season, and some would argue an extended post season, a limited depth that forces large minutes by the top players, and a tough early season schedule will eventually even out and allow them to get back. However, the blues need to manage just 1 point over the 3 game spread between teams at this point in time to match them, and logic at this point speaks to the blues being able to get roughly 3 or 4. So your talking about the Blackhawks having to make up 3 points at some point if they want a higher seed. And you can make a somewhat similar case for all 8 of the current playoff teams, as well as San Jose or phoenix being capable of presenting a similar pace. So it is noteworthy that the Blackhawks need to pick up the pace at some point out of necessity.
Briefly looking at the East, the worst team in the league right now is New Jersey, which is a shock. The joke in the early goings looks to be on the Eastern Conference once again, as the west has 2 teams below the break even point in points versus games played, whereas the East has 5. I wouldn't be overly surprised to see some coaches get the door pretty early over there, with the worst team being the first to pull the trigger (it is Lou after all).
Looking Ahead....
There are a handful of games over the next few days worth peaking at as far as the standings. I try to judge games in for 3 point outcomes, which happen from time to time, and the places in which the impact would be the least in my estimation
Tuesday:
Phoenix @ Ottawa - Rooting for Ottawa in the East, indifferent to 3 point results if Phoenix manages just 1.
Anaheim @ Dallas - Rooting for Anaheim in a 2 point game.
Edmonton @ Calgary - Rooting for Edmonton in a 2 point game.
Colorado @ Vancouver - Indifferent to the winner in a 2 point game.
Wednesday:
Los Angeles @ Chicago - Indifferent to the winner in a 2 point game.
New Jersey @ San Jose - Rooting for New Jersey, indifferent to a 3 point result.
Thursday:
Edmonton @ Columbus - Rooting for Edmonton in a 2 point game, although 3 in this particular case wouldn't be the end of the world.
Phoenix @ Detroit - Rooting for Phoenix in a 2 point game.
St Louis @ Nashville - Duh
Los Angeles @ Dallas - Indifferent if Los Angeles loses outright to Chicago on Wednesday. Rooting for Dallas otherwise.
Colorado @ Calgary - Indifferent IF Colorado Wins @ Vancouver on Tuesday, and Calgary Wins at home against Edmonton. If both lose it becomes an indifferent situation as well due to both losing pace, if both win or if Calgary wins and Colorado doesn't, you are rooting for Colorado. Complicated, i know.
Friday:
Edmonton @ Chicago - Regardless of scenarios of prior games.... Edmonton in a 2 point game.
New Jersey @ Anaheim - I'm relatively indifferent because Anaheim is not good enough defensively in my estimation, but with the opponent being from the East might as well sink them i suppose, indifferent for sure to a 3 point outcome.
Saturday will have to wait until at least Thursdays Results are know, We'd end up with Colorado @ Calgary type scenario to multiple games.
