RLD Quarter-Pole Report

Every team around the league has either surpassed the 20-game mark already or will do so this week… which means it’s time to look at the first quarter of the season (which has just flown by)…

Eastern Conference Rundown
Atlanta Thrashers Three Stars:
1. Dustin Byfuglien (7 Goals, 12 Assists, +0)
2. Andrew Ladd (7 Goals, 14 Assists, -1)
3. Tobias Enstrom (2 Goals, 14 Assists, -2)
Boston Bruins:
1. Tim Thomas (10-1-1, 1.49 GAA, .950 SV%, 4 SO)
2. Milan Lucic (10 Goals, 7 Assists, +10)
3. Nathan Horton (8 Goals, 10 Assists, +10)

Buffalo Sabres:
1. Derek Roy (9 Goals, 13 Assists, +4)
2. Jordan Leopold (5 Goals, 9 Assists, +4)
3. Steve Montador (3 Goals, 8 Assists, +14)
Carolina Hurricanes:
1. Eric Staal (9 Goals, 14 Assists, -2)
2. Jeffrey Skinner (6 Goals, 10 Assists, -4)
3. Cam Ward (9-7-1, 2.84 GAA, .910 SV%)
Florida Panthers:
1. Tomas Vokoun (8-7-0, 2.38 GAA, .920 SV%, 2 SO)
2. Michael Frolik (4 Goals, 9 Assists, +9)
3. Bryan McCabe (2 Goals, 9 Assists, +7)
Montreal Canadiens:
1. Carey Price (12-7-1, 2.05 GAA, .930 SV%, 4 SO)
2. Tomas Plekanec (7 Goals, 13 Assists, +5)
3. Andrei Kostitsyn (7 Goals, 7 Assists, +4)
New Jersey Devils:
1. Patrik Elias (3 Goals, 11 Assists, -6)
2. Jason Arnott (8 Goals, 4 Assists, -7)
3. Not Applicable
New York Islanders:
1. Matt Moulson (8 Goals, 5 Assists, -8)
2. James Wisniewski (2 Goals, 13 Assists, -15)
3. Not Applicable
New York Rangers:
1. Brandon Dubinsky (12 Goals, 7 Assists, -5)
2. Ryan Callahan (5 Goals, 12 Assists, -5)
3. Dan Girardi (2 Goals, 11 Assists, +6)
Ottawa Senators:
1. Daniel Alfredsson (8 Goals, 10 Assists, -5)
2. Sergei Gonchar (4 Goals, 10 Assists, -12)
3. Jason Spezza (6 Goals, 8 Assists, +3)
Philadelphia Flyers:
1. Claude Giroux (12 Goals, 11 Assists, +6)
2. Sergei Bobrovsky (11-3-1, 2.29 GAA, .920 SV%)
3. Mike Richards (9 Goals, 15 Assists, +6)
Pittsburgh Penguins:
1. Sidney Crosby (15 Goals, 20 Assists, +3)
2. Kris Letang (4 Goals, 15 Assists, +9)
3. Evgeni Malkin (7 Goals, 14 Assists, -3)
Tampa Bay Lightning:
1. Steven Stamkos (20 Goals, 15 Assists, +9)
2. Martin St. Louis (8 Goals, 19 Assists, +4)
3. Dan Ellis (5-4-2, 2.81 GAA, 2 SO)
Toronto Maple Leafs:
1. Clarke MacArthur (7 Goals, 11 Assists, +3)
2. Phil Kessel (9 Goals, 4 Assists, -4)
3. Jonas Gustavsson (3-4-1, 2.30 GAA, .920 SV%)
Washington Capitals:
1. Alexander Semin (14 Goals, 12 Assists, +6)
2. Alex Ovechkin (10 Goals, 16 Assists, +4)
3. Michal Neuvirth (12-3-1, 2.63 GAA, .910 SV%)

Predicted standings as of Nov. 23:
1. Washington Capitals
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
3. Boston Bruins
4. Philadelphia Flyers
5. Montreal Canadiens
6. Tampa Bay Lightning
7. New York Rangers
8. Atlanta Thrashers
9. Ottawa Senators
10. Buffalo Sabres
11. Carolina Hurricanes
12. New Jersey Devils
13. Toronto Maple Leafs
14. Florida Panthers
15. New York Islanders

Projected playoff cut line: 87 points
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Western Conference Rundown
Anaheim Ducks Three Stars:
1. Corey Perry (10 Goals, 13 Assists, +2)
2. Teemu Selanne (8 Goals, 14 Assists, -2)
3. Bobby Ryan (9 Goals, 10 Assists, +5)
Calgary Flames:
1. Rene Bourque (9 Goals, 6 Assists, -5)
2. Brendan Morrison (4 Goals, 11 Assists, +2)
3. Jarome Iginla (9 Goals, 8 Assists, -2)
Chicago Blackhawks:
1. Patrick Sharp (12 Goals, 10 Assists, -10)
2. Jonathan Toews (9 Goals, 9 Assists, +5¬)
3. Marian Hossa (8 Goals, 9 Assists, +2)
Colorado Avalanche:
1. Chris Stewart (11 Goals, 13 Assists, +2)
2. John-Michael Liles (3 Goals, 17 Assists, +11)
3. Paul Stastny (8 Goals, 12 Assists, -1)
Columbus Blue Jackets:
1. Rick Nash (13 Goals, 4 Assists, +1)
2. Derick Brassard (5 Goals, 11 Assists, +4)
3. Mathieu Garon (5-1-0, 1.08 GAA, .960 SV%, 3 SO)
Dallas Stars:
1. Brad Richards (10 Goals, 15 Assists, +9)
2. Loui Eriksson (9 Goals, 13 Assists, +12)
3. Stephane Robidas (2 Goals, 8 Assists, +6)
Detroit Red Wings:
1. Nicklas Lidstrom (3 Goals, 17 Assists, +3)
2. Pavel Datsyuk (7 Goals, 15 Assists, +5)
3. Jimmy Howard (11-1-2, 2.46 GAA, .910 SV%)
Edmonton Oilers:
1. Ales Hemsky (6 Goals, 9 Assists, +3)
2. Ryan Whitney (17 Assists, +0)
3. Not Applicable
Los Angeles Kings:
1. Justin Williams (9 Goals, 12 Assists, +8)
2. Jonathan Quick (11-3-0, 1.90 GAA, .931 SV%)
3. Anze Kopitar (7 Goals, 13 Assists, +3)
Minnesota Wild:
1. Niklas Backstrom (8-5-2, 2.11 GAA, .930 SV%)
2. Mikko Koivu (4 Goals, 12 Assists, +6)
3. Brent Burns (6 Goals, 5 Assists, -4)
Nashville Predators:
1. Cal O’Reilly (4 Goals, 9 Assists, +3)
2. Marcel Goc (5 Goals, 4 Assists, +5)
3. Francis Bouillon (1 Goal, 6 Assists, +2)
Phoenix Coyotes:
1. Ilya Bryzgalov (10-2-5, 2.61 GAA, .920 SV%)
2. Radim Vrbata (6 Goals, 7 Assists, +6)
3. Keith Yandle (3 Goals, 8 Assists, -5)
San Jose Sharks:
1. Dany Heatley (7 Goals, 12 Assists, +9)
2. Antero Niittymaki (7-2-3, 2.07 GAA, .920 SV%)
3. Joe Thornton (6 Goals, 11 Assists, -6)
St. Louis Blues:
1. Jaroslav Halak (9-4-2, 2.45 GAA, .910 SV%)
2. David Backes (3 Goals, 9 Assists, +4)
3. Alex Pietrangelo (1 Goal, 9 Assists, +0)
Vancouver Canucks:
1. Daniel Sedin (12 Goals, 12 Assists, +0)
2. Henrik Sedin (2 Goals, 22 Assists, +0)
3. Alexander Edler (2 Goals, 12 Assists, +0)

Predicted standings as of Nov. 23:
1. Detroit Red Wings
2. Los Angeles Kings
3. Vancouver Canucks
4. St. Louis Blues
5. Colorado Avalanche
6. Chicago Blackhawks
7. San Jose Sharks
8. Phoenix Coyotes
9. Nashville Predators
10. Columbus Blue Jackets
11. Minnesota Wild
12. Dallas Stars
13. Calgary Flames
14. Anaheim Ducks
15. Edmonton Oilers

Projected playoff cut line: 95 points
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First-Quarter Awards:
Hart Trophy-
1a. Steven Stamkos, TB
1b. Sidney Crosby, PIT
3. Tim Thomas, BOS
Why? Stamkos is the talk of the league right now, but Crosby has been just as good. Can’t forget about Thomas, either.
Vezina Trophy-
1. Tim Thomas, BOS
2. Carey Price, MTL
3. Jaroslav Halak, STL
Why? Halak has slowed down while Thomas and Price are carrying their teams.
Norris Trophy-
1. Nicklas Lidstrom, DET
2. Dustin Byfuglien, ATL
3. John-Michael Liles, COL
Why? Lidstrom is the obvious top choice here, but you can’t overlook ‘Buff’ and Liles.
Calder Trophy-
1. Sergei Bobrovsky, PHI
2. Jeffrey Skinner, CAR
3. Logan Couture, SJ
Why? There are a lot of good rookies in this class and this picture is ever-changing; Bobrovsky gets the slight edge.
Jack Adams Award-
1. Scott Arneil, CBJ
2. Guy Boucher, TB
3. Terry Murray, LA
Why? Boucher and Murray have their teams going in the right direction, but Arniel and his Jackets are surprising everyone.
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Goal of the Year:


Save of the Year:


Photo credit: Getty Images