NHL's Surprising Squads

Hey there Fort Collins,

Now that we’ve gotten that pesky Super Bowl out of the way (I think some guy named Manning played) we can now focus on the lone sport that is actually interesting. No, I’m not talking about professional basketball (sorry Nuggets), I’m talking about the great American sport of hockey! As the 50-game watermark of the regular season has come and gone, and the trade deadline looms on the near-distant horizon, now’s the perfect time to point out a few teams that have flown under the radar thus far. Here are five teams in the league that have a legitimate chance at debunking the league’s most overhyped teams (Detroit, Boston, New York, etc.).

• The Nashville Predators – The Preds, whose 68 points so far place them within four points of top-dog Detroit. This scrappy cast of characters, led by 6th year goalie Pekka Rinne, is on pace to reach the playoffs for the sixth time in their 13-year history. The team has successfully dealt with the impending free agency of team captain Shea Weber, whose 10 goals, 24 assists and 16 rating are all amongst the best for defensemen in the league. The team has also had to deal with another high-profile contract dispute with fellow defenseman Ryan Suter, who has refused to resign with the team before the end of the regular season. The fact that the Preds have been able to overcome the issues surrounding these two defensive superstars shows the team’s ability to overcome adversity, a trend that will continue during the 29 games remaining on the team’s schedule.

• The New Jersey Devils – In another unexpected surprise, the Devils have seen a major jump in the Eastern Conference, up from a mere 81 points last season to 63 points thus far, good enough for 6th in the East. The Devils have been able to overcome middle-of-the-pack performance in terms of Goals Per Game, Goals Against, and Power Play Percentage (ranking 14th, 18th, and 20th respectively), to push forward in their quest to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign. The team will need to count on the continued consistency of team captain Ilya Kovalchuk, whose 22 goals and 28 assists rank first and second amongst team members. The goaltending tandem of Johan Hedburg future hall-of-famer Martin Brodeur has combined for 30 wins, and a combined GAA of 2.8 per game, which has propelled the Devils to a possible playoff return. Expect the defense of Bryce Salvador and Andy Greene, whose 12 and 6 ratings rank atop the team’s stat sheet.

• The Los Angeles Kings – The Kings, who many predicted as a favorite to win the Stanley Cup in June. The team currently is 7th in the Western Conference standings, and are trying to qualify for the playoffs for a third consecutive season. The team currently is four points behind division leader San Jose with 29 games remaining. The team will need the continued consistency of 5th year goalie Jonathan Quick, 1.9 GAA, 93.4% save percentage, and 6 shutouts all rank within the top five in the league. Quick’s continued quality between the pipes has helped the Kings post the league’s third best GAA (2.1 goals per game). The Kings will need to step up their offensive performance, however, as they rank dead last in the league in goals per game, at 2.1 goals per game. 6th year center Anze Kopitar will need to continue his strong performance, leading the team with 16 goals and 30 assists, if the team is to surpass last season’s disappointing first round exit at the hands of eventual Clarence S. Campbell Bowl (Awarded to the winner of the Western Conference finals champion) Vancouver. Expect the Kings to continue their resurgence, with a potential run in the playoffs a distinct possibility.

• The Toronto Maple Leafs – The Leafs, who are currently clinging to the final playoff slot in the Eastern Conference, have definitely been one of the surprise teams in the league so far. The Leafs, who are trying to qualify for their first playoff appearance since the 2003-04 regular season, have featured an explosive offensive attack, led by 7th year winger Phil Kessel, whose 27 goals are tied for third-highest in the league. The Leafs will need to step up their defensive game though, as their goals against and power play killing statistics rank amongst the bottom of the league (21st and 29th to be exact). If the Leafs can keep up the offensive pressure that has been so characteristic of their season thus far then they can do some serious damage in the East, as very few teams can go toe to toe with the talented trio of Kessel, Joffrey Lupul, and Mikhail Grabovski. Expect the Leafs to finish somewhere in the 6-8 place range in the Eastern Conference, with a definite chance to challenge the status quo in the East, where stalwarts Washington and Pittsburgh are struggling to overcome injuries and inconsistent offensive play.

• The Dallas Stars – The Stars, who currently are on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff picture in the West, have a real chance to make it into the 16-team playoffs. Currently two points behind Minnesota for the 8th spot in the West, the Stars feature a powerful goaltending pair, lead by 8th year starter Kari Lehtonen, whose 92.9 save percentage ranks among the best in the West. The team will need the continued solid performance of top line forwards Michael Ryder and Jamie Benn, who lead the team with 18 goals and 31 assists, if they are to shake things up come playoff time. The Stars, like the Kings, will need their goaltending to continue leading the way, since their offensive abilities have decreased drastically since the trade of James Neal last season, teemed with the loss of Brad Richards to free agency.