NHL Results By Division - 22nd to 30th October

Week: Saturday 22nd- Sunday 30th October Eastern ConferenceAtlantic Division Pittsburgh 3-1-0 Total Points 18 Philadelphia 2-3-0 Total Points 13 NY Rangers 1-2-1 Total Points 9 New Jersey 1-3-0 Total Points 9 NY Islanders 0-2-2 Total Points 8 The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to prove that they are a hockey powerhouse even with a certain Mr. Crosby still out of the line up, their only defeat of the week coming at the hands of a fellow division leader in the Toronto Maple Leafs. Not such a good week for the Philadelphia Flyers who only managed to pick up 4 points of a possible 10, judging by their incredible 9-8 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, offense isn't the issue in Philly. It was a bad week all round for the other 3 teams in the division, collectively they managed to gather 6 points. The Rangers made the biggest free agent signing in the off season acquiring Brad Richards, but at the moment they don't look like a playoff team. Still it's early days in the 82 game season. North East Division Toronto 3-2-0 Total Points 15 Ottawa 5-0-0 Total Points 14 Buffalo 1-3-0 Total Points 12 Montreal 2-1-1 Total Points 10 Boston 0-3-0 Total Points 6 I don't think that many people would have predicted that ten games into the season the North East would look like this. Toronto are enjoying a much better start than they have had in recent seasons and they sit happily atop the division. Even more surprising this week have been the Ottawa Senators, aren't these guys supposed to be the worst team in the East? A full ten points out of ten on the week will have given that team a huge boost and they'l be looking to continue that run as the season goes on, i wouldn't get too optimistic though. A bad week for Buffalo but they haven't drifted too far away from the top spot so a better week next week could change their position very quickly. Whilst the same could be said for Montreal, i'm afraid Boston need to wake up. Last years Champs are clearly suffering a big cup winning hangover and if they want to avoid nearly missing the playoffs like the Blackhawks last season, they need to get in gear soon. South East Division Washington 1-2-0 Total Points 14 Florida 3-1-0 Total Points 12 Tampa Bay 3-1-0 Total Points 12 Carolina 1-2-1 Total Points 11 Winnipeg 2-2-0 Total Points 7 The majority of the South East remains very tight this week, a losing week from the Washington Capitals sees Florida, Tampa and even Carolina gain ground on the division leaders. Limping along in last place though is the Winnipeg Jets, i think that most of us have a soft spot for the Jets in their returning season but i don't think anyone is surprised to see them languishing at the bottom of their group. After all they really still are the team that played in Atlanta and this is still a very tough division to play in. Their fans no doubt enjoyed the huge 9-8 victory over the Flyers but they must also be a bit worried about conceding 8 goals in a game. Western ConferenceCentral Division Chicago 2-1-1 Total Points 14 Nashville 3-1-0 Total Points 11 Detroit 0-4-0 Total Points 10 St Louis 2-2-0 Total Points 10 Columbus 2-3-0 Total Points 5 Chicago's mediocre week means that they stay top of the Central Division but after a good week Nashville are only 3 points behind them and that could turn into an interesting battle for supremacy as the season moves along . Detroit went off the rails this week and failed to pick up a single point, not something their fans are used to enduring, i doubt that this is a sign of things to come though, the Wings are a winning franchise and i fully expect them to bounce back from this next week. St Louis are doing a good job of staying in touch with the rest of the division, i have to admit that when i heard they were playing Jamie Langenbrunner on their top line i ruled them out of contention in the West but they aren't backing down from the challenge of this division. It looks like Columbus have finally found some fighting spirit too, although they were a losing team on the week they did manage to pick up their first two wins of the season which will be huge for the players and what must be a very nervous head coach in Scott Arniel. North West Division Edmonton 5-0-0 Total Points 16 Colorado 2-2-0 Total Points 14 Minnesota 1-1-1 Total Points 11 Vancouver 2-2-0 Total Points 11 Calgary 2-1-0 Total Points 9 If Ottawa are supposed to be the worst team in the East then Edmonton are supposed to be the worst team in the West yet, like the Sens Edmonton have had a great week picking up all ten points available to them. Everybody knows that with the young talent on this team they will eventually start winning but nobody is really expecting that to happen this season, could this week be a signal of intent from the Oilers? I think their fans hope so and i also think the rest of the West hopes not. This conference is tough enough as it is. Another team doing surprisingly well is Colarado, whilst they only picked up half their points this week they're playing better hockey than most expected. It wasn't a great week in Minnesota, managing only 3 points but they are an improved team on last season and if they can get some consistencey they should challenge for the playoffs. Vancouver are starting to look a little like their old selves this week, an impressive win over the Caps will no doubt give them confidence going into this weeks fixtures. Calgary's poor start got a little better this week as they won two of three but they have a lot of improving to do if they want to catch up to the leaders in the North West. Pacific Division Dallas 2-2-0 Total Points 16 Los Angeles 2-2-1 Total Points 14 San Jose 4-0-0 Total Points 12 Phoenix 3-0-1 Total Points 12 Anaheim 1-3-1 Total Points 11 Dallas hold a tenuous 2 point lead in a Pacific division which last season proved to be probably the toughest in the NHL with 4 of the 5 teams making it to the playoffs and Dallas missing out by just 2 points. Hot on the Stars' heels are the Kings who have defeated the leaders twice already this season. San Jose enjoyed a winning week picking up all the points available to them, last seasons Pacific division champs look to be just as good as ever. Phoenix also enjoyed a winning week, head coach Dave Tippett proving once again that he can put together winning teams with out needing a tonne of talent. A disappointing week for the Ducks as managed only one win, but this team can't be written off and you should expect a better week from them as they look to make up lost ground in the West. Here's the highlights of that crazy game between the Jets and the Flyers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHWWXLpHdGI