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FRENCH RIVER… Fellow hockey fans, the NHL is about to make that big turn on to the regular season home stretch and that means it is time to take a look at how the current NHL power structure is sitting. For the most part the power still seems to be based in the Western Conference, however, that doesn’t translate into a victory every time there is an inter-conference tilt. But the overall record of the West vs. the East (198-117-44, or 198-161, if my count is correct) isn’t indicative of some sort of overall superiority and dominance, rather it might merely be a trend of a minor sort.
Certainly you can cook that down further if you wish to derive more meaning from it. If you go to the NHL web site there are a few ways to break down standings and stats. Perhaps a better indicator for me is a teams standings, point totals and goal differential. In that regard there are three teams with better points totals in the West right now as opposed to the leader in the East, Boston. There are two Western clubs (ANA & STL, 44 & 43) with more victories then the East co-leaders Boston and Pittsburgh. (42 each)  There is but one club in the West with a superior Goal differential to the Eastern leader with STL at a plus 66 vs. the East’s BOS at a plus 61. And finally I like to look at a clubs last ten games as an indicator of what is going on with it.
And then there is my good old plain and simple hunch. I see most of these clubs on a frequent basis and I can get a feel for where they are at during the season and based on that here is the MFAN NHL Top sixteen Power Rank;

1. STL Blues, big, tough and skilled, they just added All-World net minder Ryan Miller from Buffalo. Miller won’t see as many shots playing behind this team as he did in Buff which should make him even better…

2.  ANA Duck, also a team with size, skill, scoring and defense. They also have this guy from Finland, Teemu Selanne, who is in his last season, and is really, really good…

3. COL AV’s, This team was on no one’s radar in the pre-season. Sure they added Patrick Roy as their new Head Coach, but he was dismissed as an excitable Quebecois who would be on the front sport pages more then his team. Oh Yeah?

4. CHI Blackhawks, Not quite last years Cup Champs but still formidable. Still very capable of putting one game or series together to wreck your teams season…

5. BOS Bruin, pass, shoot, score! Pretty good on either end of the rink but how much gas does big Zdeno Chara still have in the tank? Can they get to a Conf or Cup final?

6. SAN JOSE Shark, 41 wins, plus 42 Diff, 24-4-4 at Home, and 7-2-1 in L10. Can this club ever get a break and make a Cup final though?

7. LA King, after a lethargic and non-scoring mid season, this club is coming back together. 7-3 in L10 with a 7 game win streak…

8. PITT Pengwah, still have the best player in the World and his sidekick, (Crosby and Malkin) but 2 best D-men are out injured and sorry but MAF is still a question mark in goal…

9. NY Ranger, after horrendous start, they are starting to gel and have The King in net. Only a .500 team at home though…

10. MN Wild, can score and play strong team defense but with G-Josh Hards out have questions in goal. Strong home record, only plus 1 diff, 6-2-2 in L10...

11. DAL NorthStars, have come on strong since mid-season with excellent young players and patient coaching (Lindy Ruff), they are right on Minny’s tail, 7-2-1 L10...

12.  MON Canadiens, with all-world net minder Carey Price on the shelf the Hab’s are merely average, if he is ready to go at playoff time, he could steal you a series, maybe two…

13. PHI Flyer, after extraordinarily poor start, a fired coach, and an injured Stars malaise, the Flyer have regained some respectability, but can they play enough defense to win a series?

14. TOR Maple Leafs, the Leafs are up! They are down! Wait, they are back up! Poor on the road, better at home and a minus 5 diff. 6-2-2 in L10. Currently have a playoff spot…

15. CBS BlueJackets, This would be a good story if they were to get into the playoffs. Playing .500 road hockey but with one of the best goalies in the show, the Bob, lookout!

16. DET Red Wing, better on road then at home. Best coach in the game today but with an aged and injured lineup. Even if Wingies get in, I can’t see them doing anything this time around….

 In the ol’ “if the playoffs started today” scenario the Wild would finish 7th in the West and would face the current occupant of 2nd place, the Ducks. That could be an interesting series, but if the Blues held on to 1st and the Wild slipped to 8th they would face STL and we just do not seem to match up well against them. And if the Wild don’t continue to win at their current pace, they could be out altogether. With the Frozen Four and Stanley Cup coming up, the best is yet to come!!! PEACE

Marc Elliott is a free lance sports opinion writer who splits time between his hometown in Illinois and Minnesota.