The Nashville Predators are the NHL's best. Their 81 points have them sitting not only first place overall in the Western Conference, but a point better than the Eastern Conference leading Buffalo Sabres.

Nashville is keeping pace with the Detroit Red Wings who are also one point behind them with 80, and sit second in the Central Division, but fourth in the Western Conference (that is a buzz kill.....they own a 12 point lead over third place Vancouver too.

The Predators flexed their muscles against the San Jose Sharks last night. Defenceman Shea Weber potted two goals and goaltender Tomas Vokoun stopped all 22 Sharks shots he faced to pummell San Jose 5-0. The shutout was Vokoun's 4th this season, and the 10th for the Predators combined goaltending tandem with Chris Mason.

The Western Conference since the All Star Break seems to be opening up alot. The Minnesota Wild hold the 8th playoff spot with 67 points, and have a 7 point cushion over the 9th place Edmonton Oilers. Aside from the Predators and Red Wings (Zetterberg and Datsyuk did it again last night, and even made ESPN's Top 10 combining for a score in a 3-1 win over Dallas) battling for control of the Central and ultimately the Western Conference, tthe Northwest Division has a tight race between the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Minnesota Wild. Calgary and Vancouver have 68 points, and Minnesota has 67. In the Pacific, the Anaheim Ducks (74 points), San Jose Sharks (73 points), and Dallas Stars (70 points) are all fighting for control of the Division and the second seed in the West. It seems the elite in this Conference have really begun to separate themselves from the also-rans.

The Eastern Conference is a lot tighter. The Atlanta Thrashers, Pittsburgh Penguins (did you guys see Crosby in the overtime last night against the Blackhawks? I thought the puck was glued to his stick), and Ottawa Senators (3rd, 4th, and 5th place teams) all have 69 points. The Tampa Bay Lightning are in 6th with 66 points, the Carolina Hurricanes with 65, and the Habs in the final spot with 64. On the outside looking in, just two points out and tied for 9th, the New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs, 5 points out the New York Rangers, and 8 points out the Boston Bruins. The Florida Panthers and Washington Capitals still have a chance being 9 and 10 points out as well. Aside from the Buffalo Sabres, and the New Jersey Devils who at this point are unstoppable, the rest of the Conference is really anybodies to win.

Game of the Night:
NY Rangers at Carolina 7:00 PM
Boston at NY Islanders 7:30 PM
Washington at Tampa Bay 7:30 PM

Six teams jockeying for playoff position. The playoffs have already begun for all of these clubs, so look for most of the games down the stretch to kick it up a notch. Boston is a few wins or losses away from being a buyer or seller at the trade deadline, so these games are very important. Enjoy the games!

Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh