We are now about a month in the condensed 48 game NHL season. Hockey fans finally have their televisions set to a channel that they actually want to watch. Many teams so far have caught the hockey world by surprise, and some teams with high expectations have stumbled out of the gate.

One team from the west has many hockey fans running to the corner to hide in fear; the Chicago Blackhawks. They have posted an impressive 12-0-3 record in their opening 15 games, recording a point in each one. Fifteen games into the season and the Hawks are on the verge of NHL history. Back in the 2006-2007 season, the Anaheim Ducks opened the season with at least a point in 16 straight games. The Blackhawks are on the verge of tying that record and perhaps shattering it. Leading the way is American-born Patrick Kane, who has posted 21 points in 15 games. An impressive start to the season for the Hawks has their fans thinking another Stanley Cup Banner may be raised to the rafters in the United Center.
Over in the Eastern Conference, at the moment are 3 teams battling for supremacy. The Pittsburgh Penguins, the Boston Bruins, and the New Jersey Devils, who have essentially come out of nowhere. The Devils in the offseason, lost Zach Parise to the Minnesota Wild. Parise was the heart and soul of the Devils, and their captain. Bryce Salvador was then named captain in Parise’s place. Now, the Devils are battling for 1st in the east, without their prized number 1 player.
One team in the western conference has many of its fans scratching their heads in confusion. The Los Angeles Kings. After 45 years, the Kings are finally on top of the hockey world. They won their first cup in franchise history, and in this shortened season, many experts chose them to repeat as cup champions. As of now, that is not the case. Their star goaltender Jonathan Quick has been slumping after putting up impressive playoff numbers. The Kings now sit in 13th place in the conference, 4 points out of a playoff spot. 4 points may not sound like many, but in a short 48 game season that gap may never close.
As the weeks roll on, teams will eventually start to find their style of play, if they haven’t already. The New York Rangers after starting 1-3, are 7-2-1 in their last ten games, with HenrikLundqvist leading the way. Rick Nash is starting to find his scoring touch, and maybe, just maybe, the Rangers will touch the cup in May.