Expect plenty of second-half sizzle in NHL
The biggest story for Blackhawks fans coming out of the all-star break is whether the defending Stanley Cup champs will even make the playoffs.
But the Hawks are hardly the only team that will resume the NHL season on Tuesday with deep concerns.
Ÿ In Pittsburgh, they’re wondering how soon Sidney Crosby, the franchise, can return from his concussion.
Ÿ In San Jose, championship aspirations are on hold with the Sharks presently out of a playoff spot.
Ÿ In Washington, the Capitals are nearly as inconsistent as the Hawks with Alex Ovechkin sitting on only 19 goals.
Ÿ And in Los Angeles, the Kings (thought to be a Cup contender in the preseason) are last in the Pacific Division and desperately trying to figure out how to score more goals.
The playoff races in both conferences should make for a fascinating final 10 weeks. Here’s a look back as well as a look ahead.
Best team:The Philadelphia Flyers have no holes and appear to be on a mission to win the Stanley Cup this time around after being disappointed last spring against the Hawks.The Flyers are big, physical, have the best offense in the league and Chris Pronger leading a nasty defense. Can rookie goalie Sergei Bobrovsky get it done in the playoffs? Antti Niemi answered that question last spring.They#146;re for real:The Dallas Stars just find ways to win with the most underrated roster in the league. Don#146;t discount them winning the Western Conference.Jury#146;s out:Granted, the Vancouver Canucks have been the best team in the West to this point, but they still must prove they have the mental makeup (as well as the goaltending) to win in the playoffs.Losing defenseman Alex Edler (back surgery) for the rest of the regular season won#146;t help the Canucks hold off Detroit and Dallas.Think the Canucks want to see the Hawks in the first round of the playoffs? It could happen.What#146;s up with Ovie?With 19 goals, Alex Ovechkin is on pace to score 30. While that would be a great season for most players, it#146;s not for Ovechkin.Incredibly, he has just 2 power-play goals, both in the same game, on Oct. 30 at Calgary. Ovechkin hasn#146;t scored a power-play goal in the Caps#146; last 133 chances, and his 91 power-play goals lead all NHL players since the lockout.On the hot seat:It seems only a matter of time before the Ottawa Senators fire coach Cory Clouston. The Senators have the second-worst offense and third-worst defense in the league and reached the break looking like team that wanted to get its coach fired.With the Kings falling short of lofty expectations, Terry Murray better watch his back as well. And you#146;ve got to wonder how happy the Blues are with Davis Payne.Peter the great:After three years out of the NHL, Peter Forsberg is gearing up for a return to the Avalanche. He is practicing and says his troubled feet feel great. What a stretch run pickup that would be.Biggest bust:The winner hands down is New Jersey#146;s Ilya Kovalchulk. All that money for 14 goals and a minus-29.Hart Trophy (MVP):1. Tim Thomas, Boston; 2. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh; 3. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay.Norris Trophy (defense):1. Shea Weber, Nashville; 2. Kris Letang, Pittsburgh; 3. Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit.Calder Trophy (rookie):1. Sergei Bobrovsky, Philadelphia; 2. Jeff Skinner, Carolina; 3. Logan Couture, San Jose.Adams Trophy (coach):1. Barry Trotz, Nashville; 2. Marc Crawford, Dallas; 3. Guy Boucher, Tampa Bay.Vezina Trophy (goalie):1. Tim Thomas, Boston; 2. Jonas Hiller, Anaheim; 3. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh.They won#146;t make it:The Atlanta Thrashers were a feel-good story for the longest time, but their inability to play team defense will keep them out of the playoffs.Let#146;s make a deal:There will be a flurry of trades before the Feb. 28 deadline, especially with so many teams considering themselves Cup contenders.Those defensemen most likely to be traded are Ottawa#146;s Chris Phillips, Florida#146;s Bryan McCabe, Toronto#146;s Francois Beauchemin, Buffalo#146;s Craig Rivet and Steve Montador and Atlanta#146;s Brent Sopel.Forwards likely on the move are Carolina#146;s Erik Cole, New Jersey#146;s Jason Arnott, Minnesota#146;s John Madden and perhaps Buffalo#146;s Tim Connolly and Toronto#146;s Kris Versteeg.Goalies definitely available are Florida#146;s Tomas Vokoun and Toronto#146;s J.S. Gigure.The biggest chip in play could be Maple Leafs defenseman Tomas Kaberle should he agree to waive his no-movement clause. Every team considered a contender would want Kaberle.East playoff teams:1. Philadelphia; 2. Washington; 3. Boston; 4. Pittsburgh; 5. Tampa Bay; 6. N.Y. Rangers; 7. Montreal; 8. Carolina.West playoff teams:1. Vancouver; 2. Detroit; 3. Dallas; 4. Phoenix; 5. Blackhawks; 6. Nashville; 7. San Jose; 8. Anaheim.HKN377480Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin, right, skates around a diving Toronto Maple Leafs Tomas Kaberle during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011. The Capitals won 4-1.Associated PressHKNHKN640463New York Rangers left wing Sean Avery (16) watches Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) go into the air after they got tangled up during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Monday, Jan. 24, 2011, in Washington.Associated PressHKNHKN320480Peter Forsberg, of Sweden, wipes his face during a morning skate with Colorado Avalanche before the Avalanche play the Boston Bruins in an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011 in Denver. Forsberg says his heart fully supports a return to the NHL. The 37-year-old is now trying to determine if his bothersome right foot will cooperate.Associated PressHKNHKN640427Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby waits for a faceoff as the Penguins play the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals in Detroit, Sunday, May 31, 2009.Associated PressHKN