How a 23 win team that is in the midst of a 5 game losing streak can still be in great playoff positioning on February 3rd is beyond my realm of belief.  So it goes in the “New NHL.”  I’ve always been against “loser points” that award a team that loses in overtime a point in the standings, as well as losing in a shoot-out (skills-competition).  I’m sorry, this isn’t kindergarten . . . you shouldn’t get anything for losing in a professional sport (except an earful from the coaching staff).  However, as an Islander fan, it is the loser point that has actually given this team some hope early on in their rebuild process (for those that think Tavares was anything close to the final piece, get real – the rebuilding is far from done).  Besides the loser point, however, and maybe more importantly, is that the teams directly around the Islanders in the Eastern Conference standings simply aren’t that good (that’s right, I’m talking about YOU New York Rangers!  YOU SUCK!).

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• Alexander Ovechkin is GOD.
• The Rangers HAVE to lose sometime, right!?
• The Calgary Flames blew a monumental 5-0 lead last night to the Chicago Blackhawks and ended up losing the game 6-5 in overtime. Hey. At least they got a point, right!? (stupid system) – Now I’m waiting for the Islanders to better that Calgary effort!
• The Los Angeles Kings’ goalie, Jonathan Quick, has what could be the best last name ever for a goalie.  (He also has a 4 game winning streak under his belt!)
• The New York Islanders could possibly end the season without a regulation win.  (My personal and angry prediction! lol)
• When Martin Brodeur retires, do the New Jersey Devils cease to exist?  What happens “Post-Marty” ??
• I didn’t want to believe in most of the “Hockey-experts” predictions saying the Flyers will be in the Cup Final this year (I still have no faith in Ray Emery), but other than in goal, the Flyers look for real.
• I understand the NY Islanders situation, and why they don’t compete for much, but what’s the Toronto Maple Leafs excuse?  What’s is the Montreal Canadiens excuse?  These teams play in the “Vatican Cities” of hockey, yet find ways to either miss the playoffs, or fail miserably in the playoffs.  At least Brian Burke appears to have some semblance of a plan (usually to build up on muscle and beat everyone else up), but what the hell kind of plan does Bob Gainey have in Montreal?  To me, it seems there isn’t much of a plan, and that shocks me when it comes to teams with money and support.  Maybe the Leafs and Habs still think teams are built on free agency?  Who the hell knows!?
• If Alexander Ovechkin is GOD, what does that make Alexander Semin?
• Tim Thomas is human.
• Zedeno Chara is still very, very tall.
• Dwayne Roloson loves regulation.  Dwayne Roloson hates shootouts.
• Shootouts still suck.
• Panthers to make the playoffs this year?
• Stamkos already “breaking out” in Tampa?

Bottom (red) line: Even though the Islanders haven’t won a game yet, I’m very impressed with them (do people forget that this team was DEAD LAST last season!?) – Josh Bailey needs some more muscle (or maybe a few more years to simply “grow up”), and there are other things that clearly need to fall in place, but looking at the league as a whole – It’s good to see the Kings “figure it out” and build from within and put together a team that can compete night in and night out.  I think that team will surprise many.  If they don’t make it to the playoffs this year (which I think they will) they will definitely make some noise in the next couple of seasons.  Good for Phoenix to come out swinging and remind people that an actual hockey team DOES EXIST in the desert, and that it’s not just some piece of property divorced parents are fighting over.  They are allowing their off-ice issues to remain off-ice, and might surprise some teams in the west (but not enough to make the playoffs).  For some reason, I couldn’t care less about the Dallas Stars – they bore me.  The St. Louis Blues are another team (much like L.A.) who are adapting to “The New NHL” very well, and have already proven that you don’t need to overpay for free agents to be a force in the NHL.  Finally, I’m convinced the Detroit Red Wings will be in every Cup Final for the rest of time.  The End!