NHL update

A quarter of the season has now been completed. After a fast start, the Colorado Avalanche have been playing like most hockey pundits predicted, garnering a 3-5-2 record in their last 10 games. This might be the first time in many seasons that the Detroit Red Wings are not occupying the upper echelon in the Western Conference. Their division rivals, the Chicago Blackhawks seems to have planted their own place there. With young superstars (Kane, Toews), solid defense (Keith) and good goaltending (Huet), the Blackhawks are 8-1-1 in their last 10. They are winning games in convincing fashion, usually by 4-5 goals. It's still early in the season but here's some teams to look for and others to tune out.

Teams to watch:
New Jersey Devils: Brodeur in net is always a recipe for success. Parise is proving that he is a Hart Trophy candidate.

Nashville Predators: 8-1-1 in their last 10 games even though no player is on pace to score more than 30 goals this season.

Struggling: 3-4-3 in their last 10 games and losing Ales Hemsky puts the Edmonton Oilers on this list. Don't expect to succeed when your first center has 8 assists and -8 +/- rating in 22 games.

Giving up a 3 goal third period lead is not considered too surprising for the Carolina Hurricanes who sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

Leafs Watch: 5-4-3 in their last 10 games. Phil Kessel and Niklas Hagman are litting up the lamp post. Kudos to Kessel performing as well as he has.