Bizzaro Land quick notes of the NHL

It's hard to keep up with the NHL these days because there is just so much other stuff to read about on the internet and I'm doing okay over at Whatculture.com, who seem to publish anything.  I have yet to come up with a gimmick for an NHL overseas crossover or to kick up the passion ratchet enough to finish off some articles I have in various states of production.

This 1/2 year format due to the lockout is working out wonders for some teams; the benefits of being a strong team in a weak division is helping some, while the benefits of not having to play strong teams on the other side of the continent is helping others. And Martin Brodeur hasn't been playing so that's been inflating a lot of eastern team's stats outside of New Jersey.

here's my plan, Nash - you leave. Then we start winning.
I call it the Mark Messier plan.

Somebody needs to look into what the hell is happening in Columbus, home of Not Rick Nash Anymore.  They've managed a win streak longer than 2 games and haven't lost by over 2 goals since the end of January.  Their current streak involves a lot of overtimes, so not only are their fans see the team win games, they are also getting an extra 5 minutes of playing time and usually a shoot out. Of their last 11 games, 9 have gone into extra time. If this keeps up, I might have to start drafting some Columbus players in my hockey pool.

The weird part is that even with this win streak the Blue Jackets are still only a 500 team.

Bobrovsky's natural at-rest position

Anaheim and Chicago are also on a tear and while it's not necessarily surprising in Chicago, it is when you consider that they have been without Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa for much of that and they still don't really have a number 1 goaltender.  It's difficult when your back up is Ray Emery who is 11-0 and he still is considered the back up.

Anaheim, I don't know what's going on there as usually all the talk is about their Big 3 contract negotiations with little said about their winning percentage, which is crazy Chicago-esque high.

Sure, Pittsburgh in the East is riding a current 10 game win streak without Malkin but really...it's the east.  Outside of Boston and Marty Brodeur, who hasn't been playing for the last few weeks, it shouldn't be too hard for a team like that to pile up some wins.

The Toronto faithful is starting to man the life-rafts once again as the Maple Leafs are in danger of not ever winning another game ever for the rest of their lives...
ok, i'm done.