My 2 cents on the NHL

With almost 30 games played by the teams around the NHL, some teams have enjoyed expected success, as have some teams that have come out of nowhere to lead the pack in the hockey world. Will these teams be able to make it last to the finish of the marathon long season? Maybe yes, maybe no. But the popular saying is the first 20 games is a good indicator of the playoffs, so maybe this year will bring some new faces competing to be the team that raises the Stanley Cup in June.\n• That which was expected -- Some of the teams thought to be the cream of the crop this year have been, first and foremost the Detroit Red Wings and their "Road to the Retirement Home With a Stop at the Stanley Cup" tour. The Wings have an absurd 46 points already, 10 more than their closest competing team and have lost a mere five of their 28 games. Also registering no great surprise: The success of the Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks. Neither team is necessarily lighting the league on fire, but both are up there in their respective divisions for points.\n• Things that weren't expected -- This season has been marked more by the unexpected than the expected, among successes and failures of some teams and individuals as well. In the East, both teams from New York, the Rangers and the Islanders, are doing above and beyond expectations, with the Rangers having 37 points and the Islanders 35. The West is also home to several teams doing much better than people thought, as the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks are winning at a pace that many experts thought they would be losing at instead. Also of important note is the relative early season failure of the New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals and Los Angeles Kings. All three were in the playoffs last season, the Devils making it as far as the Stanley Cup finals, and all were expected to be more successful than last year. Things are working out as expected, partially due to injuries and partially due to poor play, but all three of these teams need to get their act together if they hope to make it to the postseason again this year. \nThe top of the scoring column reads a little different than in previous years, as the name at the top of the list is Jarome Igilna, the right winger for the Calgary Flames, with 23 goals and 17 assists for a total of 40 points through 27 games. Since his career high is 71 points and 31 goals, it seems that Igilna will easily surpass those totals on his way to a potential scoring title, a title that has been held by Capitals right winger Jaromir Jagr for years. Also high up the scoring list is "Captain Concussion" Eric Lindros, who after a season off is back in a big way for the Rangers with 30 points so far this season. \nThe marathon that is the hockey season is just a little past the quarter mark, but this season has shown some interesting trends, both expected and unexpected. While it is unclear if these surprises will play themselves out all season or wither up and die like many of the surprises of this baseball season is yet to be seen, but it sure does make for an interesting watch as the hockey season goes on.