2013 NHL Standings: Who’s on Top?

The 2013 NHL Standings are out, and there are some surprises at the top. Who’s on top?

Introduction

As the 2012-2013 NHL season comes to a close, teams are scrambling to get into position for the playoffs. With less than a month left in the season, there are still many teams in contention for a spot in the playoffs. The race for the Stanley Cup is heating up and it is anyone’s guess who will come out on top.

standings as of April 8, 2013:

Eastern Conference
1. Pittsburgh Penguins – 39 GP, 91 points
2. Montreal Canadians – 41 GP, 90 points
3. Washington Capitals – 40 GP, 86 points
4. New York Islanders – 40 GP, 85 points

Eastern Conference

The Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL) is made up of 15 teams, divided into three divisions of five teams each. The conference is currently led by the Pittsburgh Penguins who are first in the conference with 72 points. The second-place team is the Boston Bruins who have 70 points. Rounding out the top three are the Montreal Canadiens with 69 points.

Western Conference

The Western Conference is made up of fifteen teams, divided into two divisions.

The Central Division consists of the Chicago Blackhawks Colorado Avalanche Dallas Stars Minnesota Wild Nashville Predators St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets

The Pacific Division is made up of the Anaheim Ducks Calgary Flames Edmonton Oilers Los Angeles Kings Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks

Here are the standings as of February 26th, 2013:

Central Division:
1) Chicago Blackhawks (41-15-5)
2) St. Louis Blues (39-14-6)
3) Minnesota Wild (29-21-7)
4) Nashville Predators (26-22-9)
5) Winnipeg Jets (25-26-5)
6) Dallas Stars (21-28-7)
7) Colorado Avalanche (17-33-4)

Central Division

As of December 15th, the Chicago Blackhawks lead the Central Division with 46 points. They are followed by the St. Louis Blues with 45 points, the Nashville Predators with 39 points, and the Minnesota Wild and the Winnipeg Jets, who both have 38 points.

Pacific Division

The Pacific Division is one of the NHL’s four divisions. The divisional alignment was introduced for the 1993–94 NHL season It became the Western Conference’s Pacific Division in 2013 as part of a realignment. Its teams are located in: California, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada. As of the 2013 NHL season the division has been won eight times by five different teams. The Calgary Flames have won it the most times, with six division championships.

Atlantic Division

As the 2012-2013 NHL season comes to a close, fans are anxious to see which teams will make it to the playoffs. In the Atlantic Division three teams have already clinched a spot in the postseason. The Pittsburgh Penguins (45-21-5) currently sit atop the division, followed by the Montreal Canadiens (41-26-7) and the Ottawa Senators (42-28-6). The New York Rangers (39-29-6) are close behind in fourth place, while the New Jersey Devils (38-29-7), Philadelphia Flyers (34-29-11), and Florida Panthers (23-45-6) round out the division.

Looking at the standings, it’s clear that the Atlantic Division is one of the most competitive in the NHL. With only a few games left in the season, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will come out on top. Who will raise the banner at the end of this season?

Metropolitan Division

The Metropolitan Division is one of the Eastern Conference’s two divisions. It includes the following teams:
-Carolina Hurricanes
--Columbus Blue Jackets
-New Jersey Devils
-New York Islanders
-New York Rangers
-Philadelphia Flyers
-Pittsburgh Penguins
-Washington Capitals

NHL Awards

The National Hockey League (NHL) hands out numerous awards each year to recognize its teams and players. These awards include the Stanley Cup which is awarded to the NHL’s championship team, and the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the league’s most Valuable Player Other awards include the Calder Memorial Trophy (rookie of the year), the Vezina Trophy (best goaltender), and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (sportsmanship).

NHL Playoffs

It’s that time of year again! The NHL playoffs are just around the corner, and hockey fans everywhere are eager to see who will take home the Stanley Cup this year.

In the Eastern Conference the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins are currently leading the pack. The Penguins have an impressive record of 36-12-0, while the Bruins are right behind them with a 35-10-3 record.

In the Western Conference the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks are currently in the lead. The Blackhawks have an outstanding record of 34-7-5, while the Ducks are right behind them with a 32-8-5 record.

So who will make it to the Stanley Cup finals this year? Only time will tell!

Conclusion

From the Stanley Cup Finals standings to the Presidents’ Trophy winners, the 2013 NHL season has had some great moments. Find out who is on top in our final NHL Standings