Wow Pittsburgh, Colorado, the Rangers, and Phoenix ...

Pittsburgh, Colorado, the Rangers, Phoenix and Edmonton - those are the teams that are playing 0.700 or better hockey at the start of this new season. Those will be the teams the Caps will join company with should they stay focused and leave Nassau Coliseum with two points...

Pittsburgh is playing 0.900 hockey after coming back and getting a SO victory over the Panthers last night.

The Avalanche held on for a 5-4 win over Carolina and took their record to 7-1-2.

The Rangers and Coyotes were idle tonight. The Rangers are 7-3-0 while Phoenix has come out of nowhere to start the season 6-2-0. Edmonton is 6-2-1.

To be sure it's early and the season is just barely 10% complete, however Pittsburgh already has a 4 point lead in their division race over the otherwise top-tier NY Rangers. While out west the Conference leading Avalanche are three points ahead of the division rival Oilers, though Edmonton has a game in hand. In the Southeast division the Capitals have three points on the second place Atlanta Thrashers though the Thrashers have two games in hand. The division standings and races in the Northeast, Central, and Pacific division are all tight. In the Pacific the Los Angeles Kings are tied with the Coyotes with 12 points, though Phoenix has two games in hand. In the Central Division the Columbus Blue Jackets are just one point "in back of" the Chicago Blackhawks, though Columbus has a game in hand. In the Northeast Division Ottawa is tied with Buffalo - each have 11 points, though Buffalo has a game in hand.

Yes to be sure we are only just barely in to the first Chapter of this season, but already some interesting stories are developing. Who of the surprises are in the playoffs and who of the unexpected under-performers are not still on the ice playing in late April clearly remains to be seen. But if things keep going the way they have been, every one of us Hockey fans will be on a pretty wild ride until then.

Now about those Islanders -

LETS GO CAPS!!!!