Each week, Hockey Night in Canada’s Scott Morrison breaks down the balance of power in the National Hockey League.

1. SAN JOSE SHARKS [up from 2]
Record: 40-13-9 (89 pts)
Last 10 games: 6-3-1Have been the most consistent of the front runners.

2. WASHINGTON CAPITALS [down from 1]
Record: 41-13-8 (90 pts)
Last 10 games: 7-1-2Love the firepower, worry about the [...]

It’s weird how a team can sleepwalk through the first part of one game (Columbus) and tonight in Pittsburgh jump out of the gate like everyone’s on crystal meth. Of course this energy didn’t last the complete game, but it is curious.
And two notable things happened in the first. The Habs fell behind 1-0 after [...]

It only took about 36 minutes before the Canadiens awoke from their slumber, but from then on, they battled and finally bested the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3 on a night where once again Carey Price was stellar, and Marc-Andre Bergeron came to the forefront, played a forceful game, and scored two huge goals.
It was a night where [...]

Georges is gone for five games, Guillaume is gone forever, and we don’t want the season to be gone either. So now it’s the business at hand. The Columbus Blue Jackets are in town for another big game because for Montreal, there’s 82 big games. Sergei Kostityn will play and if he looks fine - hurray!.
We need [...]

It took Montreal more than two periods to get it even a little bit together against Detroit, mainly because most of the time, especially in the first period, the only Habs players who saw the ice were the penalty killers.
All thanks to Georges Laraque for taking a high-sticking call and then a dangerous tripping/kneeing call to earn him six [...]

The Hockey Barn asked me to write down my predictions for the opening round of the playoffs, and although predictions are for gypsies, as Toe Blake used to say, I’m giving it a shot.
Anything can happen come playoff time. Every team is just one small injury or one bouncing puck away from sinking like the Titanic. [...]

Hmm. A 5-1 loss to the Sabres. What does that mean?
It means the Sabres move within four points of Montreal. So it means losing, and losing big, to a team trying to catch you is unacceptable.
It means the Flyers are three big points up on the Habs, Florida is only one point down from the Habs, and [...]

My lifestyle’s changed dramatically. I remember with fondness the days when I’d wake up, make coffee, and greet the day. Now, I wake up, make coffee, and check and see if Guy Carbonneau’s been fired, or if Bob Gainey sent Alex Kovalev and about five others to Tampa for Vincent Lecavalier, or to Anaheim for Chris [...]

I know this probably sounds far-fetched, but yesterday as we were walking around the Las Vegas strip, dodging Mexicans handing out flyers for girls available in 20 minutes, I got thinking about the upcoming Ottawa game, and I thought, why can’t the boys put together a solid, 4-0 type game?
 
Then, when we were sitting in [...]

There were several highlights in Friday’s game between the Canadiens and the Columbus Blue Jackets. which saw the Canadiens lose 4-3 in a shootout. There was a blond behind the net with a low-cut blouse.
 
Okay, so there weren’t several highlights. Just that one.
 
And two other things before I turn this computer off and try to [...]