Centre Jonathan Toews is a big reason why the Chicago Blackhawks are the best team in the NHL halfway through the 2013 season. (REUTERS/Andy Clark)
In the next few days, all the teams in the National Hockey League will be playing their 24th game and hitting the halfway point of this lockout-shortened season. It has been a wild, intense, injury-filled scramble so far, but now we have a decent sample size of what we've got. Here's what we've learned about the teams in the Western Conference so far ...
CHICAGO: The Blackhawks’ story has been the best in the NHL so far. To put things in perspective, their 20-0-3 start – the longest point streak to start a season in league history – has them about 13 points away from what it looks like it will take to clinch a playoff spot in the Western Conference with 25 games left in the season.
ANAHEIM: The Ducks have been overshadowed by Chicago’s history-making start, but they have the second-fewest regulation time losses in the league (just three). Coach Bruce Boudreau is a winner: he now owns a 243-114-51 career record in the NHL.
