| Team | Record | Previous Rank |
|---|
| 1. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS | 34-6-5 | 1 |
| Hawks still get the edge over the Pens, but not by much. |
| 2. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS | 35-10-0 | 2 |
| Despite injuries to Crosby and a host of others, Pens still rolling. |
| 3. ANAHEIM DUCKS | 29-11-6 | 4 |
| Ducks get over funk to claim first Pacific title since '07. |
| 4. BOSTON BRUINS | 27-12-5 | 5 |
| Bombings have B's thinking about more important things than hockey. |
| 5. VANCOUVER CANUCKS | 26-13-7 | 7 |
| Canucks quietly lock up fifth straight division title. |
| 6. MONTREAL CANADIENS | 27-13-5 | 3 |
| Panic over Price's recent play starting to set in among Habs fans. |
| 7. LOS ANGELES KINGS | 26-14-5 | 6 |
| Champs came up short in divsion race but still a threat to win it all. |
| 8. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS | 25-15-5 | 8 |
| Reimer's strong play helps Leafs grab first playoff spot in nine years. |
| 9. WASHINGTON CAPITALS | 25-18-2 | 14 |
| Ovechkin and the red-hot Caps keep rocketing up this list. |
| 10. SAN JOSE SHARKS | 24-14-7 | 10 |
| Niemi has been quietly excellent in net for most of the season. |
| 11. ST. LOUIS BLUES | 26-17-2 | 11 |
| It wasn't easy, but the Blues look like a playoff team. |
| 12. NEW YORK ISLANDERS | 24-16-5 | 16 |
| Surprising Isles ready to end a lengthy playoff drought. |
| 13. NEW YORK RANGERS | 24-17-4 | 13 |
| Offense finally beginning to click for the Blueshirts. |
| 14. OTTAWA SENATORS | 23-16-6 | 12 |
| Karlsson nearing a return, but will his team be in the playoffs? |
| 15. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS | 22-17-7 | 22 |
| Playoffs or no, Blue Jackets were one of this year's pleasant surprises. |
| 16. MINNESOTA WILD | 24-18-3 | 9 |
| Can't seem to get out of their own way down the stretch. |
| 17. DETROIT RED WINGS | 21-16-8 | 15 |
| Will Detroit's playoff streak finally end after 21 seasons? |
| 18. WINNIPEG JETS | 24-19-3 | 19 |
| Late surge still may not be enough to get the Jets playoff-bound. |
| 19. DALLAS STARS | 22-19-4 | 21 |
| Gulutzan did a great job behind the bench this year, especially in April. |
| 20. PHOENIX COYOTES | 19-18-8 | 17 |
| Coyotes' poor road play will cost them a playoff spot. |
| 21. NEW JERSEY DEVILS | 17-18-10 | 18 |
| Unlucky Devils were done in by Kovalchuk's injury. |
| 22. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS | 20-22-3 | 24 |
| GM Holmgren has to tinker with a high-priced, but innefective roster. |
| 23. BUFFALO SABRES | 19-21-6 | 23 |
| Rolston has done a great job of keeping team together after Ruff firing. |
| 24. CALGARY FLAMES | 19-22-4 | 29 |
| Sans Iginla, Flames have relished in spoiler role this month. |
| 25. EDMONTON OILERS | 17-21-7 | 20 |
| GM switch could make some of the club's young talent newly available. |
| 26. NASHVILLE PREDATORS | 15-21-9 | 25 |
| Time for Trotz and Poile to do a post-mortem on a disappointing season. |
| 27. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING | 17-24-4 | 26 |
| Bishop hasn't looked like the answer in net so far. |
| 28. CAROLINA HURRICANES | 18-24-3 | 27 |
| Ward's injury slowly but surely undermined Carolina's postseason plans. |
| 29. COLORADO AVALANCHE | 15-23-7 | 30 |
| Just another demoralizing season for a once-proud franchise. |
| 30. FLORIDA PANTHERS | 13-26-6 | 28 |
| Panthers just want to put this season behind them already. |
