What Happened Northeast!?

Last night I was looking at the NHL standings, trying to figure out the possible outcomes for the Habs, but instead I realized how the teams in the Northeast had substantially less points (on average) than the rest of the divisions in the NHL. This sparked an investigation. So I dug up some stats from the year before the lockout (2003-2004). Here's what I found; *Stats from this year are dated for 5/3/2011* **Also the number given is an average of the team points in the division** ***One last thing, I started writing this before some of the games on the west coast were finished, so those teams point total may not be up to date to 5/3/2011, therefore affecting their divisions average***

Northeast|2010-2011(5/3/2011)-70.6(on pace)-88.8|2003-2004-97.4

Atlantic |2010-2011(5/3/2011)-72.6(on pace)-90.6|2003-2004-83.8

Southeast |2010-2011(5/3/2011)-71.4(on pace)-89.6|2003-2004-78.8

Central |2010-2011(5/3/2011)-74.8(on pace)-94|2003-2004-82.4

Pacific |2010-2011(5/3/2011)-76.8(on pace)-96.8|2003-2004-85.2

Northwest |2010-2011(5/3/2011)-70.8(on pace) -88.6|2003-2004-93.4

Okay, now that you've seen the facts, the only appropriate thing to do is: analyze them!
In the Western conference there are 4 points separating 5th from 11th. Five of the seven teams in this race are in the Central and Pacific. This accounts for the high averages in both of these divisions. Personally, I think the biggest stat from all of this is the decline in points average for the Northeast division (Montreal, Boston, Ottawa, Buffalo and Toronto). In 2003 - 2004 This division was the most competitive division in the league. When the regular season was finished, 4 of the teams had clinched a playoff berth while Buffalo finished one spot away in 9th, 3 teams finished with over 100 points, and this was also the year the Maple leafs had more points than the Habs. Wait... What!?! Success and Leafs? Together? Impossible. I know, I was extremely shocked by that as well. But on the upside, the Habs and Leafs made it to the same point in the playoffs until they were both knocked out in the second round.

By now, you're probably wondering "What does this all have to do with the Habs?" This affects the Habs because with teams like Ottawa, Toronto and to a certain extent, Buffalo; all in the rebuilding phase, all Montreal has to do is compete with Boston, and they have a guaranteed playoff spot. 99% if not 100% of Habs fans would chose this option over competing with Boston, Ottawa and Toronto for a playoff spot, like it was in 2003-2004. Lets just hope that Ottawa and Buffalo stay out of the playoff picture to make way for the mighty force that is the Montreal Canandiens. As for Toronto, I honestly hope they find a way into the playoffs in the upcoming years, just to try to see a Habs vs. Leafs playoff series and seeing the Leafs getting stomped on by us.



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