Pacific Division Update: April 1 2012

Place/Team	Games Played	WINS	LOSSES	OTL	Points	ROW	GF	GA	DIFF	HOME	AWAY	S/O	L10	Streak
1. Los Angeles Kings	79	39	27	13	91	33	185	170	+15	21-14-4	18-13-9	6-8	7-2-1	OT 1
2. Phoenix Coyotes	79	39	27	13	91	33	206	202	+4	21-13-6	18-14-7	6-10	5-2-3	WON 2
3. San Jose Sharks	79	40	29	10	90	32	214	201	+13	25-12-3	15-17-7	8-5	6-4-0	WON 1
4. Dallas Stars	79	42	32	5	89	35	207	212	-5	22-14-3	20-18-2	7-4	4-6-0	LOST 2
5. Anaheim Ducks	78	33	34	11	77	30	194	217	-23	21-17-2	12-17-9	3-6	4-5-1	LOST 1

The standings have been shuffled yet again in the Pacific Division. The Los Angeles Kings continue their impressive run as they narrow in on a playoff spot. The most important piece of information in the standings is wins. The Dallas Stars have the most wins meaning that if there is a tie, Dallas will win. Should be very interesting to see who will capture the division and how many teams from the division will get in.

15 Points

Little Joe - San Jose Sharks forward Joe Pavelski has 8 points in his last 10 games. The Sharks need this kind of performance if they are going to stay in a playoff spot. 

Logan Couture 

Player of the Month - The Brocade "Sharks Player of the Month" for the month of March is forward Joe Thornton. He put up 13 points in 16 games to help put the Sharks in a position to win the division title. 

Signed - The Sharks have signed University of Minnesota-Duluth centre Travis Oleksuk to an entry-level contract. He recorded 53 points in 41 games this year for the Bulldogs. 

Finalist - Dallas Stars prospect Austin Smith has been announced as a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. The award for being the top player in college hockey has a good chance of going to Smith who lead the nation with 36 goals. 

Kari Lehtonen

NHL 13 - Stars forwards Loui Eriksson and Jamie Benn have been selected to represent the team in the cover vote for NHL 13. The bracket system has Benn against Eriksson in the first round. 

Stepping Up - Goaltender Kari Lehtonen has had a breakthrough season for the Stars. With a .923 SV%, he has helped the team to within two points of the division title.

Confident - Overconfidence may be an issue in Phoenix. When going to their website, they are offering playoff tickets with a massive advertisement. Would be a shame if they failed to make it in the final three games. 

Coyotes Team Awards - 

• Team MVP - Goalie Mike Smith
• Leading Scorer - Forward Ray Whitney 
• Fan vote, hardest working player - Forward Shane Doan
• Man of the Year for dedication to the community - Goalie Jason LaBarbera 

1000th - Coyotes forward Ray Whitney recorded his 1000th career point against Anaheim on Saturday night. Whitney had a goal and an assist as Phoenix got a big 4 - 0 win. 

Juniors - Ducks prospects Emerson Etem and John Gibson are playing phenomenal for their junior teams. Etem had 12 points in the Medicine Hat Tigers sweep of the Saskatoon Blades in Western Hockey League playoff action. Kitchener Rangers goalie John Gibson is ranked second in the Ontario Hockey League with a .943 SV% for the playoffs. 

Recalled - The Ducks have recalled defenseman Mat Clarke from the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League. 

Eliminated - Anaheim has been mathematically eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

No Go Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter has missed two consecutive games with an ankle injury. He may not return until the playoffs, provided that the Kings can make the push to the postseason without him. 

Rolling - The Kings are 7-2-1 over their last 10 games, which is a great time to be getting hot. If this play continues, they will make the playoffs and give their an opponent a battle. 

Decent - Claiming 5 points out of a possible 8 was a good road trip for the Kings. Road points are crucial and they managed to pick up a couple. 

Divisional Games:

1. San Jose @ Dallas - Tuesday, April 3            
2. San Jose @ Los Angeles - Thursday, April 5
3. Los Angeles @ San Jose - Saturday, April 7

What to Watch:

Sharks - Three crucial divisional games to end the year

Emerson Etem - On fire right now, get excited Ducks fans

John Gibson - Solid in the Kitchener net so far

Los Angeles - Having a great run

Prediction: Stars win the division, Kings grab 7 and the Coyotes will take 8. The Sharks have a tall order this week that I honestly don't believe they can fill.