Stats

So far, the 2011-12 season hasn't been that great for the New York Islanders. But one of the good things is that plenty of bigger name Islander players will be reaching some milestones in their careers.

One of the players will reach a milestone that will likely earn him a spot in the NHL Hall of Fame.

Many other players will be reaching milestones that help jump start their careers.

With a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins last night, the New York Rangers moved their season point total to 56.

That puts them three points ahead of last year's two Stanley Cup finalists, the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins, for tops in the NHL (although Boston does have two games in hand on New York).

Kyle Turris has been traded to the Ottawa Senators, ending a tenure of poor play, failed expectations and continuous tensions about his future with the Phoenix Coyotes.

After the opening months of every NHL season, the pecking order among teams is never quite the way it was expected to be. Past dynasties fall off the map, while upstart contenders replace them at the top. The hockey world takes a little while to re-adjust, and then the season grinds along like usual as crunch time approaches.

The Chicago Blackhawks will be holding their annual prospect camp starting Thursday, July 7th and running to Monday, July 11th. 

Thursday's schedule is from 10:00am to 1:15pm CDT and is the first on-ice session.

On Friday and Saturday, the prospects will be split into two groups, which will practice for 75 minutes each. 

The prospects will then spend Sunday and Monday scrimmaging (three 20 minute periods).

Tim Thomas had an incredible season backstopping for the Boston Bruins while leading them to their first Stanley Cup championship since 1972. Although Thomas has only been in the NHL for six seasons, could it be safe to say he is working on a hall of fame career. I say, the numbers don't lie.

After play Easter Sunday, home teams are 18-24 (.429) in the first round of the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This is nothing new for the NHL—it is not even the worst record they have ever had through one round. But it is among the worst, and before the weekend home teams had won just two of five.

After three days of action in the first round of the 2011 NHL Playoffs, we've already seen trends start to emerge. One of the more important and intriguing ones is the remarkable performances by the goaltenders, leading to an usually high number of low-scoring games.

In 12 postseason games to date, there have been a remarkable five shutouts, plus four more one-goal performances. It marks a far cry from last season's relative goalfest, which saw five days of action pass before the first shutout was registered.

When we all make our cherished NHL playoff picks every April, we all take into account varying amounts of the same ol' statistics.

Which players are injured? Which team has the better coach? How experienced are they in the playoffs? Are they on a streak entering the postseason? And, most of all, which team is better?

Remember that fat lady that was ready to get up on stage?  Yeah, well she’s now in front of the microphone ready to belt out her tune, ending the Leafs’ season.