And in the lead in the East...it's the Philiottorampa Senflyeafning!

I'm pretty sure that what's going on in this year's race for the President's Trophy (awarded to the team with the best standings in the NHL after the regular season is over) has never been this close this late in the season. In the eastern conference alone, there's a four-way tie for first place today, between my beloved Ottawa Senators, the deplorable Toronto Maple Leafs, the Philadelphia Flyers, and the biggest surprise (and most recent addition to the close race), the Tampa Bay Lightning! They all have 84 points apiece. Nor are these four currently in the lead overall. The Detroit Red Wings are one point up on them, best in the NHL, so it's still anyone's race. And the Colorado Avalanche, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, and San Jose Sharks are all nipping at their heels, no more that four points out of the lead. Insane!

So let's recap. Nine teams are all in serious contention for the President's Trophy. Sixteen teams will be vying for the Stanley Cup in the playoffs. Superstar players are trading hands faster than the trading cards their picture is printed on (just heard that Alexei Kovalev is a Montreal Canadien now! Crazy!). Let's face it. This season is a bookie's wet dream.

Update! Sergei Gonchar, superstar defenceman with the Washington Capitals, has been traded to Boston! And the race heats up further.....