The NHL season is moving towards the new year and the Winter Classics and as teams go down the home stretch of 2013, some familiar clubs are at the top of the standings, as the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks are the top teams in the four divisions in the league as the Thursday schedule goes down.
Boston is three points clear of Montreal in the Atlantic division and they currently have the best record in the East by a point over the Penguins, who are leading the Metro division over Washington. The Metro is not as close as the Atlantic, as the Capitals are seven points back and they are holding a lead over the Carolina Hurricanes and the NY Rangers in the standings. In the Atlantic, Boston is three up on the Canadiens and a few more on the Detroit Red Wings, the n newest addition to the conference.
The Blackhawks are Stanley Cup champs and best in the NHL with 51 points, while the Blues are eight points back in the central division. The Anaheim Ducks have a three point lead over the Los Angeles Kings and they are five up on the San Jose Sharks. On Thursday, there are a number of teams in action, as the Blue Jackets visit the Rangers at MSG, while the Boston Bruins head north to play the Oilers and the Blues are hosting the Maple Leafs among other big games.
Check here for the NHL standings.
More from Reuters.com on the NHL schedule action from this week:
Blackhawks 7, Flyers 2
The Chicago Blackhawks erupted for seven goals to continue their dominating three-game win streak.
The Blackhawks have outscored opponents 19-6 in the last three games - all wins. Chicago (23-6-5) continues to lead the NHL in wins (23), goals per game (3.68) and goals scored (125).
Philadelphia (13-15-3) scored first in the game, at 12:31 of the first period, but the momentum quickly changed in the second period when the Blackhawks exploded for five goals against former teammate Ray Emery.
Kings 3, Maple Leafs 1
Jeff Carter scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, and the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Defenseman Drew Doughty and left winger Kyle Clifford also scored for the Kings (21-7-4) while Mike Richards had two assists.
Defenseman Cody Franson scored for the Maple Leafs (16-13-3).
Kings rookie goalie Martin Jones, who was coming off consecutive shutouts, stopped 38 shots, though his attempt at a third shutout was snapped in the second period. He had not allowed a goal in 177:16 of ice time.
Ducks 2, Wild 1
Anaheim right winger Corey Perry scored for the seventh consecutive game and the Ducks held off the Minnesota Wild for their fourth straight win.
Perry's goal in the second period provided a 2-0 lead and turned out to be the difference for the Ducks (22-7-5), who beat the Wild (18-10-5) for the sixth straight time.
Anaheim also improved its record at the Honda Center to 12-0-2, the only NHL club to avoid a loss in regulation at home this season.
Jason Pominville put Minnesota on the board at 3:48 of the third when he picked up his club-high 15th goal, but the Wild failed to score again.
(Reuters)