Feb 16, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Ottawa Senators center Zack Smith (15) drives to the net with the puck as Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Mark Fraser (45) defends at the Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Senators 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

As it turns out, just over a quarter of the way into the season, the Ottawa Senators find themselves in what is arguably the toughest (and best) division in hockey.  As of Wednesday morning, 4 of the 5 playoff positions are occupied by Northeast Division teams.  Montreal sits on top of the conference, with 23 points, while Boston, Toronto and Ottawa occupy spots 5 through 7, tied with 20 points.

The other four spots in the Eastern Conference are split between the Atlantic (Pittsburgh and New Jersey) and the Southeast (Carolina and Tampa).

In the West, Chicago is heads and shoulders above the competition in the Central, while the Pacific Division also has 4 teams in playoff position today- Anaheim, San Jose, Phoenix and Dallas.  The other 4 spots are also split between the Northwest (Vancouver)  and the Central division (Chicago, St. Louis and Nashville).

So which is the best division?

By total points, here is the ranking (before Wednesday’s games):

One way to determine the strength of a division is to compare how they fair against the other divisions.  Since it is a shortened season, there is no interconference play, so the records indicate play against the other two divisions in their conference.

So surprise surprise, the two top divisions are the Northeast and the Pacific.  Of the Pacific Division’s 42 total wins, 9 of them came by way of shootout, as opposed to only 5 of 45 of the Northeast Division’s victories required a skills competition.

7:00 pm

CBC, RDS

5th East (24-15-6) @ 12th East (16-20-7)

A 3-0 shutout win over the then league leading New York Rangers Thursday was a huge victory to prove the team’s legitimacy, but Paul MacLean refused to call it a “statement game”. He insisted it was just the team being prepared to take on one of the best teams in the league. The Ottawa Senators face off against the Montreal Canadiens tonight and though this time the opponent is far from the top of the league, the Sens should use that same mentality to prepare. It is the third of six meetings between the two teams this season with the Senators losing the first two matchups both at Scotiabank Place, the most recent a 6-2 loss coming December 27th.  That however was the only regulation loss the Senators suffered in the past month going 10-1-2 since December 15th. (more…)