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NHL Eastern Conference Dominating West Statistically

By Santagata JJ

May 10, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) shake hands after game six of the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pens won 4-3 in overtime to win the series 4 games to 2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) shake hands after game six of the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pens won 4-3 in overtime to win the series 4 games to 2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite winning the majority of Stanley Cup’s over the last decade, the NHL Eastern Conference has long been considered the weaker of the two.  The Western Conference would typically dominate the regular season, manhandling Eastern opponents.  Surprisingly, that trend has changed drastically in 2016-17.

It may just be a few of my teammates and I, over the course of this year we’ve had some heated discussion on which is better, “the NHL Eastern Conference or Western Conference?”.

Yeah, you’re right, the Eastern Conference is better. By a long shot.

It’s a bit difficult to compare and contrast the two, but it’s evident this season the East is better.

The New York Islanders (11-11-5) 27 points, sit at the bottom of the barrel in the East, along with the Buffalo Sabres (10-11-6) 26 points, in last. In the West, the two teams at the bottom are the Arizona Coyotes (9-13-5) 23 points, Colorado Avalanche (10-15-1) 21 points.

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Both the Islanders and Sabres would be among playoff teams right now in the West battling for a wild card spot, whereas in the East, their playoff hopes are not too great right now.

For the West teams like Los Angeles, Nashville and Winnipeg that are currently in a wild card spot, they would be a bottom tier team in the East putting their playoff hopes in the distance.

Also take into consideration that the two wild-card spots in the East have 37 and 35 points. Meanwhile, in the West, the two wild card spots have 33 and 30 points. The two teams in a wild card spot (Philadelphia and Washington) would be a number one or number two spot in any division in the West.

Out of the top 10 teams in the entire league, 7 out of those teams reside in the Eastern conference. Out of the top 20, 12 of those teams reside in the East. Years past this conversation would have gone the other way. This year with teams like Columbus, New Jersey, and Ottawa all exceeding their expectations and previous seasons, the East is better.

Nov 12, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) and center Sidney Crosby (87) celebrate a power play goal by Malkin against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at the PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) and center Sidney Crosby (87) celebrate a power play goal by Malkin against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at the PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

For most points in the NHL among skaters. Out of the top 10, 6 of those players belong to an Eastern conference team. Actually, three of them belong to the same team as well. Pittsburgh has Kessel, Crosby and Malkin in the top 10 for points. Top 10 for most goals in the NHL is a split, 5 from each conference fall among the top 10. Assists, Western conference took this one. Among the top 10, six belong to a western conference team. Points per game, 7 out of the top 10 belong a Eastern conference team. Facts are facts.

Plus/minus is a statistic many overlook, but means a lot. The East has 8 players out of the top 10. If one truly believes none of these statistics matter and the West is better, go back to fantasy land. Oddly enough for the big goalie statistics, like wins, save percentage, goals-against-average, and shutouts. It is split evenly for every category. Each conference has 5 goalies that are among the top 10 in each category.

Dating back to 2004, six Eastern conference teams have won the Stanley Cup. Yes, most recent years the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks have been consistently winning the Stanley Cup, but over the past 10 years, the East has the advantage.

Next: 5 Hypothetical Deals Between Divisional Rivals

The evidence is there, it doesn’t get more clear-cut for you. Eastern conference teams are better this year it is plain and simple, there is not much to argue here.  We’ll have to re-visit this a little further down the road to see whether the East can continue its dominance on their Western Conference foes.

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