First Half Superstars: Players and Teams

Besides, the Blackahawks, It is important to see where they stand in comparison to the rest of the league in the first half. Not that the Hawks don't have a good chance ...or even better than a 'good' chance to win the cup, especially with 6 million under the cap. However, with Sharp out, and Toews out (short term,... maybe even ALL STAR game), the Hawks will look to add a top 6 forward by the trade deadline.

Okay, .... here we go.

THE TOP 10 PLAYERS IN THE FIRST HALF:

Name	Team	GP		G		A		Pts		+/-		PIM		Hits		BkS		PPG		PPA		SHG		SHA		GW		SOG		Pct
Evgeni Malkin	PIT	41		26		32		58		12		34		21		19		5		13		0		0		7		196		.133
Claude Giroux	PHI	43		18		37		55		0		23		35		28		5		20		0		1		5		124		.145
Henrik Sedin	VAN	48		11		41		52		12		38		16		8		7		13		0		0		4		70		.157
Steven Stamkos	TAM	47		32		20		52		2		44		69		23		6		6		0		0		5		163		.196
Marian Hossa	CHI	48		20		32		52		24		16		39		22		7		5		2		1		2		164		.122
Joffrey Lupul	TOR	47		20		31		51		2		40		71		14		5		10		0		0		3		135		.148
Pavel Datsyuk	DET	47		13		38		51		20		12		56		21		2		13		0		0		4		124		.105
Jason Spezza	OTT	50		20		30		50		1		22		13		16		6		10		0		0		2		150		.133
Daniel Sedin	VAN	47		20		30		50		14		36		17		8		8		13		0		0		4		159		.126
Jonathan Toews	CHI	49		27		23		50		17		18		24		13		5		7		1		1		4		148		.182
Phil Kessel	TOR	47		25		25		50		0		10		8		8		6		6		0		0		4		166		.151
John Tavares	NYI	46		19		29		48		2		14		16		12		6		9		0		0		5		175		.109

1) Evgeny Malkin : hard to argue that. 26g/ 32a. He has been the catalyst behind this team.

2) Claude Giroux : 18g/ 37a :  So, 55 points/43 games played.

3). Jonathan Toews:  27g/ 23a/ +17 +/- and leads the league in FaceOff% at 61.1%.. Captain Serious is truly a special player that could win the Hart Trophy,  Art Ross Trophy (scoring champ),  Frank J. Selke Award ( best 2 way player) Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy (top goal scorer...currently he'e second behind Stamkos). There is SERIOUS argument that he may be the best player in the league.


These next two were hard to separate for me due to the fact they play as a unit so well. Look,... I posted the stats,....you'll see what I mean.
4). Goalie Tandom: Bill Elliot/ Jaraslov Halak: 
5). Goalie Tandom:  Tukka Rask/ Tim Thomas:


Both the Bruins and the Blues have the best goalie tandoms in the League.

Offense   Goaltending	Filter:	Qualified leaders     All Players          NHL     Eastern     Western        2011-12 Season   2010-11 Playoffs   2010-11 Season   2009-10 Playoffs   2009-10 Season   2008-09 Playoffs   2008-09 Season   2007-08 Playoffs   2007-08 Season   2006-07 Playoffs   2006-07 Season   2005-06 Playoffs   2005-06 Season

Name	Team	GP		GS		MIN		W		L		OTL		EGA		GA		GAA		SA		SV		SV%		SO
Brian Elliott	STL	22		21		1284		15		5		1		2		36		1.68		569		533		.937		5
Tuukka Rask	BOS	17		16		996		11		4		2		0		28		1.69		494		466		.943		3
Henrik Lundqvist	NYR	35		35		2119		21		10		4		4		68		1.93		1065		997		.936		4
Jonathan Quick	LOS	41		41		2463		20		12		9		0		80		1.95		1199		1119		.933		6
Jimmy Howard	DET	40		40		2398		29		10		1		2		79		1.98		1066		987		.926		5
Jaroslav Halak	STL	26		26		1561		14		7		5		1		52		2.00		646		594		.920		4
Jean-Sebastien Giguere	COL	22		20		1253		12		7		1		3		44		2.11		564		520		.922		1
Tim Thomas	BOS	31		30		1784		20		9		0		5		63		2.12		945		882		.933		4

6) Marian Hossa:  This was extremely close between he and S.Stamkos. I chose Marian Hossa because his defense is as sick as his offense. He's a complete beast on the ice. His + 24 +/- was the determining factor for me. 20g/ 32a. A healthy Hoss is a league's top player. PERIOD. He's amazing.

7 & 8) ) How do I separate these two? One who dishes or one that scores?
   Henrik and Daniel Sedin: Henrik: 11g/41a (league leader). Daniel 20g/30g.

9) Steven Stamkos: A perenial threat to always win the Rocket Richard trophy. 32g (lead league)/ 20a. His team as a whole is struggling to win, or Stamkos could be higher on this list.

10) Jimmy Howard: As much as I don't like to put Redwings on any list, it's hard to leave him  off this list. 40 games played......what a work horse. 29 wins with an INSANE 1.98 GAA and 5 SO's.


Honorable mentions: Phil Kessel, Henrik Lundqvist, Zedeno Chara, Tyler Seguin, Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Quick and Joffrey Lupul.
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Top Teams: These are my top teams for the first half. (again,  it's my opinion here).

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