Damn that pesky Central Division.

Just for the record I'm far from an analyst, I've double-checked this but I've not exactly done mounds upon mounds of research and this isn't meant to be anything but an observation - but I find it interesting regardless.

We've been hearing it for years - "Of course the Red Wings are awesome, the way the schedule is they play half their games against the crappy Central Division, etc., etc., etc." And no one ever seems to listen when you, after stopping and thinking, tell them that actually the Wings don't really stomp all over the division like you'd expect. In fact, for whatever reason, it's the "crappy" Central Division teams that the Wings stumble over, whether it be because they're underestimating them, they're putting in less effort, or it's just plain inexplicable.

This season, against the Central Division, the Wings are 10-11-2. That's right, the Red Wings, supposed trampler of lesser peon teams, have a losing record in their division. The one that's supposed to vault them to their lofty playoff position every year. Right now (if shootout losses aren't considered to have any more weight than a regular loss), in this division, they're only winning 44% of their games.

When you factor out the games played against these teams, the Wings are 37-9-4, for a winning percentage of a sparkling 74%. (Overall, the record is 47-20-6 for a win percentage of 64%; still nothing to laugh at.)

The Central Division makes me feel like this.

I'm not worried or anything - but I'm not really excited for the last 9 games of the season, especially looking at the frustrating losses to Nashville and Columbus this weekend. (And how about Dom Hasek kicking that puck in his own net? Johan Franzen, however, has looked spectacular lately, which while not necessarily unexpected, has certainly been surprisingly pleasant and timely.)