WASHINGTON: 

The Capitals contain Alexander Ovechkin, arguably the league’s most skilled skater, who has bedazzled us with a league-leading 48 goals. The Caps also have some great veteran role players, including Victor Kozlov and goalie Olaf Kolzig. Mix that with the young guns of Nick Backstrom and Alex Semin and you have would figured that the Capitals would be battling for a decent playoff spot.

It baffles the mind that they have merely 60 points in 58 games played.

We have all seen highlight-reel goals from Ovechkin and the others throughout the season, yet they remain in 10th place, three points behind the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins, who maintain the eight and final spot entering tonight's games.

CAROLINA: 

The Hurricanes, winners of the Stanley Cup just two seasons ago, lead this mess with 62 points. They have a good portion of their cup-winning team intact and should be boasting a better record than they are showing right now.

The "Canes have Eric Staal (scored 100 points two seasons back) in their line-up, who, at 23 years of age, compete like an NHL veteran. They also have players such as Ran Whitney and Matt Cullen, who thrive in their system night after night. Cullen played for the Rangers last season, but never lived up to the expectations in New York. Back in Carolina, where was a member of their champions eason, Cullen is a fan favorite.

Starting goaltender Cam Ward protects the net.

Ward grabbed the spotlight from Martin Gerber (now with Senators) two seasons ago, and earned first career Conn Smythe for his efforts.

Ward is supposed to be as solid as they come.

The Hurricanes also had the veteran leadership of captain Rod Brind'Amour until last night. Brind’Amour suffered a torn ACL and will likely miss the rest of the regular season.

Other than Brind’Amour unfortunate injury, the Hurricanes seemed to have everything in place for success, except for wins.

ATLANTA: 

The Atlanta Thrashers are, in my opinion, the biggest threat in this division. They have Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk, arguably two of the most explosive scorers in the entire NHL.

Throw veterans Bobby Holik, Mark Recchi, Slava Kozlov, and Alexei Zhitnik into the rotation and it seems like you would have a team that can make a run in the playoffs, that is, if they make it.

FLORIDA:

The Panthers are a team that should be in the basement of this division. Yet, they are in fourth place.

They are playing about where they should be, if not a little higher. While they have an offensive star in Olli Jokinen, he is about their only scoring threat.

They do however have very solid defensive forwards in Richard Zednik, Jozef Stumpel and Radek Dvorak. These players play both ends of the ice very well and will cause teams’ trouble if they jump out to a lead.

On the blue line, they sport Mike Van Ryn and Jay Bouwmeester, two vastly underrated defensemen in the league. Both are nice assets for any team’s power play. Finally, goaltender Tomas Vokoun, who amazed the league while in Nashville, should be have more than 24 wins in 52 games.

TAMPA BAY:

The Lightning is the biggest disappointment in the division and I think in the entire league.

I do not know what head coach John Tortorella is doing down there, but with that lineup, the Lightning should have more than 56 points.

They have Marty St. Louis and Vinny Lecavalier, two of the league’s most explosive scorers. These two put up points like it's open hockey. Last season, Lecavalier pulled off an unprecedented 50-50 for 108 points, while St. Louis managed a solid 102 points.

It cannot be an experience problem.

They have won the Cup before and know what it takes to win.

They also have veterans Chris Gratton, Vacslav Prospal and Brad Richards up front. Who wouldn't take this group?

On defense, they supply the opposition with Dan Boyle, Filip Kuba and Brad Lukowich on the blueline. Tough to find better veteran defensemen for the money they make.

In goal is where they are weakest, in my opinion, with Johan Holmqvist, who has not lived up to his expectations and could be the reason they are in the basement of this division.

So, all in all, it makes no sense.

St. Louis, Lecavalier, Kovalchuk, Hossa, Jokinen, Staal, and Ovechkin all play in this division and they are all poster boys for the NHL. They are players people strive to resemble.

So, I think I speak for the fans when I say; Get it together in the Southeast Division!

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