The NHL powers have taken a slight step back, especially in the West. That’s not a shot at teams like the Blackhawks and Kings. They’re still great, but they lack the air of invincibility they once had.

“Chicago has been much deeper in years past than they are now,” a Western Conference assistant coach said. “St. Louis is not as detailed as they’ve been in the past. Los Angeles, they’re a really good team. Well-coached. Hard. Their great guys are so good, but having [Vincent] Lecavalier and [Andy] Andreoff and these guys in their lineup -- it’s nowhere near what they’ve had in the past.”

It has created an opening that will give the East champ a shot. It also makes picking playoff winners that much tougher.