A look at the road ahead for Wings, NHL

The NHL All-Star break provides time to consider how things have gone, and what it suggests about the rest of the season.

The Red Wings are at the top of the standings. Pavel Datsyuk and Jimmy Howard are having All-Star seasons — along with Nicklas Lidstrom, who preferred to rest rather than participate in the exhibition in Ottawa.

Around the league, there have been some surprises, some good performances and disappointing ones. So here's a look at the league heading down the stretch:

Cup contenders

Bruins

They probably have the best shot at repeating as champions since the Red Wings repeated 14 years ago. Large and fast, physical and skilled, the Bruins also have excellent goaltending, a strong commitment to team defense and balanced scoring.

Red Wings

The improved team defense and Jimmy Howard 's stellar performance, along with all their skill, make them a prime contender. With the $5.7 million available to Ken Holland under the cap and the prospect of more scoring by Henrik Zetterberg , the best team in the NHL at the break could improve.

Canucks

They took some time to get going after losing in the Stanley Cup Finals, and they still are not playing their best. But they are in the thick of things, regardless.

Sharks

They have been a bit under the radar much of the season, thanks to an up-and-down run. But, especially when the current injuries heal, look for an improved roster to carry San Jose.

Rangers

They could steal a Stanley Cup with their goaltending — Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Biron have been so good, talk about the Bruins having the best pair in the NHL stops at the East River. And say what you will about their coach, John Tortorella , but he has lifted the Cup after the last game before.

Long shots

Penguins

If Sidney Crosby returns to the lineup, combining with a surging Evgeni Malkin and James Neal , Pittsburgh could make a run.

Blackhawks

They are capable, but probably need better team defense and goaltending.

Flyers

They must overcome the concussions that have riddled the lineup and a skittishly-inconsistent performance in net by Ilya Bryzgalov .

No shot

Canadiens and Lightning

They both looked as though they would be in the mix in the East.

Surprisingly good

Blues and Senators

The coaches, Ken Hitchcock for the Blues and former Red Wings assistant Paul MacLean for the Senators, have changed attitudes and players are re-committed. The Blues goaltenders benefit greatly from Hitchcock's insistence on committing to defense; Senators F Jason Spezza is having his best season since 2007-08.

Surprisingly bad

Ducks, Canadiens, Lightning and Sabres

They all are worse than anyone imagined. Anaheim played poorly overall the first 40 games. Montreal is a tragic opera, in which everyone sings off-key. Steve Yzerman seemed a bit on edge when Tampa Bay visited Detroit, and he has goaltending problems and lost a couple key pieces to free agency. Injuries have compounded problems in Buffalo.

Award contenders

Hart (MVP)

Jimmy Howard is the best player on the best team, and the Red Wings would have a significantly smaller chance of winning the Cup without him. Howard's ability to keep his teammates in games on bad nights is as reliable as any goalie in the game.

Pavel Datsyuk is a close second. Increasingly, Datsyuk is considered the best forward in the game. The Red Wings season solidified when Datsyuk admonished himself publicly for his slow start, and then began playing better.

Evgeni Malkin deserves an honorable mention. Without Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal for long portions of the season, Malkin put the Penguins on his back.

Vezina (goaltender)

Henrik Lundqvist would likely get the votes, if they were cast today. Lundqvist is third in goals-against average and save percentage and second in shutouts.

While Jimmy Howard is first in victories, which is more of a team statistic, he is fifth in goals against average and eighth in save percentage. Both were affected by his four-goal, first period performance against the Canadiens. The general managers who vote on the Vezina may look kindly on the large number of games in which Howard is appearing.

Brian Elliott of the Blues leads in goals against average and save percentage, but he only has played 23 games.

Calder (rookie)

Oilers C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins , if healthy, has one more point than Devils C Adam Henrique and four more than Flyers RW Matt Read .

Selke (defensive forward)

Pavel Datsyuk 's string of three consecutive Selkes was broken last year, by Ryan Kesler (Livonia) of the Canucks. But Datsyuk has reasserted himself with 66 takeaways and 22 hits.

Jonathan Toews of the Blackhawks has 68 takeaways and 13 hits.

Adams (coach)

Mike Babcock is more than overdue and having perhaps his best season running the Red Wings. But …

Paul MacLean , Babcock's long-time assistant, righted the ship in Ottawa when the franchise seemed certain to decline. Ken Hitchcock turned the Blues on a dime.