[NolaSola7]

The season is getting towards he home stetch with a month and a half to go on the hockey year...

The standings have been quite static as if divided as top 4, next 4 amd bottom 2 ..

Let's take a look at the top teams and see what is keeping them atop ... and maybe who has the championship make-up ..

READERS: feel free to comment on who you think is tops/most impressive

Let's get the first and most obvious away ... Frankfurt Excaliburs...

They are ranked right in the middle on almost everything, so they are likely a consistent team, but not really involved in the championship hunt.

They lack a playmaker, and it shows, as they have the shooters to score, and score they do on the power play, but it seems they struggle to score outside the power play based on their 9th ranked scoring offense

Strasbourg and Wolfsburg actually look a lot alike with really nice balance

With the only differences being that wolfsburg is weak on special teams (PP%/PK%) .. ranking in the lower half there

Strasbourg is quite solid on special teams, but their achilles heel appears to be, despite a goalie leading the league in save percentage, shots allowed. .

Italian Goalie Bacher is standing strong, but good thing! Strasbourg would be lowly on defense if it wasn't for their league leader between the pipes

Stockholm is defense! goalie! and special teams!

Top three in both special teams percentages and defense..

Outside of special teams, the offense has produced less than championship production, but two of the teams goalies, that is two, is second and third in the league in save percentage...

Playoffs come down to goalie play! .. All are rather strong, but Strasbourg and Stockholm seem to be crowns of the bunch