All-Star Break

It's almost time for the NHL All-Star Game, and here in Season 10 of my historical Strat-O-Matic hockey league, we've reached the midway point of the campaign. The Bearcats and Victorias are vying for the top spot, the Thistles and Comets are jostling around in the middle of the pack, and the Bulldogs and Millionaires are in a race to the bottom. Some interesting team stats include the Cats' astonishing penalty kill (96.3%) and the inability of the run-and-gun Comets to dent the twine (a league-low 1.80 goals per game and an abysmal 8.33% success on the power play). 

Looking at player performances, I'm intrigued by Thistles star Alf Smith, one of the league's all-time greats but a player who has yet to win any sort of individual trophy; at the moment, he's leading the league in goals (11) and points (18), so he could snag a scoring title and possibly a Forward MVP award, although in the latter case he'll face a tough challenge from Joe Malone (9 goals, 3 assists, +4) of the Bearcats and quiet workhorse Dubbie Bowie (6 goals, 6 assists, +7) of the Victorias. The Cats' Hap Holmes seems like a lock to win his second Goaltender MVP in three years (1.90 goals-against average, .940 save percentage). Can he and Malone lead the Bearcats to their first Creighton Cup in franchise history?