National Hockey League
The National Hockey League which is the professional hockey league, is currently comprised of 30 hockey teams making up two conferences called the Eastern and Western Conference. Each Conference consists of three Divisions with the Eastern Conference having the Northeast Division with the teams of Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres and the Atlantic Division with Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins. The Southeast Division has the Tampa Bay Lightning, Atlanta Thrashers, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals.
The Western Conference has three divisions as well called the Central Division consisting of the teams of Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks. The Pacific Division consists of the San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Phoenix Coyotes. The Northwest Division has the Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and the Minnesota Wild.
The Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks are referred to as the Original Six hockey teams as they were the first six teams comprising the NHL up to the year 1967 when the league expanded and added six new hockey teams that year and along with the Original Six doubled the size of the National Hockey League. |