WEEK 20 (thru Thursday)

For the second day running the Ice Cats posted the league's best score, Taylor Hall aiding his surging team by potting his 26th goal of the season - his 64th NHL point in just 56 games - the Cats now well on their way to what would be their 12th win of the season.

Ice Cats: 40.0
Vegas Vipers: 22.7
The Vegas Vipers took another one on the chin and appear ready to fall, GM Miller's swaying team now trailing the free-swinging Ice Cats by 17.3.

Misconducts: 27.0
Bluliners: 30.4­
The Bluliners collected 9.0 points on Thursday and now lead the Misconducts by 3.4. The first place team however saw their overall lead shrink once again, the four-time FHL Cup champion now only 37.8 points better than Badger Bob.

Badger Bob: 30.3
Ice Hogs: 19.6­
Badger Bob was one of the better teams on Thursday as they netted 12.0; a number that not only placed the team closer to the Bluliners but also provided GM Chester with a double-digit H2H lead.

Boulder Flyers: 32.7
Central Red Army: 34.0
The Boulder Flyers carded 15.0 but failed in their attempt to catch their opponent, a 13.3 performance by the Central Red Army keeping GM Buker's team in front.

Wild Ducks: 16.4
Polar Bears: 37.9
With the Penguins only playing two games this week (Friday and Saturday) the Penguin-heavy Wild Ducks have had trouble locating points, the league's-worst score dropping GM Collard into a deep 21.5 point hole.

Mooses: 32.9
SC Cobras: 17.1­
The Mooses continue to enjoy a solid week, a 7.8 point outing placing the 11th place team 15.8 points in front of the 12th place SC Cobras.

LINK: Standings

Have to think that Peter Chiarelli will be on his way out of Edmonton as GM.

The Oilers are arguably the most disappointing team in the NHL this season. And Chiarelli is responsible for two trades which have not worked out well -- Taylor Hall to the Devils for D Adam Larsson and Jordan Eberle to the Islanders for F Ryan Strome.

Think about the Oilers' top six forwards if Hall and Eberle were still there to go along with McDavid, Draisaitl and Nugent-Hopkins, who was having a nice season before injuring ribs and sternum.

Also, that collection of forwards would make for a heckuva No. 1 power play.

Don't know if the trades involving Hall and Eberle were dictated by (lack of) finances. If yes, that would be a bit of a mitigating factor.