The San Jose Sharks are in the process of one of the most amazing stretches to start a season in WCHL history. After 24 games, the Sharks sport a 22-1-1 record with their only blemishes coming to the middling Oilers and a shootout loss to Nashville. Zach Parise and his linemate Dany Heatley are continuing their hot starts and sit in 5th and 7th respectively in league scoring. Scoring 6 or more goals seven times so far, the Sharks are nearly doubling their opponent's in every game. A recent poll of a few WCHL GM's suggests that there is some jealousy league-wide about the Sharks' season so far, as most GMs are suggesting this team will be unable to win more than 34 out of their final 58 games, which would be needed to top 120 points. With the Sharks currently on pace for 153 points, it's pretty safe to say you can pencil the Sharks into the post-season perhaps earlier than any other team in WCHL history.

At the other end, the Ottawa Senators have announced they'll be wearing bright orange jerseys from now on to better reflect their new defensive "pylon" system. Doug Weight might be the worst 1st line centre in the league with only 6 points, and one can't help but feel bad for Antti Miettinen who seems to be the only player who actually shows up to each game. With only two wins so far this season, it's fairly safe to argue that the Sens are gunning for that top pick in the Tavares/Hedman/Duchene lottery.

Elsewhere in the league, Marian Gaborik of the Calgary Flames has created some space between himself and Dallas' Alex Ovechkin for the scoring lead. Gaborik's 140 point pace will be tough to maintain, especially for a player that is notoriously made of glass, but there's no doubt he's making a case for himself as a potential WCHL MVP.

Finally, in what has perhaps become the weirdest phenomenon in the league, empty net goals have become virtually non-existent. Only twice in 371 games has there been an ENG. On first glance, one would assume that goalies aren't being pulled in the last minute, but that's actually not the case. The best guess seems to be that the goalies may be tying fishing line across the posts to prevent goals while no one else is looking...

Here's this week's Power Rankings:

Rank	Previous Rank	Team
1	1	San Jose
2	6	Colorado
3	4	Atlanta
4	2	New York Rangers
5	7	Philadelphia
6	3	Pittsburgh
7	16	Buffalo
8	9	Calgary
9	5	Dallas
10	12	Boston
11	21	Montreal
12	8	Vancouver
13	18	Detroit
14	14	New Jersey
15	17	Anaheim
16	13	Edmonton
17	15	Tampa Bay
18	24	Columbus
19	19	Washington
20	25	Florida
21	27	Los Angeles
22	23	St. Louis
23	10	Chicago
24	11	New York Islanders
25	26	Nashville
26	28	Toronto
27	30	Phoenix
28	22	Carolina
29	20	Minnesota
30	29	Ottawa