Derek Stepan goes one on one with Corey Schneider and scores on a penalty shot at Yankee Stadium.
Photos by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

New York Puck has been on Word Press since last summer. As a hockey blog that covers area locals the Rangers, Devils, Islanders and Battle Of New York’s Sabres, we’re still exploring unchartered territory. That’s part of the fun and experience.

With that comes changes. If you notice, we now have a cover featuring the classic Battle Of Hudson which featured the Rangers and Devils at Yankee Stadium for the first part of the Stadium Series that also included the Islanders. No matter who you root for, it was a memorable part of the season that saw our favorite players get the once in a lifetime chance to play at the new Stadium. One which we hope will continue perhaps at Met Life Stadium in the future.

For the present, we’ll be using the Twenty Ten theme. Of course, nothing is set in stone. Much like the wild Eastern race which will get cranked up the final two weeks. Half the Battle clubs remain in the hunt with the Rangers currently third in the Metro Division with 78 points and 12 games left. Meanwhile, the Devils who enter tonight’s key match against Zach Parise and the Wild remain on the outside trailing second wild card Columbus by five with 13 games remaining. They’ll have to leap over three teams including the Capitals and Red Wings, who are trying to keep the NHL’s longest active playoff streak alive.

Award races are heating up with certain Art Ross winner Sidney Crosby leading the charge for the Hart with 91 points. Other MVP candidates include Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Phil Kessel and Ben Bishop, who also doubles as one of the frontrunners for the Vezina alongside Tuukka Rask. Duncan Keith is the odds on favorite to take home the Norris ahead of Alex Pietrangelo, Matt Niskanen and defending champ P.K. Subban. The Calder has been exciting to watch with Avalanche 2013 number one overall pick Nathan MacKinnon pacing all rookies in goals (23), assists (31) and points (54). He leads a strong crop that features Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson, Torrey Krug, Olli Maatta, Jacob Trouba and current Blueshirt Chris Kreider. There are even some strong first-year netminders who are overlooked such as Eddie Lack, Darcy Kuemper and Frederik Andersen. It’s such a talented class that there are too many to list.

As the season hits the home stretch, Hasan and myself will be there to cover it. Enjoy the photo finish!