When all is said and done on the first half of this NHL season, the Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks will rank as the class of the West Conference, if not, the entire league.

   But, the Flames and Chicago Blackhawks are gaining ground as the clubs set to clash Friday night in the Saddledome.

   Whether or not the Flames and Hawks will get to gain elite status has to play out. Clearly both have been making inroads.

   After the Wings slammed the Sharks, 6-0, on Thursday the standings among the top 4 teams in the West is: San Jose 53pt, Detroit 46, Flames 39, Chicago 39, Vancouver 39.

   But since the Flames suffered their worst defeat of the season on Nov. 9 at Chicago, the standings are much closer: San Jose 26, Detroit 25, Flames 22, Chicago 22 and Vancouver 21 with the Flames and Hawks have played one less game than the other 3.

   The Flames are 10-4-2 in games since their 6-1 slamming at the hands of the Hawks and that included that 6-2 setback in San Jose. The Hawks are 9-3-4 since Nov.9.

    Tonight’s winner will be the third West team reaching the 40-point plateau.

    In contrast to Edmonton, the Hawks kids thus far haven’t incurred the sophomore jinx. Patrick Kane is tied for 5th place in league scoring with Jarome Iginla at 37 points.  Jonathan Toews, after a slow start, now has 23 points in 29 games.  The Oiler rookie stars of ’07-08 have floundered and so has the team.

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