hockey

As Monday's 3 p.m. EST NHL trade deadline fast approaches, the talk is beginning to heat up. Originally, the speculation was that none of the big name types would be moving because the prices being asked were simply too high. But that scenario seems to be changing as the deadline draws closer, and some major stars could find themselves heading to new homes by the time the dealing is done.

If someone asked you who owned the Detroit Red Wings and the answer you came up with was the Ilitch family, you'd be correct. The pizza barons have owned the club since the early 1980s. But you know who else owns the Wings? The Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay has won 10 in a row from Detroit, and 17 of the last 21 since the start of the 2013-14 season.

The bye week couldn't have come at a worse time for the Philadelphia Flyers. They'd won three in a row and were making a concerted effort to move back into playoff contention. The New Jersey Devils, on the other hand, probably welcomed the break. They've lost five in a row and have yet to taste victory in 2018. These two Metropolitan Division rivals return to action facing each other.

From the Great Lakes to the Rocky Mountains, the NHL Central Division is not just filled with some of North American’s most beautiful scenery but with some of their best hockey franchises. This year is no exception, with a handful of teams strong enough to make a serious claim to the division crown.