Parity seems to be a byproduct of the new NHL. Seven of the 15 teams in the Eastern Conference are in first place or within five points of it. Only one team in the East, the Toronto Maple Leafs, is more than 10 points out of first.

In the Western Conference, only the Detroit Red Wings are far out in front in a division race. If you take the runaway Red Wings and Pacific-leading Stars out of the equation, the next 10 teams in the West standings are separated by just 10 points. Those 10 clubs are in pursuit of the West’s final six postseason berths.

Going into Friday night’s action, Vancouver and Calgary hold down the West’s final two playoff spots with 70 points. The next four team’s in the chase -- Phoenix, Colorado, St. Louis and Columbus -- are within five points of the Canucks and Flames.

Although parity is a key theme of the playoff push down the stretch, you won’t find it between the conferences. The West has a significant edge over the East in 2007-08.

East vs. West, 2007-08

Conference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Record. . . . . . . . Points
Eastern Conference (vs. West). . . . . . . .53-56-13. . . . . . 119 points
Western Conference (vs. East). . . . . . . .69-41-12. . . . . . 150 points

The Avalanche may be seeded 10th in the West with a little less than six weeks remaining in the regular season, but they top all Western clubs with a 7-1-0 record and 14 points against the East. The Ducks are 6-2-0 and the Red Wings are 6-2-1 facing Eastern teams this season, and that may not bode well for the East’s representative in the Stanley Cup finals.

Until then, however, parity rules as clubs vie to play postseason hockey.