from Kevin Allen and Jimmy Hascup of USA TODAY,

By the end of this week, the majority of NHL teams will have reached the halfway point of their schedule. Thus, it's a perfect time to reflect on what has transpired. Here are 30 takeaways (one for each team) from the first half of the season (stats through Jan. 6):

Best Washington Capitals team ever? It’s too soon to know. The 2009-10 Capitals won the President’s Trophy, and the 1997-98 team reached the Stanley Cup final. But this team appears to be set up better for a long playoff run than the 2009-10 Capitals. Under coach Barry Trotz, they play a Chicago Blackhawks-like balanced style that wins in the postseason. It helps that goalie Braden Holtby is playing like Carey Price did last season. (Kevin Allen)

A return to 100 points? Nobody told Dallas Stars forwards Jamie Benn (52 points) and Tyler Seguin (50 points) that offense was down, but 100 points are within their grasp. The 2009-10 season was the last one that saw more than one player get to the century mark. With Patrick Kane at 59 points, we could have three. (Jimmy Hascup)

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