Over the course of the first half of the 2007-08 season, only two teams have really differentiated themselves from the pack. In the Western Conference, the Detroit Red Wings have unequivocally been the best team, led by perennial Norris Trophy candidate Nicklas Lidstrom. And in the east, the Ottawa Senators--Stanley Cup runners-up in 2007--have led the way from the start.

On Saturday night in Ottawa, the NHL's two finest clubs will go head-to-head, and there are sure to be fireworks. Wings forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk are two of the game's most dynamic forwards, while on the Ottawa side, the top line of Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley, and captain Daniel Alfredsson is absolutely devastating in its own right. Check out this potential Cup Finals preview in brilliant 1080i on HDNet, live at 7:00 pm ET.

Wings to Watch

Considering how brilliant he has been throughout his NHL career, it's truly remarkable that Nicklas Lidstrom is on pace to set career highs in assists (66) and plus/minus (plus-60) this season. Unarguably the finest European-born player ever to lace up skates in the NHL, Lidstrom has been one of the NHL's best rearguards for 16 seasons and counting. And when all is said and done, he should be considered one of the top 10 NHLers of all time.

This season, Lidstrom has gotten some valuable assistance on the blue line from offseason free agent acquisition Brian Rafalski. Formerly the power play quarterback for the New Jersey Devils, the Michigan native hasn't missed a beat with the transition to Motown, tallying 37 points in 45 games to go with a very solid plus-15 rating.

Another key contributor on the Wings' vaunted defense is young Niklas Kronwall. Injuries kept him out of the lineup for much of his first few seasons in the league, but Kronwall has suited up for 41 of 45 games this year and started to emerge as the 37-year-old Lidstrom's likely successor. With 22 points and a plus-14 rating, Kronwall's combination of offensive skill and defensive acumen make him the ideal Red Wing, a key reason why the team locked him up with a long-term deal last year.

And then, of course, there's the last line of the defense, the goaltenders. Netminder Chris Osgood has been nothing short of remarkable this year, posting a 19-2-2 record in the first half to go along with some very miserly puck-stopping stats (1.82 GAA, .927 SV%). And though he got off to a bit of a rough start, Dominik Hasek has been excellent in his own right (14-6-2), posting a 2.11 GAA while stopping 90% of the shots he's faced. Though Osgood's numbers have been superior, it's quite possible that head coach will give Hasek the start on Saturday night against the Senators, his former team.

Senators to Watch

Clearly dissatisfied with his team's loss to the Ducks in last spring's Stanley Cup Finals, captain Daniel Alfredsson has been absolutely tremendous this season. He's leading the Sens with 56 points in 41 games, including five shorthanded goals, and has fired a team-leading 148 shots on goal. Alfredsson, Dany Heatley, and playmaking center Jason Spezza form the NHL's most dangerous scoring line.

Veteran forward Dean McAmmond's season didn't get off to a particularly good start; in a preseason game, he was the victim of a vicious blind-side hit delivered by Flyers rookie Steve Downie, an offense that resulted in Downie getting suspended for 20 games. McAmmond missed the season's first month, but he's slowly rounded back into form, and on Thursday night he was the overtime hero.

In the sixth round of a shootout against the Buffalo Sabres, fired a wrist shot past Sabres goalie Jocelyn Thibault to give the Sens a 3-2 victory. For the Sabres, the loss was their eighth straight, and the gap between the 2007 Eastern Conference Finalists is growing wider by the week.

Defenseman Joe Corvo returned to the lineup on Thursday after missing two games with the flu. The Sens' second-leading scorer amongst rearguards, Corvo's hard right-handed shot from the point is a key weapon on Ottawa's power play. Look for him to play an important role on Saturday night if the Sens are to defeat the high-flying Red Wings.

About the NHL on HDNet

HDNet's NHL game broadcasts are shot exclusively for presentation in the highest-quality 1080i high-definition format, giving viewers all the benefits of a 16:9 aspect ratio and high-resolution picture. A complete schedule of programming, including encore presentations and additional games, as scheduled, is available at HD.net or at NHL.com. The schedule is subject to change, and local blackout restrictions apply.