The NHL is averaging 17,043 fans per game through November 10, up 1.2% when compared to the same period a year ago. The Eastern Conference is down 1.4% during the same period. Among Eastern Conference teams, the Capitals, whose payroll has increased by almost $17M in the past year, are seeing the biggest gains, up more than 24% at Verizon Center. Also tracking double-digit gains are the Bruins and Panthers. In the first year of the Oren Koules and Len Barrie era, the Lightning are down 15% from a year ago, while the Thrashers are seeing the conference's biggest average attendance drop-off, down 15.7%. The following lists team-by-team attendance for NHL Eastern Conference teams, with comparisons to the same period in '07-08. See tomorrow's issue of THE DAILY for NHL Western Conference attendance (THE DAILY).

NOTES: * = Includes designated home game played in Prague, Czech Republic, with attendance of 17,085. ** = Includes designated home game played in Stockholm, Sweden, with attendance of 13,699.