1
Hurricanes
Carolina got here again from its bye week and bought mauled by the Rangers, or extra particularly, Artemi Panarin. The Rangers have already made an enormous splash on the commerce market with the transfer for Tarasenko. It may solely be a matter of time earlier than the Hurricanes reply.
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35-10-8
2
Rangers
It is nice to be the Rangers as of late. Tarasenko scored in his debut on Friday night time. He already appears to have chemistry with Panarin, who scored 4 objectives in opposition to the Hurricanes. With every passing day, New York appears to be like increasingly like a big-time risk within the Eastern Conference.
4
31-14-8
3
Bruins
Have the Bruins lastly began to chill off? Boston has been extra susceptible lately with 4 losses in its final 5 video games, and worse, the underlying numbers have been trending within the fallacious course. Since Jan. 14, the Bruins have managed simply 49.32% of the anticipated objectives at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick.
1
40-8-5
4
Lightning
Brandon Hagel is flourishing. He’s already set new profession highs in assists (24) and factors (46). He may set a brand new profession excessive in objectives any day now, and Hagel is on tempo to complete the season with 35 tallies. Hagel has been yet one more good addition by the Tampa entrance workplace.
1
35-16-2
5
Devils
With Jack Hughes out of the lineup for some time, different gamers should step up to ensure that the Devils to create offense. That’s why it is a good signal that Tomas Tatar broke out of an eight-game aim drought to attain twice in opposition to the Wild on Saturday. They’ll want extra of that whereas Hughes is on the shelf.
2
35-13-5
6
Maple Leafs
After the Leafs break up a back-to-back collection in opposition to the Blue Jackets over the weekend, Auston Matthews may return as quickly as Wednesday. Even if Matthews does want a couple of extra days of relaxation, the group’s subsequent three video games are in opposition to the Blackhawks and Canadiens.
2
32-14-8
7
Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche have made up floor within the Western Conference playoff race, and goaltending has had rather a lot to do with that. Alexandar Georgiev and Pavel Francouz have each been robust, combining for 9.42 objectives saved above common since Jan. 14, in keeping with Natural Stat Trick.
1
28-19-5
8
Oilers
There is chatter that the Oilers try to drag off a commerce for Erik Karlsson forward of the deadline. Can they make the cash work? I do not know. Would it’s long-term monetary determination for Edmonton? Probably not. Would it’s price it simply to see Karlsson hitting Connor McDavid with seam passes over and over? Absolutely.
1
30-19-5
9
Kings
Don’t get too near Adrian Kempe with out sporting a fireproof jumpsuit. In his final three video games, Kempe has taken 14 pictures and scored on seven of them. In the Kings’ 6-0 thumping of the Penguins on Saturday night time, he scored 4 straight objectives, a feat completed simply six different instances within the final 30 years.
4
30-18-7
10
Stars
The Stars have not precisely been lighting up the scoreboard lately. Dallas has scored 13 objectives in its final six video games, and a number of the high scorers have hit mini skids. The Stars have managed to maintain choosing up factors because of goalie Jake Oettinger, however they most likely must pursue extra scoring forward of the deadline.
1
30-14-11
11
Golden Knights
Vegas entered its bye week as one of many coldest groups within the NHL. In three video games since their bye week and the All-Star Break, the Golden Knights have scored 17 objectives. Regression could be a good factor too, people. When Vegas is taking part in like this, it appears to be like like an especially harmful group within the Pacific Division.
6
32-18-4
12
Jets
After coming back from harm on Jan. 6, Nikolaj Ehlers bought off to a powerful begin with three objectives in his first 5 video games. Since that point, Ehlers has only one aim in 10 video games. That mentioned, issues aren’t as unhealthy as they appear on the floor. Ehlers’ capturing proportion has been miserably low (3.13%) all through his drought. Things ought to flip for him sooner moderately than later.
—
34-19-1
13
Kraken
The Kraken have actually stumbled out of the All-Star break. They dropped their first three video games in regulation earlier than getting again within the win column in opposition to the Flyers on Sunday. Seattle’s offense was as a result of come again to Earth, and that has occurred. We’ll see whether or not the group can get again on monitor with Vegas and Los Angeles heating up.
4
30-18-6
14
Panthers
It hasn’t at all times been fairly, however the Panthers have clawed their means again into playoff competition. One participant who deserves a number of credit score for that’s Sergei Bobrovsky. Over the final month, Bobrovsky is second within the NHL in objectives saved above common with 6.90, per Natural Stat Trick.
4
27-24-6
15
Flames
If Calgary can cease capturing itself within the foot, it’d be capable of make an actual run at a playoff spot. Last week, the Flames dropped an extremely winnable sport in opposition to the Red Wings, however frustration ranges have been off the charts on Monday night time. That’s when the Flames held a two-goal lead on the Senators with beneath three minutes left within the third interval earlier than dropping in extra time.
—
25-18-11
16
Penguins
If the Penguins are going to hold on to a playoff spot, I might advocate that Sidney Crosby stay in video games for the complete 60 minutes. Crosby bought ejected from Saturday’s 6-0 loss to the Kings, which was a primary in his profession. That’s only a lesson to all of the younger children watching at house. No matter how a lot you’ve got completed, hold striving to realize extra.
4
27-17-9
17
Wild
The Wild snapped a three-game dropping streak with a win over the Devils on Saturday, however they adopted that up with a shootout loss to the Panthers. Several gamers have struggled over the past couple of weeks, however Matt Boldy has had an particularly powerful time. He has only one help in his final six video games, and his five-on-five numbers have been troubling.
3
28-20-5
18
Sabres
I remorse to tell everybody that the Sabres have now misplaced three straight video games in regulation and 4 straight video games total. That has dealt a large blow to the group’s playoff possibilities, however Buffalo does have a number of video games in hand over its greatest competitors for a wild card spot. The Sabres now face a number of strain to shut out their SoCal swing with a pair of wins over the Ducks and Sharks.
8
26-22-4
19
Capitals
Alex Ovechkin has carried the Capitals offense for many of the season. He has 32 objectives this yr, and the subsequent closest participant is Marcus Johansson with 13. Washington has to discover a technique to manufacture extra offense with groups just like the Islanders and Panthers respiration down their neck.
3
28-22-6
20
Senators
Since Jan. 1, the Senators have been taking part in at a 96-point tempo, they usually have gained seven of their final 10 video games. It’s too late for Ottawa to actually get again into the playoff image, however this group is headed in the fitting course. Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle are properly on their technique to stardom.
2
26-24-3
21
Islanders
The excellent news for the Islanders is that Bo Horvat has gotten off to begin on Long Island with three objectives in 5 video games. The unhealthy information is that the group’s outcomes have not been significantly better. The Isles have now misplaced three in a row to the Canucks, Canadiens, and Senators.
2
27-23-7
22
Red Wings
The longer the Red Wings wait to signal Dylan Larkin, the costlier he will likely be. His worth has been capturing up by the day currently. In his final 4 video games, Larkin has scored 5 objectives whereas including a pair of assists. It could be laborious to think about him not being in a Red Wings jersey subsequent season, but when he hits free company, Larkin may have loads of suitors.
1
24-20-8
23
Predators
After dropping Filip Forsberg to harm on Saturday, the Predators misplaced a house sport to the Coyotes on Monday. It has been a tough week for Nashville, and the group’s eight-year postseason streak is in jeopardy with the Bruins coming to city.
2
25-20-6
24
Canadiens
Montreal has now gained three straight video games, and the group’s possibilities to land the No. 1 total decide have dipped to eight.0%, in keeping with MoneyPuck. Let’s not get carried away with this successful factor, Habs.
1
23-27-4
25
Blues
Since buying and selling Vladimir Tarasenko, the Blues have gained two in a row whereas scoring six objectives in every sport. Maybe in the event that they commerce Ryan O’Reilly and Ivan Barbashev they will be again in a playoff spot by March.
1
25-25-3
26
Coyotes
The Coyotes now have factors in six straight video games and are 3-0-3 in that stretch, and Jacob Chychrun has been a wholesome scratch for the final two contests. This group might have barely damage the group’s possibilities on the No. 1 total decide, however the gamers and head coach André Tourigny. This group hasn’t been a doormat for playoff hopefuls.
5
18-28-8
27
Sharks
With Bo Horvat and Vladimir Tarasenko off the commerce market, the Sharks are actually the belle of the ball because the commerce deadline approaches. Timo Meier already has a handful of suitors, Erik Karlsson is now on monitor to tally 108 factors this season, and even Alexander Barabanov appears to be like like a sexy commerce chip. San Jose would possibly wind up with each decide within the 2023 draft at this charge.
1
17-27-11
28
Flyers
Carter Hart has been super for the Flyers over the past month. Since Jan. 14, Hart has posted 6.90 objectives saved above common, which leads the NHL in that span. Hart’s resurgence this yr has been an encouraging signal for the way forward for the franchise.
4
22-23-10
29
Canucks
I used to be prepared to offer the Canucks a number of credit score for holding their very own on a three-game collection within the better New York space. They went 1-1-1 in opposition to three powerful opponents, and each sport was shut. Then, Vancouver bought blasted by the Red Wings twice in a row. You win some, you lose some
1
21-29-4
30
Blackhawks
Patrick Kane has been talking like a person who has turned in his two-week discover. First, Kane mentioned he was “not the happiest” that the Rangers traded for Tarasenko. Then, he primarily mentioned the Blackhawks mismanaged Kirby Dach earlier than buying and selling him to the Canadiens.
3
16-31-5
31
Ducks
Anaheim has a couple of defensemen on expiring contracts, they usually may all be commerce targets. The situation is that their commerce worth might by no means be decrease than it’s proper now. John Klingberg, Dmitry Kulikov, and Kevin Shattenkirk have mixed for a aim differential of minus-55 at five-on-five.
2
17-31-6
32
Blue Jackets
Vladislav Gavrikov is on the commerce block, and his identify has been thrown round in rumors for a few weeks. I’m open to the concept that he’ll enhance in a greater scenario, however he has been very underwhelming this yr. If Columbus can get a premier asset in return for him, it is going to be piece of labor by GM Jarmo Kekäläinen.
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16-34-4
