1
Hurricanes
The Hurricanes simply had their 11-game profitable streak snapped by he New York Rangers on Tuesday, however what a streak it was. Carolina outscored opponents 40-21 all through the length of its streak because the workforce was simply drubbing its opponents.
—
25-7-6
2
Bruins
Following their Winter Classic win over the Penguins, the Bruins improved their dwelling document to 19-0-3. It’s factor the Bruins have been in a position to document a house win in Fenway Park as a result of they may be fairly exhausting to come back by for the Red Sox subsequent summer season.
—
29-4-4
3
Lightning
Andrei Vasilevskiy acquired off to a slower begin than regular this season, however he has elevated his recreation within the final month. Since Dec. 1, Vasilevskiy has saved 12.61 objectives above common, per Natural Stat Trick. That is the very best mark within the NHL over that span. When he’s enjoying like that, good luck beating the Bolts.
2
24-12-1
4
Wild
Mats Zuccarello is among the extra under-appreciated gamers within the NHL. Despite being in his mid-30s, Zuccarello has utterly revamped his profession in Minnesota. After placing up 79 factors in 70 video games final season, which was a profession excessive, Zuccarello already has 40 factors in 36 video games this 12 months. His reference to Kirill Kaprizov has been driving the Wild offense.
—
22-13-2
5
Maple Leafs
For some motive, the Coyotes have been the Maple Leafs’ kryptonite this 12 months. Toronto went 0-2-0 in its season sequence in opposition to Arizona. Luckily for the Leafs, they’ve been wonderful in opposition to most different groups.
2
23-8-7
6
Stars
The Stars signed Joe Pavelski to a one-year contract extension value $3.5 million, and that may be a bargain-bin low cost contemplating what he is meant to the workforce over the previous few seasons. Pavelski has been phenomenal on a line with Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson and has proven versatility as a distributor and a net-front finisher.
2
23-11-6
7
Rangers
Despite all of the Rangers’ latest success, former first-round decide Alexis Lafrenière was a scratch for final week’s recreation in opposition to the Lightning. The Rangers have been hoping Lafrenière would proceed his progress in 2022-23, however he hasn’t scored a objective in his final 10 video games performed. If the Rangers want to make a splash on the commerce market, Lafrenière may make an fascinating piece for a rebuilding workforce.
—
21-12-6
8
Capitals
Washington dropped a nine-spot on the Canadiens final week, and Alex Ovechkin scored his second hat trick of the season. Since passing Gordie Howe on the NHL’s all-time objectives listing, Ovechkin has already added six extra to his whole. He may be respiration down Wayne Gretzky’s neck before anybody anticipated.
1
21-13-6
9
Golden Knights
Jack Eichel hasn’t performed for Vegas since getting injured in opposition to the Flyers on Dec. 9, however Chandler Stephenson has picked up his offensive slack. In Eichel’s absence, Stephenson has posted 4 objectives and 17 factors in 11 video games.
2
26-12-2
10
Sabres
Everything is clicking for the Sabres proper now. They are 9-3-1 since Dec. 1. Tage Thompson stays a freak of nature. Young gamers like Dylan Cozens, Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power are making massive contributions. Craig Anderson has given the workforce steady goaltending. The Sabres are clearly a workforce on the rise beneath head coach Don Granato.
5
19-15-2
11
Penguins
The Penguins have now misplaced their final 5 video games, and maybe unsurprisingly, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have mixed for simply two factors on this hunch. If these two are struggling to get on the scoresheet, it should be exhausting for the Penguins to select up factors.
5
19-12-6
12
Kings
The Kings could have discovered a borderline dependable choice objective with Pheonix Copley enjoying effectively since being known as up by the workforce in early December. Since then, Copley has posted a objectives in opposition to common of two.52 and a save proportion of .908. Those aren’t all-world numbers, however it’s a appreciable improve over what Jonathan Quick has given the workforce this 12 months.
2
22-13-6
13
Jets
I feel I’m simply going to should eat crow in terms of Josh Morrissey. I’ve been ready for him to chill off all season now, however that simply hasn’t occurred. Morrissey has already set profession highs in assists (36) and factors (43), and we have barely reached the midway level of the season.
1
24-13-1
14
Avalanche
Goaltending was the largest query for this Avalanche workforce earlier than the season, and that place has began to fall off after an honest begin. Alexandar Georgiev has regarded very common just lately. He hasn’t posted a save proportion above .900 in his final 4 begins, and Georgiev has allowed 2.28 objectives above common since Dec. 1, in accordance with Natural Stat Trick.
4
19-14-3
15
Devils
The Devils’ funk actually started on Dec. 9, and their workforce save and taking pictures percentages have mixed for a PDO of .953. That is thirtieth within the NHL, forward of solely the Canadiens and Blackhawks. It goes with out saying that the Devils are a significantly better workforce than both of these golf equipment, however they’ve been utterly snake-bitten for a month now. I’d say they’ll flip it round, however an analogous challenge plagued the workforce final season.
2
24-11-3
16
Kraken
At one level, the Kraken boasted one of many league’s highest-scoring offenses, however they’ve since cooled down. Seattle is now thirteenth in goal-scoring, and if the workforce needs to lock up a playoff spot and do some harm when it will get there, including a top-six ahead may be on the to-do listing earlier than the commerce deadline.
—
20-12-4
17
Islanders
After struggling to attain for portion of the season, Mat Barzal has lastly gotten sizzling. Barzal has 5 objectives in his final 4 video games, and he has doubled his season whole from 5 to 10 in that span. The Isles want him to proceed one of these manufacturing as a result of they do not have wonderful depth at ahead.
2
22-15-2
18
Flames
The Flames have gained 5 of their final 10 video games, and it looks like it has been that approach all season with this workforce. Pardon the pun, however Calgary hasn’t been in a position to catch fireplace but, which is disappointing contemplating the preseason expectations. Still, the Flames discover themselves within the first wild card spot, and one first rate profitable streak might have them close to the highest of the Pacific Division.
4
18-14-7
19
Blues
On Dec. 27, the Blues introduced that defenseman Torey Krug would miss at the least six weeks resulting from harm. That weakened an already underwhelming blue line that performs in entrance of a struggling goaltending duo. With Krug out for 5 extra weeks, St. Louis could should win quite a lot of video games in shootout style.
1
18-17-3
20
Oilers
The Oilers have now misplaced 5 straight dwelling video games, and the newest loss in opposition to the Kraken got here in devastating style. Edmonton jumped out to a 2-0 lead earlier than surrendering 5 straight objectives in a 5-2 loss. Even Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl cannot fairly flip this roster right into a contender.
2
20-17-2
21
Senators
In phrases of precise objectives, the Senators have been getting shelled with Drake Batherson on the ice. With Batherson within the recreation at five-on-five, Ottawa has scored 19 objectives and given up 31. At first look, these look like troubling numbers. However, the anticipated objectives really come out barely in favor of the Sens. The challenge is that, with Batherson on the ice, Ottawa is taking pictures simply 6.48% and has a workforce save proportion of simply 88.64%.
—
18-17-3
22
Canucks
Vancouver has now misplaced three straight video games in regulation, and JT Miller is yelling at his personal goalie in the midst of video games. The Canucks play at dwelling in opposition to the Avalanche on Thursday earlier than embarking on a tricky five-game street journey. If Vancouver goes to salvage its season, it wants to search out solutions within the rapid future.
5
16-18-3
23
Red Wings
The Red Wings simply have not been in a position to achieve any type of traction in over a month now. The final time Detroit gained greater than two video games in a row was on Nov. 25, when its profitable streak gained 4 video games. The Red Wings are nonetheless within the playoff hunt, however they misplaced a number of floor in December.
—
16-13-7
24
Predators
The Predators have been in determined want of some offense, and Filip Forsberg has delivered in that division. Forsberg is now using a four-game level streak, and he has 5 objectives and eight factors in that stretch. Nashville wants him working at most energy to be any type of menace within the Western Conference.
1
16-14-6
25
Flyers
If John Tortorella was attempting to get Kevin Hayes getting into the best course by scratching him final month, it hasn’t precisely labored. Hayes has performed six video games since being a wholesome scratch on Dec. 17, and he has recorded three assists. Hayes hasn’t discovered the again of the online since Dec. 7 in opposition to Washington.
4
14-17-7
26
Panthers
The Panthers are at present in seventh place within the Atlantic Division. If you had informed me that earlier than the season, I might’ve requested who took a baseball bat to the knees of half the workforce. Supporting forged members like Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett simply aren’t enjoying on the identical degree they did final season, and the lack of Mason Marchment could have been larger than we thought on the time.
2
17-18-4
27
Coyotes
No one, and I imply nobody, goes into Mullet Arena and waltzes out with a win. In the previous few weeks, the Coyotes have crushed the Maple Leafs, Avalanche, Kings, and Islanders at dwelling. Arizona may need to rethink the brand new enviornment it has deliberate if the workforce retains profitable in its present barn.
—
13-18-5
28
Canadiens
Things have taken a flip for the worst in Montreal. The Canadiens have misplaced 9 of their final 10 video games, and a workforce that when had faint hopes of enjoying significant hockey this spring is again within the draft lottery dialogue. Even Cole Caufield acquired banged up in Tuesday night time’s recreation in opposition to Nashville.
2
15-20-3
29
Sharks
I’ve to apologize for turning this blurb right into a weekly Erik Karlsson replace. Actually, no. I cannot. Watching him play at his full potential once more is extremely entertaining. Karlsson is using a 13-game profitable streak, and he now has extra factors than gamers like Tage Thompson, David Pastrnak, Mikko Rantanen, and Kirill Kaprizov.
1
12-20-7
30
Ducks
John Klingberg guess on himself and signed a one-year contract with the Ducks, and that will wind up being a poor choice on his finish. So far, Klingberg has simply 11 factors and will put up profession lows in each offensive class. To make issues worse, Anaheim has managed simply 38.83% of the five-on-five anticipated objectives with him on the ice.
—
11-24-4
31
Blue Jackets
It is nearly inconceivable to search out positives for this Columbus workforce. The Blue Jackets are a bottom-three workforce in objectives for and objectives in opposition to, and its goaltending has been as dangerous because the numbers on the floor would point out. At least followers will get to look at Johnny Gaudreau for the following seven years. That’s one thing.
1
11-23-2
32
Blackhawks
The Blackhawks’ tank job couldn’t be going any higher. Since the beginning of November, Chicago is 4-22-2 with a five-on-five anticipated objectives share of 41.99%, per Natural Stat Trick. There may be very little danger of this workforce profitable too many video games to mess up its excessive draft decide.
1
8-25-4
