The
Caps are 12-0-2 in their past 14 games and have surged to the top spot
in the NHL -- pretty much where they spent all last season. Along with a
balanced, dynamic offense, the Caps boast the league's No. 1 defense.
That's how championships are built.
The
Wild are 17-3-1 in their past 21 games, have the best goals-against
average in the Western Conference and lead the conference in goals
scored per game. Seems like they've covered the two most important parts
of the game.
The
Pens have won four in a row and are starting to click on the road,
which is bad news for the rest of the Eastern Conference. If Sidney Crosby doesn't get you, Evgeni Malkin does. Double jeopardy.
As
long as the Ducks don't have to play former head coach Bruce Boudreau
and the Wild, they are world-beaters. The Pacific Division leaders are
8-0-1 in their past nine games against teams not from Minnesota.
The
Sharks have won four in a row, and Brent Burns continues to make a case
for not just a Norris Trophy but also Hart Trophy consideration: He's
fifth in scoring with 47 points in 47 games.
The
Jackets, coming off a wild 7-6 overtime win over the Ottawa Senators on
Sunday, are treading water since the end of their epic 16-game win
streak. But it's better than sinking after a long streak (see: Flyers,
Philadelphia), which means Columbus is still very much in the mix while
at the top of the Metropolitan Division.
The
Oilers continue to impress on both sides of the puck while playing
nip-and-tuck with Anaheim and San Jose for the Pacific Division lead.
When was the last time that sentence was written regarding the Oil
battling for first? 2006?
Speaking of struggling goalies, Henrik Lundqvist, shaking off a midseason swoon, came up with a nice 1-0 shutout win over Detroit on Sunday. Good to see Mika Zibanejad back in the lineup after a long absence because of a leg injury.
As they have periodically over the past couple of seasons, the Blackhawks turned to backup Scott Darling to help shoulder the load for Corey Crawford. They have played more games but are still in the hunt for a Central Division crown in spite of a penalty kill that ranks 28th.
All
of a sudden, the Preds have gone from outside the bubble to third place
in the Central Division. Congrats to head coach Peter Laviolette on win
No. 500 on Sunday.
I
must write on a blackboard 1,000 times: "I will stop underestimating
the Ottawa Senators." The Sens are 5-1-1 in their past seven and are in
second in the Atlantic Division with a tiny bit of breathing space.
The
Canucks continue to impress by staying in the playoff hunt. They
started the month on the outside looking in but have gone 5-2-3 in
January to keep the pressure on Calgary, St. Louis and Los Angeles in
the hunt for a wild-card spot in spite of a 29th-ranked power play.
The Jets have won two in a row after Ondrej Pavelec
was repatriated from the American Hockey League. They'll need more to
get themselves into the top eight in the Western Conference, but the
return of Patrik Laine appears close.
The Blues are in free fall and their goaltending is in shambles, as No. 1 Jake Allen
didn't even accompany the Blues on their recent road trip. Challenging
times are ahead for GM Doug Armstrong and coach Ken Hitchcock.
The Kings have lost three in a row and four of six, and they've fallen out of a playoff spot. The return of No. 1 goalie Jonathan Quick can't come soon enough for the up-and-down Kings.
This is as well as the Sabres have played all season, with a 6-3-1 run in January. Ryan O'Reilly is heating up, and Robin Lehner has put in some nice work in goal.
The
Canes have been dumped three in a row and need to find an antidote or
risk sinking beneath the surface in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Goalie Cam Ward is showing signs of wear and tear.
Boston's
mauling at the hands of Pittsburgh on Sunday will do nothing to quell
the calls for coach Claude Julien's job, as the Bruins have three wins
in 11 games this month. But, at least for now, they still occupy a
playoff spot. Go figure.
The
Isles have played well under interim head coach Doug Weight (2-0-1),
but they still have the fewest points in the conference, an indication
of the uphill path to relevancy.
How
the mighty have fallen. The Lightning woke up Monday morning tied with
the Sabres and the Islanders for the fewest points in the Eastern
Conference.
The
Stars continue to lose ground in the West, thanks in part to woeful
special teams, including the 29th-ranked penalty kill. Soon GM Jim Nill
will have to put the "sell" sign up in front of the AmericanAirlines
Arena before the trade deadline.
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