The Boston Bruins (3-0-0) once again made positive news, unquestionably encircling the Atlantic Division-top Toronto Maple Leafs by a six-point lead. The Bruins are one of six teams to not lose a game in the past week. The only teams not to win were the Columbus Blue Jackets (0-3-0) and the Chicago Blackhawks (0-3-0).
Five climbers:
1. Carolina hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes claim the lead in the Metropolitan Division, as impressively demonstrated in clashes with the Dallas Stars (5-4 OT), New Jersey Devils (4-1) and Pittsburgh Penguins (3-2; 4-3 OT ) supported. With 48 points, they took first place in the division from the Devils.
Of the 19 players the Hurricanes played, 16 had a point scorer, including four defensemen and six forwards with at least three points. Carolina’s scoring team was led by Center Jordan Steel (3 Bulls, 1 Assist).
The next opponents for the Hurricanes at the PNC Arena in Raleigh are the Philadelphia Flyers and Blackhawks.
Video: CAR@PIT: Slavin Takes Victory in OT
2. King of Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Kings took the entire number of points in front of their home crowd from games against the San Jose Sharks (3:2 SO), Anaheim Ducks (4:1) and Calgary Flames (4:3 OT) and reduced their four-point deficit against the Pacific Division runners-up Vegas Golden Knights.
with the centers Philip Danault (2 goals, 1 assist) e Blake Lizotte (1 goal, 2 assists) and right winger Gabriel Villardi (1 Tor, 2 Assists) und Adrian Kempe (1 goal, 2 assists), four Kings players averaged 1.00 points.
The Californians would like to continue their quest for the first place on the road against the Arizona Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche and at home against the Golden Knights.
Video: ANA@LAK: Fiala leaves the defenders alone and scores
3. Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals could not be stopped by the Maple Leafs (5:2), the Detroit Red Wings (4:3 OT) and the Ottawa Senators (3:2 OT). though this time captain of Washington Alex Oveckin (3 assists) did not score himself.
The Capitals’ most accurate player was the defensive back Erik Gustafsson (4 Tore, 2 Assists) in the center Nic Dowd (2 goals, 1 assist). Like Ovechkin, the left wingers performed Sonny Milano (1 Tor, 3 Assists) and Center Yevgeny Kuznetsov (1 goal, 3 assists) to the three goals of the Capitals.
Will Ovechkin score his 801st NHL goal next week? He has the opportunity to do it in meetings with the Winnipeg Jets, the New York Rangers and the Senators.
Video: DET@WSH: Orlov scores in extra time
4. Buffalo sabers
Road wins at the Coyotes (5-2) and Golden Knights (3-2) extended the Buffalo Sabers’ hitting streak to four games. They went scoreless in just two out of nine appearances in December (6-2-1).
With the left winger Jeff Skinner (3 Bulls, 1 Assist), Center Tage Thompson (2 goals, 2 assists) and right wing Cloth Alex (4 assists), three Sabers forwards collected four points.
After the seven days of rest, the Sabers face the Blue Jackets and the Red Wings.
Video: BUF@VGK: Thompson with his 26th goal of the season
5. Colorado avalanche
With double point wins in home games against the Nashville Predators (3-1), New York Islanders (1-0 SE) and Montreal Canadiens (2-1 OT), the Colorado Avalanche pulled back into the battle for the top three spots in the Return of the Central Division.
Hustle and bustle and misery often separate little. Last week, Colorado had two happy endings in the extra round. doorman Alexander Georgiev (26 saves) was a right winger and kept clean sheets against the Islanders in his second shutout of the season, including overtime and penalty shootouts Mikko Rantanen (2 goals, 1 assist) scored the game-winning goal in overtime against Montreal.
Over the next week, the Avalanche will visit the Coyotes and Predators and host the Kings at their home Bell Arena.
Video: MTL@COL: Rantanen wins after extra time
Five demoted:
1. Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks’ fall to second-bottom in the league standings wasn’t particularly great. After losing on the road to the Minnesota Wild (1-4) and losing at home to the Rangers (1-7) and Predators (2-4), the Blackhawks, winless in eight games, finished at the bottom of the league with a point win rate of 29.0 percent.
Whether in 5 on 5 (eleven goals conceded), shorthanded (three goals conceded; penalty: 40.0 percent) or power play (10.0 percent): Coach Luke Richardson’s team has also been in the last seven days, to put is slightly, only conditionally competitive. It is significant that with defenders Connor Murphy (1 goal, 1 assist) a defensive man had the most points.
The Blackhawks host the Blue Jackets at the United Center on Friday. They then make guest appearances with the Hurricanes and St. Louis Blues.
2. Vancouver Canucks
In order not to completely miss the connection to the Western Conference playoffs, the Vancouver Canucks depend on every point. Over the past seven days, home games against the Jets (1-5), Blues (1-5) and Seattle Kraken (6-5 SO) have only been enough for two.
Alongside the Blackhawks, the Canucks have conceded the most goals with a 5.00 goal average. The center reported impressively Elias Pettersson (2 goals, 3 assists) with a 5-point game against Seattle.
The Canucks will also need the 24-year-old Swede’s services with the Edmonton Oilers, at home against the Sharks and in Winnipeg.
3. New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils ended the week conciliatory in Florida (4:2), after suffering five and six losses in a row at home against the Panthers (2:4) and in Carolina (1:4).
The Devils had to vacate their top spot in the Metropolitan Division and slipped to fourth place in the league standings with a 69.7% winning percentage. The Center could not prevent this either Jack Hughes (1 goal, 2 assists), who was involved in a Devils goal in all three games.
The Devils will play the Bruins twice next week at the Prudential Center in Newark.
4. Tampa Bay Lightning
After their successful performance in Montreal (5:1), the Tampa Bay Lightning distributed gifts in Toronto (1:4) and in Detroit (4:7).
right wing Nikita Kucherov (2 goals, 2 assists) and team captain Steven Stamkos (4 assists) could not stop the Lightning from widening the Atlantic Division gap between the second-ranked Maple Leafs and the fourth-ranked Red Wings.
After the Christmas break, the Lightning will welcome the Canadiens and Rangers to Amalie Arena within 24 hours.
5. New York Islanders
The New York Islanders made stops on their tour on the road at the Coyotes (4:5), Golden Knights (5:2), Avalanche (0:1 SO) and Rangers (3:5) and were able to leave the ice as winners only once.
The goalkeeper put in a good performance Ilya Sorokin (46 saves) in Denver, where he only had to be defeated twice on penalties. Ten Islanders players have stood out as scorers, as double centers Matthew Barzal (2 goals, 1 assist) and left winger Anders Lee (2 Bulls, 1 Assist).
After 12 days of touring, the Islanders play at home against the Panthers, Penguins and Blue Jackets.
