Anaheim is kinda perfectly in their struggles. Over the last few seasons, their depth has taken hits and it seems to be culminating now. They have some potential to get it back - the core is so good. But they need a d-man to step up and a third line to buzz like bees and create without giving much up. Minnesota played a great game. Nice shot quality generated. Stifling defense as well.
27 New Jersey 4 26 Buffalo 3 YES
New Jersey is wining the close ones. Their defense is underrated. I think they will have loss streaks too. The current streak just shows how tight this entire league is. A rhythm and some bounces and limited mistakes turns an average talent team into a winner. A team like the Devils has a lot smaller window though. Buffalo has a core to build on. Eichel looks great - his skating and awareness.
24 Toronto 3 1 Montreal 5 YES
There are a handful of teams that can beat Montreal playing as they have the last two games. Will Montreal play this way against the higher quality teams? We'll see. I'm always suspect of Montreal's top-tier forwards. Plekanec and Pacioretty have great hands and good vision but seems they always can be taken out of games by those top teams when games are important. Think San Jose forwards. Their defensive top-tier, though, is world class. Toronto got a lot of chances. Toronto is playing better. Babcock has a lot of work ahead of him.
16 Arizona 4 11 Ottawa 1 YES
Arizona put it all together again. Good for them. Ottawa relies on too few. Arizona doesn't have that problem. They don't have any one player they rely on. The problem with that, some nights none show up. Boedker was the guy tonight. He has that potential. Love to see him be more consistent. He is fast and can finish. Ottawa's not going to make the playoffs in a very up-for-grabs East if they don't get 2nd and 3rd line scoring. And their defensive system is shutting things down currently.
20 New York Rangers 2 17 Philadelphia 3 (SO) NOPE
The Rangers continue to create shots and play decent in their end. Philadelphia did all of that better in this one. Shot counts are not strongly indicative of much - so the Flyers out-shooting the Rangers doesn't concern me - it's the way those shots came about. Odd-number rushes by the Flyers and open shots from center ice and controlling rebounds - these are killers. The Rangers were not keeping Philly out of those areas. Still this game goes to a shootout. Philly is still an On and Off team. They were skating in this one often making the Rangers look lost.
6 New York Islanders 3 4 St. Louis 2 (OT) NOPE
Both of these teams have the potential to be there in the end. I am still doubting New York's defense. But when they do stand up, they are clearly a top-tier team. St. Louis has some 2nd-tier injuries. Guys like Stastny and Schwartz can be difference makers in games like this one. So they don't need to take this loss as significant. They played well. Two good teams.
19 Pittsburgh 2 5 Nashville 1 (OT) NOPE
To think of Pittsburgh as a defensive team scares me - because IF the offense and natural creativity of their top forwards starts clicking, this team will be unstoppable. It may be though that in order for them to play tight defense, those forwards have to reserve themselves offensively. Nashville has to find a way to break through in games like this. I look forward to the Preds growth this season.
13 Florida 6 3 Dallas 2 NOPE
And then Dallas lets one go. Florida certainly made the most of the opportunities. But I expected Seguin and Benn to finish more. Dallas has to learn to play from behind. Maybe they push too much. Florida is mostly solid. They have to get better at playing shutdown defense, so when they are in a lead, they don't give up anything. I think Dallas had a window to climb back into this game but they played too loosely in that moment.
10 Tampa Bay 0 15 Chicago 1 (OT) NOPE
I would never have guessed a Keith-less Chicago team could shutout this wide-open Lightning team. And on top of that - Chicago struggled to score!? Was Tampa focusing more on their own end? Was Chicago shutting them down - out-skating and beating them to the puck. It doesn't look like the Lightning generated much in the middle of the ice. Nor were they getting offense-zone rebounds/loose pucks. Still, they were only one Stamkos blast away from winning this one. I guess, Chicago could say the same thing. We won't know the real Chicago until Keith comes back - I think this time without him will be great for guys - Svedberg and van Riemsdyk and Daley and Rundblad - who are getting more minutes out there.
30 Columbus 4 23 Colorado 3 YES
14 Detroit 3 9 Vancouver 2 NOPE
28 Carolina 2 2 San Jose 5 NOPE
5 - 7 Tonight
4 games went to OT/SO - I didn't get one of those to go my way. Oh well.
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