Just a little Review.

Flyers with a good win. Minnesota coming back to earth in the Torchetti Era?
The Flyers are a difficult team. When things go right for them, they have beaten most anyone. When things don't, they struggle. You can call it luck but I think it is more systemic with this group of players. I haven't watched enough to be sure, but their top-scorers are streaky and the bottom forwards are even moreso. They don't have any defensive forwards past Sean Couturier C, who I think is awesome. And their defense is not deep with talent. So all this is to say - Minnesota may have just met the Flyers on the wrong night. But in all likelihood, it is a sign that this team is solid but needs a true finisher/scorer to really be dangerous.

Side Note: All credit is being given to Michael Neuvirth G on this win - primarily for a save he made in the closing seconds. To his credit, he didn't give up on the play but let's be honest, if he had, would he be in the NHL? No. Charlie Coyle shot that puck low and in a savable place. Go watch Tyler Seguin's goal against Winnipeg last night - he put the puck where the goalie had NO CHANCE. Anyway, another small case of Goalies are Overrated.

Devils get stung
This is not a good time to be losing, right!? The Devils had a good win the other night against my Rangers and then negate it by losing here. The Blue Jackets are playing much better hockey of late - this could warrant a lot of people picking them to rebound next season. But the Devils are looking to make the playoffs and giving up six goals without countering but one keeps them on the outside looking in. What makes me steamed? The Rangers should have been more UP against this team the other night - two points you can't get back, Rangers!

Hurricanes blow another Must-Win
The Canes are not making the playoffs by this win one-lose one approach. They've played more games than the teams they are chasing. Still plenty of time, but this team has to get on a win streak soon or there is no hope. Toronto has a kid, Josh Leivo - watch for the hype.

Coyotes can't recover in a solid Panthers performance
It's tough to watch, if you are a Coyotes fan. They have a had a lot of good games against tough teams and just can't get that needed goal. Almost will not get them in the playoffs and really any hopes for them getting in are almost gone. Another team that needs a win streak. Florida got a couple of players back last night and that may have made all the difference. I have pointed out many times how fragile this team is - when a top line forward or defenseman goes out, this team becomes just another middle-to-low tier team. But when the line-up is healthy, they can be as good as any team in the league. Aleksander Barkov is one of those players. He returned last night and got two goals in the victory. When they are all there, I like this Panther team.

New York Rangers steal one from the Blues
When you read about this game, you will hear all about Lundquist saving the team. You will also hear, if the Rangers play like this every night, they lose. Don't listen to it. The Rangers gave up shots, but they were mostly savable. This is how they played early in the season - something with the style works. Are they clearing rebounds? Giving Lundquist space to see? It works when they do it well and also when they can finish the opportunities they do get. St Louis, after putting a solid 5 game win streak together has dropped two-in-a-row. Perhaps it is the pressure from challenging Chicago and Dallas for the top spot in the Central, which two games ago they had in their sights. They played well, they just didn't finish the opportunities given. And the Rangers made them work for the puck. A great game.

Side Note: Again another game where the winning goalie gets all credit. Go and watch one series of events in particular: St Louis gets a nice breakaway. Henrik Lundquist makes the save and then Chris Kreider takes it the other way and scores. This inevitably becomes the BIG exchange of the game - Lundquist makes the save and Jake Allen doesn't, Rangers win, St Louis loses. But watch the play. The shot by St. Louis's Scottie Upshall is right into Lundquist's chest. The shot by Kreider is off a sweet pass from Oscar Lindberg - Kreider, in the middle of the circles, places the shot wide and high. Switch goalies here and nothing changes - Upshall doesn't score and Kreider does. So really, credit Kreider with a nice shot and blame Upshall for his bad one. Which leaves me saying Goalies are Overrated.

Predators hand Chicago another loss
The Predators are trying to put it together and it seems to be working. They have a big test on Saturday against St. Louis. Chicago had a chance to regain the Central division lead. Oh well. I didn't get to watch this game. I'd like to know how the flow was.

Jets trade Ladd break Loss streak...hmmm
Dallas has to win these games. This is a Winnipeg team with a lot of holes. Apparently Dallas has some big holes as well. (I think I have mentioned, their defense/own-zone play is not great - this team needs a defenseman.) Winnipeg found the holes. Dallas found holes. Winnipeg re-found earlier found holes. I always feel like when Dallas gets down, it's ok. They have the nasty finishers that can exploit even small lapses in defense. But it requires good transition from their own zone and ultimately not letting the puck get in their zone for too long. Another bad loss by the Stars.

Side Note: Jets trade Andrew Ladd for not a lot (this season). This is a great move by Chicago. Ladd will be excellent on the second or third line in Chicago. If everything goes well, this moves Chicago up quite a bit in the Stanley Cup chase! I await Dallas and LA to see if they make a move to plug their deficiencies.

New York Islanders continue solid play
The Flames are not in it this year. The Islanders did what they needed to do, again. The Isles are challenging the Rangers for second in the Metropolitan division by running 7-1-1 in their last 9 - 15 of 18 possible points. That is putting together good hockey. If they keep it up, I will be a believer in this group. The defense makes me question them. John Tavares is a no-brainer. If they get two solid lines under his line, the offense is tough. So a lot comes on the defense. In this current run, Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy have played very good hockey. If it's real, this Tavares led team will be tough in a 7 game series.

Senators and Canucks play a game
With the win, Vancouver sits 8 points out of a playoff birth. Ottawa sits only 4 out.

Los Angeles struggles for victory against the young Oilers
Los Angeles won the game. They worked and were easily the better team. Does their play of late indicate anything? Are they getting into playoff gear? They play Anaheim twice in the next week. We'll know more then. On top of that, the Kings might make a trade deadline move. That game against Anaheim on Sunday might determine how big this deadline move will be! It's going to be a big week. Edmonton continues to be fun to watch. Even against a pretty stifling opponent like the Kings. So much room to grow for the Oilers - I hope management can be patient. The fans have had to endure a lot of futility, but this core will be very good, given time.