Here's a look at how the eight teams in the Pacific Division shape up entering the race for the postseason:
Vegas Golden Knights
32-12-4, 68 points, 1st in division, 1st in Western Conference
Remaining games: 34 (17 home, 17 away)
Special teams: Power play: 18.7 percent (21st); penalty kill: 82.1 percent (13th)
What's gone right: Almost everything. At Christmas, the expansion Golden Knights and the Los Angeles Kings were atop the division with 48 points. Instead of coming back to the pack, Vegas expanded their lead to nine points (over the San Jose Sharks). They survived a 25-game absence of their No. 1 goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury(concussion) who returned Dec. 12 against the Carolina Hurricanes. Fleury has produced all-star numbers (12-4-2, 1.77 goals-against average, .942 save percentage, two shutouts). Of the many revelations, perhaps the biggest has been forward William Karlsson,who played in a combined 183 NHL games -- with the Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets -- and had 50 points (18 goals, 32 assists) prior to thie season. He has 42 points (27 goals, 15 assists) in 48 games this season, including their first hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 31.
What's gone wrong: The experiment, though worth a shot, with Russian forward Vadim Shipachyov was short-lived, lasting three games, when he scored one goal. The 30-year-old Russian left the team on Nov. 9 and returned home to play with SKA St. Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League.
Needs: As the playoffs approach, the Golden Knights could add a rental for increased scoring punch up front. But they may not want to tamper with the chemistry in the dressing room and what has worked so well on the ice.
Trophy hopefuls: Gerard Gallant (Adams). George McPhee (GM of the Year)
Schedule: Vegas has two major trips after the All-Star break, one lasting six games and another for five. They also have a seven-game homestand (Feb. 11-23). Starting on March 14, they are home for all but five games. They finish the season at the Vancouver Canucks (April 3), at the Edmonton Oilers (April 5) and at the Calgary Flames (April 7).
Outlook: They are one win from tying the 1993-94 Florida Panthers and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim for most wins by a team in its inaugural season. The Golden Knights have not stumbled and people are no longer skeptical about what is working in Vegas.
San Jose Sharks
26-15-7, 59 points, 2nd in division, 6th in conference
Remaining games: 34 (17 home, 17 away)
Special teams: Power play: 22.8 percent (5th); penalty kill: 83.4 percent (5th)
What's gone right: Defenseman Brent Burns has found his offensive stride after not scoring his first goal of the season until Nov. 24. He has 41 points (seven goals, 34 assists) in 48 games. Their power play started to click in December. The Sharks have had balanced scoring: Seven players have at least 10 goals. Backup goaltender Aaron Dell has been solid when he's been called upon (12-4-3, 2.51 GAA, .917 save percentage) and had wins on consecutive nights against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks before losing his next two starts against the Winnipeg Jets and New York Rangers prior to the All-Star break.
What's gone wrong: Center Joe Thornton injured the medial collateral ligament in his right knee on Jan. 23 against the Jets and had surgery the next day. He is out indefinitely and the loss will be a big one, on the ice and off. Goaltender Martin Jones (14-11-4, 2.68 GAA, .910 save percentage) got off to a strong start, went into a slump, winning one of his past five starts and has been out of the lineup since Jan. 18, missing four games with a lower-body injury.
Needs: More production from the bottom six. Obviously you can't replace Thornton's play-making ability but the Sharks are going to have to find a way to do it by committee. His loss especially looms large on the power play. He has a team-leading seven power-play goals.
Trophy hopefuls: Burns (Norris), Thornton (Masterton)
Schedule: One of the most crucial junctures takes place from Feb. 8-15 with five straight games against Pacific Division opponents, the Golden Knights, Oilers, Ducks, Arizona Coyotes and Canucks.
Outlook: The Sharks have managed to stay firmly in the mix despite the loss of forward Patrick Marleau, who signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent on July 2, and the recent struggles of Jones. Handling Thornton's absence, however, will be their most notable and biggest test down the stretch.
Calgary Flames
25-16-8, 58 points, 3rd in division, 7th in conference
Remaining games: 33 (15 home, 18 away)
Special teams: Power play: 17.3 percent (24th); penalty kill: 80.9 percent (17th)
What's gone right: Concerns about how much 35-year-old goaltender Mike Smith would have left in the tank were quickly erased. Smith (20-13-6, 2.39 GAA, .926 save percentage) has represented a significant upgrade at the position and fit in seamlessly. Smith and forward Johnny Gaudreau are the two logical contenders for Flames MVP. Gaudreau has been among the League scoring leaders with 56 points (15 goals, 41 assists), climbing as high as third and was tied for seventh heading into the All-Star break.
What's gone wrong: The Flames brought in the legendary Jaromir Jagr, who wasn't able to contribute on a consistent basis and was lacking his usual durability. Jagr had seven points (one goal, six assists) in 22 games and was assigned to Kladno of the Czech Republic. The special teams have been erratic, most notably the power play, which has fallen to 24th.
Needs: They are looking to upgrade their secondary scoring. The top line, centered by Sean Monahan, has been productive but elsewhere they could use more scoring on the wings. Forward Michael Frolik, who has missed 12 games after breaking his jaw on Dec. 28, is expected back soon and could help address those concerns.
Trophy hopefuls: Smith (Vezina), Gaudreau (Hart, Lady Byng)
Schedule: The Flames have the most road games remaining of teams in the division and five home games in February. They've played well away from Scotiabank Saddledome, going 13-5-5 on the road, best in the Western Conference.
Outlook: They are in the thick of a tough playoff race by virtue of a strong turnaround after the Christmas break when they won seven straight games and haven't lost in regulation in 2018. They have points in 11 straight games, dating back to Dec. 31. If their January form continues, it should be enough to make the playoffs.
Los Angeles Kings
26-18-5, 57 points, 4th in division, 9th in conference
Remaining games: 33 (17 home, 16 away)
Special teams: Power play: 18.8 percent (20th); penalty kill: 85.9 percent (1st)
What's gone right: The Kings responded to the lighter touch of coach John Stevens, the longtime Kings assistant, who was promoted to replace Darryl Sutter after last season. They went 9-2-1 in October, captain Anze Kopitar (19 goals, 32 assists, 51 points) and Dustin Brown (15 goals, 20 assists, 35 points) have had bounce-back seasons. Goaltender Jonathan Quick, who missed most of last season with an injured groin, put up numbers strong enough for an NHL All-Star Game invitation (20-17-2, 2.44 GAA, .921 save percentage), but withdrew because of nagging injuries.
What's gone wrong: The loss of center Jeff Carter has caught up to the Kings. Carter, who had surgery after sustaining a lacerated tendon against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 18, has resumed skating but his return is not imminent. They once had an 11-point lead over the Flames in the division before Christmas and watched it disappear after losing six straight games and seven out of nine heading into the All-Star break.
Needs: The Kings are caught in a tough position. They could use help on defense but the asking price may be too high for them, especially since they are trying to avoid past mistakes in trading away high draft picks.
Trophy hopefuls: Drew Doughty (Norris), Kopitar (Selke)
Schedule: They face a road-heavy schedule coming out of the All-Star break with two of their next 11 games at home. That stretch also features their longest trip of the season, seven games, from Feb. 9-20. The seven-game trip includes two back-to-backs against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning, and Chicago Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets.
Outlook: If Carter returns and is able to get up to speed quickly enough, it will allow players who are in positions up the depth chart to slot back into their proper roles. History has shown that all the Kings need to do is make the playoffs to make a serious run.
Anaheim Ducks
24-17-9, 57 points, 5th in division, 11th in conference
Remaining games: 32 (15 home, 17 away)
Special teams: Power play: 17.3 percent (23rd); penalty kill: 82.5 percent (9th)
What's gone right: Superb goaltending from John Gibson and Ryan Miller kept the Ducks afloat until they got their injured players back in the lineup. The most pivotal move for the Ducks came when they acquired forward Adam Henrique in a trade with the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 30. Henrique has 15 points (nine goals, six assists) in 25 games with the Ducks and 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) in 49 games.
What's gone wrong: Gibson needs to stay healthy for a sustained period. He has not been in the lineup for 11 games at various points during the season and left the final game before the All-Star break against the Jets on Jan. 25 late in the third period with a lower-body injury. Forward Corey Perry has struggled since he returned on Jan. 6 after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury. Perry has 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) in 39 games and has been relegated to the fourth line.
Needs: They need a healthy lineup together for a longer period of time to allow chemistry to develop and for their injured players to get fully back up to speed.
Trophy hopefuls: None
Schedule: The Ducks have a few games remaining with their fiercest rivals in the division -- one against the Sharks (Feb. 11), one at the Flames (March 21) and one against the Kings (March 30). Like the Kings, they have a road-heavy schedule after the All-Star break and don't return to Honda Center until Feb. 9.
Outlook: The Ducks have won the Pacific Division the past five seasons and they've often played well after the All-Star break. It would be shortsighted to overlook a team with so much talent up front and one of the deepest group of defensemen in the League.
Edmonton Oilers
22-24-3, 47 points, 6th in division, 13th in conference
Remaining games: 33 (16 home, 17 away)
Special teams: Power play: 14.5 percent (30th); penalty kill: 72.2 percent (31st)
What's gone right: One of the few bright spots for the Oilers has been their record within the Pacific Division (10-2-0). Defenseman Darnell Nurse's progression has been significant in a season where not much else gone right. He's at the age (22) where he's been able to take on a greater role. Nurse averaged 17:01 minutes last season and the coaching staff has trusted him with increased ice time; he's played nearly 24 minutes in two of his past three games.
What's gone wrong: There's been a distinct lack of consistency. Every time the Oilers looked like they've turned the corner, they regress in a significant way. Their penalty-killing has been a mess, but especially at home, ranking last in the League (56.6 percent). No. 1 goaltender Cam Talbot has been pulled from games six times this season.
Needs: The Oilers need a No. 1 defenseman who can run their power play. They also need Talbot to trend more toward the form of last season, when he went 42-22-8 with a 2.39 GAA and .919 save percentage.
Trophy hopefuls: None
Schedule: It could work in their favor if their form holds against division rivals. After playing against the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning in the first two games after the All-Star break, the Oilers face Pacific Division teams in five of their next six games.
Outlook: After winning four of their past five games, the goal for the Oilers is to push hard to see if they can recapture some of the last season's magic. Many things would have to go right for them to make the playoffs but they do have Connor McDavid, who remains the one of the most dynamic talents in the game after winning the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy as the League's scoring champion at 20 in 2017.
Vancouver Canucks
19-24-6, 44 points, 7th in division, 14th in conference
Remaining games: 33 (17 home, 16 away)
Special teams: Power play: 22.1 percent (6th); penalty kill: 77.7 percent (25th)
What's gone right: Rookie forward Brock Boeser wasn't in the lineup on opening night or for the second game. He is now in the thick of the Calder Trophy conversation, which is looking like a two-player race between Boeser and New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal. Boeser, who's scored 24 goals in 46 games, may be the most exciting pure goal scorer the Canucks have had since Pavel Bure. New coach Travis Green seems to be the right fit as the Canucks are in the transitional phase and injecting more youth in the lineup.
What's gone wrong: Vancouver was off to a promising start when injuries hit them at the worst possible time in December. Boeser was playinwell on a line with Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi when Horvat and Baertschi were injured in the same week. Horvat broke his right foot against the Carolina Hurricanes on Dec. 5 and Baertschi broke his jaw four days later. Baertschi returned to the lineup on Jan. 7 and Horvat on Jan. 21.
Needs: They need time for their rebuild to take hold and continue to search for a true No. 1 defenseman.
Trophy hopefuls: Boeser (Calder)
Schedule: The Canucks are at home for four of their next nine games. After March 25, they are on the road once, finishing the season at the Edmonton Oilers on April 7. The Canucks host Barzal and the Islanders on March 5.
Outlook: They appear to be on the right track with Boeser and Horvat leading the way, along with guidance from Canucks icons Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin.
Arizona Coyotes
12-29-9, 33 points, 8th in division, 15th in conference
Remaining games: 32 (17 home, 15 away)
Special teams: Power play: 17.6 percent (22nd); penalty kill: 79.0 percent (22nd)
What's gone right: Rookie forward Clayton Keller, who has 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists), got off to a dynamic start with 11 goals in his first 16 games and was at the forefront of the Calder Trophy race. The 19-year-old then went into a prolonged slump by gonig 17 games without a goal. But the good news is he's worked his way out of it with an eight-game point-scoring streak (3-6-9) from Dec. 14-31. The Coyotes have been playing better heading into the All-Star break, winning two of their past three games, and managing to get a point in the three games before that.
What's gone wrong: There were injuries (defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson, goaltender Antti Raanta) and an 11-game losing streak to start the season, which tied the Coyotes with the 1943-44 New York Rangers for the worst start to a season. They hoped forward Max Domi would continue to improve, but he has been erratic with three goals in 50 games.
Needs: The search for a No. 1 center continues. Second-year general manager John Chayka has made it his mandate to keep building for the future but also made it clear his patience isn't infinite when he traded Anthony Duclair to the Chicago Blackhawks for Richard Panik in a four-player trade Jan. 10.
Trophy hopefuls: Keller (Calder)
Schedule: The Coyotes resume their schedule with a home game against the Dallas Stars. Five of their final six games of the season are against divisional opponents.
Outlook: They haven't made the playoffs since reaching the Western Conference Final in 2012, and they won't make it this season either. Under new coach Rick Tocchet, the younger players are getting the chance to play. Arizona has the pieces but it's a matter of seeing if they will start to fit into place.
Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music, Soaps
http://almosthuman99.com
Babe Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/babes/babeofthemonth.html
Hunk Of The Month - Vote Now!
http://almosthuman99.com/polls/hunks/hunkofthemonth.html
0 comments:
Post a Comment