NHL Minute: Week in Review (1/27)

1/27/2013

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Here's a complete sum of to-date NHL action entering Sunday.

NHL STANDINGS (Wins-Losses-OT Losses=Points)
Western Conference

1. Chicago Blackhawks* (5-0-0=10)

The undefeated Blackhawks lead the league in points entering Sunday thanks to a feast on the Pacific Division. Of Chicago's five wins, three have come on the road against Pacific Division teams (LA, Phoenix, Dallas). Chicago plays 10 of its first 12 games this season on the road, so they're obviously pleased they've passed perhaps the toughest part of their schedule.
Chicago struggled mightily with special teams last season but so far appear to have turned it around. They've converted 25% of their power play opportunities and are third in the NHL in PK (94.1%).
While undefeated and putting up a ton of goals, Chicago was been fortunate to face shaky goaltending during opening week. In the opener against LA they rung up Jonathan Quick, who is still recovering from offseason surgery, and in the second game against Phoenix they put five goals on Mike Smith, who has been letting in soft goals and has had a porous defense playing in front of him.
Chicago is benefiting from poor decision making by their opposition, which can be credited to early-season rust. The Blackhawks are the real deal and have taken care of business, but their level of play isn't far above some of the other teams around the league. The Hawks had to come back from an 0-2 deficit Thursday vs. Dallas and only scored when they were on the power play. Goalie Corey Crawford has also shut the door when he's had to, allowing 1.99 goals against per game.
Right winger Marian Hossa, whose season ended last year with a concussion at the fate of Phoenix's Raffi Torres, has scored a team-high five goals so far, including two game winners, while the Blackhawks have also received multi-goal contributions from five other players. This team has a lot of scoring talent and doesn't rely on one person to carry the scoring load, but Hossa is an important part of what they do.
Last Week: @LA (W 5-2) --- @PHX (W 6-4) --- STL (W 3-2) --- @DAL (W 3-2 OT) --- @CBJ (W 3-2)
Upcoming: DET , @MIN, @VAN, @CGY

2. San Jose Sharks* (4-0-0=8)

Despite an undefeated record, the Sharks are a work in progress as they have yet to play a complete game.
In the season opener against Calgary, goalie Antii Niemi had to practically stand on his head as the defense consistently gave up first-period odd-man rushes.
The offense exploded for a franchise-record six first-period goals in a win at Edmonton, and their dominance carried over into the first period of Thursday's home opener against Phoenix.
The Sharks completely dominated the Coyotes right out of the gates but weren't able to beat goalie Jason LaBarbera until a power play goal by Logan Couture in the final minute of the first period. They were then only able to get two shots on the goal in the second, as Phoenix tied the game at the end of a 5-0n-3 power play that a diving Brad Stuart and Co. nearly fought off. Phoenix eventually took a 3-1 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the game and things looked dire for the Sharks until a momentum-turning wrist shot by Patrick Marleau sparked a sellout crowd at HP Pavilion. A scrappy goal in front of the net by Martin Havlat led to an action-packed finish, capped off by Marleau's game-winner with two minutes left.
See How the Game was Won to see how the Sharks turned a shaky first period into a 4-0 victory.
San Jose's top line of Marleau, Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski has combined for 30 points in four games. Marleau is off to the best start in his career, as he has scored two goals in each game and leads the NHL with eight.
The Sharks are getting it done on the power play. Entering Sunday, their ten PPGs are the most in the NHL. The recent signing of free agent Scott Gomez, who saw action on the second PP unit on Saturday, should only help with the team's production.
Penalty killing still continues to be the team's main weakness. The Sharks have allowed five goals on 14 opportunities, which is second-to-last in the league in efficiency. They were able to kill of two first-period opportunities by Colorado, though, so there is still hope for them, especially knowing associate coach Larry Robinson is in control of their defensive strategy.
Last Week: @CGY (W 4-1) --- @EDM (W 6-3) --- PHX (W 5-3) --- COL (4-0)
Upcoming: VAN, ANA, EDM, NSH

3. Vancouver Canucks* (2-1-1=5)

The Canucks have a huge test in front of them this week, as they have to face two undefeated squads, the defending Cup champs and a division opponent.
Vancouver has been a mixed bag so far. Although goaltender Cory Schneider was chased in an opening-night loss to Anaheim, the Canucks put up 16 shots in a period they were outscored 4-0. Roberto Luongo played decent in his start against Edmonton, but still the Oilers came back from a two-goal deficit to win in overtime. Schneider's return to net against Calgary resulted in a shootout victory, the first win of the season of Vancouver, but the game was a tale of two halves: Vancouver dominated the first 30 minutes, while Calgary rallied from a two-goal deficit and owned the play in the second 30 minutes. Finally they put together a complete game in a 5-0 win against Anaheim, but it took 9 Ducks penalties. It's easier to score when you have a man advantage for nearly a period.
22-year-old Zack Kassian (No. 9), a 6-3, 214 lb. right winger, has already matched his career season-high in goals (3) by scoring once in each of his last three games. Meanwhile, Daniel and Henrik Sedin are off to relatively a slow start, combining for two goals and eight assists through four contests.
Last Week: ANA (L 7-3) --- EDM (L 3-2 S/O) --- CGY (W 3-2 S/O) --- @ANA (W 5-0)
Upcoming: @SJ, @LA, COL, CHI

4. St. Louis Blues (4-1-0=8)

St. Louis is ticking along by doing just enough to win. They own a +10 goal differential thanks largely to making Detroit look ancient on opening night, but they were unable to get by Chicago in a battle for Central Division supremacy. They're good, but they haven't been dominant.
Last Week: DET (W 6-0) --- @NSH (w 4-3 S/O) --- @CHI (L, 3-2) --- NSH (W 3-0) --- DAL (W 4-3)
Upcoming: MIN, @CBJ, @DET

5. Anaheim Ducks (3-1-0=6)

Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry can still go on streaks, but this team is below the quality of some of the other teams out there. In Saturday night's game against Nashville they weren't that impressive and were bottled up in front of goaltender Jonas Hiller for long stretches. So, the Ducks might be able to block shots for now but that doesn't bode well in the long run when they eventually come across teams that penetrate the net.
Center Daniel Winnik, signed as a free agent from San Jose this offseason, has a team-high five goals, scoring two in each of the first two games. He had eight goals last season and his career high is 11, so he's jazzed.
Teemu Selanne is in fact playing this season and he has five points through four games (2G, 3A). He's 42 years old.
Last Week: @VAN (W 7-3) --- @CGY (W 5-4) --- VAN (L 5-0) --- NSH (W 3-2 S/O)
Upcoming: @SJ, MIN, LA

6. Dallas Stars (2-2-1=5)

Ho hum.
Last Week: PHX (W 4-3) --- @MIN (L 1-0) --- @ DET (W 2-1) --- CHI (L 2-3 OT) --- STL (L 4-3)
Upcoming: @CBJ, @DET, PHX, @PHX

7. Nashville Predators (1-1-3=5)

Three shootout losses in the first five games have been the difference between Nashville having five points and eight. With every point magnified in a strike-shortened season, they'll need to fix their extracurricular performance in order to catch Chicago for the Central Division crown.
Last Week: CBJ (L 3-2 S/O) --- STL (L 4-3 S/O) --- MIN (W 3-1) --- @STL (L 3-0) --- @ANA (L 3-2 S/O)
Upcoming: @PHX, @LA, @SJ

8. Colorado Avalanche (2-2-0=4)

Colorado is a strong first period team that has trouble turning its puck possession into quality scoring chances.
On opening night against Minnesota, the Avalanche dominated first period action but still lost 4-2.
The Avs had to be feeling decent about themselves after beating LA and Columbus handedly, but they went into San Jose on Saturday afternoon and were shutout because they couldn't get real scoring chances when they owned the play.
After scoring eight goals and in 17 games last season, Jamie McGinn has been a complete non-factor so far this year, tallying zero points thus far. I went to the game against San Jose and didn't even notice he was on the ice for 20 shifts.
Goalie Semyon Varlamov has faced a lot of shots.
Captain Gabriel Landeskog has had a slow start. He got destroyed by San Jose's Brad Stuart on Saturday, and his only point on the season is a goal he notched against the Los Angeles' questionable Jonathan Quick.
Last Week: @MIN (L 4-2) --- LA (W 3-1) --- CBJ (W 4-0) --- @SJ (L 4-0)
Upcoming: @EDM, @VAN, @CGY, EDM

9. Minnesota Wild (2-2-0=4)

Since the highly anticipated debuts of summer free agent acquisitions Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, the Wild have been slowed by back-to-back divisional losses.
Parise leads all Wild players in points with six (3-3=6), and Dany Heatley already has three goals, but Suter has been a -1 so far and Devin Setoguchi has been held to only an assist and five shots. Even with a decent goaltending tandem in Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding, this team will only go as far as the four skaters mentioned above will take them.
Last Week: COL (W 4-2) --- DAL (W 1-0) --- NSH (L 3-1) --- DET (L 5-3)
Upcoming: @STL, CBJ, CHI, @ANA

10. Edmonton Oilers (2-2-0=4)

Edmonton's young, talented nucleus is already producing on the scoreboard, but as an entire team Edmonton has yet to dominate a game.
The Oilers have three recent first-overall picks in Taylor Hall (21 years old), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (19) and Nail Yakupov (19), first-round picks in Sam Gagner (23) and Jordan Eberle (22), and a second-round pick in Justin Schultz (22) all playing, scoring and age 23 or younger. Hockey requires chemistry, so as this team plays together theoretically we should see it improve. The Oilers aren't a young team, they're a young, TALENTED team.
The word is still out on goaltender Devan Dubnyk. The 26-year-old allowed six first-period goals against San Jose but stopped 30 of 31 shots against the Kings. He's in his fourth year and has the support of head coach Ralph Krueger, but he'll have to have a good second week in order to be named an everyday starter. Backup Nikolai Khabibulin still hasn't been cleared to play, so Edmonton needs Dubnyk at his best right away. Should Dubnyk fail, Vancouver's Roberto Luongo has been mentioned as a possible option.
Last Week: @VAN (W 3-2 S/O) --- SJ (L 6-3) --- LA (W 2-1 OT) --- @CGY (L 4-3)
Upcoming: COL, @PHX, @SJ, @COL

11. Detroit Red Wings (2-2-0=4)

Since losing defensemen Brad Stuart and Niklas Lidstrom, the Red Wings seem average. The Central Division has caught up to and passed them, and the Wings are looking outside-in at a playoff bid this year.
Last Week: @STL (L 6-0) --- @CBJ (W 4-3 S/O) --- DAL (L 2-1) --- MIN (W 5-3)
Upcoming: @CHI, DAL, STL, @CBJ

12. Los Angeles Kings (1-2-1=3)

The defending Stanley Cup champions started off 0-3 before picking up a win at Phoenix on Saturday. Goaltender Jonathan Quick, who underwent offseason back surgery to repair a henriated disc, clearly isn't 100% and has been a main reason for LA's struggles. The offense has been poor as well, but star center Anze Kopitar's two goals at Phoenix are an encouraging sign of progress as he tries to heal from offseason knee surgery.
Remember, this is a Kings team that was an eight seed in last year's playoffs and required a tremendous effort from Quick to win the Cup. The Kings struggled mightily on offense during the regular season in 2010-11 but were able to click in the postseason. Without dependable play from their defensive backbone in Quick, the Kings are going to need their offense to catch fire to win some games.
Last Week: CHI (L 5-2) --- @COL (L 3-1) --- @EDM (L 2-1 OT) --- @PHX (W 4-2)
Upcoming: VAN, NSH, @ANA

13. Calgary Flames (1-2-1=3)

After three losses to open the season, the Flames finally earned their first win on Saturday night against Edmonton.
Unlike years past, Calgary has some offensive mojo under new head coach Bob Hartley, the same guy who coached Colorado to a Stanley Cup in the 2000-01 season. The Flames get a plethora of odd-man rushes every game and force opponent goalies to play their best in breakaway and two-on-one situations.
Calgary has come from behind twice so far from multiple-goal deficits to tie a game (3 goals vs. ANA, 2 goals at VAN).
Typical 15-20 goal scorers Lee Stempniak and Curtis Glencross are leading the way on offense so far, each having scored three goals through four games. 23-year-old Swedish center Mikael Baklund also has two goals, and the steady veteran winger Alex Tanguay has been instrumental at creating Calgary's scoring chances.
Keep an eye on captain Jarome Iginla, who has yet to score a goal but has three assists. The former 50-goal scorer will once again pop up in rumors near the trade deadline.
Last Week: SJ (L 4-1) --- ANA (L 5-4) --- @VAN (L 3-2 S/O) --- EDM (W 4-3)
Upcoming: COL, CHI

14. Columbus Blue Jackets (1-3-1=3)

Post-Rick Nash, Columbus is without a clear-cut star. 24-year-old center Artem Ansimov, a 6-4, 200 lb. Russian that came over from the Rangers in the Nash trade, is playing on the top line and has a team-high two goals. Ansimov could be that guy, but he's never eclipsed 18 goals in a season so they'll need him to progress and be the go-to guy in a hurry.
Last Week: @NSH (W 3-2 S/O) --- DET (L 4-3 S/O) --- @PHX (L 5-1) --- @COL (L 4-0) --- CHI (L 3-2)
Upcoming: DAL, @MIN, STL, DET

15. Phoenix Coyotes (1-4-0=2)

The defending Pacific Division champions raised a banner in Phoenix last week, but haven't been able to solidify anything else. Three losses to divisional opponents by two goals or less have left the Coyotes sitting at 1-4, with their only win coming against Columbus.
The defense is looking quite dry in the desert, as Phoenix has allowed an average of four goals per game. Goaltender Mike Smith is shouldering the blame for allowing a lot of soft goals, but the defense in front of him isn't playing the same way that took the 'Yotes to the Western Conference Finals last May.
Phoenix has been scoring well, but they are hurting from their team's inability to get everyone to show up on the same night. 38-year-old Shane Sullivan already has four goals, but three of them came against Columbus.
Last Week: @DAL (L 4-3) --- CHI (L 6-4) --- CBJ (W 5-1) --- @SJ (L 5-3) --- LA (L 4-2)
Upcoming: NSH, EDM, @DAL, DAL

Eastern Conference

1. Boston Bruins* (3-0-1=7)

Boston is off to a great start playing the same tough hockey that makes them favorites in the East.
Goaltender Tuuka Rask has successfully replaced Tim Thomas as No. 1 in the pipes. Rask has only allowed about two goals a game and is also receiving incredible defensive play in front of him.
Rookie defenseman Dougie Hamilton has stepped right into the lineup to rave reviews. At 6-5, 200 lbs., the 19-year-old has a very bright future in front of him and is already being praised for veteran-like play. He has captain Zdeno Chara, who stands at 6-9, looking after him, so expect him to only get better.
The Bruins are getting goals from across the board, as nine players have tallied at least one. Tyler Seguin has yet to put one in, but he's been getting shots on net and is a +4 on the year so he'll be just fine.
Last Week: NYR (W 3-1) --- WPG (W 2-1 S/O) --- @NYR (L 4-3 OT) --- NYI (W 4-2)
Upcoming: @CAR, NJ, BUF, @TOR

2. New Jersey Devils* (3-0-0=6)

The defending Eastern Conference champions are protecting Martin Brodeur and winning how they always have: defense.
Last Week: @NYI (W 2-1) --- PHI (W 3-0) --- WSH (W 3-2 OT)
Upcoming: @MTL, @BOS, NYI, @PIT

3. Tampa Bay Lightning* (3-1-0=6)

They haven't played anyone yet. Stamkos, Malone and St. Louis are scoring, per usual.
Last Week: WSH (W 6-3) --- @NYI (L 4-3) --- @CAR (W 4-1) --- OTT (W 6-4)
Upcoming: PHI, FLA, WPG, NYR

4. Ottawa Senators (3-1-0=6)

You look good when you play Florida twice.
Last Week: @WPG (W 4-1) --- FLA (W 4-0) --- @FLA (W 3-1) --- @TB (L 6-4)
Upcoming: PIT, WAS, MTL, @CAR

5. Winnipeg Jets (2-1-1=5)

This team is comprised of Dustin Byfuglien, Evander Kane and Andrew Ladd. When they do well, the team does well. They've combined for six of the team's 10 goals.
Ondrej Pavelev faces 30+ shots every night and has made the 2nd-most saves of any goalie in the NHL. That said, he did pretty good in the first week, even holding the Bruins to one goal.
Last Week: OTT (L 4-1) --- @BOS (L 2-1 S/O) --- @WAS (W 4-2) --- PIT (W 4-2)
Upcoming: NYI, @MTL, @FLA, @TB

6. Montreal Canadiens (2-1-0=4)

Montreal burned themselves with penalties against Toronto, but were able to make Florida and Washington pay for their own penalty troubles. Defenseman Andrei Markov leads the team with three goals, all on the power play.
If it wasn't for the play of goalie Carey Price, Montreal could have lost to Toronto much worse. He's been great so far, allowing only one even-strength goal through three games.
Last Week: TOR (L 2-1) --- FLA (W 4-1) --- WSH (W 4-1)
Upcoming: NJ, WPG, @OTT, BUF

7. Carolina Hurricanes (2-2-0=4)

The Hurricanes have no objections to playing Buffalo every game for the rest of the season. After getting shelled by Florida and Tampa Bay, Carolina recovered by winning both games of a home-and-home with the Sabres.
Jeff Skinner, one of the NHL's budding stars at the ripe of age of 20 and already in his third season, is once again in line for a big year. After scoring 31 goals in his rookie campaign and 20 last year, he has four in four games, scoring at least once in three contests. He's been shooting the puck in bulk, and it's in Carolina's best interest to let him continue to do so.
Cam Ward has been bad in net, while Dan Ellis has been AMAZING and should supplant Ward as the everyday starter following a 40-save performance at Buffalo.
Last Week: @FLA (L 5-1) --- TB (L 4-1) --- BUF (W 6-3) --- @BUF (W 3-1)
Upcoming: BOS, OTT, @PHI

8. Pittsburgh Penguins (2-2-0=4)

They have Crosby and Malkin. They aren't worried.
Last Week: @PHI (W 3-1) --- @NYR (W 6-3) --- TOR (L 5-2) --- @WPG (L 4-2)
Upcoming: @OTT, NYI, @NYR, NJ

9. Buffalo Sabres (2-2-0=4)

A promising start has since been halted by Carolina in back-to-back losses.
Thomas Vanek has been an assists machine.
Life in net hasn't been easy for Ryan Miller, but he's meeting the challenge. He's had to face shot totals of 29, 35 and 41, but has only allowed two even-strength goals (five total). Miller had to win the game for Buffalo against Toronto and did just that, so the Sabres should compete for a playoff spot this year.
Last Week: PHI (W 5-2) --- @TOR (W 2-1) --- @CAR (L 6-3) --- CAR (L 3-1)
Upcoming: @WAS, TOR, @BOS, @MTL

10. New York Islanders (2-2-0=4)

Unable to test Devils G Martin Brodeur in the season opener, the Isles were severely outplayed by Toronto through the first period until the offense put out five unanswered goals in a 7-4 win. Their second line contributed to the cause in that game, where Michael Grabner and Frans Nielsen have been trying to mesh with newcomer Brad Boyes. New York actually had a 2-1 lead on Boston midway through the second period before allowing three unanswered scores in a span of 20 minutes.
Third-line center Keith Aucoin has chipped in three goals in the last two games, while first-line center, former first-overall pick and 30-goal scorer John Tavares has yet to find the back of the net.
Besides the opener against New Jersey, Evgeni Nabokov has been mediocre in net. Rick DiPietro made a relief appearance against Boston and was average as well.
Last Week: NJ (L 2-1) --- TB (W 4-3) --- @TOR (W 7-4) --- @BOS (L 4-2)
Upcoming: @WPG, @PIT, @NJ

12. Philadelphia Flyers (2-3-0=4)

It may not look good in Philly right now, but their record is a bit of a mirage. The Flyers had to face four tremendous goalies to start the season, and as such their offense struggled until they blew out a bad Florida team on Sunday night. They need to beat Tampa Bay, Washington and Carolina this week or they're in big trouble.
Defensively, the Flyers are in trouble. They're allowing the most shots on goal in the league and just lost Andrej Meszaros for a month due to a shoulder injury. On top of that, Chris Pronger, who is suffering from post-concussion syndrome, has no timetable to return and will probably retire. It's going to be a busy season for netminder Ilya Bryzgalov and backup Michael Leighton, who only played one game last year and has yet to start in 2013.
Last Week: PIT (L 3-1) --- @BUF (L 5-2) --- @NJ (L 3-2) --- NYR (W 2-1) --- @FLA (W 7-1)
Upcoming: @TB, @NYR, @WAS, CAR

12. New York Rangers (2-3-0=4)

The Rangers may have a disappointing record for a team favored to represent the Eastern Conference in this year's Stanley Cup, but they've played quality teams. They have a ton of talent, so I'm not touching the Rangers yet. They'll be fine.
Last week: @BOS (L 3-1) --- PIT (L 6-3) --- BOS (W 4-3 OT) --- @PHI (L 2-1) --- TOR (W 5-2)
Upcoming: TOR, PHI, PIT, @TB

13. Toronto Maple Leafs (2-3-0=4)

Mixed bag, and they have a lot of time off this week. They have to win at Buffalo and against Washington to be taken seriously.
Last Week: @MTL (W 2-1) --- BUF (L 2-1) --- @PIT (W 5-2) --- NYI (L 7-4) --- @NYR (L 5-2)
Upcoming: @BUF, WAS, BOS

14. Florida Panthers (1-4-0=2)

Terrible offense. They only scored five goals on Carolina because Cam Ward was in net, who has been bad so far. If you take that game out of the equation, they've been outscored 18-3 in their last four games.
Last week: CAR (W 5-1) --- @OTT (L 4-0) --- @MTL (L 4-1) --- OTT (L 3-1) --- PHI (L 7-1)
Upcoming: @TB, WPG

15. Washington Capitals (0-3-1=1)

Zero wins, zero goals from Ovechkin.
Last Week: @TB (L 6-3) --- WPG (L 4-2) --- MTL (L 4-1) --- @NJ (L 3-2 OT)
Upcoming: BUF, @OTT, @TOR, PHI

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NHL Minute: Week in Review (1/27)

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