Get ready for a wild ride as we dive into the latest NHL action! This past week has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I'm here to break it down for you.
First off, we witnessed some incredible blowouts. Multiple games saw teams dominating with four or more goal leads, and three games even ended with six or more goal differences! The New York Islanders shut out the New Jersey Devils 9-0, the Colorado Avalanche bested the Ottawa Senators 8-2, and the Boston Bruins crushed the New York Rangers 10-2, earning massive bragging rights. It's been a while since the Bruins put up such a dominant performance, and the players certainly made their mark. David Pastrnak tied the Bruins' franchise record with six assists, while Pavel Zacha and Marat Khusnutdinov both scored their first NHL hat tricks, a feat not seen since 2008!
But here's where it gets controversial... Despite these high-scoring games, this season has been one of the tightest in terms of overall scores. Over a quarter of the games have gone into overtime, which would be a record in the shootout era if the trend continues. This raises an interesting question: Are we witnessing a shift towards more competitive, closely fought matches, or will we see more lopsided wins as the season progresses?
And this is the part most people miss... The NHL has seen a significant increase in high-scoring games in recent years. Prior to the 2021-22 season, there had only been two seasons with at least 200 four-plus-goal victories in NHL history. However, we've seen at least 200 such games in each of the past four seasons, with this season on track to be the fifth consecutive.
So, what does this mean for the rest of the season? Will we continue to see exciting, close games that go down to the wire, or will the blowouts become more frequent? Both scenarios offer their own brand of excitement, but I, for one, am hoping for more of those nail-biting, overtime thrillers!
Moving on, we had some off-ice drama in Ottawa. Linus Ullmark, the Senators' goalie, took a leave of absence on December 28th, sparking wild speculation online. The team's GM, Steve Staios, issued a strong public statement, condemning the lowest forms of trolls and sick people who scour the internet for personal information. It's rare to see a team executive publicly address the toxic side of social media, but it was a refreshing move.
In other news, Dougie Hamilton, a defenseman for the Devils, was informed that he would be a healthy scratch for a game. This decision led to a back-and-forth between Hamilton's agent, J.P. Barry, and the Devils' GM, Tom Fitzgerald. Hamilton's performance this season has been a topic of discussion, with 10 points in 40 games and a minus-7 rating. Could a trade be on the horizon? My sources tell me that a move might be imminent, but we'll have to wait and see.
And if that wasn't enough drama, there was even a hole in the Olympic ice rink during test games! Talk about a major hiccup!
Now, let's take a look at some of the biggest games coming up this week:
- Carolina Hurricanes vs. Detroit Red Wings: The Wings will finally retire Sergei Fedorov's jersey, and the game promises to be an exciting clash between the top teams in their respective divisions.
- Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Philadelphia Flyers: The Lightning are on a roll, having won nine in a row. This game and their upcoming matches against the Penguins and Stars will be tough tests for the Bolts.
- Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: The Flyers-Penguins rivalry is heating up, with both teams battling for playoff spots. Remember the intense shootout and brawl from October? It's sure to be another thrilling encounter.
- Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres are on a winning streak, and this game against the Habs will be crucial in the race for third place in the Atlantic.
Other key games to watch include Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers vs. Buffalo Sabres, and San Jose Sharks vs. Washington Capitals.
In terms of what I loved this weekend, I'm a sucker for heartwarming dad moments. James van Riemsdyk, or JVR, celebrated his son's birthday away from home by dressing up as Batman, just like his son did back home. It's these little gestures that make sports so special.
For the Hart Trophy candidates, David Pastrnak deserves an honorable mention for his recent performance. But my top three picks from last week remain unchanged: Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, and Macklin Celebrini. These players are truly setting the bar high, and we might look back on this week as the moment the gap widened between them and the rest of the league.
The social media post of the weekend goes to the Hershey Bears, who had two viral moments within a week. First, their annual Teddy Bear Toss was a huge success, with all the bears going to a good cause. But then, a brawl broke out during a mites game! The crowd was divided, with some cheering and others in disbelief. It was like an '80s rivalry game, with both teams circling each other and throwing punches. Even the goalies got involved!
Lastly, a special shout-out to the mascots who visited the New Jersey Devils last week. They took time out of their busy schedules to send a video to Logan, a 9-year-old boy battling cancer. Logan and his family have been receiving support and encouragement from these mascots, and it's heartwarming to see the community coming together.
So, there you have it! A wild week in the NHL, filled with exciting games, off-ice drama, and heartwarming moments. What do you think? Are you team overtime or team blowout? Let's discuss in the comments!
