The NHL All-Star game is fast approaching, and fans can now vote for the reaming roster. The initial roster is:
Goalies: Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg), Jake Oettinger (Dallas), Igor Shesterkin (N.Y. Rangers), Cam Talbot (Los Angeles)
Defenseman: Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo), Quinn Hughes (Vancouver)
Forwards: Sebastian Aho (Carolina), Mathew Barzal (N.Y. Islanders), Connor Bedard (Chicago), Oliver Bjorkstrand (Seattle), Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh), Alex DeBrincat (Detroit), Jack Eichel (Vegas), Filip Forsberg (Nashville), Tomas Hertl (San Jose), Jack Hughes (New Jersey), Boone Jenner (Columbus), Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota), Clayton Keller (Arizona), Travis Konecny (Philadelphia), Elias Lindholm (Calgary), Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado), Connor McDavid (Edmonton), Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay), Auston Matthews (Toronto), David Pastrnak (Boston), Sam Reinhart (Florida), Nick Suzuki (Montreal), Robert Thomas (St. Louis), Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa), Frank Vatrano (Anaheim)
It’s quite an interesting list. The Jake Oettinger selection is most notable. This season has been below his standards, and he’s injured. I doubt he’ll play. It’s also unusual only two defensemen were chosen. There really needs to be eight in total. I guess they realize no one plays defense, so it doesn’t matter. The NHL apparently threw out the division format and is now drafting teams somehow because that worked so well for the NBA.
Connor Bedard became the youngest player to be an All-Star. The Blackhawks don’t have anyone else even close to being worthy to go. Bedard deserves it anyway. If you’re wondering, Connor McDavid was not an all-star in his rookie year due to injury. Bedard might miss his, too, for the same reason. He’s on injured reserve due to a fractured jaw after a big hit against the New Jersey Devils.
Things I like
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Last season, we had a thrilling race for the top spot in the Central Division between the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Minnesota Wild. It was a given the Avalanche and Stars would be great again this season, but the Winnipeg Jets have replaced the Wild. The Jets have somehow become the top team in the NHL. This is comical because it’s the same team that never does anything, only with the addition of Cole Perfetti. Most teams that struggle in the playoffs have a young core that needs to take its learning lumps first. That’s not the Jets. I don’t think they’ll stay hot, but if they do, we’re in for a treat in the season’s final weeks. Other division races are close, but this is the closest.
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We’ve got a bevy of hot teams currently. The Jets are 14-3 since December 2nd and have won six in a row. But three teams are hotter. The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers have won seven straight, while the Seattle Kraken have also won six straight. The Oilers are 11-3 since December 6th. The Oilers and Kraken are now tied for the final playoff spot. Although not as hot, the Carolina Hurricanes had won five straight and scored 25 goals until losing to the St. Louis Blues. Now is an excellent time to start getting hot, as the Blues demonstrated a few seasons ago when they won the Stanley Cup with their interim coach, who was fired this season.
Fights of the Week
Special thanks to hockeyfights.com for making this section a little easier to do.
Nick Foligno vs Brendan Smith
The longest fight ever with almost no punching.
Goats of the Week
Tyler Seguin - Dallas Stars
The Colorado Avalanche faced the Dallas Stars in a phenomenal game. The end was not great, however. Tied 4-4 in overtime, Seguin pinches with two people near the puck. If he had backpedaled and played defense, his odds wouldn’t have been great, but anything is better than a 2-on-0 breakaway. Seguin had two goals, though, and Nathan MacKinnon had two goals and an assist.
https://www.nhl.com/video/col-dal-mackinnon-scores-goal-against-scott-wedgewood-6344295552112
All on the ice - Calgary Flames
I don’t know what the Flames are doing. They’re all bunched up and fail to cross the blueline, and despite all five being there, they let Travis Konecny escape for his fifth short-handed goal of the season. This was the game-winner.
https://www.nhl.com/video/cgy-phi-konecny-scores-goal-against-jacob-markstrom-6344403968112
Goal of the Week
Brad Marchand - Boston Bruins
Marchand has the moves for a pretty short-handed goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The goal tied this phenomenal game at 5-5, but Sidney Crosby won it with a power play goal. Marchand had two goals, while Crosby had a goal and two assists.
https://www.nhl.com/video/pit-bos-marchand-scores-goal-against-pittsburgh-penguins-6344289749112
Stat Line of the Week
1/06/24 Florida 8 vs.Colorado 4
| Skater | TOI | G | A | +/- | SOG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S.Reinhart | 20:31 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
The Florida Panthers beat the Avalanche in a wild game. The Panthers scored the first three goals in six and a half minutes, then the Avalanche reciprocated to tie the game with three goals in four minutes. They each scored a goal, and then the Panthers broke it open with four straight in the third period. This season has been highlighted by teams dominating for short stretches like this. Sam Reinhart has blossomed since coming to Florida, and this season is set to be his best. Reinhart posted his seventh hat trick in this game. He had back-to-back goals in the first and the game-winning power-play goal in the third. He’s on pace for almost 60 goals and 100 points.
Numbers, Numbers
16 – Points for Sebastian Aho in his last seven games
14 – Points for Andrei Svechnikov in his last seven games
2.34 – GAA for the Los Angeles Kings, first in the NHL
2.38 – GAA for the Winnipeg Jets, second in the NHL
3.99 – GAA for the San Jose Sharks, last in the NHL
11 – Straight losses for the San Jose Sharks
47 – Goals given up in those 11 games, which is 4.27 GAA
.667 – SV% for Magnus Chrona of the Sharks, who gave up four goals on 12 shots against the Oilers
Rankings
The rankings are based on how the teams are currently playing.
Top 5
- Winnipeg
- Seattle
- Florida
- Edmonton
- Colorado
Bottom 5
- San Jose
- Chicago
- Anaheim
- Ottawa
- Columbus