The NHL's Central Division has cooled off and now the Atlantic Division is heating up.

The Colorado Avalanche have four regulation losses in their 10 games after having only two through Dec. 4. They still have a big lead in the Presidents' Trophy race, but with 79 points in 50 games, they're on pace for 129 points, short of the record held by the 2022-23 Boston Bruins (135).

The Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild also have slowed with just four wins each in their last 10 games, though the Utah Mammoth are charging.

In the Atlantic, the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and the Buffalo Sabres continue their turnaround with an 18-3-1 surge that puts them in better position to end a 14-season playoff drought. The Bruins are on a 8-2 run to move into a wild-card spot.

Here are the latest USA TODAY NHL power rankings:

NHL power rankings

Statistics are through Jan. 25. Number in parentheses indicates a change from two weeks ago.

1. Colorado Avalanche (0)

Forward Brock Nelson had a hat trick as the Avalanche defeated the Maple Leafs 4-1 to end a 1-2-2 slide. The U.S. Olympian ranks second on Colorado with 27 goals.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning (+1)

The Lightning's 15-game point streak ended as they fell 8-5 to the Blue Jackets despite a four-point game by Nikita Kucherov. He had 32 points during the team's point streak.

3. Carolina Hurricanes (+2)

Struggling Jesperi Kotkaniemi has been mentioned in trade rumors. He has averaged a little more than 11 minutes a game and has two goals in 31 games while carrying a $4.82 million cap hit.

4. Detroit Red Wings (+2)

Patrick Kane is one point away from tying Hall of Famer Mike Modano for most points by a U.S.-born scorer. He could have tied in his last game, but one of his assists was taken away.

5. Minnesota Wild (-3)

Swedish defenseman Jonas Brodin had surgery for a lower-body injury and will miss the Olympics. But fellow Olympians Matt Boldy (USA) and Joel Eriksson Ek (Sweden) appear good to go after returning from injuries.

6. Dallas Stars (-2)

Two Stars non-Olympians are putting up big numbers. Jason Robertson leads U.S. scorers with 30 goals. Wyatt Johnston (Canada) leads all NHL players with 17 power-play goals.

7. Buffalo Sabres (+3)

The Sabres have surged from outside the playoff picture to third in the Atlantic Division since changing general managers. Jarmo Kekalainen made his first major move by giving Josh Doan a seven-year extension.

8. Vegas Golden Knights (0)

Goaltender Adin Hill is 2-2 since returning from a long injury absence, but he has a .848 save percentage. He lost 7-1 to the Senators on Jan. 25.

9. Pittsburgh Penguins (+4)

The Penguins went 4-0 in their western Canada trip, their first sweep there since 2018. British Columbia native Ben Kindel scored twice in a Jan. 25 win in Vancouver

10. Montreal Canadiens (-3)

The Canadiens have lost two in a row and dropped to a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

11. Boston Bruins (+5)

Forward David Pastrnak has six goals and 17 assists in his last 12 games. He has been held off the scoreboard once in that stretch, in which the Bruins have gone 10-2.

12. New York Islanders (-3)

Bo Horvat, the Islanders' lone Olympian (Canada), returned on Jan. 24 from an injury that kept him out for nine games.

13. Florida Panthers (+5)

Matthew Tkachuk played his first game of the season on Jan. 19, but his appearance was overshadowed by the first NHL goalie fight in six years. Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky charged down the ice to take on San Jose's Alex Nedeljkovic, who had entered a scrum behind his net. The Panthers are 3-1 since Tkachuk returned.

14. Utah Mammoth (+7)

Goalie Karel Vejmelka, named to the Czech Olympic team, is 9-1 with 2.19 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in January.

15. Edmonton Oilers (-1)

Connor McDavid has been averaging two points a game since the start of December to move into the league's scoring lead. He had five points, including an overtime win, against the Capitals on Jan. 24. Defenseman Evan Bouchard had three goals and three assists in that game.

16. Philadelphia Flyers (-5)

Forward Rodrigo Abols will miss the Olympics because of an ankle injury. He had been named to Team Latvia as one of the first six. Two of the Flyers' other Olympians, Czechia's Dan Vladar and Finland's Rasmus Ristolainen, are on the injured list. They were at practice on Jan. 26.

17. Anaheim Ducks (+10)

The Ducks have won seven in a row after a nine-game winless streak. Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe is heading to the Olympics, replacing injured Panthers defenseman Seth Jones. Sweden's Leo Carlsson had a procedure for a laceration and could miss the Games.

18. San Jose Sharks (+2)

Forward Kiefer Sherwood, acquired from the Canucks, is second in the league with 210 hits. The top Sharks player this season is Ryan Reaves with 133.

19. Los Angeles Kings (0)

The Kings caught a break when goalie Darcy Kuemper didn't miss any games in an injury scare. He left a game after his arm went numb following a collision, but he started the Kings' next game.

20. Seattle Kraken (-3)

The Kraken, who dropped out of a playoff spot in a 2-5-2 slide, pulled even in points with the Sharks and Kings for the second wild card spot. They remain out of a position because they have played one more game.

21. Toronto Maple Leafs (-9)

Injured Mitch Marner apologized on social media for making an obscene gesture while on camera. "sorry about my moment of frustration today!" he posted on Jan. 25. "didn't mean to upset anyone. looking forward to being back on ice and not in the stands."

22. Columbus Blue Jackets (+6)

The Blue Jackets have gone 5-1 since firing coach Dean Evason and hiring Rick Bowness as a replacement.

23. New Jersey Devils (0)

Dougie Hamilton has a goal and eight assists in seven games since he sat out as a healthy scratch. The veteran's production has risen with Luke Hughes out with an injury.

24. Washington Capitals (-9)

The Capitals have one win in their last six games, a stretch that included a regulation loss to the last-place Canucks. But by picking up a point in an overtime loss to the Oilers, they sit two points out of third place in the Metropolitan Division.

25. Ottawa Senators (-1)

Goaltender Linus Ullmark returned from his leave of absence on Jan. 25 as a backup. He told TSN he took the leave for mental health reasons and blasted the rumors that started. "People wonder why hockey players, professional athletes are not talking, why we're not showing any sort of emotions, what mental health in men and women are a stigma," he said. "It took them less than 24 hours from my absence of leave to try to find reasons to why I'm gone, saying that I'm a homewrecker, a person that no one likes on the team."

26. Nashville Predators (-4)

Steven Stamkos' bounce-back season continues. He picked up his second hat trick of the season and has 25 goals in 51 games, two shy of his 2024-25 total in 82 games.

27. Chicago Blackhawks (-1)

Connor Bedard has been limited to one goal, four points and a minus 6 rating in eight games since he returned from a shoulder injury.

28. Winnipeg Jets (+3)

The Jets have been up and down this season as they try to avoid missing the playoffs one season after winning the Presidents' Trophy. They put together a four-game winning streak after ending an 11-game winless streak. But now they lost four of their last five games.

29. New York Rangers (-4)

General manager Chris Drury sent fans a letter indicating the team will retool. They won't offer pending UFA Artemi Panarin a contract, per reports, meaning they have to work with him to waive his no-movement clause so they don't lose him for nothing. Vincent Trocheck has been mentioned as a trade possibility.

30. Calgary Flames (-1)

The Flames dealt pending UFA defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Golden Knights. Along with draft picks, they received defenseman Zach Whitecloud, who's signed through 2028.

31. St. Louis Blues (-1)

Canadian Olympic team goalie Jordan Binnington has lost four in a row since a Jan. 23 shutout, giving up 18 goals.

32. Vancouver Canucks (0)

Forward Kiefer Sherwood, the subject of much trade speculation, was shipped to the Sharks for two second-round picks and American Hockey League defenseman Cole Clayton.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL power rankings: Atlantic Division soaring while Central slows

Jonathan Lekkerimäki has been a force for the Abbotsford Canucks when returning to the AHL at various points this season. Despite only playing in 16 games for Abbotsford this season, the forward leads his team in goals (10) and sits at fifth in points (16). In terms of offensive output and the skills he’s shown so far this season, Lekkerimäki absolutely deserves a shot at some NHL playing time this season. Here’s why giving him that time right now isn’t the wisest decision. 

Lekkerimäki Is Finding Consisentcy At The AHL Level 

Lekkerimäki got his rookie season in the AHL off to a good start, as the forward scored 19 goals and nine assists in 36 games played. He did all this while bouncing from Vancouver to Abbotsford due to injuries within the organization, also while scoring three goals and three assists in 24 games at the NHL level. All things considered, Lekkerimäki’s efforts in a split season were impressive — but not necessarily something that’s good for his development. 

When he returned to the AHL for a more extended period of time this season, Lekkerimäki made an automatic impact. After returning from injury, the forward put up three goals and two assists in five games with Abbotsford, ultimately helping him receive a call-up at the end of November. Lekkerimäki played in four games with the Canucks before being sent back down to Abbotsford at the beginning of December. 

Since then, Lekkerimäki has remained in Abbotsford, though he has missed two different stints due to injury and illness. Even so, with his current four-game point streak, it appears that Lekkerimäki has found comfort in consistency playing with Abbotsford, which will be integral to his development moving forward. Calling him up when he’s playing with consistent linemates and getting proper minutes would only hamper his growth.

Vancouver Needs To Figure Out What Moves They’re Making 

With the 2026 Winter Olympics coming up in February, the Canucks have a lot of things to sort out before they can consider giving young players like Lekkerimäki NHL minutes. For starters, it would make no sense to bring him up now, as the league will be going on break in two weeks, resulting in the forward being sent down then to get some more playing time with Abbotsford. 

The fact that Vancouver is getting healthy bodies back, as well as the fact that the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline will occur at the start of March, means that Lekkerimäki probably won’t get the kind of minutes he should be getting. With Teddy Blueger and Filip Chytil back in the lineup, as well as Marco Rossi likely to return immediately after the Olympic break, there may not be enough room for Lekkerimäki with so many wingers — particularly veterans — stuffing Vancouver’s depth chart. 

Adding to Vancouver’s stockpile on the wings is the fact that the Canucks are expected to be a seller come the trade deadline. Vancouver already traded Kiefer Sherwood to the San Jose Sharks last Monday, though it seems as though they’re not quite done yet. On one hand, as a rebuilding team, Vancouver will want to give the players they’re looking at moving on from a fair amount of minutes to showcase their skills. On the other hand, playing a young player like Lekkerimäki with a group that might not even be in-tact in a couple weeks’ time will mess with the forward’s consistency even more. It’s one thing to bring him from one team to another; swapping multiple pieces in a roster he’s playing on will make an even bigger difference. 

Why A Full AHL-Season Could Be Beneficial To Lekkerimäki 

Even after the trade deadline, the Canucks may be tempted to call Lekkerimäki up to give him proper NHL minutes. The argument could be made that giving him some NHL time will allow him to adjust to the league while getting used to playing with some of Vancouver’s younger players at the NHL level. As helpful as this might be, overall, letting him stay in the AHL is probably the better decision. 

If the Canucks truly are rebuilding, as they say they are, the two months after the trade deadline probably aren’t going to be very pretty for Vancouver. Players’ confidence may take a hit if the team ends up on yet another 11-game losing streak. While things aren’t going much better in Abbotsford, the team is starting to find some success while retaining that Calder Cup culture that helped propel them to a championship in 2025. A positive atmosphere like that will help a player like Lekkerimäki approach the game with a more positive mindset compared to what he may develop during an end-of-season skid at the NHL level. 

Mindset aside, another positive point of Lekkerimäki remaining in Abbotsford for the rest of the season is that it gives him a break from the back-and-forth. After jumping around in 2024–25, and then bouncing back and forth a little more this season, the forward will have played quite a bit by the end of this season. While the trip from Abbotsford to Vancouver is nowhere near as bad of a commute as it could be for some AHL players, the amount of playing time Lekkerimäki has taken part in is a good chunk more than what he’s been used to in the past when playing in the SHL. Keep in mind that this is a second-year player who played in a total of 76 games last year at both the NHL and AHL level as well as in the post-season. He’s also dealt with two different injuries this season and sustained another one during the Calder Cup playoffs last year. More back-and-forth and switching between different leagues’ styles of play may result in him re-aggravating something or even sustaining another injury. 

At the end of the day, Lekkerimäki will make his way back to the NHL. Despite how much he’s earned it with his recent stretches of play, now is not the time for that. It’s in the organization’s best interest to give a young player like Lekkerimäki the proper minutes to develop his game in a stable environment while the NHL-side figures out the direction they want to go in. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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The New York Islanders need to get their swagger back, and there's no better time to do that than on Monday night against the Philadelphia Flyers. 

After the Pittsburgh Penguins' 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks, the Islanders now trail Sidney Crosby and Co. by four points in the standings. 

And with the Flyers defeating the Colorado Avalanche 7-3 their last time out, Rick Tocchet's team trails the Islanders by just two points in the standings, making Monday night's game a big one. 

The Islanders have battled consistency all season long. They've gone on a run, showcasing a tremendous amount of swagger, like when they went 6-1-0 on their first seven-game road trip of the season. 

But, they've also gone on the opposite streak, going 0-4-1 in their first five games after returning home. Flash-forward to now, they are losers of three of their last four games, the latest a 5-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, a nightmarish showing. 

There are 31 games left in the season, but with how tight the Metropolitan Division still is, an extended losing streak could be disastrous. 

The Islanders' struggles as of late, even a week ago, didn't seem too costly, given that they were still sitting in second place in the Metro, with the teams behind them failing to take advantage. 

Islanders' Calum Ritchie An Extra At Morning Skate; Could Play vs. Flyers If Holmstrom Can’t Go Rookie Calum Ritchie sits as a healthy scratch again. Marc Gatcomb draws into the lineup as the Islanders face the Flyers.

But things have changed. 

Despite Philadelphia's latest win, they've lost seven of their last nine games (2-5-2). 

The Islanders may be without defenseman Ryan Pulock for a second straight game, but they do have their leading goal scorer, Bo Horvat, back in the lineup.

Vezina-favorite Ilya Sorokin is back in between the pipes, but even he is looking to raise his game a bit after allowing three or more goals in four of his last five games. 

The Islanders have seven more games before the Olympic break, with six games against Metropolitan Division foes. 

Puck drop between the Islanders and Flyers comes your way at 7 PM ET on MSGSN. 

The Los Angeles Kings and Columbus Blue Jackets were set to face off at Nationwide Arena on Monday. However, that outing has been rescheduled to March 9 due to severe winter weather conditions in Columbus.

The game was set for a 7 p.m. EST puck drop, but the rescheduled event's start time has yet to be announced.

Reports say Columbus received about 12 inches of snow, a record-breaking number for central Ohio.

This would've been the Kings' 51st game of the regular season. They're coming off two straight victories, with their last win on Saturday against the St. Louis Blues in a shootout.

The Blue Jackets and Kings may look much different when March 9 comes around, as that is three days after the NHL trade deadline. 

With Monday's game being postponed, Los Angeles will travel to Detroit to take on the Red Wings on Tuesday.

The Red Wings are one of the best teams in the league as they lead the Atlantic Division and are third in the NHL. That game also starts at 7 p.m. EST, 4 p.m. PST.

This date change throws a wrench into coach Jim Hiller's plans with his goaltending rotation. As the team was scheduled to go through a back-to-back, both Darcy Kuemper and Anton Forsberg would likely play a game each.

However, now that the back-to-back is no longer there, Forsberg may get an extra day of rest.

This also shortens the Kings' road trip. The trip began on Saturday against the Blues and was set to be six games long. That now changed to a five-game road trip in total.

Furthermore, this game being pushed to Monday, March 9, extends an original road trip that was meant to be three games into four.

The affair with Columbus comes in the front half of a back-to-back with the Boston Bruins. Later in the week, the Kings go through another back-to-back with the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils.

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The Winnipeg Jets recalled defenseman Isaak Phillips from the Manitoba Moose on Monday, adding depth to their blue line as the club is set to go on a four-game road trip, starting with the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

Phillips has already seen limited action with the Jets this year, appearing in two games earlier in the season when Winnipeg was dealing with multiple injuries on defense. In those appearances, the 23 year old logged nine and six minutes of ice time and did not record a point. He was steady defensively, however, finishing with no minus rating, a positive result given his limited usage.

Drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, Phillips spent four seasons in the Chicago organization. His NHL opportunities were limited, as he appeared in just 56 games over that span before leaving the organization. Phillips joined the Jets organization prior to this season and has spent the majority of the year with the Moose in the American Hockey League.

Congrats to Isaak Phillips on scoring his first @NHL goal 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TknDlLPawe

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 15, 2023

At the AHL level, Phillips has produced solid numbers. In 35 games with Manitoba, he has recorded three goals and 12 assists for 15 points, along with a plus five rating, while providing reliable play on the back end.

Phillips is expected to serve as Winnipeg’s seventh defenseman and may not see game action unless another injury occurs among the Jets’ regular six. It is also possible the recall is precautionary, with one of the defensemen dealing with a minor issue that has not been made public.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — Head coach John Hynes said David Jiricek continues to make progress as he adjusts to the pace and demands of the NHL game.

Which is good considering he is, and was, talked about as being an offensive defenseman. But having zero points in 22 games this year leaves some concern as it doesn't really scream offensive defenseman.

“I think that David is getting more and more comfortable playing. I think just firm decisions with the puck have been good,” Hynes said. “From a competitive standpoint, he’s always a guy that we think competes hard. It’s just positioning at a high pace at the NHL level, it’s puck decisions at times, it’s just trying to get more consistency in those two areas.”

A development curve can look different for every player, particularly for young defensemen learning to process the game at NHL speed.

It is even easier for a young defenseman to get caught up in his boxscore stats and be worried since he isn't producing. But Hynes said Jiricek understands his development curve.

“Yes, I think that he understands where he’s at and that he’s still developing and still getting ready and everybody’s path is different,” Hynes said.

The Wild have focused on maintaining open communication with Jiricek as he continues to build his game, outlining expectations and areas of improvement while keeping him aligned with the organization’s long-term plan.

“But I do think that we try as best we can to communicate with the player and players of what their situation is, what’s good, what needs improvement, what our plan is for them,” Hynes said.

That transparency, Hynes said, has helped Jiricek remain comfortable with the process, even when it involves spending time away from the NHL lineup.

There have been many times this year that Jiricek has been scratched.

Minnesota swung big with a huge trade last season to acquire Jiricek from the Columbus Blue Jackets when they traded Daemon Hunt, a first round pick in 2025, a third round pick and fourth round pick in 2026 and a second round pick in 2027.

The Wild ended up getting Hunt back when Columbus put him on waivers this year after preseason.

There were even times this season where Hunt would play on his off-side while Jiricek would sit in the press box.

This obviously left Wild fans very concerned, considering what they gave up to acquire the defensemen who couldn't even stay in the lineup.

But, the Wild have been very open with Jiricek in their communication. When he is scratched, Alex Goligoski often sits with him in the press box and analyzes the game with him to offer pointers and things of that nature.

Goligoski was hired by the Wild this season as a player development advisor. He works specifically with defensemen.

“So, I think that there’s a comfort level in that, that there’s communication,” Hynes said. “He knows that he’s got a lot of potential. He knows he can play. He wants to play.”

Hynes emphasized that consistent game action remains a priority for Jiricek's development.

“But I think it’s important, too, that when you’re in his situation that you are willing to go through the process and have a realistic assessment of where your game is at, where our team is at,” Hynes said. “And try to put him in positions if he’s not going to play regularly here, then we think it’s the best thing for him to play regularly in Iowa. And he agrees with that, so now it’s just continuing to build his game and continue to develop.”

For the Wild, the hope is that the production eventually follows the habits. Jiricek’s development has been less about immediate offense and more about learning how to survive, and then thrive, at NHL pace.

If the positioning sharpens and the puck decisions continue to improve, the points that once defined his profile should arrive naturally.

Until then, Minnesota appears willing to live with patience, believing the foundation matters more than the numbers on the back of the stat sheet.

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Recent Wild Stories

Newly Acquired Defenseman Quinn Hughes Breaks Franchise Record In 18th GameQuinn Hughes rewrites Wild history, shattering a scoring record in just 18 games. Discover how his immediate impact transforms the team's offensive attack.

- Wild Place Star Winger Matt Boldy On Injured Reserve.

- Immediate Impact: Quinn Hughes' Start With The Wild Has Been Historically Fast.

- 'You Want To Get Out Of Your Zone': Why Quinn Hughes Changes The Game For The Wild.

- Wild's Jonas Brodin, Joel Eriksson Ek Named To Sweden's Olympic Roster.

- 'We Want To Compete For The Stanley Cup': Why Bill Guerin Went All In.

Mother Nature isn’t the only one capable of bringing down a storm. We had so much to discuss that we broke this episode into two parts.

In Part 1, Mike and Dan find the Islanders at a low point after an average road trip and a disastrous return game.

In three games this week, the Islanders left us with layers of anger and frustration. They finished their trip with two bad games, one that somehow yielded a win and another that landed like a lead balloon. They then came back to UBS Arena to face the surging Sabres and once again no-showed a matinee game full of kids, an all-too familiar scenario for them over the last decade-plus. The Isles are still in a playoff berth as of now, but only because the teams below them are scuffling. Management has made no indications that any changes are coming, and the same assortment of deck chairs keeps getting rearranged, leading to no surprises and predictable outcomes.

A game against a Flyers team hunting for the same playoff berth on Monday is huge for both clubs. The Islanders follow that with back-to-back(!) games against a Rangers team that would love to play spoiler, even as they wave their second white flag in seven years. Then it’s a game against Nashville, that old boogie man. With just two weeks before the Olympic Break, these winnable games will all have an effect on how the rest of the Islanders’ season should be treated.

In Part 2, we react to the first concrete reporting on the Islanders moving their AHL team from Bridgeport, CT to Hamilton, ONT, and also wrap up the Mitch Marner Chronicles in another massive Master Leaf Theatre.

The Bridgeport Islanders leaving their home of over 25 years was first teased months ago, but a recent report in The Athletic put out a lot of details we didn’t know already. While the team has yet to make anything official, we give our initial reactions and concerns about the move, while also feeling sympathy for the fans who supported the Sound Tigers/Baby Islanders organization during an usually long time for one minor league team to stay in one place.

Then it’s on to another epic-length Master Leaf Theatre, as Mitch Marner makes his return to his hometown and his former favorite team’s home rink. As expected, the takes afterward were equal parts dramatic and ridiculous, with some writing about the fan reaction in delusional or Shakespearian terms, and others calling out the evening’s failings, including those of the Leafs themselves in a gutless 6-3 loss. We add some new voices to the Master Leaf Theatre canon, which is always a treat, and enjoy some unexpected twists from classic artists of the genre. We had so much to get to that we forgot to mention the Leafs selling an autographed Marner Knights jersey on the concourse during his return game. That tells you all you need to know about how this “hostile” this environment was.

We’ve done a lot of this over the last two weeks, so we’re going to take a little hiatus unless something crazy happens.

Thanks for listening to this two-part episode. The severe weather impacted us in a few way and this was the best solution.

REFERENCES

• Islanders plan to relocate AHL affiliate from Bridgeport to Hamilton: Sources by Pierre LeBrun, Eric Stephens at The Athletic

Master Leaf Theatre material:

• Where did it go wrong for Mitch Marner and the Maple Leafs? by Elliotte Friedman, Sportsnet
• Mitch Marner hears boos (so many boos) in his return to Maple Leafs ice. As it should be by Rosie DiManno, Toronto Star
• Behind the boos: Inside Mitch Marner’s return to Toronto as a Golden Knight by Joshua Kloke, The Athletic
• Maple Leafs faithful rain jeers down upon Marner in tense reunion by Sonny Sachdeva
• ‘Going to be loud’: Why Toronto will be booing Mitch Marner by Luke Fox, Sportsnet
• Maple Leafs fail to match intensity of Mitch Marner’s return by Luke Fox, Sportsnet
• SIMMONS SAYS: Maple Leafs Auston Matthews behaving rather uncaptain-like by Steve Simmons

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Even though they almost let it slip away on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins won all four games on their Western Conference road trip and mostly did so in impressive fashion. They beat the Seattle Kraken, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers by multiple goals, with all three games being rather convincing wins, and then had a 3-0 lead on the Vancouver Canucks going into the third period. They needed goalie Stuart Skinner to stand on his head a little bit to secure that win, but the bottom line is he did, they got the two points, and they remain one of the best teams in the NHL since the holiday break with an 11-2-2 record in their first 15 games since then.

What that means for the standings:

• The Penguins are tied for the seventh-best points percentage (.618) in the entire NHL.
• Their goal-differential is tied for the sixth-best in the NHL.
• They are tied for the fourth-best points percentage (.618) in the Eastern Conference.
• They are four points ahead of the New York Islanders for the second spot in the Metropolitan Division in the same number of games played.
• They are on a 101-point pace for the season.
• The current playoff cut-off line in the Eastern Conference is 98 points in the wild-card race and 94 points in the Metropolitan Division.

Overall, they have put themselves in a pretty good spot.

They have a chance to keep it going on this upcoming three-game home stand against the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators.

The home stand begins on Thursday night against Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks. The Penguins won the first meeting this season, 7-3, back on Dec. 28 in Chicago to kickstart this recent strong stretch of play.

While Bedard is a blossoming superstar in the NHL, the Blackhawks as a whole are still not particularly good. They enter the week having won just three of their past nine games, have the sixth-worst record in the NHL and some of the worst 5-on-5 scoring chance and possession metrics in the NHL.

They are 30th in 5-on-5 expected goal share and 28th in expected goals against per 60 minutes. That should be a winnable game.

On Saturday the Penguins host former head coach Mike Sullivan and the Rangers for a celebration of the 2016 Stanley Cup team. Several former players will be in the house, and it should be another chance to collect some points against a Rangers team that is currently, by far, the worst team in the Eastern Conference. They are even worse due to the current injuries to top defenseman Adam Fox and starting goalie Igor Shesterkin. Aside from the injuries, the Rangers simply have a lack of offensive talent that limits their scoring ability and ability to push play during 5-on-5 hockey. It is a poorly constructed team that is currently without two of the players it could least afford to be without. The Penguins and Rangers have split the first two games this season, with the Penguins getting a 3-0 win in New York in the season opener, and the Rangers getting a 6-1 win in Sullivan’s first return back to Pittsburgh as an opposing coach.

Even the Monday against the Senators is a winnable game. Ottawa is probably better than its record indicates and has been ruined by awful goaltending all season, but there is still a chance there for more points.

The two big wild cards this week for the Penguins are going to be the availability of forwards Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin.

Malkin seemed to be in pain at the end of Sunday’s game when he was bumped on the bench in celebration of the win.

Rust, meanwhile, could be facing a potential suspension for a hit to the head late in Sunday’s win against the Canucks.

Any potential absence of either player (or both) would disrupt the line chemistry the Penguins have really started to develop over the past few weeks.

Even so, given the way the Penguins are playing, and given the teams on the schedule this week, it would be a bit of a disappointment to not come out of this week with four points. That should be a realistic expectation and goal.

The New York Islanders have been generous to Under backers this season, particularly when facing sturdy defensive teams.

My Islanders vs. Flyers predictions and NHL picks expect that to hold true in an important divisional battle between two teams neck-and-neck in the standings.

Islanders vs Flyers prediction

Islanders vs Flyers best bet: Under 5.5 (+105)

Ilya Sorokin has performed as well as anybody this season, leading the NHL in goals saved above expected with a mark of +23.8 through 30 appearances. He's a huge reason why the New York Islanders rank fifth in goals against per game and sit in a playoff spot.

The Islanders have played in a lot of low-scoring games (they possess an O/U record of 22-27-2), especially against other stingy sides.

The Philadelphia Flyers meet the criteria. They're one of the best shot suppression teams in the NHL and also prevent goals very effectively — at least with Dan Vladar, tonight’s projected starter, between the pipes.

Isolating games against Top-10 teams in terms of limiting shots, eight of New York’s past 12 have featured five goals or fewer. That includes five straight on the road.

The Islanders don’t have enough firepower to score consistently against good defensive teams, while almost every opponent struggles to beat Sorokin. Neither of these teams has scored more than three goals over the past five head-to-head matchups.

With Sorokin and Vladar expected between the pipes, there’s no reason to expect either team to hit its offensive ceiling in this one.

Islanders vs Flyers same-game parlay

Owen Tippett has shot the lights out of late, averaging 3.2 SOG over the past 10 while clearing this line in eight. Coming off a hat trick against the No. 1-ranked Avalanche, Tippett should have all the confidence to keep shooting in this one.

Philadelphia is great at taking away the middle of the ice and forcing teams to shoot from the perimeter. That bodes well for Tony DeAngelo, a former Flyer who's recorded multiple shots in four straight returns to Philadelphia.

Islanders vs Flyers SGP

• Under 5.5
• Owen Tippett Over 2.5 shots
• Tony DeAngelo Over 1.5 shots

Islanders vs Flyers odds

• Moneyline: Islanders +100 | Flyers -120
• Puck Line: Islanders +1.5 (-250) | Flyers -1.5 (+205)
• Over/Under: Over 5.5 | Under 5.5

Islanders vs Flyers trend

The Islanders have cashed the Under in 14 of their last 20 road games for +9.75 units and a 45% ROI.  Find more NHL betting trends for Islanders vs. Flyers.

How to watch Islanders vs Flyers

Islanders vs Flyers latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

From the moment he arrived in town last April, Ivan Demidov has been a Montreal Canadiens fan’s favourite, and his performance this season has not disappointed. He started the year on a line with fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen and Alex Newhook, which proved to be a very good line until Newhook was injured, forcing Martin St-Louis to find another combination. The rookies got a turn with Kirby Dach, but he was injured in their very first game as linemates. They then had a seven-game stint with Juraj Slafkovsky before spending a few games with Alexandre Texier. Still, ultimately, the coach reverted to the Slovak power forward, and the league has really come into its own.

After 52 games, the Russian rookie leads all NHL rookies with 43 points, 24 penalty minutes, and a plus-eight rating, and until Sunday night, his linemate Kapanen was leading all rookies in goals scored, with 16, but that changed with the Anaheim Ducks’ 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames. Ducks’ rookie Beckett Sennecke scored his first hat trick in the comeback overtime win, leapfrogging Kapanen in the rookie goal-scoring race. He now has 18 lamplighters.

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That performance also allowed Sennecke to get closer to Demidov and the rookie-scoring lead, as he now has 41 points, just two behind the Canadiens’ Russian wonder. Both players have skated in 52 games and should be Matthew Schaefer’s main competition in the race for the Calder Trophy.

The fact that Demidov has the lead right now is impressive considering he only plays an average of 18.1 shifts per game compared to Sennecke’s 21.7 shifts and Schaefer’s 26.9. Of course, it means the Russian gets less ice time, skating for an average of 15 minutes and 24 seconds, while Sennecke spends an average of 17:09 on the ice, and the defenseman, 24:04. Demidov is undoubtedly making the most of the time he is given.

In the last 10 years, seven forwards have won the Calder Trophy while only three defensemen have been able to grab it. Last year, Lane Hutson won it with 66 points, while Moritz Seider claimed it in 2021-22, and Cale Makar landed it in 2019-20, both with 50 points, but Covid shortened Makar’s rookie season. Over those 10 years, the forwards who won the Trophy averaged 67 points.

As things stand, Demidov is on pace for 68 points while Sennecke is on pace for 65. Meanwhile, Schaefer is on pace for 55 points, in Calder Trophy territory for a blueliner, and his role goes beyond just putting up points for the New York Islanders. It feels like Demidov will need to really separate himself with his production if he’s to win the rookie of the year trophy for a second year running for the Canadiens.

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Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

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There are five games on the ice on Monday, January 26, and I’ve got a trio of NHL player props to cover you throughout the night.

A pair of my top NHL picks are targeting Boston Bruins wingers David Pastrnak and Viktor Arvidsson in a soft matchup against the New York Rangers.

Best NHL player prop bets today

Get a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL.
(not available in Ontario)

Our best NHL player props for Monday, January 26

Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.

Prop #1: David Pastrnak Over 3.5 shots on goal

+105 at BET99

Boston Bruins superstar David Pastrnak has recorded four or more shots in six of his past eight games, totaling 32 on 64 attempts. His 12.0 shots and 24.01 attempts per 60 minutes during the stretch rank eighth and fifth in the league, respectively. 

With the New York Rangers ranking 28th in Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5 while allowing a healthy 29.2 shots per game out of the holiday break, this checks out as a soft matchup. 

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NHL Network, Sportsnet+

Prop #2: Viktor Arvidsson Over 2.5 shots on goal

-115 at BET99

Viktor Arvidsson ranks second in shots while pacing the NHL in attempts per 60 minutes across his past 10 games, recording three or more in eight of those contests. 

He’s piled up a monster 39 shots and 72 attempts during the stretch, and as noted, this is a great matchup for the B's snipers.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NHL Network, Sportsnet+

Prop #3: Dylan Guenther Under 0.5 points

+105 at BET99

Utah Mammoth winger Dylan Guenther has dropped to a third-line role, and this is a tough matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Tampa has surrendered the second-fewest expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 and ranks second in penalty-kill percentage.

Plus, Guenther has missed the scoresheet in four of his past eight games.

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ESPN+, Sportsnet+

These props are available now at BET99, one of our best betting sites.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

The New Jersey Devils are returning home this week from a successful west coast road trip. The final game of that swing, a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken, left a bitter taste in everyone’s mouths, but aside from that, three wins against the western Canada teams went a long way toward getting the Devils right back into the thick of the playoff picture. The loss to Seattle was a real missed opportunity to put them right on the edge of a playoff spot again, but as we enter the final week of this month, New Jersey has done well to right their season after a horrific month-and-a-half stretch from the beginning of December to the middle of January.

The NHL is set to pause their season for the Winter Olympics in Italy in a couple weeks, with NHL players returning to the games for the first time in over a decade (if they can finish the rinks in time, that is). For the Devils, their last game before the break is scheduled for February 5. With that being the case, I figured now is a good time to take stock of where the Devils stand in the Metropolitan Division after their long road trip, what’s left for them until the break, and what the other teams around them in the standings have coming up until the Olympics as well. The only two teams I won’t be covering will be the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers, because the Hurricanes are too far ahead of the Devils for New Jersey to have the luxury of worrying about them, and the Rangers have completely fallen apart and are essentially out of the playoff picture.

Let’s dive in:

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Pittsburgh Penguins

2nd in Metropolitan, 63 points in 51 games

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
1/29	Chicago Blackhawks	Home
1/31	New York Rangers	Home
2/2	Ottawa Senators	Home
2/3	New York Islanders	Away
2/5	Buffalo Sabres	Away

Entering the season, the Penguins were expected by most to be a bottom-feeder. Instead, they are number two in the Metropolitan Division coming into the week. An Eastern Conference-leading 11 loser points makes their record look a lot better than it actually is, but in Gary Bettman’s NHL, racking up points by any means necessary is the name of the game. We all keep waiting for Pittsburgh to fade, but maybe they just won’t. This stretch before the break will be huge for them, as they not only play two in-division games, they also play a pair of Atlantic teams right in the Wild Card mix as well. For the Devils, you need to hope for the Penguins to actually finish games in regulation for a change.

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New York Islanders

3rd in Metropolitan, 59 points in 51 games

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
1/26	Philadelphia Flyers	Away
1/28	New York Rangers	Home
1/29	New York Rangers	Away
1/31	Nashville Predators	Home
2/2	Washington Capitals	Away
2/3	Pittsburgh Penguins	Home
2/5	New Jersey Devils	Away

The Islanders are going to be very busy until the Olympics. Whereas most teams have five or six games until the break, New York will fit seven into their schedule before the pause. This could be a season-defining stretch, with six of these seven contests being Metropolitan Division showdowns. This is another team that was expected to have a down year, but thanks in large part to falling backwards into Matthew Schaefer, they just refuse to fade. The ask from a Devils standpoint will be simple: For the love of god, keep the three-point games to a minimum.

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Philadelphia Flyers

4th in Metropolitan, 57 points in 50 games

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
1/26	New York Islanders	Home
1/28	Columbus Blue Jackets	Away
1/29	Boston Bruins	Away
1/31	Los Angeles Kings	Home
2/3	Washington Capitals	Home
2/5	Ottawa Senators	Home

Yet another team that wasn’t expected to be great this season that just keeps finding ways to stick around. Are you seeing a theme here? The Flyers’ secret weapon is the fact that they’ve played the fewest amount of games of anyone we’ll be discussing today, which is always an advantage in a points-accumulation system. Philadelphia has three in-division games, one other Eastern Conference game, and then two games against Western Conference foes, so it’s a pretty even mix.

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Washington Capitals

5th in Metropolitan, 57 points in 53 games

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
1/27	Seattle Kraken	Away
1/29	Detroit Red Wings	Away
1/31	Carolina Hurricanes	Home
2/2	New York Islanders	Home
2/3	Philadelphia Flyers	Away
2/5	Nashville Predators	Home

The Capitals have the same amount of points as the Flyers, but in three more games played, which makes a huge difference. Washington was looking pretty good for the first couple months of the season, but they’ve been sliding in a big way since mid-December, hence their precarious spot in the standings. Three in-division games for them until the break, including a date with the top dog Carolina Hurricanes.

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New Jersey Devils

6th in Metropolitan, 56 points in 52 games

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
1/27	Winnipeg Jets	Home
1/29	Nashville Predators	Home
1/31	Ottawa Senators	Away
2/3	Columbus Blue Jackets	Home
2/5	New York Islanders	Home

The Devils get four home games until the break, with the final two contests sticking out as extra important. Two division games, one against a team behind the Devils and one against a team ahead of them, will go a long way toward New Jersey either being in good position entering the pause, or terrible shape. New Jersey really, really, REALLY needs to figure out how to get results against Metro teams, as they will enter those games with a dismal 4-9-2 record against in-division foes thus far. To make matters worse, only two of those wins have come in regulation (both against Columbus). That means that in 15 total games, New Jersey has held Metropolitan opponents without a point in two of them. Two of 15. Unacceptable. If the Devils want to make a true push for the playoffs, they absolutely NEED two wins against the Blue Jackets and Islanders, with at least one of them coming in regulation.

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Columbus Blue Jackets

7th in Metropolitan, 55 points in 51 games

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
1/26	Los Angeles Kings	Home
1/28	Philadelphia Flyers	Home
1/30	Chicago Blackhawks	Away
1/31	St. Louis Blues	Away
2/3	New Jersey Devils	Away
2/4	Chicago Blackhawks	Home

The only Metropolitan team (aside from the Rangers) that New Jersey has more points than, and the only Metro squad that the Devils have a regulation win against. Unlike a lot of these teams that are outperforming mediocre to bad preseason projections, the Blue Jackets are the opposite. They made a shocking playoff push last season only to fall just short, which raised expectations. They’ve disappointed relative to those expectations, to the point where they fired their head coach a couple weeks ago. As far as their schedule until the break goes, It’s an even mix of Western Conference teams and Metropolitan opponents. The Devils are in there, and maybe New Jersey can keep their success against Columbus going on February 3 with another regulation win.

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New Jersey has 10 points up for grabs between now and when they break for the Olympics. In my opinion, they need seven of those 10 points at a bare minimum, with at least three of them coming against the Islanders and Blue Jackets. Considering how beatable every one of the teams on their schedule is, I really don’t think this is too much to ask.

As stated up top, after a nightmare stretch from December to January, the Devils have resurrected their season a bit. They’re only three points out of a playoff spot entering the week, though the third-place Islanders have a game in hand. Then again, the tables will turn and New Jersey will be the one with a game in hand by the time we reach the break. But of course, there are the Flyers and Capitals in between New Jersey and the third-place Isles, and you can’t count on all of those teams losing every night. The fact of the matter is, the Devils need to take care of their own business, and they need some help on the out of town scoreboard. That is the position their play up to this point has put them in.

What do you think of the Devils’ schedule until the Olympics? What amount of points do you consider to be the bare minimum that they need between now and then? Which Metropolitan Division team are you most worried about? What about the Metro team that you think is most likely to fade? As always, thanks for reading!

Elias Lindholm is enjoying a big bounce-back campaign, producing at his highest per game pace since the 2021-22 campaign with Calgary.

My Bruins vs. Rangers predictions expect Lindholm to make some hay offensively in a very advantageous matchup.

Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Monday, January 26.

Bruins vs Rangers prediction

Bruins vs Rangers best bet: Elias Lindholm Over 0.5 points (-135)

The New York Rangers are playing without Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin, who have both won awards for being the best at their respective positions. It shows.

The Rangers have allowed a league-leading 46 goals over their past 10 games. It’s not just a matter of a couple blowup spots, either. New York has conceded at least three times in nine of those games, and four or more on seven different occasions.

It’s difficult to envision the bleeding stopping against the Boston Bruins, who rank third in goals spanning the last 10 games.

Elias Lindholm has been one of the guys at the forefront of that success, producing nine points and putting up three multi-point performances.

He has been consistent for the Bruins, especially against weaker defensive sides.

Excluding Top-16 teams in limiting goals, which the Rangers are not, Lindholm has averaged 1.1 points per game and hit the scoresheet in 70% of his appearances.

Riding shotgun with David Pastrnak, who has averaged 1.7 points per game against Bottom-16 teams in goals against, Lindholm has a strong chance of making his mark in this one.

Bruins vs Rangers same-game parlay

Pastrnak has scored in 34% of his games this season. That number jumps to 46% against Bottom-16 defensive teams.

He has found the back of the net in only two of his last nine, and this is the perfect matchup to get going again.

Alexis Lafreniere continues to skate on a line with Artemi Panarin, which is a good place to be. Lafreniere has averaged 2.4 shots per game on Panarin’s line this season and recorded multiple shots in seven of the past nine.

Bruins vs Rangers SGP

• Elias Lindholm Over 0.5 points
• David Pastrnak anytime goal
• Alexis Lafreniere Over 1.5 shots on goal

Bruins vs Rangers odds

• Moneyline: Boston -110 | New York -110
• Puck line: Boston -1.5 (+210) | New York +1.5 (-260)
• Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-105) | Under 6.5 (-115)

Bruins vs Rangers trend

Elias Lindholm has points in five straight games against New York, including two multi-point efforts this season. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Rangers.

How to watch Bruins vs Rangers

Bruins vs Rangers latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

While the Montreal Canadiens had a day off on Sunday, their four Olympians appeared on one of Quebec’s most popular talk shows, Tout le monde en parle on Sunday night. For 15 minutes, Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki, Alexandre Texier and Oliver Kapanen answered Guy A. Lepage’s questions. While it wasn’t a groundbreaking interview, there were some interesting takeaways.

Of course, the four players were asked how it would feel to compete against each other at the Olympics, and they gave the standard answer through Suzuki: they’re already used to playing against friends and former teammates in the NHL, which isn’t any different. When the group was asked what they would choose between winning the Stanley Cup and an Olympic Gold medal, Texier made the crowd chuckle when he said the Cup would be more realistic for him, since he plays for France, but ultimately, all four players opted for the Cup. Kapanen added that it’s what he grew up dreaming about.

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The Finn was also asked if he thinks about winning the Calder Trophy since he leads all rookies in goal scoring, and if there’s some teasing between him and Ivan Demidov. He replied that no, it’s not something he thinks about, while also praising his teammate as a special player. I thought that was a bit of an awkward question to ask. Anyone who follows the NHL closely knows that Kapanen is not in the Calder conversation.

That was just one of a few awkward moments, however. Another one came when Suzuki was asked which words he knew in French, and he replied that he knew how to say his name and ask someone how they are doing. While I do not believe it’s essential for the Canadiens’ captain to learn to speak French, it’s a bit weird to get that answer after much was made of Suzuki doing his first interview in French earlier this season with TVA Sports. While we know that the interview was rehearsed, you’d still expect Suzuki to see a bit more than those two basic phrases by now.

Lepage also asked the players if any of them had watched Crave’s hit show Heated Rivalry, and there was a long pause while they looked at one another to decide who would answer. Suzuki replied that they had all heard about the series and that it was great that it brought new fans to the game. Texier was then asked why homosexuality was still a taboo in hockey, and he replied that it wasn’t and that the team would be fine with one of its members coming out, that they’d be welcomed with open arms.

Those were the expected answers, really, but the embarrassed silence when the players were asked whether they had watched the show is evidence that there’s still a lot of work to be done in the NHL. If players are shy about being asked if they watched a show about two hockey players secretly having a relationship, it’s hard to imagine that a coming-out would go down well.

The four Olympians still have five games to play before they can set their sights on chasing the Olympic gold medal. The Canadiens will take on the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, the Minnesota Wild on Monday, and the Winnipeg Jets on February 4.

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Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

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Welcome to this edition of the Vancouver Canucks post-game analytics report. This recurring deep dive breaks down the analytics behind each Canucks game as recorded by Natural Stat Trick. In this article, we look back on Vancouver’s most recent 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Sunday's loss by the Canuck was close both on the scoresheet and from an analytics perspective. The even-strength scoring chances were tied at 25 while Vancouver held a slight edge in even-strength high-danger scoring chances by a count of 13-11. In the end, though, the Penguins were able to capitalize on their chances, leading to the victory. 

Both teams did a good job of crashing the net in this game. Kevin Lankinen faced nine high-danger shots while Stuart Skinner faced seven. Once again, though, the Canucks collapsed in the third period, which is when Pittsburgh scored all three of its goals. 

To wrap up this game, Filip Hroenk was one of Vancouver's top skaters from an analytics perspective. During his 26:55 of even-strength ice time, the Canucks held a 14-9 shots advantage while outscoring the opposition 2-0. Hronek also recorded an assist, which was the 98th of his career with Vancouver. 

The Canucks continue their homestand on Tuesday when they face the San Jose Sharks. While Kiefer Sherwood is injured, there is a chance he will make his Sharks debut on Tuesday. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm PT.

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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