This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the League
Two weeks ago, the Kings were the favorite to win the Pacific Division title, but with just four wins in their past 10 games and a tough 2-1 overtime loss against St. Louis last night, the race is wide open once again. The Ducks have won eight of their past 10 and sit just two points behind the Kings, and while the Sharks haven't fared quite as well with six wins in their past 10, are just one point behind the Ducks thanks to their superb road record. The three of them are the only teams who have a positive goal differential and will also likely be the division's only representatives in the playoffs.
The Ducks look like a completely different team now, and this can be made no more apparent than Ryan Getzlaf's performance last night in a 5-2 win over Vancouver. The normally trigger-shy center rifled a clapper past Ryan Miller on a 3-on-1, almost unthinkable when not too long ago he was the butt of every joke and provided coaches of all levels a clinic on why you should never make a drop pass.
A lot has been made about David Perron's contribution (13 points in 14 games) to the Ducks and how it has coincided with the Ducks' turnaround, and while I don't disagree that Perron has been abnormally productive, I do think that his yapping and irritating playing style meshes well with a team that also employs Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler. Saying Perron was the missing piece for the Ducks this season just sounds crazy but sometimes it's the most under-the-radar moves that end up making the biggest difference.
Meanwhile in the Central Division, the Blackhawks, Stars and Blues have locked up the top three spots in similar fashion. The three of them are just four points apart with the third-place Blues holding a 13-point cushion over the Predators and Avalanche, who currently hold the two wild card spots, though John Torchetti's Wild are just two points behind after going 3-0 since he took over the bench. The Wild have all the makings of a team that can embark on a second-half surge: a new coach, an improving goal differential, a favorable schedule (upcoming games against the Leafs, Sabres and Habs, and a season finale against the Flames) and a team that is facing all kinds of pressure to perform. There's just no hiding after a coach is fired, and the next ones to get axed will be the players.
The picture is much more murky in the Eastern Conference, where the Capitals seem to be the only team that have locked anything up. The Panthers currently lead the Atlantic Division but have won just five of their past 10 and cooled off considerably, while the Rangers may be without the services of captain Ryan McDonagh again after taking an elbow from Leafs forward Leo Komarov, who was ejected for the head shot.
Where it gets really interesting is the race for the remaining playoff spots. The Bruins, Red Wings, Lightning, Islanders, Penguins, Devils (!) and Hurricanes (!!) are just separated by five points. This parity is making the Bruins think twice about trading Loui Eriksson, who will likely leave via free agency, and the same goes for the Hurricanes with Eric Staal. While keeping them will be tempting, the Bruins and Hurricanes aren't Stanley Cup contenders this year and remain cognizant of the big picture, which would be the compete in the future when the rest of the holes on the team have been adequately filled and a new identity established.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check our Projected Goalies Grid
Islanders (Jaroslav Halak) at Devils (Cory Schneider), 7:00 PM
Sharks (Alex Stalock) at Hurricanes (Cam Ward), 7:00 PM
Sabres (Robin Lehner) at Blue Jackets (Joonas Korpisalo), 7:00 PM
Flyers (Steve Mason) at Canadiens (Mike Condon), 7:30 PM
Canucks (Jacob Markstrom) at Flames (Jonas Hiller), 9:00 PM
Injury News For Teams Playing Friday
New York Islanders
Eric Boulton, LW (undisclosed) – placed on injured reserve, no return date set.
Calvin de Haan, D (lower body) – did not play Thursday; no return date set.
Adam Pelech, D (face) – likely out for the season.
New Jersey Devils
Patrik Elias, LW (knee) – skated Thursday; questionable.
Stephen Gionta, C (upper body) – game-time decision; questionable.
Michael Cammalleri, LW (hand) – will not play.
Jon Merrill, D (arm) – did not play Tuesday; no return date set.
Stefan Matteau, LW (face) – no return date set.
Jiri Tlusty, LW (wrist surgery) – out for a few months.
San Jose Sharks
Tommy Wingels, RW (shoulder) – no timetable for return.
Carolina Hurricanes
Justin Faulk, D (leg) – will not play.
James Wisniewski, D (knee surgery) – no timetable for return.
Buffalo Sabres
Daniel Catenacci, LW (concussion) – practiced Thursday; questionable.
Cody McCormick, C (blood clots) – no timetable for return.
Tyler Ennis, LW (upper body) – no timetable for return.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Sergei Bobrovsky, G (groin) – no timetable for return.
David Clarkson, RW (upper body) – no return date set.
Jared Boll, RW (neck) – no return date set.
Philadelphia Flyers
Michael Del Zotto, D (upper body) – week-to-week; no return date set.
Sean Couturier, C (lower body) – placed on injured reserve; no return date set.
Jordan Weal, RW (upper body) – out three weeks.
Montreal Canadiens
Brian Flynn, C (lower body) – out 6-to-8 weeks.
Daniel Carr, LW (right knee) – out for a few months.
Carey Price, G (lower body) – no timetable for return.
David Desharnais, C (foot) – did not play Wednesday; no return date set.
Jeff Petry, D (lower body) – placed on injured reserve; no return date set.
Vancouver Canucks
Alexander Edler, D (fractured fibula) – out six weeks.
Brandon Sutter, C (broken jaw) – out 6-to-8 weeks.
Calgary Flames
Karri Ramo, G (torn ACL) – out for the season.
Dennis Wideman, D (suspension) – his 20-game suspension has been upheld.
Kris Russell, D (lower body) – left Wednesday's game; questionable.
Hot
Brayden Schenn, LW, PHI – He's never going to be an NHL-caliber center, but at his best he really plays like he can be a second-line scoring winger – like what he's done in his past four games with three goals and two assists. He's still maddeningly streaky, but maybe with more consistent ice time, he can get into a groove more often. He's played 14:08, 21:22, 16:43, 13:38, 20:26 in his past five games.
Pavel Datsyuk, C, DET – He's no illusion. "The Magic Man" is dazzling yet again with four goals in his past four games, and with an assist last night against Pittsburgh, also extended his scoring streak to seven games. Though he's battled injuries recently, he's still one of the league's top players when he plays, although Jeff Blashill may have to be mindful how much he plays him; Datsyuk played at least 20 minutes five straight games, including a set of back-to-backs before playing 16 minutes last night in a losing effort.
Cold
Ryan Miller, G, VAN – He's allowed seven goals in his past two games and just won once in his past eight starts, even if most of those losses can be pinned on an uninspired Canucks team playing in front of him. But the reality is Miller's clearly no longer an elite goalie and the Canucks are headed toward the lottery.
Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, STL – He was on pace to contend for the Rocket Richard Trophy but has fallen off the map a little with two goals in his past eleven games, stalling at 27 goals and 22 assists on the season. Ken Hitchcock's teams defend first and score second, so sometimes Tarasenko becomes a victim of the system, but there are times where a coach may need to turn a player loose, not unlike what Jacques Lemaire did with Marian Gaborik in Minnesota. The Blues need to score; it's impossible to win every game 2-1.
Recommended Pickup
Martin Hanzal, C, ARI – Hanzal picked up three points (again!) last night, giving him eight points in his past five games. He's an underrated two-way center who's 6-foot-6, and with 32 points in 44 games this season and on pace to set career-highs. No doubt that has something to do with the fact that he won the lottery ticket in Arizona and gets to play between Max Domi and Anthony Duclair.
