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Well I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas break, I bet they did in Columbus, but it's back to the real world again now. Raise your hand if you predicted the Blue Jackets to be riding a 12 game win streak and #1 in the NHL coming out of Christmas break. Like they say though, you don't win the Cup in December; it's not how you start, it's how you finish. It's going to be interesting to see where the Blue Jackets land in the end, but they're the toast of the NHL at the moment. The Metro as a whole is the toast of the NHL at the moment, with 5 of the top 8 teams in the league residing in the division, but Columbus certainly deserves some recognition for the first time in their franchise's existence.
METROPOLITAN | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | ROW | SOW | SOL | HOME | ROAD | GF | GA | DIFF | L10 | |
Columbus | 32 | 23 | 5 | 4 | 50 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 13-3-1 | 10-2-3 | 110 | 65 | +45 | 10-0-0 | |
Pittsburgh | 35 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 49 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 15-2-2 | 7-6-3 | 121 | 100 | +21 | 7-1-2 | |
NY Rangers | 36 | 23 | 12 | 1 | 47 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 12-6-1 | 11-6-0 | 119 | 89 | +30 | 6-4-0 | |
Washington | 32 | 20 | 8 | 4 | 44 | 19 | 1 | 3 | 12-5-0 | 8-3-4 | 87 | 69 | +18 | 7-1-2 | |
Philadelphia | 36 | 20 | 12 | 4 | 44 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 12-5-3 | 8-7-1 | 110 | 108 | +2 | 7-2-1 | |
Carolina | 33 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 37 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 10-3-1 | 5-8-6 | 88 | 90 | -2 | 6-2-2 | |
New Jersey | 34 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 33 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 9-2-2 | 4-12-5 | 80 | 102 | -22 | 2-7-1 | |
NY Islanders | 33 | 13 | 14 | 6 | 32 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 10-7-4 | 3-7-2 | 90 | 102 | -12 | 4-4-2 |
Columbus Blue Jackets
23-5-4, 50 pts / 110GF/65GA / 4-0 record last week
12/18/16
CBJ: 4 OT
VAN: 3
Game Recap: Let the Good Times Roll
12/20/16
CBJ: 3 SO
LAK: 2
12/22/16
PIT: 1
CBJ: 7
Game 31 Recap: Jackets 7 Penguins 1
BONUS! Pensburgh coverage:
Penguins vs. Blue Jackets: Pittsburgh gives up 7 straight in ugly loss
12/23/16
MTL: 1
CBJ: 2
Recap: Blue Jackets 2 Canadiens 1
Week Ahead:
Tuesday Dec 27 - vs BOS
Thursday Dec 29 - @ WPG
Saturday Dec 31 - @ MIN
Injuries:
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
PLAYER | DATE | STATUS | DESCRIPTION |
---|---|---|---|
D. Clarkson, RW | Sep 20, 2016 | IR | Lower-body injury |
New York Rangers
23-12-1, 47 pts / 119GF/89GA / 1-2 record last week
12/18/16
NJD: 2
NYR: 3 SO
Rangers Score Late And Defeat Devils In The Shootout
12/20/16
NYR: 2
PIT: 7
Penguins Exploit Rangers In 7-2 Rout
BONUS! Pensburgh coverage!
Penguins vs. Rangers Recap: Wide open hockey benefits Pittburgh in big win
12/23/16
MIN: 7
NYR: 4
Rangers Give Up Seven Goals For Second Straight Game
Week Ahead:
Tuesday Dec 27 - vs OTT
Thursday Dec 29 - @ ARI
Saturday Dec 31 - @ COL
Injuries:
NEW YORK RANGERS
PLAYER | DATE | STATUS | DESCRIPTION |
---|---|---|---|
P. Buchnevich, RW | Nov 12, 2016 | IR | Back spasms |
M. Zibanejad, C | Nov 20, 2016 | IR | Broken left fibula |
R. Nash, RW | Dec 18, 2016 | day-to-day | Groin |
Washington Capitals
20-8-4, 44 pts / 87GF/69GA / 1-0-1 record last week
12/21/16
WSH: 2
PHI: 3 SO
Capital vs. Flyers Recap: Philadelphia Wins via Shootout
12/23/16
TBL: 0
WSH: 4
Caps vs. Bolts Recap: Feats of Strength Give Caps Gift of 4-0 Win
Week Ahead:
Tuesday Dec 27 - @ NYI
Thursday Dec 29 - vs NJD
Saturday Dec 31 - @ NJD
Injuries:
None.
Philadelphia Flyers
20-12-4, 44 pts / 110GF/108GA / 1-1-1 record last week
12/19/16
NSH: 2 SO
PHI: 1
Flyers vs. Predators recap: So that’s what happens when you sit on a third-period lead
12/21/16
WSH: 2
PHI: 3 SO
Flyers vs. Capitals recap: Evenly played contest ends in shootout win for the good guys
12/22/16
PHI: 0
NJD: 4
Flyers at Devils recap: Bah humbug
Week Ahead:
Wednesday Dec 28 - @ STL
Friday Dec 30 - @ SJS
Injuries:
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
PLAYER | DATE | STATUS | DESCRIPTION |
---|---|---|---|
M. Neuvirth, G | Nov 12, 2016 | IR | Sprained knee |
S. Couturier, C | Nov 22, 2016 | IR | Sprained MCL |
M. Read, RW | Dec 4, 2016 | IR | Oblique |
M. Streit, D | Dec 11, 2016 | IR | Shoulder |
Carolina Hurricanes
15-11-7, 37 pts / 88GF/89GA / 2-0 record last week
12/19/16
DET:
CAR: Postponed
Carolina Hurricanes/Detroit Red Wings postponed game rescheduled for March 27
12/22/16
CAR: 3
BUF: 1
Hurricanes vs Sabres Recap: Canes Sustain Early Lead to Defeat Buffalo 3-1
12/23/16
BOS: 2
CAR: 3 OT
Recap: Teravainen The Hero As Hurricanes Top Bruins 3-2 In Overtime
Week Ahead:
Wednesday Dec 28 - @ PIT***
Friday Dec 30 - vs CHI
Saturday Dec 31 - @ TBL
Injuries:
CAROLINA HURRICANES
PLAYER | DATE | STATUS | DESCRIPTION |
---|---|---|---|
B. Bickell, LW | Nov 9, 2016 | IR | Multiple sclerosis |
New Jersey Devils
13-14-7, 33 pts / 80GF/102GA / 1-2-1 record last week
12/18/16
NJD: 2
NYR: 3 SO
New Jersey Devils Fall to New York Rangers in Shootout for Sixth Straight Loss
12/20/16
NSH: 5
NJD: 1
Devils Fall to Predators on Home Ice, Lose 5-1
12/22/16
PHI: 0
NJD: 4
Woo! New Jersey Devils Smash Losing Streak & Philadelphia Flyers in Shutout Win
12/23/16
NJD: 1
PIT: 4
New Jersey Devils Earned a Lump of Coal in 1-4 Loss to Pittsburgh Penguins
Week Ahead:
Tuesday Dec 27 - vs PIT
Thursday Dec 29 - @ WSH
Saturday Dec 31 - vs WSH
Injuries:
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
PLAYER | DATE | STATUS | DESCRIPTION |
---|---|---|---|
M. Savard, C | Oct 9, 2016 | IR | Post-concussion syndrome |
J. Josefson, C | Dec 20, 2016 | IR | Concussion |
New York Islanders
13-14-6, 32 pts / 90GF/102GA / 2-1 record last week
12/18/16
OTT: 6
NYI: 2
Senators 6*, Islanders 2 (*EN): Isles drop fifth straight game
12/20/16
NYI: 4
BOS: 2
Islanders 4, Bruins 2: Greiss saves, Lee scores, Isles snap losing streak
12/23/16
BUF: 1
NYI: 5
Islanders 5, Sabres 1: Rested Isles pounce for second pre-break win
Week Ahead:
Tuesday Dec 27 - vs WSH
Thursday Dec 29 - @ MIN
Saturday Dec 31 - @ WPG
Injuries:
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
PLAYER | DATE | STATUS | DESCRIPTION |
---|---|---|---|
M. Grabovski, C | Sep 25, 2016 | IR | Concussion |
A. Pelech, D | Nov 28, 2016 | IR | Upper-body injury |
C. Cizikas, C | Dec 15, 2016 | day-to-day | Upper-body injury |
*Standings via ESPN as of 12/26/16
**Injuries via TSN as of 12/26/16
***Game of the week! Jordan Staal and the Hurricanes will be storming into PPG Paints Arena on Wednesday on the back end of a back-to-back for Pittsburgh. Lots of familiar faces will be re-acquainted as many former Pens players are now front office guys in Carolina, and vice versa. Looking forward to seeing Ron Francis back in Da Burgh, that's why I'm making this the game of the week!