Keeping up with the Metropolitans: Week 16

Believe it or not, but the Metro standings got even tighter from last week. Now only 6 points separate 2nd-8th place in the Division. Only 5 teams will make it, as the Atlantic is a three team race, with the 4th place team with a measly 44 points. As we are now entering the final week before the All Star Game, teams that are missing the cut will probably start to sell of spare pieces, and things will only get more interesting. It appears that the entire Metro will be buyers this year, as all of the teams have a lot to improve on, which is a scary thought as well.

Now that the Pens have finished up their California road trip, the only remaining Western teams the Pens have to travel to are the Stars and Blues on February 9th and 11th, respectively. Since each Eastern team only plays the West home and away (total of 30 games vs West), the rest of the way will be primarily Eastern and Metro division foes for the Penguins. That may actually make a big difference down the stretch. To show why, I’ll list each team’s record vs the Western Conference, Eastern Conference, and then each team’s record against the Metro so far this season. Just another silver lining in the road the rest of the way for the Pens.

Penguins

Vs Western Conference: 7-12-3

Vs. Eastern Conference: 18-9-0

Vs Metro Division: 9-4-0

Capitals

Vs Western Conference: 11-7-1

Vs. Eastern Conference: 17-8-4

Vs Metro Division: 8-4-3

Devils

Vs Western Conference: 11-6-3

Vs Eastern Conference: 13-7-5

Vs Metro Division: 5-6-1

Blue Jackets

Vs Western Conference: 8-7

Vs Eastern Conference: 18-11-3

Vs Metro Division: 8-5-2

Flyers

Vs Western Conference: 10-10-4

Vs Eastern Conference: 13-6-4

Vs Metro Division: 5-2-4

Rangers

Vs Western Conference: 8-8-1

Vs Eastern Conference: 16-11-4

Vs Metro Division: 7-6-3

Islanders

Vs Western Conference: 11-7-3

Vs Eastern Conference: 13-13-1

Vs Metro Division: 7-7-1

Hurricanes

Vs Western Conference: 7-9-5

Vs Eastern Conference: 14-9-3

Vs Metro Division: 6-4-3

As you can see, The Penguins have been flat-out dominated by the Western Conference this year. Also worth noting is that the Penguins have the best record against the Eastern Conference in the Metro, and that’s also the best record against the East in the East. The Penguins also own the best record against the Metro. Fortunately for Pittsburgh, 25 out of the remaining 33 games will be against the Eastern Conference, with only two of the Western games taking place on the road as mentioned above. If the Penguins can keep up their superior play against the East, they should easily make the playoffs and that also could mean a lot once the playoffs begin.

Until next week PensBurgh, stay classy and don’t forget to vote for the game of the week! It’s the All Star Weekend, starting this Friday for the NHL. I’ll list each team’s representatives at the end of this recap as well.

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(6)Pittsburgh Penguins

25-21-3, 53 pts; 142 GF (10th in the NHL; 15th last week) / 149 GA (25th; 24th)
1-2 record last week

1/17/18
PIT: 3
ANA: 5
Pittsburgh’s rally falls short

1/18/18
PIT: 3
LAK: 1
Penguins down Kings 3-1

1/20/18
PIT: 1
SJS: 2
Penguins Finish Road Trip With Tough 2-1 Loss to Sharks

Week Ahead:

Tuesday January 23 - vs CAR, 7 PM ET

Thursday January 25 - vs MIN, 7 PM

Injuries:

• 12/27/17, LW Bryan Rust - IR; Upper-body injury
• 12/27/17, D Chad Ruhwedel - IR; Upper-body injury
• 1/2/18, C Carter Rowney - IR; Upper-body injury
• 1/11/18, G Matt Murray - Day-to-day; Personal reasons

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(1)Washington Capitals

28-15-5 61 pts; 146 GF (8th; 6th) / 136 GA (17th; 15th)
0-1-2 record last week

1/18/18
WSH: 3
NJD: 4 OT
Hall Beats Washington In Extra Time

1/19/18
MTL: 3
WSH: 2
Grubauer Shines, But Rust Sinks Washington 3-2

1/21/18
PHI: 2 OT
WSH: 1
Offense Struggles, Washington Falls to Philly 2-1 in OT

Week Ahead:

Thursday January 25 - @ FLA, 7:30 PM

Injuries:

• None

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(2)New Jersey Devils

24-13-8, 56 pts; 142 GF (11th) / 137 GA (19th)
2-1 record last week

1/16/18
NJD: 4
NYI: 1
New Jersey Devils Snapped Winless Streak in an Excellent 4-1 Win Over New York Islanders

1/18/18
WSH: 3
NJD: 4 OT
OT Goal by Superstar Taylor Hall Gave New Jersey Devils Win Over Washington Capitals

1/20/18
NJD: 1
PHI: 3
New Jersey Devils Buried in First Period by Philadelphia Flyers in a 1-3 Defeat

Week Ahead:

Monday January 22 - vs DET, 7 PM

Tuesday January 23 - @ BOS, 7 PM

Thursday January 25 - vs NSH, 7 PM

Injuries:

• 11/12/17, D Mirco Mueller - IR; Fractured clavicle
• 1/18/18, G Cory Schneider - Day-to-day; Illness
• 1/20/18, G Keith Kinkaid - IR; Groin
• 1/20/18, LW Brian Gibbons - IR; Thumb

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(3)Columbus Blue Jackets

26-18-3, 55 pts; 126 GF (25th; 22nd) / 130GA (12th; 18th)
1-0 record last week

1/18/18
DAL: 1
CBJ: 2 SO
Korpisalo Stands Tall, Panarin Delivers For Shootout Victory

Week Ahead:

Tuesday January 23 - @ VGK, 10 PM

Thursday January 25 - @ ARI, 9 PM

Injuries:

• 11/27/17, D Ryan Murray - IR; Upper-body injury
• 12/12/17, C Brandon Dubinsky - IR; Fractured orbital bone
• 12/23/17, RW Cam Atkinson - IR; Fractured foot
• 1/8/18, LW Sonny Milano - IR; Torn oblique muscle

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(4)Philadelphia Flyers

23-16-8, 54 pts; 137 GF (17th)/ 134 GA (15th; 13th)
3-1 record last week

1/16/18
PHI: 1
NYR: 5
And another streak is snapped...

1/18/18
TOR: 2
PHI: 3 OT
Neuvirth, Couturier star in comeback OT win

1/20/18
NJD: 1
PHI: 3
Early onslaught leads Flyers to key divisional win

1/21/18
PHI: 2 OT
WSH: 1
One down, one to go

Week Ahead:

Tuesday January 23 - @ DET, 7:30 PM

Thursday January 25 - vs TBL, 7 PM

Injuries:

• 10/3/17, G Anthony Stolarz - IR; Knee
• 10/3/17, RW Colin McDonald - IR; Lower-body injury

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(5)New York Rangers

24-19-5, 53 pts; 144GF (9th; 15th) / 140 GA (21st; 11th)
2-2 record last week

1/16/18
PHI: 1
NYR: 5
Rangers Dominate Flyers to End Recent Losing Streak

1/18/18
BUF: 3
NYR: 4
Top Line Exploits Sabres for Second Straight Win

1/20/18
NYR: 1
COL: 3
Shorthanded Rangers Fall to Avalanche 3-1

1/21/18
NYR: 2
LAK: 4

Week Ahead:

Tuesday January 23 - @ ANA, 10 PM

Thursday January 25 - @ SJS, 10:30 PM

Injuries:

• 12/27/17, LW Chris Kreider - IR; Blood clot
• 1/13/18, C Kevin Hayes - Day-to-day; Lower-body injury
• 1/18/18, D Kevin Shattenkirk - IR; Torn meniscus

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(7)New York Islanders

24-20-4, 52 pts; 168 GF (1st; 2nd) / 176 GA (31st; 30th)
2-2 record last week

1/15/18
NYI: 5 OT
MTL: 4
The Resurrection of Greiss

1/16/18
NJD: 4
NYI: 1
No magic tonight

1/18/18
BOS: 5
NYI: 2
Somehow better, yet very much the same

1/20/18
NYI: 7
CHI: 3
Beauvillier pair, Pulock five-point night

Week Ahead:

Monday January 22 - @ ARI, 9 PM

Thursday January 25 - @ VGK, 10 PM

Injuries:

• 11/6/17, LW Nikolay Kulemin - IR; Upper-body injury
• 12/16/17, D Calvin de Haan - IR; Upper-body injury
• 12/27/17, D Johnny Boychuk - IR; Lower-body injury
• 1/5/18, LW Andrew Ladd - IR; Undisclosed injury
• 1/12/18, C Casey Cizikas - IR; Upper-body injury
• 1/18/18, LW Shane Prince - Day-to-day; Upper-body injury

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(8)Carolina Hurricanes

21-18-8, 50 pts; 130 GF (21st) / 146 GA (22nd; 23rd)
1-1 record last week

1/20/18
CAR: 3
DET: 1
Lindholm’s Two Goals Lead Hurricanes to 3-1 Win over Red Wings

1/21/18
VGK: 5
CAR: 1
Hurricanes meekly fall to Golden Knights

Week Ahead:

Tuesday January 23 - @ PIT, 7 PM

Thursday January 25 - @ MTL, 7:30 PM

Injuries:

• 1/11/18, D Brett Pesce - IR; Upper-body injury
• 1/14/18, LW Sebastian Aho - Day-to-day; Concussion/Lower-body injury

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• Standings via NHL.com as of 1/21/18
• Injuries via TSN as of 1/21/18

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Metropolitan All Stars:

• Coach: Barry Trotz (WSH)
• F, Josh Bailey (NYI)
• F, Sidney Crosby (PIT)
• F, Claude Giroux (PHI)
• F, Taylor Hall (NJD)
• F, (C) Alex Ovechkin (WSH)
• F, John Tavares (NYI)
• D, Noah Hanifin (CAR)
• D, Seth Jones (CBJ)
• D, Kris Letang (PIT)
• G, Braden Holtby (WSH)
• G, Henrik Lundqvist (NYR)