Keeping up with the Metropolitans: Week 17/ASG

Just when things felt like they couldn’t get any closer, the Metro standings somehow got closer. Last week 6 points separated 2-8 in the standings. With the short All-Star Game week for the regular season, 5 points now separate 2-8 and only 2 points between 2-7. EVERY GAME MATTERS!

Now that the All-Star Weekend is wrapped up, the playoff push will now be in every team’s focus. There is absolutely no room for error again in this division this year, and the trading market should really start to heat up. Who will be the first Metro team to make a move? It’s been awfully quiet as far as trades go for the NHL. If you look at each team’s record over the last 10 games, don’t be surprised to see some of the teams that have been struggling to make a move or two soon. GM Jim Rutherford has already made a few trades, and GM Ray Shero has pulled the trigger on one of the bigger trades this year already, also. The trade deadline is 4 weeks away, expect for some action to start taking place.

Last week I broke down each Metro team’s record against the Western Conference. The Penguins were just wrapping up a California trip and I mentioned that the Pens will only head out West once for the rest of the year. This week I’ll list each Metro team’s remaining Western road trips this year.

Penguins (8-12-3 vs West)

• 2/9/18 @ DAL
• 2/11/18 @ STL

Capitals (11-7-1 vs West)

• 2/13/18 @ WPG
• 2/15/18 @ MIN
• 2/17/18 @ CHI
• 3/6/18 @ ANA
• 3/8/18 @ LAK
• 3/10/18 @ SJS
• 4/2/18 @ STL

Blue Jackets (9-8-0 vs West)

• 3/1/18 @ LAK
• 3/2/18 @ ANA
• 3/4/18 @ SJS
• 3/27/18 @ EDM
• 3/29/18 @ CGY
• 3/31/18 @ VAN
• 4/7/18 @ NSH (Game #82)

Devils (11-7-3 vs West)

• 3/10/18 @ NSH
• 3/14/18 @ VGK
• 3/17/18 @ LAK
• 3/18/18 @ ANA
• 3/20/18 @ SJS

Flyers (10-10-4 vs West)

• 2/10/18 @ ARI
• 2/11/18 @ VGK
• 3/27/18 @ DAL
• 3/28/18 @ COL

Rangers (9-9-1 vs West)

• 2/3/18 @ NSH
• 2/5/18 @ DAL
• 2/11/18 @ WPG
• 2/13/18 @ MIN
• 2/28/18 @ VAN
• 3/2/18 @ CGY
• 3/3/18 @ EDM
• 3/17/18 @ STL

Islanders (12-7-4 vs West)

• 3/5/18 @ VAN
• 3/8/18 @ EDM
• 3/11/18 @ CGY

Hurricanes (7-9-5 vs West)

• 3/6/18 @ MIN
• 3/8/18 @ CHI

As you can see, there’s still many different ways this season can go. A lot of the big players in the Metro, aside from the Pens, still have lots of Western time zone games to play. The Eastern Conference has had a tough go against Western foes this year, so if that trend continues, the Pens could gain some significant ground in the playoff hunt. Don’t forget that these are only the road games, but as each team plays 30 games vs the West, simple logic should be able to tell you how many remaining games each team has against Western teams.

Until next time folks, stay classy and don’t forget to vote for your game of the week! Another week of very important Metro games this week.

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(3)Pittsburgh Penguins

27-21-3, 57 pts; 151 GF (10th in the NHL; 10th last week) / 153 GA (22nd; 25th)
2-0 record last week

1/23/18
CAR: 1
PIT: 3
Pittsburgh passes big test, win 3-1

1/25/18
MIN: 3
PIT: 6
Big guns fuel a blowout. Pittsburgh wins 6-3

Week Ahead:

Tuesday January 30 - vs SJS, 7 PM ET

Friday February 2 - vs WSH, 7 PM

Saturday February 3 - @ NJD, 7 PM

Injuries:

• 1/2/18, C Carter Rowney - IR; Upper-body injury
• 1/24/18, D Matt Hunwick - Day-to-day; Upper-body injury

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(1)Washington Capitals

29-15-5 63 pts; 150 GF (11th; 8th) / 138 GA (13th; 17th)
1-0 record last week

1/25/18
WSH: 4
FLA: 2
Ovechkin’s Record Night Clips Cats

Week Ahead:

Wednesday January 31 - vs PHI, 8 PM

Friday February 2 - @ PIT, 7 PM

Sunday February 4 - vs VGK, 12:30 PM

Injuries:

• None

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(2)Columbus Blue Jackets

27-19-3, 57 pts; 131 GF (25th) / 137GA (12th)
1-1 record last week

1/23/18
CBJ: 3
VGK: 6
Columbus Blue Jackets at Vegas Golden Knights

1/25/18
CBJ: 2
ARI: 1
Yes We Cam

Week Ahead:

Tuesday January 30 - vs MIN, 7 PM

Friday February 2 - vs SJS, 7 PM

Saturday February 3 - @ NYI, 7 PM

Injuries:

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

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(4)New Jersey Devils

24-16-8, 56 pts; 144 GF (15th; 11th) / 146 GA (18th; 19th)
0-3 record last week

1/22/18
DET: 3
NJD: 0
Hall-Less New Jersey Devils Went Goal-Less in Shutout Loss to Detroit Red Wings

1/23/18
NJD: 2
BOS: 3
Injuries & Frustration Mount in New Jersey Devils 2-3 Loss to Boston Bruins

1/25/18
NSH: 3
NJD: 0
Slumping New Jersey Devils Stunk in Shutout Loss to Nashville Predators

Week Ahead:

Tuesday January 30 - @ BUF, 7 PM

Thursday February 1 - vs PHI, 7 PM

Saturday February 3 - vs PIT, 7 PM

Injuries:

• 11/12/17, D Mirco Mueller - IR; Fractured clavicle
• 1/20/18, G Keith Kinkaid - IR; Groin
• 1/20/18, LW Brian Gibbons - IR; Thumb
• 1/21/18, LW Taylor Hall - Day-to-day; Hand
• 1/22/18, G Cory Schneider - Day-to-day; Lower-body injury
• 1/23/18, LW Marcus Johansson - IR; Concussion

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(5)Philadelphia Flyers

24-17-8, 56 pts; 141 GF (18th; 17th)/ 141 GA (16th; 15th)
1-1 record last week

1/23/18
PHI: 3 OT
DET: 2
Konency reigns as overtime hero

1/25/18
TBL: 5
PHI: 1
Vasilevskiy shines in dominant effort

Week Ahead:

Wednesday January 31 - @ WSH, 8 PM

Thursday February 1 - @ NJD, 7 PM

Saturday February 3 - vs OTT, 1 PM

Injuries:

• 10/3/17, G Anthony Stolarz - IR; Knee
• 10/3/17, RW Colin McDonald - IR; Lower-body injury
• 1/24/18, G Brian Elliott - Day-to-day; Lower-body injury

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(6)New York Rangers

25-20-5, 55 pts; 153GF (9th) / 151 GA (21st)
2-2 record last week

1/23/18
NYR: 3
ANA: 6
Tarred and Feathered

1/25/18
NYR: 6
SJS: 5
Take The Points And Run

Week Ahead:

Thursday February 1 - vs TOR, 7 PM

Saturday February 3 - @ NSH, 8 PM

Injuries:

• 12/27/17, LW Chris Kreider - IR; Blood clot
• 1/18/18, D Kevin Shattenkirk - IR; Torn meniscus

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(7)New York Islanders

25-20-5, 55 pts; 172 GF (2nd; 1st) / 180 GA (31st)
1-0-1 record last week

1/22/18
NYI: 2
ARI: 3 OT
Pair of Cousins trumps pair of Beauvilliers

1/25/18
NYI: 2
VGK: 1
Halak, Eberle lead rare win in Vegas

Week Ahead:

Tuesday January 30 - vs FLA, 7 PM

Wednesday January 31 - @ TOR, 7:30 PM

Saturday February 3 - vs CBJ, 7 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

22-19-8, 52 pts; 137 GF (21st) / 154 GA (23rd; 22nd)
1-1 record last week

1/23/18
CAR: 1
PIT: 3
Hurricanes Slip Further Away from Playoff Spot in 3-1 Loss to Penguins

1/25/18
CAR: 6
MTL: 5
Hurricanes Survive Thriller in Montreal, win 6-5

Week Ahead:

Tuesday January 30 - vs OTT, 7 PM

Thursday February 1 - vs MTL, 7 PM

Friday February 2 - vs DET, 7 PM

Sunday February 4 - vs SJS, 1 PM

Injuries:

• 1/14/18, LW Sebastian Aho - Day-to-day; Concussion/Lower-body injury

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• Standings via NHL.com as of 1/28/18
• Injuries via TSN as of 1/28/18