BY KYLE MYERS – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
Each week I take a look at some of the hottest and coldest players from the past week of NHL action. This week features a couple of young gunners getting hot at the right time, and a couple of veteran goaltenders who are performing below expectations. Here are four of the hottest and coldest players in the NHL right now.
The Hot:
1. Joffrey Lupul: There’s no way to describe just how productive Joffrey Lupul has been since his return, so I’ll let the numbers do the talking. Prior to Thursday’s game against Philadelphia, Lupul had goals in six straight, and a total of 13 points over that span. Lupul has made an immediate impact since his return, and even managed an assist last night before leaving the game after a hit to the head. If Lupul’s injury is minor and he’s able to make a speedy return, his form could well dictate the Leafs’ playoff chances.
2. Taylor Hall: Taylor Hall just finished one of the best weeks of his NHL career. With five goals and six assists in a four game span, Hall helped the Oilers to a three game win streak. Hall now has 41 points on the season, and ranks in top 10 in NHL scoring. After a rough start to the year the Oilers are starting to click offensively, and Hall is right at the heart of that success.
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3. John Tavares: Tavares has cemented himself as one of the most talented goal scorers in the NHL. Second only to Steven Stamkos, Tavares has 23 goals through 38 games this year, and 39 total points. With 10 games left in the season, Tavares has a chance to get hot and actually eclipse his career-high goals tally in a full 82 game-season. He’s got a good shot too: he’s scored three goals in his last five games.
4. Antti Niemi: The San Jose Sharks are on fire right now, winners of six straight, and their netminder has played a significant role in their success. Niemi has all six wins during the streak and hasn’t allowed more than two goals in any game. He now sits second among goaltenders with 18 wins, and his three shutouts are only two off the league lead. The Sharks are now firmly in a playoff position, and a hot goaltender could be just the thing they need to finally find some postseason success.
The Cold:
1. Roberto Luongo: Hopefully the news that Luongo won’t be changing addresses until after this season will inspire him to elevate his game, because he’s been struggling lately. On a string of three straight losses, Luongo hasn’t allowed fewer than two goals in any start during that span, and his last win saw him allow four in a shootout against the Predators. Luongo’s save percentage and GAA are far below his career averages, and it appears that the situation with Cory Schneider in Vancouver has negatively affected his play. Whatever happens this summer, it appears pretty clear that his days as a Canuck are numbered.
2. Kari Lehtonen: The Dallas Stars are in the midst of a tremendous free-fall, and the play of their number one goaltender certainly isn’t helping. Lehtonen is having one of the worst stretches of his NHL career, and hasn’t won a game since March 23rd. He’s allowed three goals or more in his last five starts, and his .917 save percentage ranks him 17th among NHL goaltenders. Dallas appears to be in the midst of a rebuild, but Lehtonen isn’t doing them any favours with his mediocre play.
3. Phil Kessel: Kessel is expected to be a goal-scorer for this Leafs team, but he’s struggled to find the back of the net this season. Though his assist totals are up, Kessel has only four points in his last six games, and hasn’t scored a goal since March 16th. The Maple Leafs have been lucky enough to get a career year from Nazem Kadri, but in any other year Kessel’s lack of goal-production could spell doom for the Leafs. With Lupul now injured again, the Maple Leafs will need Kessel to step up his game and start scoring some goals, or the team could see an early exit from the postseason.
4. Andrew Ladd: At one point one of the hottest players in the league, Andrew Ladd has struggled significantly lately. An assist last night against Montreal was Ladd’s first point in six games, and he’s posted a -7 rating during that stretch. The Winnipeg Jets are now in the midst of a five game losing streak and have conceded the division lead to the Washington Capitals, and their captain certainly bears some responsibility. If Ladd doesn’t rediscover his scoring touch, the Jets could find themselves outside the playoff picture in their final season in the Eastern Conference.