Each Monday we take a look at three players that are on fire, the best sound bite from the previous week, our must-see highlight of the weekend, and which upcoming game NHL fans should circle on their calendar.
Three to See
1. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
There is no doubt that Pittsburgh Penguins’ franchise player Sidney Crosby is at the top of his game.
Crosby had three multiple point games this week as he had two goals and four assists for six points. Crosby, who leads the league in scoring, now has 12 goals (tenth in the league), 28 assists (first in the league) and 40 points (first in the league) on the season.
This week, Crosby and the Penguins will take on the Boston Bruins (twice), Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers.
2. Rick Nash, New York Rangers
With New York Rangers’ forwards Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards struggling, forward Rick Nash has stepped up in a big way for the Blueshirts.
In four games this week, Nash had five goals and one assist for six points. Oh yeah, four of those five goals came in the third period as Nash now has nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points and leads the team in scoring.
This week, Nash and the Rangers will take on the Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals.
3. Jeff Carter, Los Angeles Kings
When it comes to putting the puck in the net, is there anyone hotter than Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter?
In four games this past week, Carter had six goals in four games, including a hat trick against the Nashville Predators. Carter is now second in the league in goals with 17, just two behind the leader Steven Stamkos (19).
This week, Carter and the Kings will take on the Calgary Flames, Phoenix Coyotes, and San Jose Sharks (twice).
Streak of the Week
This is not a streak but rather, an historical streak that was broken on Friday night.
That’s right, folks. The Chicago Blackhawks finally lost a game in regulation as they dropped a 6-2 tilt to the Colorado Avalanche.
The Blackhawks went 24 games without losing a game in three periods and also went 30 games in which they recorded a point. As they say in life, all good things must come to an end.
Biting Sound
“We’ve lost games before in our lives. It’s not like we are going to sit here and cry now.” – Chicago Blackhawks’ defenceman Duncan Keith after his team’s historic streak was snapped on Friday night with a 6-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
Weekend Rewind
In a 5-4 shootout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night at the Air Canada Centre, Pittsburgh Penguins’ superstar Sidney Crosby was once again front and center.
Crosby picked up a goal and scored in the shootout to lead his Penguins’ to another win. The 25-year-old center is at the top of the league in points, is playing very well on both sides of the puck and once again looks like the best player in the world.
The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, said that there is no doubt that when it comes to the best hockey player in the world, Crosby is it.
“But in my mind, I don’t think there’s any question Sidney Crosby is the best all-around player in the game. His hockey sense is so strong and so solid, combined with his God-gifted talent of being able to see the ice, see the entire picture in front of him. And, most importantly, I don’t care how good you are, if you don’t have a work ethic, it doesn’t matter. There’s no question that each and every game, he’s one of the hardest-working guys on the ice. In my mind, he’s the best player in the game today.”
That is certainly some high praise from number 99.
Save the Date
Tuesday, March 12, 2013: Boston Bruins vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
With every game having so much meaning in a shortened season, Tuesday night’s game between the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins is going to be a dandy. As of this writing, the Bruins are one point behind the Northeast Division and Eastern Conference leading Montreal Canadiens while the Pittsburgh Penguins currently lead the Atlantic Division and are two points behind the Canadiens for the Conference lead. Both of these clubs can put the puck in the net and play a physical brand of hockey, making Tuesday night’s tilt one to watch.
Rink Roundup
– Boy, do the New Jersey Devils miss future Hall of Fame netminder Martin Brodeur. The Devils are 2-6-2 in their last 10 games and the team is having a lot of trouble keeping the puck out of their net.
– What is amazing about New York Rangers’ forward Rick Nash’s nine goals this season is that eight of them have come in the third period. Hopefully, this will mean big things come April, May and June for the Blueshirts.
– After Rangers’ defenceman Marc Staal was hit the puck around the eye area in a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, the visor debate is back on. It will be interesting to see if anything is done about it.
– Believe it or not, folks, four of the six Canadian teams in the NHL currently hold a playoff spot. If the post-season were to start today, the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks would all be fighting for hockey’s Holy Grail.
