This recap covers the period from March 4th to March 10th.
Carolina Hurricanes: The Hurricanes (14-9-1) went 2-1 this week. Eric Staal is their leading scorer with 30 points (12G/18A). Justin Peters started his first two games of the season while Dan Ellis picked up the win against New Jersey. Carolina has scored 75 goals and given up 69.
Trending: Steady. The Hurricanes remain the class of the Southeast Division and are it’s only team to currently hold down a playoff spot. Another winning week has separated them from all rivals except for Winnipeg. Eric Staal is tied for sixth in the league in scoring. Justin Peters went 1-1 after his recall from Charlotte and Dan Ellis turned in a very good performance against the Devils as the two capably filled the void left by Cam Ward.
Winnipeg Jets: The Jets (12-11-2) finished the week with a 2-1-1 record. Andrew Ladd leads the team in scoring with 24 points (13G/11A). Ondrej Pavelec continued to carry the load in the Jets’ cage but Al Montoya is finally back to provide some relief. Winnipeg has scored 63 goals and allowed 74 so far this season.
3/8 Winnipeg 3 @Florida 2 (OT)
3/10 @New Jersey 3 Winnipeg 2 (SO)
Trending: Up. The Jets continued their recent trend of playing well on the road as they collected 5 points in four games to remain within striking distance of Carolina. The team bounced back from a lackluster performance in the 4-1 defeat to Florida to finish the trip in fine fashion. Al Montoya returned to the lineup and picked up the 2-1 win against Tampa Bay to raise his record to 3-0 on the season.
Washington Capitals: The Capitals (10-13-1) went 2-2 this week. Mike Ribeiro leads the team in scoring with 28 points (9G/19A). Braden Holtby started three games for the Caps playing well in two of them and getting pulled in the other. Washington has scored 69 goals and allowed 72.
3/5 @Washington 4 Boston 3 (OT)
3/9 @New York Islanders 5 Washington 2
3/10 New York Rangers 4 Washington 1
Trending: Down Slightly. The Capitals got off to rip-roaring start this week by coming back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Boston and by absolutely destroying the Panthers. Unfortunately, the momentum the team had been slowly building was lost as backup netminder Philipp Grubauer couldn’t hold a third period lead against Islanders and then the Capitals were manhandled the next time out by the Rangers, the team currently holding the final playoff spot in the east. Washington needs to go on a serious run if they want to somehow eke into the playoffs.
Tampa Bay Lightning: The Lightning (10-14-1) went 1-3 this week. Steven Stamkos leads the team with 32 points (19G/18A). Mathieu Garon has been placed on injured reserve. Tampa Bay has scored 85 goals while allowing 79.
Trending: Steady (not in a good way). Tampa Bay’s run of poor play continued as the club dropped another spot in the divisional standings. Steven Stamkos is doing everything he can in a Hart-worthy campaign but it is not enough. Mathieu Garon was injured during the loss to the Penguins. Anders Lindback played pretty well this week but new backup Cedrick Desjardins couldn’t protect a third period lead against Montreal.
Florida Panthers: The Panthers (7-13-6) went 1-2-1 this week. Jonathan Huberdeau and Tomas Fleischmann share the team lead in points with 17. Rookie Jacob Markstrom started all four games this week. Florida has scored 64 goals and given up a league-worst 98.
3/8 Winnipeg 3 @Florida 2 (OT)
Trending: Steady (not in a good way). The Panthers started the Jacob Markstrom “era” off with a solid 4-1 win over the Jets. Their second outing of the week saw Markstrom get the quick hook as the Capitals romped in a 7-1 laugher. Florida was better the next time out, again outplaying the Jets at home, but this time they fell 3-2 in OT. The Panthers finished the week off by getting dominated by Montreal on home ice and now sport the league’s worst record.