This Week In The NHL's Southeast Division: 4/8/2013
The red-hot Washington Capitals surge to the division lead, while Winnipeg and Carolina crumble.
This recap covers the period from April 1st to April 7th.
Washington Capitals: The Capitals (20-17-2) went 4-0 this week. Alex Ovechkin now leads the team in scoring with 43 points (25G/18A). Braden Holtby started the first games three games of the week, while Michal Neuvirth got the win against the Lightning. Washington has scored 117 goals and allowed 110.
4/4 @Washington 2 @New York Islanders 1 (SO)
Trending: Up. The Capitals reeled off four straight wins this week to take over the division lead. The club is 8-1-1 in their last ten games. Alexander Ovechkin has shaken off a slow start and is now tied with Steven Stamkos for the league lead in goals with 25. With the Capitals finally firing on all cylinders, a game-in-hand on the Jets, and Ovie in beast mode, it is now Washington's division to lose.
Winnipeg Jets: The Jets (19-19-2) finished the week with a 1-3 record. Andrew Ladd leads the team in scoring with 34 points (14G/20A). Ondrej Pavelec started all four games in goal. Winnipeg has scored 98 goals and allowed 120 so far this season.
4/1 @New York Rangers 4 Winnipeg 2
4/2 @ New York Islanders 5 @Winnipeg 2
4/6 @ @Winnipeg 4 Philadelphia 1
Trending: Down. The Jets started the week off dropping three-straight on the road, surrendering the division lead to the Capitals and falling out of the top eight in the Eastern Conference. A 4-1 win over the Flyers at home stopped the bleeding but the Jets need to start finding the back of the net more often if they want to stay in post-season contention.
Carolina Hurricanes: The Hurricanes (16-19-2) went 0-4 this week. Eric Staal is their leading scorer with 41 points (16G/25A). Justin Peters and Dan Ellis spilt time in goal. Carolina has scored 97 goals and given up 115.
4/6 New York Rangers 4 @Carolina 1
Trending: Down. The Hurricanes struggles continued as they dropped all four games this week, including three-straight on home ice, and fell to 1-8-1 in their last ten games. The offense was only able to muster a total of five goals in the four losses. At this point, it's hard to believe this club ever led the division. It looks like this season is going end with a very high draft pick for Carolina.
Tampa Bay Lightning: The Lightning (16-20-2) went 1-2-1 this week. Steven Stamkos leads the team with 49 points (25G/24A). New acquisition Ben Bishop debuted with a shutout and started three games for the Bolts. Tampa Bay has scored 121 goals while allowing 114.
4/2 @Florida 3 Tampa Bay 2 (SO)
4/6 @New York Islanders 4 Tampa Bay 2
Trending: Down. Tampa Bay started the week off by rallying to pick up a point in a shootout loss to the Panthers and blasting Carolina 5-0 in Raleigh. The win over the Hurricanes gave the Bolts points in their last four outings. The momentum was lost over the weekend as the Islanders and Capitals both skated to 4-2 wins over the road-weary Lightning.
Florida Panthers: The Panthers (13-20-6) went 2-1 this week. Rookie Jonathan Huberdeau leads the club in scoring with 27 points (13G/14A). Jacob Markstrom started two games, while Scott Clemmensen delivered a sparkling performance against Ottawa. Florida has scored 96 goals and given up 132.
4/2 @Florida 3 Tampa Bay 2 (SO)
Trending: Steady. The Panthers won two of three for the second week in a row. The shootout win over the Lightning gave the Panthers a season high three-game winning streak. The Cats spotted Washington a 4-0 lead before making things interesting in the third period. Florida finished the week by beating the Senators and nemesis Craig Anderson, by a 2-1 count, in Ottawa. The Panthers look like a much more competitive team now and seem determined to finish the season strong.
Who will win the Southeast Division?
| Washington Capitals | 36 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 1 |
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