NHL Win Streaks Continue: Blues See their Seventh Straight, Hurricanes Grab No. 5

The St. Louis Blues (31-7-5) remain hot after they grabbed their seventh straight win on Thursday against the Calgary Flames (15-23-6), 5-0.

This was redemption after their 4-3 shootout loss against the Flames back on Dec. 23.

With the win, the Blues now have their longest win streak since Oct. 15 to Nov. 5, 2002 with nine games. This current one has helped the team to stay in the thick of the Western Conference race and they now sit tied at the top with the Chicago Blackhawks (29-8-9) for the Central Division.

Over the last four games, the Blues have also scored five goals or more, outscoring their opponents 21-4.

Jaroslav Halak

In Thursday’s game, Chris Stewart got the Blues on the board followed by Vladimir Sobotka  around two minutes later. Ian Cole, Alex Pietrangelo and Vladimir Tarasenko also had goals. Goalie Jaroslav Halak had 33 saves for the night and grabbed career shutout No. 28. This was his third for the season and he is now 18-6-3.

Halak said of the game via the Associated Press, “Especially in the first period, they had a few chances that got me into the game. Then we started playing better and we didn’t give them pretty much any chances the rest of the first.”

As for the Flames, they have now lost their last six of seven games since playing the Blues in December. They have also been shut in their last five of seven games as their offense has been struggling but perhaps one of their better games came on Monday with a 4-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche (27-12-4).

Playing at home hasn’t helped matters as the Flames have had one goal in their last five games there and that came last year–by rookie Sean Monahan on Dec. 31.

On Friday, the Blues will look for win No. 8 against the Vancouver Canucks (23-13-9). With a victory, they’ll take sole control of the Central Division while Vancouver could snap a five-game losing streak.

The Blues will get the win (-108, 5.5 o). They sit at 6/1 to win the 2014 Stanley Cup.

Hurricanes defeat the Leafs, 6-1

With another team looking to extend their win streak, the Carolina Hurricanes (19-6-9) did so on Thursday with its fifth straight victory as it defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs (21-19-5), 6-1. With the win, the Hurricanes now own the last playoff spot for the Eastern Conference and for the Leafs, who have now lost three consecutive games, they are not part of playoff picture–a first for the season.

The Hurricanes hit three goals in the first period, followed by another one in the second period by former Leaf player John-Michael Liles (his first since joining Carolina). This gave them a 4-1 lead and for the night, Jordan Staal had one goal with three assists, and Jeff Skinner contributed a goal and an assist.

Jeff Skinner

With the goal, it represented Skinner’s 17th in his last 17 games. He now has a point streak to six games (a career high) with seven goals and five assists during this time.

Hurricanes goalie Anton Khudobin had 25 saves and his record now sits at 6-0-0.

On Friday, the Hurricanes will look for win No.6 against the Columbus Blue Jackets (19-20-4) but their streak will end (-150, 5.5 u).

For the Leafs, Joffrey Lupul scored the team’s sole goal while goalie James Reimer had 30 saves. The team has a 18-5 combined score in its last three games with its last win coming against the Detroit Redwings (19-15-10) on New Year’s Day in the Winter Classic.

Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said of his team via the Associated Press, “We are standing still. We are watching teams skate. We are not engaged in the hockey game at the level that is required to give ourselves a chance at success.”

They’ll have an opportunity to change this against the Washington Capitals (21-16-6) on Friday but will fall short (-155, 5.5 u).