Six things to watch in the NHL season
We are at the Christmas break in the NHL season, with a bevy of teams fighting for the playoffs. Before the holiday vacation, it seems like teams are simply settling into the campaign, knowing the 82-game marathon has only begun. Once the teams return from the mini two-day break, the season will be in full swing with approximately 48 games remaining for each franchise.
Here are six things to watch going into the “second half” of the season:
1. Can Montreal bring Canada glory?
A Canadian team has not won the Stanley Cup since 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens beat the Los Angeles Kings. Since then, the Calgary Flames, Ottawa Senators, Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers have all reached the Stanley Cup Finals, only to fall short. Montreal appears a legitimate Cup contender, leading the Atlantic Division with 46 points. Can the Canadiens make the run?
2. Who finishes with the worst record?
Edmonton seems hellbent on getting it done with a laughable 21 points to its credit. However, the Carolina Hurricanes (24 points) are not going down without a fight. Teams like the Buffalo Sabres (29), New Jersey Devils (31), Arizona Coyotes (28) and Columbus Blue Jackets (31) will also be in the mix. This year’s prize with the top pick? Connor McDavid.
3. Will the Kings make the playoffs?
Los Angeles has a history of late-season runs, including its first title season of 2012. That year, the Kings crept into the postseason as the eighth and final seed only to breeze through the playoffs, eventually beating the Devils in six games for the Stanley Cup. Currently, Los Angeles is the eighth seed in the West, two points ahead of Calgary.
4. Can Jakob Voracek win the scoring title?
If you asked 1,000 hockey fans in September who was going to win the scoring title, Voracek would not have been one person’s answer. Yet, Voracek is shocking the hockey world with 46 points, four better than second-place Tyler Seguin of the Dallas Stars. Evgeni Malkin is third with 41 points, and the smart money might be on the mighty Russian forward to make a move.
5. Who wins the Vezina Trophy?
Right now, the favorites would be Marc-Andre Fleury and Pekka Rinne of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators respectively. Fleury is posting a tremendous season, notching a 19-4-3 record with a 2.09 goals against average and a league-best six shutouts. Rinne is tops among starting goaltenders with a 1.84 GAA and a 22-6-1 mark. It should be a fantastic race down the stretch.
6. Can San Jose finally get over the hump?
For the better part of this century, the San Jose Sharks have been a great regular-season team, only to fall flat in the playoffs. Last year, the Sharks had a 3-0 lead on the Kings before blowing the first-round series in spectacular fashion. This season, San Jose is second in the Pacific Division with 43 points and appears to be a fringe contender. Can the Sharks flip the all-too-familiar script and make a run this spring?
