Matt Rempe, New York Rangers (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Games of the Week
This game had it all - 11 total goals, a fight, back-and-forth scoring, and despite all the scoring, some great goaltending. The Bruins exploded in the second period to gain a 4-1 lead and Corey Perry and Parker Wotherspoon dropped the gloves, but the Oilers answered to end the second at a score of 4-2. The third period was a back-and-forth battle. The Oilers tallied two to tie the game, but David Pastrnak got on the board for the Bruins to make it 5-4. However, just 42 seconds later, Zach Hyman tied the game for the Oilers at 5-5. Overtime saw the Bruins kill off a flurry of Oilers chances on the powerplay thanks to 2 of Jeremy Swayman’s 37 saves. Finally, Charlie McAvoy ended the game with an overtime goal (more about the overtime winner in the goals of the week - spoiler alert - it was a DANDY)
Just a 2-1 final score here, but still plenty of action to report! The first period didn’t have any scoring, but it featured a classic, long-winded fight between Nicolas Deslauriers and Rangers’ rookie Matt Rempe. These guys are two tough customers, and the fight left both of them with some cuts and bruises. Rempe debuted last Sunday for the Rangers and already has 3 fights in just 5 career games! The scoring started in the second period with former first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere getting on the board. Then, in the third period, the Flyers briefly tied the game at 1 before Matt Rempe added to his crazy first week in the NHL with his first career goal to make it 2-1, which turned out to be the game-winner. Igor Shesterkin was clutch in net for the Rangers, making 39 saves.
A high-scoring duel in the battle of Pennsylvania that saw 13 goals and a lack of solid goaltending. The Penguins gave up the first goal but battled back to enter the first intermission up 2-1. The second period was chaotic, with the Penguins tallying two powerplay goals and the Flyers netting three goals, one being short-handed, so the frame ended knotted 4-4. The Penguins battled back with a shorthanded goal of their own in the third period, along with two more goals. The Flyers only managed two in the third period, and the Penguins got a hard-fought 7-6 win, with Kris Letang scoring the decisive game-winning goal.
Stump Stars of the Week
1st Star - J.T. Miller, Vancouver Canucks - 4 Games, 5 Goals, 4 Assists
2nd Star - Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers - 3 Games, 3 Wins, .975 Save %
3rd Star - Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs - 4 Games, 1 Goal, 9 Assists
Goals of the Week
Quinton Byfield, the #2 overall pick from 2020’s draft scored an absolute beauty to open the scoring late in the first period in the LA King’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. He entered the offensive zone by himself, deked through the legs of one defender while nearly losing his stick, kicked the puck back up to himself, and finished on the backhand while falling to the ground. Maybe the goal of the YEAR so far, watch it above!
One of our games of the week was capped off by a GORGEOUS overtime winner from defenseman Charlie McAvoy Wednesday night. McAvoy picked the loose puck up on a broken play in the offensive zone, curled to the middle of the ice, toe dragged around a sliding defender, and dove to get a shot on goal, netting the game-winner and sending Oilers fans to the exits with a tough loss.
For our third goal of the week, we look to the man taken one spot behind Quinton Byfield in the 2020 Draft, Tim Stutzle. Stutzle scored more than one sweet goal this week, but his best came against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday. He dangled a defender at the blue line, dragged the puck back to his body to avoid a sliding defender, and fired a bullet past the blocker of Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Playoff Race Check-In
Eastern Conference
The Rangers extended their win streak to ten games before it was snapped by the Blue Jackets on Sunday, storming back to tie the Bruins for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Maple Leafs are in the midst of a seven-game win streak, and they’re 4 points clear of the Red Wings for the final Atlantic Divisional playoff spot, while the Red Wings sit in the top wild-card spot in the east and are riding a five-game win streak of their own
Western Conference
The race for the top spot in the Central Division is tight, with only 3 points separating the top three teams, the Stars, Jets, and Kings. The Jets have won three straight and are poised to make a run for the top of the division.
The Western wild card race is anyone’s game, with four teams being 5 or fewer points out of the last wild card spot. The Predators have won their last four games and currently hold the last spot. The Coyotes have moved in the opposite direction, and after being in a promising spot just a month ago, they’ve dropped their last TWELVE games in a row and their playoff hopes are looking grim.
Matchups to Watch For
Monday: Kings @ Oilers
Both teams enter this matchup tied in the standings with 68 points. The Kings are currently holding a wild card spot while the Oilers are clinging on to the last divisional playoff spot, needless to say, this game is huge for both teams!
Tuesday: Golden Knights @ Maple Leafs
Two heavy hitters holding on to playoff spots in their respective divisions have a rematch from last week where the Maple Leafs bested the Knights 7-3.
Thursday: Wild @ Predators
Both teams are on the cusp of the playoffs, and every game matters a ton at this time of the year! The Preds are barely hanging on to the last playoff spot in the Western Conference, but the Wild are just two points behind them and looking to grab their spot. Two central division rivals in need of a win should lead to a great hockey game!
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