Winnipeg is on Fire! What's Wrong With the Calgary Flames?
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We are well into November in Canada! Snow is flying in Alberta and other parts of the country. The cold winds are blowing in a few places, while some teams are more than holding their own.
So what's the NHL update for the Canadian teams? Let’s get down to business.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers hit a massive speed bump this week, losing three straight games and then losing Evander Kane on Tuesday night. It appears Kane was stabilized, but the overall damage from the cut is unknown. Edmonton salvaged their week with a 3-2 road win in Tampa Bay.
Edmonton continues its trip in the Southeast with stops in Carolina and Florida to face the Panthers. After that, they get a good four days' rest. There is a slight goalie controversy, but Jack Campbell stopped 35 of 37 in Tampa Bay. That could stabilize things.
Calgary Flames
Calgary drops back some more despite playing well for periods. It is strange to see the Flames have lost six straight games. They have had some three-point games along the way. Calgary now stands at 5-5-2 after a 5-1 start.
For those wondering, Calgary has slid even further in the NHL Futures to 13.28, according to Sports Interaction. Toronto is first among Canadian teams at 12.54, with Edmonton catching up at 13.66.
The Flames have to be frustrated. On consecutive nights, they let games get away against the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils. Those are the contests where lost points find a way to haunt a team later.
Winnipeg Jets
Scott Arniel and Rick Bowness have Winnipeg at 8-3-1, way above expectations. That is not a misprint, and the Jets currently lead the Central Division. Even more impressive than their three-game winning streak is their +10 goal differential.
Winnipeg’s offense found a way to step up this week. After a tough overtime win in Montreal, the Jets efficiently handled Chicago, then disposed of Dallas with ease 5-1. It was that victory over the Stars which drew the most notice. Dallas scored first, and then Winnipeg responded just 21 seconds later.
From there, the Jets kept rolling with four more unanswered goals. It was a rare easy night for goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who only had to stop 21 shots. Winnipeg heads to Calgary and Seattle this weekend.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs saw the calendar turn to November, and so have their fortunes. Like clockwork, the Leafs have gone 3-0-1 since that 4-4-2 start. John Tavares is turning back the clock, and Auston Matthews is playing like Auston Matthews. The injury to Ilya Samsonov is troubling, but Matt Murray is about ready to return. Toronto still has concerns.
Ontario sports bettors are still not optimistic as their numbers inched downward to 12.54. Even betting money is going away from the Maple Leafs, who will likely be favoured again versus Pittsburgh and Vancouver this weekend. Can they bounce back after a tough overtime loss to Vegas?
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal is still treading water at .500 with a 6-6-1 record. The Canadiens enjoyed a huge road win in a shootout over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night. It capped off a rough week that became even.
Jake Allen was outstanding in goal with 41 saves in what became a bit of a goaltending duel. Mike Hoffman even showed up offensively with two goals that must be encouraging for Montreal. Getting offense from players not named Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki is essential in staying competitive.
Ottawa Senators
Ottawa's 2022-23 season has careened out of control. They lost six consecutive games after winning four contests in a row. At 4-8, the Senators are not dull, but Ottawa can not win on the road (0-4) and now is losing at home too.
Losing to Vancouver on Tuesday has only made D.J. Smith’s hot seat even hotter. There are problems in the nation’s capital, indeed.
Vancouver Canucks
Bruce Boudreau and the Canucks performed better over the last three games. They went 2-0-1 with wins against Anaheim and a solid road win over the Ottawa Senators. The only blemish was a shootout loss to the Nashville Predators sandwiched in between. There has been improvement, at least.
Vancouver continues their trip to Eastern Canada and has road dates with Boston and Buffalo to cap the week.
Do not forget “Coaches Hot Seat” column comes out again this Friday.
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