By Sportsnet Connected /
As the National Hockey League season moves into Christmas, Sportsnet Connected experts weigh-in on how some of the Canadian teams are doing.
Ottawa Senators
Ottawa’s offence has already had a lot of ups and downs throughout the month of December says Sportsnet Connected reporter Ian Mendes.
The ups have included the work of centreman Mike Fisher.
“Fisher has made it hard for him to be left off the Canadian Olympic team,” says Mendes.
“He has already surpassed his goal total of last season, has been consistent on both ends of the ice and has become coach Cory Clouston’s number one centre.”
The down would the health of Jason Spezza who looks like he will miss about two months due to a torn MCL.
“Spezza was showing signs of life recently, scoring goals in consecutive games for this first time all season,” says Mendes.
“However, with Alexei Kovalev also coming out of his funk with a recent hat trick versus Carolina, the Sens offence may be alright with Spezza out of the lineup.”
Toronto Maple Leafs
Sportsnet Connected reporter Barry Davis looks back and finds it funny how many people had written off the Leafs by the second week of November.
Yes, they got off to a terrible start but a check of the standings now shows them just two points out of the final playoff spot and it’s not even Christmas yet. Four straight wins at home and a 6-2 December record helped the turnaround, but there are many factors responsible for the recent success.
“First and foremost, they are getting solid goaltending from Vesa Toskala,” says Davis. “He has won four of his last five starts and is making a number of game-saving stops.”
The top line of Phil Kessel, Matt Stajan and Alexei Ponikarovsky has combined for 18 points over the last five games. Kessel is looking like he could be worth the high price Brian Burke had to pay.
Davis also points to the improvement on the blueline.
“Mike Komisarek has finally found his groove and guys like Finger and Exelby are being much more physical and smart in their own end.”
There’s still work to be done and the playoffs aren’t a given yet, but they’re in a much better place today than they were a month ago.
Calgary Flames
“December has not been as generous to the Flames as November,” says Sportsnet Connected reporter Roger Millions.
“The Flames combination of shaky starts and offensive challenges have led to a below .500 record in December as opposed to the 10-2-2 mark they set in November.”
“They have averaged less than two goals per game so far in December,” continues Millions.
“Compounding their issue has been a discipline issue that has seen them taking unnecessary early penalties and forced their goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff to shoulder a bigger load than he has been used to.”
Millions has still liked what he has seen from the Flames goalie.
“Kiprusoff continues to be the bright shining light for the Flames. He has lowered his goals against to under 2.20 and is clearly the Flames’ MVP.”
December should get better as they will be playing eight of nine games in the friendly confines of Pengrowth Saddledome.
Edmonton Oilers
From a road-to-ruin to a road to success, that’s the best way Sportsnet Connected reporter Gene Principe can describe what could turn out to be a season-saving road trip for the Edmonton Oilers.
The team knocked off Detroit, Dallas, Florida, Tampa Bay and St. Louis on their recent road trip.
It gave the Oilers five straight wins on the road for the first time in team history. It also bounced them from near the bottom of the West to a team in the thick of fighting for a playoff spot.
Oilers forward Dustin Penner continues to be the comeback player of the year and quite possibly the entire league. His play hasn’t only caught the attention of the NHL but those putting together Canada’s Men’s Olympic Hockey team.
In goal, Jeff Deslauriers has been a revelation. He has started every game since Nikolai Khabibulin went down with a back injury.
It wasn’t long ago there were suggestions the Oilers would be better off making a run for a top five lottery pick. Now, postseason talk is a lot more realistic than it was just a couple weeks ago.
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are starting to look like the team everybody picked to contend for the Stanley Cup.
The Canucks opened an eight-game homestand with wins over the Atlanta Thrashers, Minnesota Wild and Los Angeles Kings.
“The last two wins over Kings and Wild were very impressive, especially when you consider the fact that both teams came to Vancouver with records of 8-1-1 in their last 10 games,” said Sportsnet Connected reporter Dan Murphy, who is also host of Sportsnet Canucks broadcasts. “A successful homestand is critical for the Canucks, who are 13-4 at GM Place, because of the future roadtrip which will see them play 20 of 29 games on the road because of the 2010 Olympic Games.”
The Canucks’ big line of Daniel and Henrik Sedin and Alex Burrows are doing a lot of damage right now.
“Ever since Daniel returned from his broken foot the trio has been nearly unstoppable,” said Murphy. “Henrik’s assist versus the Kings extended his point streak of seven games, a streak in which he’s totaled 14 assists.”
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