Wild
As Christmas approaches, it appears like a two-horse race for the Vezina Trophy, and Filip Gustavsson might need the within observe. His 16.8 targets saved above common are second within the NHL, and his .927 save proportion is third amongst all goalies with greater than 4 appearances. Gustavsson has returned to the dominant kind he displayed in 2022-23, however now he is getting extra assist from the offense. — 19-5-4
2

Capitals
The Capitals’ gamble on Pierre-Luc Dubois was a dangerous one, but it surely appears to be paying off thus far. Dubois hasn’t been placing up huge numbers on offense, however his play at five-on-five has been large. The Caps have a plus-9 purpose differential and management 57.4% of the anticipated targets when Dubois is on the ice. Dubois has began heating up on the stat sheet with two targets and three assists in his final 4 video games. 2 19-6-2
3

Devils
Luke Hughes appears to have taken a notable step ahead in his growth. Hughes was good as a rookie final season, however the Devils additionally gave up some high quality scoring possibilities when he was on the ice. Hughes has cleaned up that side of his recreation, and he has a glowing 59.9% anticipated targets share at five-on-five because of this. 1 18-10-3
4

Golden Knights
Vegas went one month with out Mark Stone within the lineup as a result of a lower-body harm, and the staff went 9-4-2 in that span. The Golden Knights lastly bought their captain again in a 3-2 win over the Stars on Friday, and he tallied an help in his return. Regardless of its document, Vegas did expertise some defensive woes with Stone out of the lineup, however these ought to begin to dissipate now. 3 18-7-3
5

Kings
The Kings have now received six straight, and Adrian Kempe has been one of many hottest gamers within the league since Nov. 13. In that span, Kempe has 9 targets, good for fourth within the NHL. His plus-12 ranking is tied with teammate Anze Kopitar for third. Below the hood, Kempe’s numbers have been simply pretty much as good, if not higher. His plus-14 purpose differential at five-on-five leads the Kings. 8 17-8-3
6

Maple Leafs
During the last month, Mitch Marner has performed in 11 video games, and he has not less than two factors in eight of them. Marner has been placing up factors at a blistering tempo, and he leads Toronto with 38, which is 10 away from second-leading scorer William Nylander. Even with Auston Matthews’ harm troubles, the Leafs have been one of many East’s finest groups, and that’s due largely to Marner. 3 17-9-2
7

Stars
Final week, the Stars introduced that Tyler Seguin would miss 4-6 months with a hip harm. That is unhealthy information for Dallas, particularly contemplating Seguin was one-third of the staff’s finest line. Can Mason Marchment and Matt Duchene hold the great occasions rolling with Seguin on the shelf? It looks as if Logan Stankoven will get the primary crack at changing Seguin on that line, and he wants a jumpstart. 2 17-10-0
8

Hurricanes
Now in his second stint with the Hurricanes, Shayne Gositisbehere has been exception for them. The veteran defenseman has 25 factors in 28 video games whereas posting strong five-on-five impacts. The precise outcomes have not been fairly pretty much as good as a result of abysmal goaltending, however make no mistake, Gostisbehere has been a implausible addition for Carolina. 2 18-9-1
9

Panthers
Matthew Tkachuk has formally caught hearth. In his final seven video games, Tkachuk has 5 targets and 10 assists. That run features a five-point recreation in opposition to the Flyers final week. Tkachuk has been nice for the Panthers once more this season, however his offensive manufacturing is basically beginning to come round. 1 18-9-2
10

Oilers
The Oilers discover themselves battling for a wild card spot within the West, however they is likely to be main the Pacific Division with a number of extra saves. As is the case seemingly yearly, Edmonton has been unable to get dependable goaltending. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have mixed to permit 4.66 targets above common whereas posting a .889 save proportion. 1 16-10-2
11

Lightning
J.J. Moser, a part of the return within the deal that despatched Mikhail Sergachev to Utah, has made an instantaneous affect in Tampa. He is been paired up with Victor Hedman, and he hasn’t actually seemed misplaced. Moser’s five-on-five impacts have been glorious, and he owns a plus-8 purpose differential in these conditions. The Sergachev commerce was a head-scratcher on the time, but when Moser can hold this going, it’s going to have been a savvy transfer by the Bolts. 1 14-10-2
12

Avalanche
Mikko Rantanen had gone 5 video games with out scoring a purpose, however that modified in opposition to the Penguins on Tuesday. Rantanen potted a hat trick whereas including a pair of assists for a five-point evening. Rantanen now has 18 targets and 42 factors on the yr. He ranks third in each of these classes league-wide. 2 17-13-0
13

Bruins
Originally of this month, the Bruins strung collectively 4 straight wins in opposition to inferior opponents. It was an encouraging step in the proper path. Then they performed a staff with a pulse. On Tuesday evening, the Jets scored a landing and transformed the two-point play for an 8-1 win over Boston. All the great vibes the Bruins had constructed all through that successful streak have been rapidly washed out in embarrassing vogue. 3 15-12-3
14

Canucks
Over the summer season, Dakota Joshua revealed he had been recognized with testicular most cancers, and he missed the beginning of the season whereas present process therapy. Joshua returned to the lineup on Nov. 14, and he scored his first purpose of the season final evening. Joshua is enjoyable to observe as a bottom-six grinder with a little bit of talent, and it was nice to see him mild the lamp for the primary time shortly. 6 14-8-5
15

Jets
Winnipeg’s five-on-five anticipated purpose share is 48.5%, which ranks twenty third and is only one spot above the last-place Predators. The Jets’ anticipated purpose differential in all conditions is minus-7.5. In actuality, it is plus-35. Simply one thing to bear in mind because the second half of the season approaches. 6 21-9-0
16

Kraken
Matty Beniers’ scoring points have actually change into inexplicable at this level. He scored 24 targets as a rookie in 2022-23 and has suffered a pointy drop in every of the 2 subsequent seasons. Beniers now has 4 targets in 30 video games, and he simply cannot get something to go. He is generated 6.59 anticipated targets, and his 7.5% taking pictures proportion is 5.6% beneath his common. 7 14-14-2
17

Penguins
Rickard Rakell is having a bounce-back season for the Penguins with 11 targets in 30 video games. He scored 15 targets all of final season, so Pittsburgh needs to be joyful that Rakell has gotten again to being a dependable supply of offense. If issues begin to go south, I ponder whether Rakell might change into a commerce chip for the Pens as a result of he might present good middle-six depth on a contender. 5 12-14-4
18

Hockey Membership
One of many extra disappointing gamers on this Utah staff has been Matias Maccelli. A considerably undersized playmaker, Maccelli broke out for 57 factors in 82 video games final yr. I used to be excited to see what he might do for an encore, however issues haven’t come collectively for him in any respect. Maccelli has simply 10 factors in 28 video games, and his five-on-five impacts are moderately pedestrian. 6 12-11-5
19

Blues
Since getting back from harm on Nov. 19, Robert Thomas has three targets and 7 assists in 10 video games. That is an 82-point tempo, and the Blues are outscoring opponents 6-2 with Thomas on the ice at five-on-five. Thomas is the primary play-driver on this St. Louis lineup, and I will be fascinated to see how he performs as he will get extra acquainted with new coach Jim Montgomery. 2 14-13-2
20

Flames
For the primary time since Nov. 7, the Flames scored greater than three targets in a 4-3 win over the Predators on Tuesday. These two factors pushed the Flames again right into a playoff spot, and I am beginning to suppose Ryan Huska ought to be within the midst of the Jack Adams dialogue. No coach has achieved extra with much less so far within the season. 1 14-10-5
21

Flyers
Owen Tippett had one purpose in Philadelphia’s first 12 video games, and he had simply 4 targets by 24 video games. These numbers have gotten a big increase these days with Tippett tallying 5 targets in his final 5 video games as he lastly begins to seek out an offensive rhythm. The Flyers want Tippett, a 28-goal scorer final season, to contribute frequently if they’ll stay within the playoff battle. 6 13-12-4
22

Blue Jackets
Zach Werenski, just lately named to the Crew USA 4 Nations Face-Off roster, is having himself a season. After a few down years by which Werenski was affected by harm hassle, he’s wholesome and on the high of his recreation. Werenski leads Columbus with 20 assists and 29 factors, and he has a plus-12 purpose differential at five-on-five. Werenski is again to being an elite No. 1 defenseman. 2 12-13-3
23

Rangers
The Rangers are an absolute mess proper now, however Mika Zibanejad’s play is likely to be the most important pink flag of all of them. Zibanejad has a five-on-five anticipated targets share of 43.6% and a minus-9 purpose differential in these conditions. That might be tolerable if he have been producing offensively, however Zibanejad is on tempo for 15 targets, his lowest complete because the 2016-17 season. 6 15-12-1
24

Islanders
The Islanders have been hoping that Maxim Tsyplakov, introduced over from Russia within the offense, might give them a bit of extra scoring punch on the wing. That hasn’t been the case as Tsyplakov has simply 5 targets and 16 factors in 30 video games regardless of getting ample ice-time with Kyle Palmieri and Brock Nelson. 1 11-12-7
25

Senators
I’d by no means need to be accused of “tender tampering,” but when the Senators are unable to make important progress this season, I am positive they will be getting loads of calls about Brady Tkachuk. Possibly the Rangers actually aren’t sniffing round proper now, however that would change if Ottawa continues to be outdoors the playoffs in a pair months. 2 13-13-2
26

Pink Wings
Vibrant spots have been arduous to come back by for the Pink Wings, however considered one of them is the play of rookie defenseman Simon Edvinsson. The 21-year-old has posted spectacular five-on-five impacts, together with a plus-4 purpose differential and a 51.0% anticipated targets share. These numbers are particularly good when you think about Edvinsson is just 21, and most of his Detroit teammates are underwater at full energy. 2 11-13-4
27

Sabres
Only a couple weeks in the past, I wrote that the Sabres had hope of ending their 13-year playoff drought. Then they misplaced their subsequent seven video games. The extra issues change, the extra they keep the identical in Buffalo. The Sabres’ shedding streak units up a really unhappy matchup between them and the Rangers on Wednesday evening. 9 11-14-4
28

Canadiens
Juraj Slafkovsky has two targets in 25 video games, and it looks as if he might have taken a step again following an encouraging sophomore marketing campaign final yr. To make issues worse, the Canadiens are getting hammered when Slafkovsky is on the ice at five-on-five. In equity to Slafkovsky, that could be a downside for 90% of the Montreal roster. 2 11-14-3
29

Sharks
With the Sharks buying and selling Mackenzie Blackwood to the Avalanche, it is likely to be time for Yaroslav Askarov to get extra begins. The No. 11 choose within the 2020 NHL Draft, Askarov has been taking part in effectively on the AHL degree, and he’s one other younger participant who figures to steer San Jose again to Stanley Cup competition. — 10-16-5
30

Geese
Final season, Radko Gudas supplied a stabilizing veteran presence on the Anaheim blue line, however issues have gone downhill. Maybe he is simply been swallowed up by the overall mess that’s the Geese group, however Gudas has a 38.5% anticipated targets share and a minus-9 purpose differential. 4 10-13-4
31

Blackhawks
The Blackhawks fired Luke Richardson final week, and it is robust in charge them. The bar wasn’t all that top for Chicago coming into the season, however the staff was nonetheless falling wanting expectations below Richardson. Possibly the change offers the Hawks a jolt as a result of they want it, particularly Connor Bedard. 1 9-17-2
32

Predators
The Predators have simply misplaced their eighth straight recreation, tying a franchise document. Ryan O’Reilly is damage. Half of their blue line is damage, together with Roman Josi. The staff is on tempo for a whopping 56 factors on the season. Apart from that, all the pieces goes swimmingly in Nashville. 1 7-16-6