One other week of NHL hockey is within the rearview mirror, and what per week it was. There have been nearly too many notable headlines to maintain up with, however CBS Sports activities has you coated with the weekly NHL Rewind.
The largest story final week was the return of Patrick Kane, who made his debut with the Detroit Crimson Wings. Kane did handle to get his first objective whereas donning the winged wheel sweater, however the remainder of the weekend did not go so properly for the Crimson Wings as they suffered two disappointing losses.
On the opposite finish of the spectrum, the vibes have improved considerably in Edmonton. The Oilers have gained seven in a row to get again into the playoff image, and Connor McDavid is again to being a freak of nature. The Western Convention has gotten much more attention-grabbing during the last two weeks.
Let’s check out the largest tales and greatest highlights from the week that was within the NHL.
Objective of the week: Connor McDavid places Minnesota in a blender
It is neary 2024, and Connor McDavid is making his first look right here. It is about time. McDavid has lastly gotten wholesome, and he has been carving up opposing groups during the last couple weeks.
The Minnesota Wild have been one in all McDavid’s newest victims, and he put them on the fallacious finish of a spotlight reel. Throughout Edmonton’s win over Minnesota on Friday evening, McDavid put a number of defenders and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury in a blender.
It began with McDavid receiving an outlet move as he picked up velocity via the impartial zone, and that could be essentially the most terrifying sight for an opposing participant. McDavid entered the zone, threw on the brakes, attacked the web, and danced round Fleury for the objective.
These are the sorts of performs we have change into so accustomed to seeing with McDavid, however he was unable to make them earlier this season attributable to harm. Now, it seems like McDavid and the Oilers are selecting up steam, and everybody within the Western Convention is checking their rearview mirrors.
Theft of the week: Devon Levi does the sliding splits for a cease
Regardless of a few of his early struggles, Buffalo Sabres netminder Devon Levi has proven a capability to make some big saves. On Saturday, Levi made a type of show-stoppers towards the Montreal Canadiens, and he risked his groin well being within the course of.
Within the third interval, with the sport tied 2-2, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield broke in on a 2-on-1. Suzuki slid a move throughout to Caufield, who shortly redirected the puck towards the web, and Levi confirmed off his flexibility.
The 21-year-old goaltender did the splits and got here sliding throughout the crease to maintain Caufield off the board.
The Sabres went on to lose the sport in a shootout, however that save needed to be an encouraging signal for them. Levi has already been despatched down for a quick stint within the AHL after a brutal begin, however this efficiency towards Montreal may present a confidence increase.
Patrick Kane makes Crimson Wings debut
The Detroit Crimson Wings and Patrick Kane have been the discuss of the city final week. After present process offseason hip surgical procedure in hopes of revitalizing his profession, Kane made his Detroit debut, and it did not fairly go as deliberate.
Kane’s first sport within the winged wheel sweater was on Thursday towards the San Jose Sharks. As you may count on, the gang was rocking, and it appeared just like the Wings have been going to run away with a blowout win. They scored 4 consecutive targets within the second interval to take a 4-0 lead, after which issues took a flip for the worst.
As shortly as Detroit took a 4-0 lead, it gave it proper again, surrendering 4 consecutive targets proper again to San Jose in lower than six minutes of sport time.
Nonetheless, the Wings managed to take a 5-4 lead within the third interval, however they blew that when Tomas Hertl scored with roughly 90 seconds left to tie the sport once more. In additional time, Mikael Granlund scored to win the lean for the Sharks and spoil the Patrick Kane social gathering.
Saturday’s sport towards the Ottawa Senators did get off to a extra encouraging begin, a minimum of so far as Kane is worried. With roughly 5 minutes left within the first interval, Kane walked into the zone and rifled a shot over the shoulder of Joonas Korpisalo for his first objective and level as a Crimson Wing.
It was an electrifying second in Little Caesars Enviornment, however that is all of the celebrating the Detroit trustworthy would get to do this day. The Senators scored the subsequent 4 targets in a 5-1 win.
Kane remains to be ready on his first win as a Crimson Wing, however Detroit remains to be very a lot within the thick of the Atlantic Division race, and the veteran playmaker remains to be getting his hockey legs below him.
Oilers prolong successful streak to seven
Only a few weeks in the past, the Edmonton Oilers appeared useless within the water, however issues have turned on a dime since new head coach Kris Knoblauch took over. Edmonton is rolling, and the staff has labored its means again into the playoff race with seven straight wins.
The Oilers have not misplaced a sport since Nov. 22, they usually have been completely demolishing groups of late. Over the span of their seven-game successful streak, the Oilers have outscored their opponents 34-12. That is the staff everybody anticipated to see from the beginning of the 2023-24 season.
One huge cause why the Oilers have gotten again on observe is the play of Connor McDavid, who lastly seems to be at full well being. In his final seven video games, McDavid has been a cheat code on ice. He has amassed 4 targets and 16 assists for 20 factors in that span. Lots of these factors have are available spectacular style.
After all, McDavid has gotten loads of assist, and defenseman Evan Bouchard has been one of many main contributors. Bouchard took a whole lot of warmth when the Oilers have been struggling, however he’s nonetheless an distinctive offensive weapon. That has proven via with three targets and 6 factors in his final three video games.
Now that the Oilers are again of their groove, the race for the playoffs within the Western Convention has ratcheted up in depth by a number of notches. Edmonton is again at .500, and it’s closing shortly on many groups in entrance of it. Now we’ll should see simply how for much longer the Oilers can roll.
Rangers hand Kings second straight highway loss
The Los Angeles Kings gained 11 consecutive highway video games to start out the 2023-24 season, however now discover themselves on a little bit of a slide. On Sunday, the New York Rangers defeated the Kings 4-1 throughout the pleasant confines of Madison Sq. Backyard.
Alternatively, the Rangers have been one of many league’s hottest groups this season, however have been using a three-game shedding streak getting into Sunday’s contest. Fortunately for the Rangers, they have been in a position to get again to their successful methods because of second-period targets from forwards Mika Zibanejad and Jimmy Vesey to open the scoring.
On the 8:27 mark of the second interval, Zibanejad benefitted from some terrific passing as he scored on a good looking one-timer from teammate Artemi Panarin on the facility play.
Early within the third interval, Kings ahead Phillip Danault responded with a power-play objective of his personal to chop the deficit to 2-1. Danault was in a position to faucet the puck previous former Kings goaltender Jonathan Fast off a picture-perfect feed from teammate Adrian Kempe.
Regardless of the Kings nipping on the Rangers’ heels, they have been in a position to rating a pair of third-period targets courtesy of ahead Jonny Brodzinski and winger Will Cuylle to take a commanding a 4-2 benefit.
Fast additionally saved the Kings off of the board down the stretch as he recorded 14 of his 25 saves over the ultimate 20 minutes.
The Rangers have been off to a scalding sizzling begin this season and at the moment lead the Philadelphia Flyers by seven factors for the Metropolitan Division lead. New York is also tied for essentially the most factors (39) within the Japanese Convention together with the Boston Bruins.
Appointment viewing this week
Maple Leafs at Rangers: Tuesday, Dec. 12: The Rangers have been juggernaut this season as they’re tied for essentially the most factors within the Japanese Convention. In the meantime, the Maple Leafs have additionally had a robust marketing campaign, however nonetheless discover themselves trailing the Bruins within the Atlantic Division. This has all of the makings of a playoff preview.
Bruins at Devils: Wednesday, Dec. 13: Talking of the Bruins, we’re previous the purpose the place their sizzling begin is a shock. They’re flexing their muscle tissue as one of many league’s high groups, they usually’re slated to face a staff that has been a tad underwhelming within the Devils. With three wins of their final 4 video games, it will be value watching to see if the Devils are actually turning the nook.
Hurricanes at Crimson Wings: Thursday, Dec. 14: Patrick Kane is formally within the fold and has made the Crimson Wings much more interesting as a possible playoff staff. On the opposite facet of the coin, the Hurricanes are recent off of a disastrous 0-4 highway journey, so that they’ll be desperately trying to turns issues round.
Avalanche at Jets: Saturday, Dec. 16: There’s fairly the logjam on the high of the Central Division, so it is possible the Avalanche and Jets shall be trying to one up one another all through the season. With the Jets using a four-game successful streak in the meanwhile, this shall be an opportunity to indicate in the event that they’re for actual.
Canucks at Blackhawks: Sunday, Dec. 17: The Blackhawks will not be one of many league’s high groups, however this contest options a few of the greatest younger expertise within the sport in Connor Bedard, Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson. This can be a sport the place it will be intriguing to see the way forward for the NHL sharing the identical ice.
