The Dallas Stars received a gut check Tuesday night. Though they haven't fallen off the wagon, they have wobbled during a three-game losing streak in which they've given up 15 goals. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin were benched in the final half of the third period of their 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers, a clear message that their "stupid hockey" was just not going to be tolerated anymore. Suddenly, the Stars' place near the top of the standings doesn't seem so safe.
NHL scores 2016: Stars slide to 2nd, Capitals and Panthers gain traction with wins
Intrigue among the league’s top five teams continues to build.
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
You've heard a lot about how dynamite the Florida Panthers have been, and for good reason. After Tuesday night's 5-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres, the Panthers have won 10 straight. Florida is doing something Dallas hasn't been able to do over its respective last few weeks: Play fun hockey.
Jaromir Jagr is five goals away from tying the third-best NHL scorer in league history and Roberto Luongo is one of the league's most consistent goaltenders this season. To top it all off, a team whose attendance numbers are routinely criticized, is just 10 points out of the top spot in the NHL.
In #FlaPanthers run of 16 wins in 19 games, have given up 2-goals or fewer in 15 games. SO (2); 1 (11); 2 (2)
— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) January 6, 2016 Through the excitement, there's the knowledge that this run probably isn't sustainable for the Panthers, who now lead the Atlantic Division by five points over the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens. Florida will probably make the playoffs in a few short months, but it will most definitely not be at the top of the NHL.
You know who just might be the last team standing at the top? The Washington Capitals, who survived a late scare against the Bruins to eke out a 3-2 win in Boston. Wednesday morning, it's the Capitals who stand atop the league one point above the Stars thanks to their recent win. Washington has now won eight of its last 10 games after Tuesday's victory, their first in 2016.
The Capitals are now the Stanley Cup odds-on favorite as of Tuesday afternoon, and their rise to the top feels more legitimate than the Panthers’ because of the depth and talent level that Washington boasts. Still, with every game that passes, the Capitals and Panthers get closer to a potential drop-off that has just recently caught the streaking Stars.
Scores
Washington Capitals 3, Boston Bruins 2
Florida Panthers 5, Buffalo Sabres 1
New York Rangers 6, Dallas Stars 2
Chicago Blackhawks 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (OT)
Philadelphia Flyers 4, Montreal Canadiens 3
3 things we learned
1. Jack Eichel continues to chase the Calder with no-look assist
Sabres rookie Jack Eichel now has 12 points in his last eight games and is just 10 points behind Blackhawks youngster Artemi Panarin for the rookie lead in offensive production. Eichel has come into his own these last few weeks, showing his true colors after falling behind in the Calder contention to other rookie showstoppers. His latest highlight came on a no-look, backhanded assist on the Sabres' opening goal during the second period to tie the game at 1-1. It's not enough to take back the goal scoring title from Dylan Larkin just yet, but it'll do.
Just a behind-the-back, no-look pass from Eichel. No big deal. #FLAvsBUF pic.twitter.com/XuBpGSfI5Y
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 6, 2016 2. Philadelphia's Shayne Gostisbehere now leads all rookie defensemen in goals
The legend of the Ghost Bear rides on, as rookie defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere now leads all rookie defensemen, with seven goals. Gostisbehere has been a revelation for the Flyers, who are benefiting from his scoring that has him on pace to be the eighth-best rookie scorer with just 22 games played on the season. It's officially the year of the rookie, folks. Just embrace it.
Absolute laser from Shayne Gostisbehere pic.twitter.com/ep0un9hYan
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) January 6, 2016 3. Jets beat Predators 3-1 with almost two-thirds fewer shots
To quote my favorite television show: The universe is big, it's vast and complicated, and ridiculous. And sometimes, very rarely, impossible things just happen and we call them miracles.
Sometimes in hockey weird things happen. pic.twitter.com/ZT7BL3J7qq
— Adam Gretz (@AGretz) January 6, 2016 Bless you, you crazy sport you.
Impact Moment
To cap off our night of rookie highlights, Artemi Panarin netted his 13th goal of the season to stifle the Penguins' comeback in a thrilling overtime period.
Stat of the Night
.@BlueJacketsNHL (19:44) & @mnwild (19:46) scored 0:02 apart to tie the NHL record for fastest 2 goals by both teams https://t.co/dT7FHwO5Td
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 6, 2016 Post-to-Post
- Wild captain Mikko Koivu was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons after crashing into the boards hard against the Blue Jackets.
- Sidney Crosby scored his fifth goal in six games in the Penguins' OT loss.
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