NHL scores 2017: The Coyotes latest win is another showcase for Martin Hanzal

The Coyotes are, once again, likely sellers at NHL trade deadline. They’re one of only two teams that are effectively out of the playoff race in mid-February, which puts them in prime position to maneuver pieces over the next few weeks.

Martin Hanzal is a name that has come up for Arizona, and for good reason. His opening goal in the Coyotes 5-0 beatdown of the Flames is his seventh point in eight games. He’s been linked to the Montreal Canadiens in the past, and will likely be looked at by more as the deadline approaches.

Our Canadiens blog did a good job yesterday sussing out whether Hanzal would be a good fit in a top-six role for Montreal. It’s a well-written piece worth your time, for sure.

Also worth considering is if the Coyotes should keep Hanzal or trade him to a contender. After all, Arizona is getting hot — as they’ve won three of their last four — just as Hanzal has. Yet correlation does not equal causation, and the Coyotes aren’t in the playoff race so there’s no need for them to keep a player lighting up the league at the right time.

As such, Hanzal’s play for the Coyotes is no doubt increasing his trade value day by day. Teams like the Blackhawks have been known to pay well for veterans, and Arizona might just get a solid prospect to add to their young core out of it all.

Rangers 3, Blue Jackets 2
Coyotes 5, Flames 0

1. Scott Hartnell went down, then out

It’s no secret Hartnell falls down, a lot. The Blue Jackets’ forward became synonymous with the phrase “Hartnell Down” and that coined the name for his foundation supporting hockey charities. Unfortunately, Hartnell took a tumble early in the Blue Jackets’ 3-2 loss to the Rangers and returned once to the bench before leaving the game with a lower-body injury.

There was no word on Hartnell after the game from the Blue Jackets, but it’d certainly be a blow for Columbus if their 30-point man was out for any significant period of time.

2. Mike Smith is dominant in high-shooting games

I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a more confusing player than Mike Smith. He’s playing slightly above average for an NHL goaltender this season, though he’s prone to make some really, REALLY bad mistakes.

However, apparently he’s pretty fantastic when facing a lot of shooting opportunities.

The Flames didn’t hit the 40-shot mark in the abysmal 5-0 loss to the Coyotes on Monday, but it’s a stat absolutely worth noting. Smith did blank the Flames on 36 shots, though.

3. Calgary’s goaltender woes continued

Chad Johnson finished just two periods of play in net for the Flames on Monday with 19 saves on 23 shots. The performance was yet another in a troubling trend for both of Calgary’s netminders, as Brian Elliott too has struggled for the Flames.

Elliott has been the better netminder since mid-December, but Johnson essentially saved the Flames when Elliott had a bad two-month stretch to start the year. Now that Johnson is on a downswing, Elliott has stabilized in net. It’s a conundrum the Flames really don’t need right now, as they are chasing down the Kings for a playoff spot.

The Rangers bested the Blue Jackets thanks to Jimmy Vesey’s stellar goal moments after Columbus tied the game in the middle of the third period.

New York has now won six games in a row and are now tied with the Blue Jackets and Penguins with 75 points.

The Metropolitan Division is bonkers, my friends.