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Many people can't accept change. Many struggle off the tip of change as they give time for the correct adjustments to be made. A relocation; new job; or a change in boss are usually changes that causes slow adjustments. In the sports world, an early or mid-season coaching change can spiral a team in the wrong direction. That hasn't been the case for the Oilers and Wild, whom both have taken their change and made good from it right away.
Changes look to have been needed as we see much better play from the Wild and Oilers post the teams' head coaching changes. The two squads played a war in a 4-3 Oilers' Friday night dub. Both teams had been red hot leading up to the game; despite the loss tonight, the Wild still remain better since the coach switch. Minnesota is now 4-2 since firing coach Dean Evason on November 27th & Edmonton is now 9-3 since firing coach Jay Woodcroft on November 12th. Wild have outscored their opponents a stunning 18-5 across the 4 dubs while the Oilers have also been impressive outscoring their opps 49-32 as each squad attempts to turn the sails on the ship and their seasons.
Oilers have woken up, especially superstar Connor McDavid; who is thrilled to be playin' under his junior Hockey coach again. McJesus has been back to his game-breakin' ways on offense for the rig postin' 6 goals and 17 assists since the 12th (10 games), after postin' just 2 goals and 8 assists in the 11 games under Woodcroft. Chels' golden boy has been a passing maestro of late; dishin' the puck with flare to elevate his line and the Oilers' power-play. McJesus posted back-to-back games with 4 assists and has 15 assists across the 6-game win streak with 7 of 'em coming on the man advantage. Not just the passing work to be excited about; McDavid is starting to find the back of the net again... I mean checkout this filthy goal he had against Minny:
video via B/R Open Ice//X
Oilers have some upside when McDavid is playin' with his trademark electricity. He has 21 points in the last 8 games to put him back in the top ten of points in the NHL... where his name always has belonged. Edmonton has now won six in a row; the hottest current win streak in the NHL. They followed the Flames' vibes and went from the basement of the West to in the early season playoff hunt. Minnesota is now trying to steer away from the rough waters to access the same canal Edmonton is in.
Wild's heatwave met a superior wave with the Oilers on Friday but despite the close game loss, the Wild are still on a positive path since the coaching change. Losing a nail-bitter to the hottest current squad shouldn't destroy that momentum. The loss in Vancouver wasn't demoralizing either, they had a 1-0 game until two minutes left in regulation- a few weeks ago the Canucks more than likely blow them out. Wild are playin' better hockey; plain and simple. The first line of Kaprizov-Rossi-Zuccarello is finally steppin' up and producing at a fierce clip for the Wild and new head coach John Hynes. Matt Boldy has been doing his thing for the second line in follow. Boldy has 5 goals and 2 assists under Hynes- he only had 1 goal in his 12 games prior to the coaching change. To have a 4-game winning streak in response to a coaching change shows the team can respond to adversity. It also shows they can accept accountability as they are playing much better hockey.
Both the Oilers and Wild look like different teams since their respected early-season head coaching changes. That will wake their fans up; we see that in full color with the Edmonton faithful. Still alotta season & still a lot of growth to be made for the Oilers and Wild. They are off to a good start & having McJesus back to game-breaking motives on the ice is very-very good for hockey.
It's been tough huntin' for the Coyotes thus far across the campaign, but it seems they may have found a way to kill their prey consistently. Arizona won consecuctive games for just the second time this season and extended it to a 5-game winning streak; their longest since 2018-19. The winning streak was far more notorious than that... it marked the first time in history a team beat the previous five franchises to win the Stanley Cup in consecutive games. After a brutal 6-5 loss to the '18 champion Blues, the Yotes flipped a switch to make history and may have activated the next gear as they look to rise in the Central.
Arizona beat Vegas; Tampa Bay; Colorado; and a rematch with St. Louis that included just their third time in 'chise history scoring 5 goals in a first period (first since '86). Can the Coyotes use that historic five-game stretch to find consistent ways? That's the big question... a 1-4 streak snappin' loss to the Flyers doesn't help that be a yes, but if they beat Boston today to win 6 of their last 7, then they activate that next gear. The potential is real when you look at all angles. Yotes are 8-4-0 at home and have the 5th best power-play in the league. On top of that, the Yotes rank 3rd in shot percentage; tied-9th in goals against per game; and are tied-12th in PK percentage. Special teams has been superb and they continue to get top five in the league type play from starting tendy Connor Ingram. When it comes down to it; it's just a matter of these guys putting it all together.
Coyotes need to limit miscues and reduce their time spent in the Sin-Bin. Liam O'Brien I speak to you. The PK has been great considering the team ranks second in total penalty minutes. They won't keep those numbers without reducing the PIM. Vejmelka needs to step up as backup to Ingram, he has been slaughtered and has been in the net for 8 of the Coyotes' 12 losses. They still have some growth ahead if they want to hop off the rollercoaster ride in the Desert. The good outweighs the bad, that's a positive note forsho.
Only two defenseman in the past 51 years have won the Hart Trophy for NHL's MVP. The last time a defenseman won the Hart Trophy was in 2000 when Chris Pronger won. It was also the last time a defenseman was even nominated. Before Pronger, you need to go back another 28 years for the previous defenseman to win: which was Bobby Orr in 1972. We now have two current defenseman that are building strong cases to break the mark.
Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes have been lights-out productive being game-breakers in every facet of the game at the quarter mark of the campaign. Hughes has made the Canucks a serious contender in the West while Makar continues to be the Av's super avenger. Both guys are amongst the top in NET rating as they are arguably the two most valuable players right now. Hughes is first in +/= with a +18 and Makar is second with a +16. Makar has an astounding +29 NET rating with Hughes posting a +22. Both guys have 27 assists; ranking them first in the NHL along with Nikita Kucherov. Vancouver and Colorado simply can't move forward without these two on the ice. The ship goes, as they go. The definition of value.
Not sure how we can have any thoughts of these two cats slowin' down their production. Makar and Hughes are two of the best players on the planet; I predict them to be nominees for MVP as the season rolls on. This might be the season we see a defenseman hold up that Hart... it really might be. Personally, I have Makar with a slight edge over Quinny, which is wild as Hughes was the front runner the whole season up to this point. Makar is on a crazy tear right now and has evened the playing field. They have all our attention; and their teams' gratitude.
Power Rankings:
Record since last drop: 3-1
Notable wins: vs DET
Rangers remain the top dog in the Power Rankings, but hang on by a thread after suffering two blowout losses in their last five to the Senators and Sabres. A collective score of 3-11 between the two Ls. Rangers are 3-1 since the last drop, all three dubs by one point each. Winning close games is always a plus. They just want to get back on the acclerator with teams 2-5 driving in their blindside.
Next up: @ WAS; vs LA; vs TOR; vs ANA; @ BOS
Record since last drop: 3-1
Notable wins: vs COL; @ MTL (shutout)
Kings have won 8 of their last 9 and ride a three game winning streak. LA's 8-2-0 record in the last 10 is the best record (along with Nashville) in the league in that span. They sit at two because of their road record; which almost gave them the top spot on this drop. Kings 11-0-0 undefeated start on the road is the longest streak to start a season of all-time. They just need one more dub to break the all-time road winning streak at ANY point of a season. Kings are red hot as they ride their dominant tendy Cam Talbot. They get their shot TONIGHT in the Big Apple.
Next up: @ NYI; v@ NYR; vs WPG; @ SEA
Record since last drop: 3-1
Notable wins: @ TOR
Bruins responded to the three game losing skid with winning three games in a row- keeping them steady at number three in the PRs. The wins were over the Sharks; Jackets; and Maple Leafs, so nothing that would move their needle as they have lost 4 of their last 7. They still remain atop the Atlantic and have a foot in the race for the top spot in the Power Rankings.
Next up: vs ARI; @ NJD; @ NYI; vs NYR
Record since last drop: 3-2 (3-0-2)
Notable wins: @ VAN
Knights have lost their dominance as they are 4-2-4 in their last 10 games and have lost 4 of 7. They have now lost three straight OT/SOs and move to 4-5 in extra time this season. Despite those misfortunes, they have solid back-to-back dubs over the Canucks and Capitals; outscoring them 8-2. VGK is tied with Boston for the most points in Chel, but they can thank the silly OTL points for that. They aren't playing like the top team they were when they started 11-0-1. Vegas will look to take advantage of their four game homestand coming up. They could be back on the rise.
Next up: @ DAL; vs SJS; vs CGY; vs BUF; vs OTT
Record since last drop: 3-2
Notable wins: @ COL; vs CAR
Jets are back to steady winnin' air in the skies. Winnipeg has won three in a row, washing away the three game losing skid that followed their 5-game winning streak. Jets have won 8 of 11 and continue to rise in the Central; ranking third in the division. They are now 6-3 within the division since the start of November including a big 4-2 dub over the Avs on Thursday. Jets look to continue proving legitimacy as they have 3 games left on their 4-game homestand.
Next up: @ ANA; @ SJS; @ LA; vs COL; vs MTL
Record since last drop: 3-2 (3-1-1)
Notable wins: vs DAL
Panthers continue to play well, but stay in the middle of the pack. Florida is 6-3-1 in their last 10 games; not too shabby right? The only issue is that they have been punched in the face by top tier squads losing to Boston 3-1; being shutout by the Jets 3-nil; and losing a shootout with the division rival Maple Leafs. They look to build off their 2-game winning streak as they face a Pacific gauntlet coming up in a 5-game road trip.
Next up: @ CBJ; @ SEA; @ VAN; @ EDM; @ CGY
Record since last drop: 3-2 (3-1-1)
Notable wins: @ BUF; @ MTL
Detroit finds their way back into the top ten of the PRs winnin' 6 of their last 8 games. They continue to look better than expected, and now strike news across the league with the signing of the returning Patrick Kane who just debuted on Thursday with the Wings. The buzz is growin', and so is the wins column. The loss to San Jose is one to key on. On a 3-game winning streak, the Wings blew a 4-0 lead to the Sharks and then lost the game in overtime. That game's second period is arguably one of the more electric periods of hockey this season. I expect the buzz and good play to continue in Hockeytown as they welcome some solid comp on the schedj. Tonight's contest with Brady Tkachuk and the Senators should be an exciting watch.
Next up: vs OTT; @ DAL; @ STL; vs CAR; @ PHI; vs ANA
Record since last drop: 3-2
Notable wins: n/a
Canucks continue to decline in the PRs after ruling them in the early shade of the season. Vancouver moves to 5-5 in their last 10 games & continue to be beat by the top tier squads that include the Avs and Golden Knights. They have a sharp thorn of comp on the slate coming up that they look to use to help change their narrative. All three at home... big time switch turn ahead if they can activate it.
Next up: vs CAR; vs TB; vs FLA; @ MIN; @ CHI
Record since last drop: 1-4 (1-2-2)
Notable wins: n/a
Just as I bump the Avs back up the PRs- they go off the rails again. Colorado has lost 4 out of 5 games and move to 7-5-2 on the road this season. Avs need to flip back the switch as they have 6 of 8 at home coming up. Cale Makar continues to shine, but he needs his teammates to step up. Will they find consistent winning? Or is it going to be a rocky avalanche in Colorado this season?
Next up: vs PHI; vs CGY; vs BUF; @ WPG; vs SJS
Record since last drop: 3-3 (3-2-1)
Notable wins: vs TB; vs WPG
The Stars have been doing a little more losing than winning since their 4-game winning streak. They have struggled in close games and have lost to a slew of top tier teams outside of their win over the Jets. Dallas has a sharp thorn of comp coming up on the schedj; they could catapult upwards, or decline downwards.
Next up: vs VGK; vs DET; vs OTT; @ STL; vs SEA
11-32:
Enjoy this awesome interview snippet from Flyers' head coach John Tortorella as you exit:
video via B/R Open Ice//X
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