This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
Would you believe that, just as I was about to post this article, I realized I had forgotten to write a new thing for the Around the Rink section? So, I had to think on the fly here. You know what I'm getting enthused about? The possibility of the Arizona Coyotes making the playoffs.
Before the year, I had them finishing with the worst record in the NHL. I was not alone. They could have gotten local product Auston Matthews (a walking billboard for the leagues expansion into non-traditional markets), and that would have been a good story, but this would be a better story. With Anaheim's struggles, Calgary's issues in net, and Edmonton's… general Edmonton-ness, it seems possible, maybe even likely, now.
They have good young players like Max Domi and Anthony Duclair. Oliver Ekman-Larsson is great. Shane Doan is doing stuff. Plus, netminder Louis Dominique is yet another cool story on that team. Most seasons, there is an upstart team who I hope sees the postseason. The Coyotes have to be the choice this year.
Eh… not bad for something off the cuff, right?
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
Blue Jackets (Joonas Korpisalo) at Maple Leafs (James Reimer*), 7:00 PM
Bruins (Tuukka Rask) at Flyers (Steve Mason), 8:00 PM
Panthers (Roberto Luongo) at Flames (Karri Ramo), 9:30 PM
Senators (Craig Anderson) at Ducks (John Gibson), 10:00 PM
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check out our Projected Goalies Grid.
Injury News For Teams Playing Wednesday
Blue Jackets
Sergei Bobrovsky, G (groin) – Skating, return date unknown
Matt Calvert, LW (knee) – Out four weeks
David Clarkson, RW (upper-body) – On injured reserve
Nick Foligno, LW (upper-body) – On injured reserve
Markus Hannikainen, RW (shoulder) – Out about a month
Curtis McElhinney, G (ankle) – On injured reserve
Maple Leafs
Leo Komarov, LW (undisclosed) – Day-to-day)
Stephane Robidas, D (knee) – No timetable for return
Nick Spaling, C (upper-body) – Expected to miss extended time
James van Riemsdyk, LW (foot) – Out 6-8 weeks
Bruins
Chris Kelly, RW (leg) – Out 6-8 months
David Krejci, C (upper-body) – Week-to-week
Adam McQuaid, D (upper-body) – On injured reserve
Flyers
Shayne Gostisbehere, D (lower-body) – Will not play Sunday
Panthers
Dave Bolland, C (lower-body) – Out through All-Star break
Aaron Ekblad, D (concussion) – Day-to-day
Flames
Lance Bouma, C (leg) – Week-to-week
Michael Frolik, LW (upper-body) – Cleared for contact, return date unknown
Senators
Andrew Hammond, G (personal) – Day-to-day
Clarke MacArthur, LW (concussion) – Day-to-day
Ducks
Simon Despres, D (concussion) – Day-to-day
Cam Fowler, D (knee) – Out 3-5 weeks
Hot
Brock Nelson, C, NYI – In truth, Nelson's hotness is stemming primarily from Tuesday night, where he notched a hat trick and added an assist. However, he has a point in three of his last four games, and six points in those three games. That certainly qualifies as hot. Nelson has 17 goals on the season, and, as we learned last year when he was briefly one of the highest scorers in the league, he can get be streaky. That seems to be happening at the moment.
Elias Lindholm, C, CAR – Lindholm is another player who was busy Tuesday night, as he assisted on all three goals Carolina scored against the Penguins. That gives him a three game point streak, and in one of those games he had two goals. He only now has crossed the 20 points mark on the year, but we are talking about a former fifth overall pick who is only 21. That is to say, he has talent, and sometimes talented players, even underachievers, go on real hot streaks.
Cold
Mark Stone, RW, OTT – Stone was a surprise breakout player last year, scoring 26 goals and 64 points. In his last seven games, though, he one has two points, a goal and an assist, and he's a minus-6 in those games. However, on the year, he's shown that he isn't a total fluke. Stone has 11 goals and 22 assists this season. The only problem? He's now a minus-11.
Zach Bogosian, D, BUF – Bogosian plays a ton of minutes in Buffalo. That much is for sure. The Sabres are more than happy to trot him out there for over 20 minutes a game. The problem is that he is doing nothing with those minutes. He has zero points in his last eight games, and he is a minus-8 in those games. Buffalo isn't as terrible as they used to be, so that bad plus/minus isn't as forgivable. Maybe it's just time to completely give up on Bogosian, the former third overall pick.
Recommended Pickup
Sean Couturier, C, PHI – Couturier is as hot as anybody right now. In his last 10 games he has six goals, six assists, is a plus-12, and has six penalty minutes to boot. Granted, he only has nine goals and 11 assists so far overall, and he hasn't had more than 39 points in a season. As such, Couturier is maybe not a long term play. However, right now, while he is playing well, he's worth picking up if you need somebody. He does have skill, so this hot streak is not a total fluke.
