This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
Last year, one Canadian team made the NHL playoffs. On pure numbers, that is kind of surprising, as there are seven teams from north of the border, and 16 teams make the playoffs. However, since we are talking about Canada here, the home and native land of the sport, this fact is nothing short of unacceptable. It was expected before the year that such a fate could be the harsh reality once more. So far, though, it has been sunny days for the Canadian teams. Except Edmonton, of course.
The Montreal Canadiens currently sip atop their division, and also technically their conference but games played is contributing to that. They were the playoff team of the seven last year, and this isn't terribly surprising. Really, it's out in the Western Conference where the surprises are. The Winnipeg Jets are third in their division, although they have played more games than most and have a minus-3 goal differential. The Vancouver Canucks, with their third coach in as many years, are also third in their division, and they are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games.
All this being said, it is the Calgary Flames that are the biggest surprise, perhaps in the entire NHL. Most folks thought they'd be bad, maybe better than last year, but bad, and certainly not a playoff team. They are currently 12-6-2 and second in the Pacific Division. Their plus-10 goal differential is tops in the division. Will this last? Probably not, but it has been a good ride for the Flames, and their Western Conference Canadian counterparts. Except Edmonton, of course.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
Flyers (Steve Mason) at Rangers (Cam Talbot*) 8:00
Canucks (Ryan Miller) at Oilers (Ben Scrivens) 8:00
*Confirmed Starters
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check out our Projected Goalies Grid.
Injury News For Teams Playing Wednesday
Flyers
Claude Giroux, C (lower-body) – Expected to miss next two games.
Andrew MacDonald, D (lower-body) – Practiced Monday, unlikely to play.
Michael Raffl, LW (lower-body) – Out six weeks.
Luke Schenn, D (upper-body) – Practiced Monday, may play.
Ryan White, RW (chest) – Expected back in late December/early January.
Rangers
Ryan McDonagh, D (shoulder) – Expected to miss another week or two.
Lee Stempniak, RW (undisclosed) – Day-to-day.
Canucks
Luca Sbisa, D (undisclosed) – Practiced Monday, may play.
Tom Sestito, LW (lower-body) – On injured reserve.
Oilers
None
Hot
Sami Vatanen, D, ANA – Vatanen couldn't help the Ducks overcome the aforementioned Flames, but he did his best, scoring a goal and adding two assists on Anaheim's other two goals on the night. While he didn't have a point in the game prior, in the four games before that, he had four points, and he now has 16 points in 20 games. Vatanen has taken on a major role for the Ducks this season, and it is paying off for Anaheim and his fantasy owners.
Tomas Tatar, LW, DET – Tatar opened the scoring for Red Wings on Tuesday in their shutout win over the Blue Jackets, and added an assist to boot. He only has seven points on the season, but five of them are in his last five games. Tatar had 19 goals and 39 points in 73 games as one of Detroit's young, promising forward last season. Perhaps he shall build upon that this year.
Cold
Thomas Vanek, LW, MIN – The last time the Wild took the ice, Vanek picked up an assist, but that's a rare positive impact from him this season. It is his only point in his last four games, and he has two points in his last seven games, and he is a minus-5 in those games. In the contest before, he did score a goal, but it's his only one on the season. So far, Vanek's time in Minnesota is not working out.
Frederik Andersen, G, ANA – Remember when Andersen was playing so well that John Gibson had to go to the AHL to get some playing time? Those days are a faint memory at this point. Andersen has not picked up a win in his last six appearances, and in his last four starts, he has let in at least three goals. Now, on the year his numbers are still good, but it is starting to look like that may have just been a nicely timed hot streak.
Recommended Pickup
Zemgus Girgensons, C, BUF – He's not merely a player with a difficult to spell name. Girgensons is also one of the many young players the Sabres are relying on as they continue their quest to be bad but not, you know, suspiciously bad. He has three goals and an assist in his last three games, and he's also a plus-6 in those games. Now, playing for the Sabres, that likely won't continue, but he has 10 points in 19 games, and the potential for him to put up nice numbers in a less than stellar environment is there.
