As we gear up for the Olympic break, let’s dive into the whirlwind of NHL action from January 15th to February 5th. The past month has been a showcase of milestones, comebacks, and playoff positioning that’s kept fans on the edge of their seats.
1000 Games Club
Four NHL stalwarts hit the remarkable 1000 games played mark: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Edmonton Oilers), Alex Killorn (Anaheim Ducks), Roman Josi (Nashville Predators), and Charlie Coyle (Columbus Blue Jackets). For Josi and Nugent-Hopkins, this milestone is even more special as they’ve spent their entire careers with the teams that drafted them.
Adding to the 1000-game narrative, the Pittsburgh Penguins' trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang played their 1000th game together against the Vancouver Canucks on January 25th. They’re now the fourth trio in NHL history to reach this milestone, closing in on the record held by the Kings’ trio of Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty, and Anze Kopitar.
Thrilling Comebacks
The number three was magic for comebacks this month. On January 29th, the Carolina Hurricanes, donning their nostalgic Hartford Whalers jerseys, turned a 4-2 deficit against Utah into a stunning 5-4 regulation win.
Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers clawed back from a 3-0 hole to defeat the San Jose Sharks 4-3 in overtime, thanks to Zach Hyman’s heroics. The Vegas Golden Knights also staged a comeback from 4-1 down against the Dallas Stars, eventually falling 5-4 but securing a crucial point in overtime.
Hat tricks were in abundance, with nineteen scored from mid-January to early February. Buffalo Sabres players notched three, while Nashville, Carolina, Anaheim, Philadelphia, and Columbus each had two. Edmonton Oilers’ defensemen Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm added flair with back-to-back hat tricks.
Columbus Blue Jackets’ Surge
Under new head coach Rick Bowness, the Columbus Blue Jackets surged to a 10-1-0 record. This run has brought them within striking distance of the New York Islanders for third place in the Metropolitan Division. With two games in hand, Columbus has a golden opportunity to leapfrog the Islanders, especially with two head-to-head matchups on the horizon.
The Blue Jackets have been an offensive powerhouse, scoring four or more goals in seven of their last nine games. However, tightening up defensively remains a challenge, having allowed two or fewer goals in just three of those contests. The upcoming games against Boston and the Islanders will be pivotal in their playoff push.
Struggles in Vancouver and St. Louis
Both the Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues have had a tough stretch, each securing just two wins since January 15th.
The Blues, once within ten points of a playoff spot, now find themselves fourteen points adrift. Vancouver’s situation is even more dire, languishing at the bottom of the standings and nearly twenty points out of contention.
As the trade deadline looms, both teams are expected to be sellers. Vancouver has already moved Kiefer Sherwood to the San Jose Sharks, with more trades likely.
St. Louis might see players like Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas on the move, though no deals have been finalized yet.
As we head into the Olympic break, the playoff picture is shaping up with intriguing storylines. The Blue Jackets’ resurgence, potential trades, and the race for playoff spots promise an exciting run to the end of the season. Keep an eye on these developments as teams jockey for position and players chase personal milestones.