Who’s up and who’s down in the NHL’s Western Conference
The National Hockey League season is coming to an end, and by the looks of it, things haven’t stopped changing, no matter how close the postseason is.
The Western Conference has created much hype and excitement after the All-Star Game break. We have seen players go into Wayne Gretzky mode and then back into mortal form again.
As the playoffs are right around the corner, it is a pretty good time to discuss whose going up and whose been going down these past couple of days.
It does not necessarily mean that these players will be consistent in their performances throughout. As mentioned before, the NHL is ever changing and one should always be ready to expect the unexpected.
Who’s Up
Daniel Sedin (Vancouver Canucks)
Both the Swedish Sedin twins have given amazing performances this season, but unlike previous season, instead of Henrik, Daniel is a real contender for the MVP award.
Captain of Vancouver Canucks, Henrik Sedin, won the MVP last season, and is playing at par with his brother, but Daniel is really on a roll this time.
In his ninth season with Canucks, Daniel has reached all time high of 93 points in just this season alone.
His brother Henrik trails him in this respect with 85, the second highest in the league.
The left winger has scored 40 goals and 55 assists which are both ranked overall third in the NHL which is very impressive.
He’s 8-8-16 in his last nine games, which shows that slowing down is not something he plans on doing.
Vancouver might have lost Manny Malhotra to an eye related injury, but the Sedin twins are there to lead them to their best ever playoff entrance in their 40-year timeline.
Joe Pavelski (San Jose Sharks)
Despite a sluggish Post All-Star Game break start, Sharks have changed their game play dramatically, for the good.
They were on a four-game winning streak until recently being defeated by Los Angeles in a hard fought shootout, but still they are tied with Detroit for second place with 95 points.
Joe Pavelski has been a major contributing factor for San Jose, winning 16 of their past 18 regulation games.
He might not be a player whose name is listed in the top 10 or even 20 players in the league, according to statistics, like the Sedin Twins, but he has emerged at the time of need.
In Sharks’ past six games, Pavelski has picked up an unbelievable 16 points.
It is easy to say that, but how many players are there who have given such consistent performances?
Joe Pavelski just very well might be that spark that San Jose has been looking for since the 2005 lockout.
Who’s Down
Patrick Sharp (Chicago Blackhawks)
Chicago Blackhawks did not look anything like a team that had won the Stanley Cup recently. Winners of the 2010 finals looked more like a team that had never even seen what Lord Stanley’s cup looks like, until recently.
Hawks rose from the ashes to show the league that they are able and willing to defend their prize.
Under the captaincy of Jonathan Toews, Sharks reached the playoff spot with ease.
They ended February and entered March with an eight-game winning streak, now standing seventh but they have begun to decline once again.
Patrick Sharp, an experienced and well seasoned player, has spent six seasons with Chicago. He might have had four assists against San Jose on March 14, but hasn’t scored a goal since early this month.
Being a left winger, Sharp has to get that scoring sensation back into him if he wants his team to enter the playoffs.
They’re not far above the 10th placed Calgary Flames, who are shy by three points with 85.
Sharp has slowly started to lessen his time on the ice as well, going from 23 minutes when he scored his last goal, to 5:48, in his last game against Phoenix.
Miikka Kiprusoff (Calgary Flames)
I respect Miikka Kiprusoff very much, but when you seen one of your favourite players struggling, it’s hard to face reality. That reality is that the Flames extremely talented goalie, Miikka Kiprusoff has had a tough time recently, doing what he does best.
When Calgary really lit up there Flames, Kiprusoff became known as “Shutout Kipper”, every second game was a shutout and it really helped them rise. The Flames have had some losses this season, Craig Conroy retired unexpectedly and David Moss and Brendan
Morrison are out with injuries.
Kipruoff went from a .965 save percentage to a .842 ranking within five games.
In their last game against Anaheim, Kipper was recalled back to the bench just five minutes into the match after he left three goals slip in.
There is not a permanent backup for Kiprusoff who could replace him in the playoffs.
Calgary is in dire need of the old Kipper to return if it has any hopes of making it to the playoffs and going deep.
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