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Only a handful of games remain in the regular season and the intensity just keeps ramping up game by game as teams battle it out for the final playoff positions. There is only more week of the All-NHL team after this and then it's time for the big end of the season review so buckle down and get ready to take in the best of the best of this week's NHL action.
Left Wing
1. Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars: 4G-1A-5P in 4GP
Game 1 vs. Buffalo: 2G-1A-3P, 0+/-, 8 shots, 19:35 TOI
Result: 4-3 Win
Game 2 at Calgary: 1G-0A-1P, 0+/-, 7 shots, 21:56 TOI
Result: 4-3 SO Win
Game 3 at Edmonton: 0G-0A-0P, -2, 1 shot, 19:32 TOI
Result: 4-0 Loss
Game 4 at Vancouver: 1G-0A-1P, +2, 4 shots, 21:59 TOI
Result: 4-3 OT Win
2. Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers: 2G-4A-6P in 4GP
Game 1 at Tampa Bay: 1G-0A-1P, 0+/-, 8 shots, 19:18 TOI
Result: 4-3 Loss
Game 2 at Toronto: 1G-0A-1P, +2, 2 shots, 14:43 TOI
Result: 4-1 Win
Game 3 at Montreal: 0G-2A-2P, +1, 1 shot, 17:56 TOI
Result: 3-2 OTL
Game 4 at Ottawa: 0G-2A-2P, +1, 2 shots, 19:28 TOI
Result: 4-2 Win
3. Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche: 2G-4A-6P in 4GP
Game 1 at Calgary: 1G-1A-2P, -1, 2 shots, 21:07 TOI
Result: 3-2 Loss
Game 2 at Edmonton: 0G-1A-1P, +1, 2 shots, 18:53 TOI
Result: 4-3 Loss
Game 3 at Vancouver: 1G-1A-2P, +2, 6 shots, 15:33 TOI
Result: 4-1 Win
Game 4 vs. Buffalo: 0G-1A-1P, -2, 0 shots, 19:32 TOI
Result: 5-3 Win
Rankings Analysis: You have to wonder what the Western Conference playoff picture would look like had Dallas not lost Tyler Seguin for those three weeks in February. Stars Captain Jamie Benn is on pace for a second consecutive 30 goal season and it's the second year in a row he has produced at nearly a point per game clip. Dallas has gone 8-2-0 in its last 10 games but it would appear to be too little too late even with Benn on fire goalscoring wise. The Panther suffered a huge blow to their outside chances of making the playoffs when Nick Bjugstad was shutdown for the season but this Florida team has a ton of young talent and should be very good for years to come. Huberdeau has set career highs in goals (13), assists (36), and points (49) this season and is riding a four-game point streak. Along with Dallas, Colorado seems to be the victim of playing in the toughest division in hockey. The Av's look likely to miss the playoffs this year after finishing 2nd in the conference last season. Landeskog and Co. will use the final seven games of the regular season to make life hell for the teams still fighting for positioning.
Center
1. Ryan O'Reilly, Colorado Avalanche: 1G-7A-8P in 4GP
Game 1 at Calgary: 0G-2A-2P, -1, 2 shots, 21:31 TOI
Result: 3-2 Loss
Game 2 at Edmonton: 1G-2A-3P, +1, 6 shots, 20:21 TOI
Result: 4-3 Loss
Game 3 at Vancouver: 0G-2A-2P, +1, 2 shots, 18:44 TOI
Result: 4-1 Win
Game 4 vs. Buffalo: 0G-1A-1P, -2, 1 shot, 19:29 TOI
Result: 5-3 Win
Game 1 at Tampa Bay: 0G-1A-1P, 0+/-, 4 shots, 17:13 TOI
Result: 4-3 Loss
Game 2 at Toronto: 0G-1A-1P, +2, 1 shot, 13:44 TOI
Result: 4-1 Win
Game 3 at Montreal: 0G-1A-1P, +1, 4 shots, 17:49 TOI
Result: 3-2 OTL
Game 4 at Ottawa: 2G-0A-2P, +1, 4 shots, 17:41 TOI, GWG
Result: 4-2 Win
Ranking Analysis: No one in the NHL had a better week than Cam Atkinson. Atkinson went off recording seven points in three games including a hat-trick against Chicago. The Blue Jackets played the role of spoiler for top Western Conference teams knocking off Chicago and St. Louis on the road to delight of Minnesota Wild fans everywhere. Radim Vrbata is one of the most underrated forwards in the NHL. There weren't many who predicted the Canucks to make the playoffs in the brutal Western Conference especially after missing out last year and trading No.2 center Ryan Kesler. Vrbata has been a huge help to Vancouver's success this season, already recording 30 goals, and fitting in very nice on the top line with the Sedin twins. Jaromir Jagr might be the most overlooked trade deadline pick up this year. While Florida probably isn't going to make the playoffs despite adding the legendary winger, Jagr has put 4G-8A-12P in 14 games for the Panthers down the stretch.
Defensemen
1. Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets: 3G-0A-3P in 2GP
Game 1 vs. Montreal: 1G-0A-1P, +1, 1 shot, 18:29 TOI
Result: 5-2 Win
Game 2 vs. Chicago: 2G-0A-2P, -1, 5 shots, 22:09 TOI
Result: 4-3 Loss
2. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona Coyotes: 1G-3A-4P in 3GP
Game 1 at Detroit: 0G-2A-2P, +1, 4 shots, 30:21 TOI
Result: 5-4 OT Win
Game 2 at Buffalo: 1G-1A-2P, +1, 2 shots, 28:15 TOI
Result: 4-3 OT Win
Game 3 at Pittsburgh: 0G-0A-0P, -1, 2 shots, 26:02 TOI
Result: 3-2 Loss
3. Matt Niskanen, Washington Capitals: 0G-4A-4P in 3GP
Game 1 vs. New Jersey: 0G-2A-2P, +1, 1 shot, 21:57 TOI
Result: 3-2 OT Win
Game 2 vs. Nashville: 0G-1A-1P, 0+/-, 1 shot, 20:10 TOI
Result: 4-3 Loss
Game 3 at New York (Rangers): 0G-1A-1P, 0+/-, 0 shots, 22:17 TOI
Result: 5-2 Win
4. Yannick Weber, Vancouver Canucks: 2G-0A-2P in 3GP
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