This article is part of our NHL Barometer series.
This week's article includes a rebirth in the Hub, Nino on fire, Super Trouba and the Price isn't right in Montreal.
First Liners (Risers)
Patrice Bergeron, C, BOS – Bergeron was a bust earlier in the season, but how the tide has changed. After scoring just 10 points in his first 34 games, Bergeron has notched 23 in his last 19, including 12 his last eight games – and that total is including being shut out the last two. In his last six full seasons, Bergeron has scored between 52 and 68 points, the latter coming last season. Reaching that number may be tough this year, but it's not farfetched if he can maintain his hot run.
Pavel Zacha, C, NJD – Zacha continued his second-half surge, scoring again Tuesday against Colorado. That tally gives the 2015 sixth overall pick five goals and three assists in his last 11 contests, more than half his production in 48 games. The Devils are on the fringe of playoff contention, and Zacha will have to key the offense if they are to remain in the race.
Nino Niederreiter, RW, MIN – Niederreiter is just one point away from tying his career-high mark at 43, set last year. The Islander draftee has been red-hot lately, notching 10 goals and eight assists with 48 shots his past 16 games. What's scary is that Nino is still only 24 years old and possibly scratching the surface of how good he can be. He was rushed and not allowed to develop in New York and Minnesota bagged him for Cal Clutterbuck, a deal that looks more lopsided every passing game.
Viktor Arvidsson, RW, NAS – Arvidsson showed he could score in the minors, but he was pegged for a bottom-six role in the majors. He got a small shot last season, but was only able to notch eight goals and eight assists in 54 games. This year, the Swede has burst the door down, tallying 18 goals in 21 assists in 54 games while lining up to the right of Ryan Johansen. Arvidsson shows no signs of slowing down, so enjoy the ride for as long as it lasts.
Patrick Eaves, RW, DAL – Who says you can't teach an older dog new tricks? Coming into the season, Eaves' career-high was 32 points, posted during the 2007-08 season when he was a mere lad of 22. That total has been thrown out the window, as the 32-year old winger has scored a career-high 21 goals while adding 14 assists for 35 points in 57 contests while skating on the top line in Big D. As a UFA after the season, Eaves should garner heavy interest on the trade market.
Jacob Trouba, D, WPG – Trouba has been awesome of late, notching three goals and seven assists his last 12 games. After scoring 29 points as a rookie in 2013-14 and raising expectations, Trouba had nice seasons the following two years but failed to take that next step forward. His offseason holdout, ostensibly driven by his desire to play the opposite side on defense, resulted in a two-year, $6 million deal. Speculation has raged that Trouba will eventually be dealt, but for now, he is still a member of the 'Peg.
Nick Leddy, D, NYI – Leddy was held scoreless Tuesday, but despite not cracking the score sheet, he has more than gotten the Led out recently. With two goals and eight assists his last 16 games – corresponding to when Doug Weight took over as interim coach – Leddy has been a big reason why the Isles have inched their way back into playoff contention. Stolen just before the 2014-15 season started, he is in the midst of a seven-year. $38.5 million contract extension signed in Feb. 2015 and looks to be an Islander for years to come.
Jake Allen, G, STL – From penthouse to outhouse and back to penthouse again for Allen. It's been a wild ride so far, who opened the year as the Blues' starter following the trade of Brian Elliott to Calgary. Allen got off to a strong start, but slumped mightily and lost his job a month ago to Carter Hutton. He has righted the ship lately, corresponding to the change in defensive style employed by Mike Yeo moving from the man-to-man D favored by Ken Hitchcock to more of a zone. This has resulted in Allen earning Second Star of the Week honors last week.
Corey Crawford, G, CHI – Crawford will likely never garner the respect some of the bigger name goalies get, but all he does is win. He has notched at least 30 wins in his last five full seasons, the only blip coming in 2012-13, when he was limited to 30 games. Barring a catastrophe, Crawford should once again easily surpass this total with 22 in 37 games, albeit with a worse GAA and save percentage.
Others include Jeff Carter, Artem Anisimov, Max Domi, Patrik Berglund, Tyler Seguin, Brandon Dubinsky, Kevin Hayes, Nazem Kadri, Jonathan Toews, Nicklas Backstrom, Joel Armia, Brad Marchand, Evander Kane, Sebastian Aho, Josh Bailey, Brett Connolly, Christian Dvorak, J.T. Miller, Mark Stone, Alexander Steen, T.J. Oshie, David Pastrnak, Phil Kessel, Nikita Kucherov, Mikko Rantanen, Jamie Benn, Patric Hornqvist, Marcus Johansson, Cam Fowler, Justin Schultz, Brent Burns, John Carlson, Victor Hedman, Kevin Shattenkirk, Duncan Keith, Henrik Lundqvist (win #400), Peter Budaj, Matt Murray, Braden Holtby and John Gibson.
Training Room (Injuries)
Craig Anderson, G, OTT – Anderson, who sat out 26 games tending to his wife, Nicole, who was diagnosed with throat cancer, returned to action with a Disneyesque performance. On Saturday, he enhanced the feelgood story of the season by stopping all 26 shots he faced. Prior to being sidelined, Anderson was 12-6-1 with a 2.46 GAA and .924 save percentage. Mike Condon did yeoman's work standing in for the incumbent, helping Ottawa to second place in the Atlantic Division.
Others include Paul Stastny (lower-body, placed on IR on Tuesday), Bo Horvat (leg injury, missed Tuesday's game), Steven Stamkos (meniscus surgery, could miss the rest of the season if Tampa falls out of the race), Evgeni Malkin (knee, returned to action Tuesday with a goal and an assist), Jason Spezza (undisclosed, activated from IR Tuesday), Carl Hagelin (concussion, recently placed on IR), Brendan Gallagher (broken hand, missed 19 games, activated Sunday), Sven Baertschi (concussion, on IR), Andre Burakovsky (hand, out until mid-March), Conor Sheary (upper-body, scheduled to be out another week or two, skating on his own), Jonas Brodin (broken finger, skating, close to return), Cody Franson (bone bruise to foot, to miss 2-3 weeks), Darnell Nurse (ankle surgery, practiced last Friday) Mathew Dumba (lower-body, no timetable for return) and Jimmy Howard (sprained MCL, suffered tweak to knee in AHL conditioning stint last week, irritating scar tissue).
Fourth Liners/Press Boxers (Fallers)
Sam Gagner, C, CLM – Gagner hasn't scored a goal in 23 games, dating back to Dec. 23. That streak shows just how hot he was earlier in the season, with 14 markers in 54 contests. Gagner is still seeing a copious amount of power-play time, but his assist production has also tailed off. And as a fourth liner, he likely belongs on your bench.
Jordan Eberle, RW, EDM – Whither Jordan Eberle? At one point in time, he was possibly the face of the franchise in Edmonton. Eberle's production feel off a cliff last season, and he has struggled to find it this year, going scoreless in eight straight and just 32 points in 57 games. Eberle was moved up the Connor McDavid's line Tuesday in an attempt to jumpstart his game, so the boo-birds could get louder in Edmonton if that switch doesn't work.
Michael Stone, D, ARI – Stone seemingly took a major step forward in his development last year, scoring 36 points in 75 games. A late-season knee injury cost him the last few games and also might have contributed to the one-year contract he received in July. Stone may have wanted a short-term deal so he could be a UFA after the season, but he isn't making a great name for himself and has struggled mightily in the desert. A trade deadline deal may just be what the doctor ordered.
Carey Price, G, MON – The Price clearly hasn't been right for Carey recently in Montreal. He has allowed four goals in each of his past three games and has just one win his last five outings and four in his last 14 games dating back to Jan. 9. During that stretch, he has a 3.30 GAA and .894 save percentage – a pair of ugly, atypical numbers for the 2014-15 Vezina winner. Maybe the coaching change from Michel Therrien to Claude Julien will help the Canadiens and Price rediscover their games.
Others include Ryan Getzlaf (no PPP), Eric Staal, Johnny Gaudreau, Jaromir Jagr (Father Time catching up), Jason Zucker, Milan Lucic, Francois Beauchemin, Damon Severson, Jared Coreau and Sergei Bobrovsky.
