Current:Home > ScamsNHL's first-quarter winners and losers include Rangers, Connor Bedard and Wild -WealthMindset Learning
NHL's first-quarter winners and losers include Rangers, Connor Bedard and Wild
View
Date:2025-04-16 10:34:44
The NHL hits the official quarter mark Tuesday night and it has been dizzying to watch.
The Boston Bruins were on pace to match last season's record-setting performance, even with a massive turnover that included the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. Now they can't seem to win, in a 1-3-1 funk that includes a 5-2 loss at the Columbus Blue Jackets.
That's the same Blue Jackets team that benched stars Patrik Laine and Johnny Gaudreau during a lengthy slump but has now won three of their last four with those two contributing.
Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid appeared to be slowed by an injury that cost him two games, then he reeled off nine points over his last two games.
Here are the winners and losers of the first quarter:
WINNERS
Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks
He has been the best of the three Hughes brothers, becoming an early Norris Trophy co-favorite by leading all defensemen with eight goals and 33 points. He has helped the Canucks get into playoff position.
Peter Laviolette, New York Rangers
The first-year Rangers coach has the team tied for the NHL lead, despite being without injured defenseman Adam Fox recently. Alexis Lafreniere is having a breakout season under Laviolette and Artemi Panarin is on pace for his first 100-point season.
Pending free agents helping their cause
The list includes pending unrestricted free agents Sam Reinhart (Florida Panthers) and William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs) and restricted free agent Elias Pettersson (Canucks). All have at least 27 points.
Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks
The generational prospect is performing as expected, leading rookies with 10 goals and 17 points. He has been fun to watch.
Zach Benson, Buffalo Sabres
He scored his first NHL goal with a spectacular move. That happened in his ninth game and then the Sabres gave him a 10th game, meaning he's sticking around this season and not being returned to junior hockey.
Los Angeles Kings on the road
They're a league-best 9-0. If they win on Dec. 5, they'll tie the NHL record for longest season-opening road winning streak, set by the 2006-07 Buffalo Sabres.
LOSERS
Minnesota Wild
They topped 100 points the past two seasons and are 5-10-4 this season, hurt by a league-worst penalty kill and the second-worst goals against per game. Some of their key players (one goal for Matt Boldy, two even-strength goals for Kirill Kaprizov) are off to slow starts, and their goaltenders' numbers are significantly lower. That's why coach Dean Evason was fired Monday and replaced by John Hynes.
Washington Capitals' power play
It's a league-worst 5.7%. It's struggling without Nicklas Backstrom, who's taking a leave of absence to address his health. The struggles also are why Alex Ovechkin, the record-holder in power play goals, has only five overall goals. That puts him behind the pace he needs to be on to break Wayne Gretzky's career goal record.
NHL's policy on theme nights
When the league said players couldn't wear special jerseys or equipment on theme nights, it was trying to avoid the bad publicity of some players refusing to wear Pride jerseys. But the NHL got bad publicity over its ban on Pride tape until reversing the decision after backlash. Likewise, there was bad publicity after Marc-Andre Fleury's agent, Allan Walsh, said the Wild goalie was told he couldn't wear a custom mask to honor his Indigenous wife on Native American Heritage Night. Fleury wore the mask in warmups and reports said he wasn't expected to be fined.
Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer
He spent $950 million to purchase the team then was hit by two adverse league decisions. Shane Pinto was suspended for half a season for violating the rules on sports wagering. Then Ottawa was docked a first-round pick over the team's role in an invalidated trade well before Andlauer took over. General manager Pierre Dorion was soon out of a job.
San Jose Sharks on the road
They're a league-worst 0-9-0 and head out this week for a six-game trip. They're a long way from the record road losing streak, 38 games by the Senators in 1992-93.
veryGood! (181)
Related
- Immigration issues sorted, Guatemala runner Luis Grijalva can now focus solely on sports
- Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
Ranking
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
- Sam Taylor
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- Could your smelly farts help science?
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
Recommendation
Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
Former Milwaukee hotel workers charged with murder after video shows them holding down Black man
Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations