Simply, it was a playoff game in what was for a time the nexus of the NHL universe.

The Islanders drew closer to clinching the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2007 following a 4-1 win over the Flyers. The Islanders improved to 20-16-4 overall and their 44 points put them seventh in the Eastern Conference.

“We’ve given ourselves an opportunity and I think we just want to take advantage of the opportunity,” John Tavares said.

The Islanders and Ottawa are tied with 44 points each. Despite having lost five in a row, including dropping a 3-2 to decision to Tampa Bay Tuesday night, the Senators are still in sixth due to having two fewer regulation losses. The Islanders have one more win than the Senators.

The Rangers, who were off Tuesday, are in eighth with 42 points. The ninth-seeded Devils are two points behind the Rangers.

The Islanders are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.

“We’re playing much better and we’re giving ourselves the best possible chance we can. Just keep going the way we are and I like our chances,” Tavares said. “We’re playing well and we have to keep building off the things we’re doing.”

“We talked about it — just singular focus. No distractions from any of you guys [the media] talking about it,” head coach Jack Capuano said. “They’re playing hard as a group and believe in one another.”

Michael Grabner’s goal with 2:18 left in the second period was the game-winner. Grabner’s innocent-looking wrister beat Steve Mason (28 saves) high and seemed to surprise the right wing.

“I was surprised the puck came back. I was yelling for it. [Colin McDonald], I think he was trying to get it on net,” Grabner said.

His game-winner broke a 1-1 deadlock which spanned 22 minutes between the first and second periods.

“At the last second, he realized I was there and made a good play,” Grabner said.

The game-winner broke a 1-1 deadlock which spanned 22 minutes between the first and second periods.

Jakub Voracek opened the scoring with his 17th of the season just 6:28 into the game. The right wing was sprung for a semi-breakaway by a gorgeous headman pass from Claude Giroux. Voracek snapped a low shot that Evgeni Nabokov swallowed, but the netminder’s momentum and an onrushing Andrew MacDonald carried him into the net.

Voracek’s goal was Nabokov’s lone mistake, as he made 26 saves.

“I don’t talk about the goalies too much,” Capuano said. “He made some good saves when we needed them. He played pretty well tonight.”

Matt Moulson equalized 9:08 later. The Islanders’ top line of Tavares, Brad Boyes and Moulson moved the puck into the Flyers’ end before left wing ripped a snap shot past Mason.

Tavares potted his 24th of the season with 1:37 left in regulation which guaranteed the Islanders would leave the Coliseum with a 9-11-2 home record and caused the announced 13,888 to start a “We want playoffs” chant that lasted for the remainder of the game.

“We have a great opportunity,” Tavares said. “We want to give it to them. That’s what we’re striving for.”

Casey Cizikas added an empty-netter with nine seconds left.

Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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1) Chicago Blackhawks (27-5-3, previous No. 2) – The Blackhawks regain the top spot since they’ve won two games in a row and most importantly, they have less injuries to key players than the Penguins. Patrick Sharp could return this week, which will only help Chicago’s NHL-best goal-differential of plus-43.

2) Pittsburgh Penguins (28-9-0, previous No. 2) – Pittsburgh’s 15-game winning streak ended on Tuesday against Buffalo but more importantly, Sidney Crosby (who would be the NHL MVP right now) is out indefinitely after breaking his jaw on Saturday. We’ll have to see how the Penguins play with newcomer Jarome Iginla in the lineup, but no Crosby.

3) Montreal Canadiens (23-7-5, previous No. 4) – The Habs didn’t make any real moves at the trade deadline which signifies confidence in their current group. They’ve won their last three games and they are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. Montreal is 2-1 against Boston this season and they have a chance to wrap up the season series on Saturday at the Bell Centre vs. the Bruins.

4) Anaheim Ducks (24-7-5, previous No. 3) – The Ducks haven’t been themselves lately (4-4-2 in their last 10 games), or perhaps they are finally regressing to the mean after an incredible start. The Ducks begin a five-game homestand tonight (tied for their longest of the season) which is bizarre since they played Dallas on Monday then they play them Wednesday and Friday (three games in a row).

5) Boston Bruins (23-8-4, previous No. 5) – Other than Iginla and Marion Gaborik, the B’s made probably the biggest acquisition of the trade deadline by getting Jaromir Jagr. After playing listlessly for a few weeks, they’ve won their last two games thanks to backup goaltender Anton Khudobin, who earned back-to-back starts (allowing two combined goals). Their concern is Patrice Bergeron’s health after the do-everything center left Tuesday’s game with a possible concussion.

6) Minnesota Wild (21-12-2, previous No. 6) – The Wild are in a dogfight for home ice with Vancouver but they made a nice move by trading for Buffalo captain Jason Pominville (10 goals, 15 assists) before the deadline. He should help create more balance between their lines that are very top heavy.

7) Vancouver Canucks (19-11-6, previous No. 7) – The Canucks were another winner from the trade deadline since they got Derek Roy (18 assists) from the Stars for a prospect and second-round draft pick. Vancouver tried to flip Roberto Luongo to Toronto but his albatross of a contract held them back from getting it done.

8) Los Angeles Kings (20-13-3, previous No. 10) – The Kings obtained defenseman Robin Regehr from the Sabres but other than that, the defending Stanley Cup champs are healthy and still loaded with talent. Thanks to Jeff Carter (20 goals, 4th in NHL), the Kings have scored more goals (104) than expected.

9) Toronto Maple Leafs (20-12-4, previous No. 12) – Toronto has won its last three games but it is weird that they didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline since their situation in goal is still muddled at best. It looks like they’ll make the playoffs which is a big deal for them, but advancing is another story.

10) San Jose Sharks (18-11-6, previously No. 14) – The Sharks are the hottest team in the NHL with five straight wins. It has taken them this long, but they have finally started to live up to their abilities – although it is interesting that they traded one of their emotional leaders, Ryane Clowe, to the Rangers for draft picks.

11) Ottawa Senators (18-11-6, previous No. 8) – If the Senators make the playoffs, they have to hope they don’t play the Bruins. Boston has won all four games against Ottawa this season (they meet once more) and making that more painful, they have all been by one goal. Craig Anderson is close to returning which is why they flipped backup goaltender Ben Bishop to Buffalo for rookie winger Cory Conacher.

12) Detroit Red Wings (18-13-5, previous No. 9) – The Red Wings didn’t make a single trade around the deadline which is interesting since this underachieving team hasn’t played nearly well enough to earn that respect. They are the only team currently in the top eight in the West without a positive goal-differential (zero).

13) New York Islanders (18-13-6, previous No. 19) – Nobody could have imagined this, and we’re still four weeks away from the playoffs, but at this moment the Islanders are the best team in the New York area (Islanders, Rangers, Devils and Sabres). Their next three games are against teams outside the top eight in the East: Washington, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia so they need to rack up the points there.

14) St. Louis Blues (18-14-2, previous No. 13) – Now that the Sharks have gained their skating legs, the Blues have to be called the most underachieving team in the West. Still, they are hanging on to the eighth spot so they haven’t been a complete train wreck. Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, who they obtained from Calgary, should help them right away.

15) Edmonton Oilers (15-13-7, previously not ranked) – People have been waiting for years and it looks like the Oilers have finally put together enough good players to get to the playoffs. They have their work cut out for them since the West is better than the East but they’ve won their last four games and are playing well when it counts.

16) New Jersey Devils (15-12-9, previous No. 16) – The Islanders, Devils and Rangers are likely battling for the last two spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Of those, I like the New York teams better since New Jersey is treading water (3-3-4 in last 10 games) and their goal-differential is minus-11.

17) Nashville Predators (15-14-8, previously No. 17) – Pekka Rinne isn’t himself, although it’s not all his fault since the Predators are one of the lowest scoring teams in the West with 92 goals. Getting a goal-scorer seemed obvious at the deadline but apparently the front office felt otherwise.

18) Columbus Blue Jackets (15-14-7, previous No. 20) – The race for the eighth seed in the West is going to be one of the NHL’s best heading into the postseason and the Blue Jackets honestly have a decent chance to make it. The lowest scoring team (87 goals) in the West should receive a huge boost from Marion Gaborik (9 goals, 10 assists) who was having a poor season with the Rangers but he scored 41 goals last season and 40-plus two other times in the NHL.

19) New York Rangers (17-15-3, previous No. 15) – I have no idea why the Rangers traded their best goal-scorer when they have scored the fewest goals in the NHL (82) … and if they miss the playoffs, that will be the main reason why. Forwards Derick Brassard (7 goals) and Derek Dorsett (3 goals) along with defenseman John Moore (zero goals) better fit their trapping defensive style, but none of them can put the puck in the net.

20) Winnipeg Jets (18-18-2, previous No. 2) – The Jets are free-falling and they are only two points ahead of the Capitals for first place in the Southeast Division after losing four straight games. They are 3-7-0 with a goal-differential of minus-22 … not the resume of a playoff team in anybody’s eyes.

Follow Metro sports writer Richard Slate on Twitter: @RichSlate

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Records through March 27

1) Pittsburgh Penguins (26-8-0, previous No. 3) – It’s hard to have a much better week than the Penguins. They are riding a 13-game win streak and they’ve acquired Brendan Morrow, Jarome Iginla and Douglas Murray. The only things to worry about for them is the health of Marc-Andre Fleury (who left Tuesday’s game) and Kris Letang who went back on IR after returning for a game.

2) Chicago Blackhawks (25-4-3, previous No. 1) – No longer on their epic win streak, the focus and pressure has been taken off the Blackhawks. Chicago has an NHL-best goal-differential of plus-37 while they have the best home record (12-2-1) and road record (13-2-2).

3) Anaheim Ducks (22-7-4, previous No. 2) – There is bad news in Disneyland as the Ducks have lost four games in a row, twice to Detroit and twice to San Jose. The surprising part is that the first three were at the Honda Center where the Ducks were 13-1-0. Anaheim scored one goal in each game against the Red Wings and were blanked by the Sharks on Wednesday, shocking for a team that has scored the second most goals in the Western Conference (104).

4) Montreal Canadiens (21-7-5, previous No. 4) – The Canadiens proved their resiliency by rallying twice in the third period  in Boston on Wednesday. This was after pulled Carey Price after the second period plus lost 1-0 in Pittsburgh the night before. Montreal and Boston will have a great battle for first place in the Northeast Division.

5) Boston Bruins (21-7-4, previous No. 5) – The B’s are understandably reeling after a brutal loss to the Canadiens on Wednesday followed by them losing out on the Jarome Iginla sweepstakes when it looked to be a done deal that he’d joined the spoked ‘B.’ Boston gets two days without a game for the first time in over a month which should do wonders for the banged up team that’s currently missing three regulars (Chris Kelly, Adam McQuaid and Johnny Boychuk).

6) Minnesota Wild (20-10-2, previous No. 7) – The Penguins understandably are getting most of the publicity but the Wild are the hottest team in the Western Conference, having won their last seven games in a row. Minnesota is 9-1-0 in their last 10 games and 12-3-1 at the Xcel Energy Center. The crazy part is that a team that is so reliant on its top lines has scored 90 goals.

7) Vancouver Canucks (18-9-6, previous No. 12) – Similar to the Wild, the Canucks have really found their game in the last few weeks. They’ve won five straight games to tie Minnesota atop the Northwest Division. Vancouver is 7-3-0 in their last 10 games and 9-4-3 on the road which are both good trends

8) Ottawa Senators (18-9-6, previous No. 8) – Head coach Paul MacLean and his comical moustache is close to wrapping up the NHL coach of the year award with this remarkable run his team has turned in. They might not do anything in the playoffs but with 15 games left in the regular season, they look like a lock to make it (barring a major collapse) which for them is still very impressive.

9) Detroit Red Wings (17-11-5, previous No. 11) – The Red Wings began their four-game road trip with two excellent wins in Anaheim then they won in Phoenix last night. If they can grab two points in San Jose tonight, you’ll know that the Red Wings are truly back after a uncharacteristically slow start to the season. The ironic part was that Detroit was under .500 (5-6-2) on the road before the trip.

10) Los Angeles Kings (18-12-2, previously No. 6) – It was a strange week for the Kings who lost two in a row at home, where they are great (12-4-1) but then won 5-4 at Chicago on Monday. They are 6-8-1 on the road this season but that victory against the NHL’s best team could go a long way to giving them confidence during the stretch run.

11) Winnipeg Jets (18-14-2, previous No. 13) – Up six points now on Carolina and seven ahead of Washington, the surprising Jets are in good shape for the third seed in the Eastern Conference. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and 10-6-2 on the road this season which are good signs, unlike their goal-differential of -11 which is the worst mark of any team in the top eight of either conference.

12) Toronto Maple Leafs (18-12-4, previous No. 15) – The Leafs are treading water (3-3-4 in their last 10 games) but they are still in good shape to make the playoffs for the first time in nine years which in Canada is magnified tenfold. Toronto has identical 9-6-2 records at Air Canada Centre and on the road but they are 0-4 in shootouts. Good news for them is that if they make the postseason, they won’t face a shootout.

13) St. Louis Blues (17-13-2, previous No. 9) – The Blues have lost their last two games to drop into seventh place in the Western Conference. Anything can happen in the NHL playoffs as we see every spring but St. Louis really doesn’t want to face Chicago or Anaheim in the first round of the playoffs. Their next three games are really tough: vs. Kings, at Wild and at Blackhawks.

14) San Jose Sharks (14-12-2, previous No. 17) – The Sharks are hanging on for dear life to the eighth seed in the Western Conference but they are coming off their best two wins of the season: sweeping a home-and-home series with Anaheim. It’ll be interesting to see what they do at the trade deadline (April 3), they’ve already shipped defenseman Douglas Murray to Pittsburgh.

15) New York Rangers (16-13-3, previous No. 14) – If they make the playoffs, the Rangers are still a team that nobody in the Eastern Conference wants to face since their games always tend to be such physical grinds. New York’s margin for error is so small since they’ve scored a conference-low 78 goals. Up next, they play the three Eastern Conference Canadian teams (Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg) who would all be in the postseason if it started today.

16) New Jersey Devils (15-11-7, previous No. 16) – Ilya Kovalchuk is out with a shoulder injury for 2-4 weeks which means the Devils could drop out of the playoff picture if they’re not careful. This team hasn’t had any luck this season since Kovalchuk’s injury followed quickly in the footsteps of Martin Brodeur’s injury. Getting back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second straight year seems highly unlikely.

17) Nashville Predators (14-13-6, previously No. 13) – The Predators haven’t been themselves for most of the season but they are turning it on (3 consecutive wins) when it matters most. Nashville needs to a find a way to win more on the road (5-11-2) since they are fine at home (9-2-4), otherwise they could miss the playoffs.

18) New York Islanders (15-15-3, previous No. 19) – One of the sneaky storylines in the NHL is that the Islanders have a decent chance to make the playoffs which would be a huge accomplishment for them. They’ve won their last two games and they are excellent on the road (9-4-1). Now they have to win at dumpy Nassau Coliseum (6-11-2).

19) Dallas Stars (15-14-3, previously not ranked) – You can certainly question Dallas’ desire to make the playoffs this season as they traded winger Brendan Morrow to Pittsburgh but they are only three points out of the eighth seed so like it or not, they will be a factor in who makes it. PS why is that franchise still there?

20) Columbus Blue Jackets (13-13-7, previous No. 20) – The Blue Jackets lost a heartbreaker, 1-0 in a shootout at Vancouver, on Tuesday but one of the worst road teams in the NHL (3-9-2) has a good chance to bounce back. They are in Edmonton on Thursday and Calgary on Friday, two of the worst teams in the Western Conference that aren’t going anywhere this season. If Columbus is serious about make the playoffs, they need more points on this trip.

Follow Metro sports writer Richard Slate on Twitter @RichSlate

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Records through March 18:

1. Chicago Blackhawks (24-2-3, previous No. 1) – There was actually the thought of dropping the Blackhawks to No. 2 for the first time this season but they are still five points ahead of the Ducks. The Blackhawks travel to Anaheim Wednesday for their second meeting of the season. The Ducks won, 3-2, in a shootout in Chicago on Feb. 12.

2. Anaheim Ducks (21-3-4, previous No. 2) – Anaheim hasn’t lost in regulation in its last 11 games (8-0-3) and the Ducks have won their last 12 games at the Honda Center. There is no question that they are the hottest team in the Western Conference. Wednesday’s game is a possible Western Conference Finals preview, so be sure to check it out on the NHL Network.

3. Pittsburgh Penguins (22-8-0, previous No. 5) – Having won nine games in a row, the Penguins are the hottest team in the NHL. They beat the Bruins twice last week (highly impressive) and have scored an NHL-high 108 goals. A wrist injury to their best defenseman, Kris Letang, could be a serious issue.

4. Montreal Canadiens (19-5-4, previous No. 4) – It’s time to stop pretending that Montreal’s great start this season was a fluke. The Habs are legitimately one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and NHL. They’ve won five consecutive games and they are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games. Most impressive, they have been great on the road (10-2-2) as well as at the Bell Centre (9-3-2).

5. Boston Bruins (19-5-3, previous No. 3) – The Bruins came up short in both showdowns in Pittsburgh last week but they seem to be getting better at putting away inferior opponents. They dodged a major bullet as top line center David Krejci’s knee injury doesn’t appear all that serious. Still, injuries are an issue with third line center Chris Kelly out.

6. Los Angeles Kings (16-10-2, previous No. 6) – Their slow start has been pretty much forgotten as the Kings have owned games at the Staples Center (11-2-1). Similar to their playoff run last season, they are getting goals from many different lines and players along with solid goaltending (even though Jonathan Quick isn’t fully up to speed just yet).

7. Minnesota Wild (16-10-2, previous No. 8) – Minnesota has leaped over Vancouver for the lead in the Northwest Division. The Wild have won three games in a row and they are 7-3-0 in their last 10. It’s hard to see them getting higher than this but they have to be satisfied with where they sit at the moment.

8. Ottawa Senators (15-8-6, previous No. 10) – The Senators are still hanging around despite all their major injuries. Having the best record at home (10-1-3) in the Eastern Conference has helped them stay afloat through the tough times. They are 4-2-4 in their last 10 games, showing how either way it usually comes down to the wire for them.

9. St. Louis Blues (16-10-2, previous No. 15) – Called up from the minors, goaltender Jake Allen (8-1-0, 2.18 GAA, .920 save percentage) has been a revelation while Chris Stewart (14 goals, 14 assists) was the NHL’s No. 1 star last week after five goals (two game-winners) and two assists. The Blues aren’t going to catch the Blackhawks but they have a good chance to finish second in the Central Division.

10. Carolina Hurricanes (15-11-2, previous No. 7) – It looks like the Hurricanes are in for a competitive race with the Jets in the Southeast Division but Carolina has been doing enough lately (6-3-1 in their last 10 games) to be ranked ahead of Winnipeg. Carolina only has two games left this week, both at home, against the Panthers and Devils so they should continue to earn points.

11. Detroit Red Wings (14-10-5, previous No. 11) – Coming off possibly its best win of the season, a 5-2 victory at Vancouver on Saturday, Detroit has the toughest week of anyone in the NHL. They host Minnesota Wednesday, then go to Anaheim for two games (Friday and Sunday). Needless to say, they have to get a positive result against the Wild because the Ducks are nearly impossible to beat at home.

12. Vancouver Canucks (13-9-6, previous No. 14) – Don’t let this ranking fool you, the Canucks are struggling. They’ve lost their last two games and they are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games. Most troubling, it’s hard to figure out how a roster loaded with talent has a goal-differential of minus-2. If only the Sedin twins had any sort of leadership skills, then maybe Vancouver wouldn’t be in this situation.

13. Winnipeg Jets (15-12-2, previous No. 20) – The Jets have been one of the hotter teams in the Eastern Conference (6-3-1 in their last 10 games). They are a .500 team at home (6-6-0) but they have a chance to improve on that mark this week with four straight games at home. That includes back-to-back nights against the Capitals on Thursday and Friday.

14. New York Rangers (14-12-2, previous No. 12) – You still can’t trust the Rangers. They look great one night, then hopeless the next. They are 10-5-1 at Madison Square Garden and if they can win on the road (4-7-1), they will really be onto something. The Rangers need to find a way to score more goals since they have an Eastern Conference low, 67.

15. Toronto Maple Leafs (15-12-2, previous No. 9) – The Leafs have been treading water lately (4-4-2) which is still good enough to put them in front of some of the train wrecks in the Eastern Conference (looking at you Florida and Buffalo). A home-and-home with the Bruins on Saturday and Monday, a team that has absolutely owned them, will tell us whether to take Toronto seriously moving forward this season.

16. New Jersey Devils (13-10-6, previous No. 16) – Martin Brodeur has returned to practice, but not games for the Devils … about the best thing I can say about them. They are falling apart, hanging on to the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a terrible goal-differential of minus-9. It would be nice if Ilya Kovalchuk (10 goals, 15 assists) could carry them a bit more through the tough times but this is who he has become.

17. San Jose Sharks (12-10-6, previous No. 13) – You could argue that the Sharks have been the biggest underachievers in the NHL (Flyers fans rejoice!) and I wouldn’t disagree. Perhaps it’s time to break up this current cast that has been together for too long without ever really doing anything notable when it matters. It’s shocking that they have only scored 67 goals this season with all those great forwards.

18. Phoenix Coyotes (13-12-4, previous No. 17) – Being one of the worst road teams in the Western Conference (3-7-3) is holding the Coyotes back from being a better team. They have the pieces to be a playoff team but if they started today, they’d be on the outside (ninth place). Something is up with Mike Smith (11-9-3, 2.86 GAA, .900 save percentage) and they won’t go anywhere with their franchise goaltender playing like that.

19. New York Islanders (13-12-3, previous not ranked) – One of the biggest jokes in the NHL the last decade, the Isles are finally starting to turn it around thanks to John Tavares (17 goals, 14 assists) and a great record on the road (8-4-1). They have been playing well (5-3-2), winners of two in a row, but it’s hard to see that continuing when they’ve allowed so many goals (91).

20. Columbus Blue Jackets (11-12-6, previous not ranked) – This is not a misprint, the Blue Jackets haven’t lost in regulation (6-0-4) in their last 10 games. They have gone to overtime in nine of their last 10 games, which is insane. Not surprisingly, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (9-6-5, 2.00 GAA, .932 save percentage) was the NHL’s third star last week since he’s been on fire.

Follow Metro sports writer Richard Slate on Twitter: @RichSlate

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The devastation the Devils wrought on the Flyers was as quick as it was thorough.

The Devils scored three goals in the first period and cruised to a 5-2 win over the Flyers Wednesday night at the Prudential Center.

Patrik Elias, Adam Henrique and Ilya Kovalchuk scored in the opening 20 minutes for the Devils, who have won three of their last four games.

“We haven’t had many games like that in the last two months,” Devils head coach Pete DeBoer said. “Nice change.”

Andrei Loktionov (6:31 of the second period) and Henrique (1:16 of the third period) added markers in the final 40 minutes. Nine Devils finished with at least one point and 13 Devils were plus-1 or better. Johan Hedberg stopped 23-of-25 shots.

Elias began the rout just 2:02 into the match with his ninth goal. Stationed behind the net, Flyers defenseman Andrej Meszaros’s clearing pass was intercepted by Steve Bernier. Bernier fired a shot on goal that Ilya Bryzgalov (27 saves) stopped, but he could not control the rebound and Henrique set up Elias for the goalmouth backhander with a gorgeous, no-look between-the-legs pass.

“[I] just tried to get it back to the net and Patty [made a good play],” Henrique said.

Added Elias: “[I] just popped out to the [slot and the puck] came to me there.”

The Flyers have lost four of their last five games. Jacob Voracek’s power play goal 9:45 into the first evened the match between the Atlantic Division rivals at 1-1. Voracek later assisted on Scott Hartnell’s goal at 16:08 into the third.

It took Henrique just 39 seconds to break the deadlock. The second-year center drove to the net and Elias’s point shot ricocheted off him and Matt Read past Bryzgalov to give the Devils a 2-1 lead.

“It nice,” Henrique said of the early outburst. “I thought the entire team played well tonight. [It’s a] huge win for us.”

Kovalchuk’s NHL-leading fourth shorthanded goal of the season increased the lead to 3-1. Stephen Gionta forced a turnover in the defensive zone and banked the puck off the boards to spring Kovalchuk. The left wing raced up the boards and ripped a drive that beat Bryzgalov high to the glove side.

“Lucky bounce for us,” Kovalchuk said. “Decided to shoot short side.”

Loktionov pushed the advantage to 4-1 at 6:31 into the second period. Loktionov broke in on a two-on-one with Alexei Ponikarovsky and toe-dragged Braydon Coburn out of the play before beating Bryzgalov high for his fourth goal as a Devil.

“[I] tried to pull it back and then I shot it,” Loktionov said.

Henrique’s potted his second goal of the game 1:16 into the third with a power play backhander. The Devils were 1-for-6 on the man advantage and killed three of the Flyers’ four power plays.

The Devils lost Elias and Krystofer Barch on the same play early in the third period. Elias was hooked and went feet first into the end boards while Danny Briere slammed Barch into the corner boards. Both went to the locker room, but said they were fine.

“I’ve been hit harder with a fist,” Barch said. “He apologized.”

Even with the win, the Devils are seventh in the East despite having the same number of points (31) as the Maple Leafs. Toronto (15-11-1) has won two more games than the Devils (13-9-5).

But the Devils believe the way they are playing puts them in position to solidify a playoff spot.

“We’re a confident group,” Henrique said. “[It’s] nice anytime you can get a streak going.”

The teams will conclude the home-and-home Friday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

The post Devils pounce on Flyers early, win easy appeared first on Metro.us.

It is all about perspective for the Devils.

The reigning Eastern Conference champions recognize that entering last night’s nationally televised Turnpike Tussle with the Flyers they had lost 9-of-13 dating back to Feb. 15.

But instead of dwelling on the negative, head coach Pete DeBoer is pointing to the fact that the Devils have won two-of-their-last-three games.

“It’s never perfect in a coach’s eyes but I think we’re getting rewarded for some of our hard work lately,” DeBoer told reporters Wednesday morning. “Which is what we needed and hopefully we can build on that.”

The Devils entered last night’s game seventh in the Eastern Conference with 29 points. They are two points behind sixth seed Toronto and lead the eighth seeded Rangers by a point.

The Devils have 22 games remaining this season. Of the 22 games remaining, 11 are at home and 11 are on the road. The Devils are 8-3-2 at the Prudential Center, but are only 4-6-3 away from Newark.

Flyers “done”?

Despite a 3-2 win over the Sabres on Sunday, the Flyers are 11th in the East with 25 points. Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov told reporters after the Flyers practice Tuesday that the season would be “done” if the Devils swept the home-and-home, and left wing Scott Hartnell called out his teammates for bad body language following the 3-0 loss to the Bruins at the TD Garden on Saturday.

“If one thing goes wrong, whether it a be bad call or the first goal on that power play where he made a great play, you look down the bench and everyone’s heads are down. We were deflated right from that,” Hartnell said after the loss. “That’s not what good teams do. It’s on us to pick each other up and support each other and be positive. It just seemed like we were down 1-0 and it seemed like we packed it in.”

So the Devils were acutely aware of the importance the Flyers placed on last night’s nationally televised matchup.

“You don’t have to dwell on it. They’re aware. Philly-New Jersey matchup, whether it’s in July or a season on the line, is going to be emotional and the energy levels are going to be high. You don’t have to say a lot about it,” DeBoer said.

The Flyers and Devils are scheduled to meet at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday. The Devils have won the first two games of the five game season series.

Boucher signs deal

Late Wednesday afternoon the Devils announced right wing Reid Boucher signed an entry-level deal. Terms were undisclosed. The Devils drafted the OHL Sarnia Sting product with the 99th overall pick in the 2011 Entry Draft.

In two years with Sarnia, Boucher has scored 90 goals and 144 points in 132 games.

Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

The post Devils Notebook: DeBoer not dwelling on the negative appeared first on Metro.us.

Records through March 11

1. Chicago Blackhawks (21-2-3, previous No. 1) – Somewhere the ’72 Miami Dolphins popped champagne when the Blackhawks went down 6-2 to the Avalanche on Friday, snapping their unbeaten in regulation streak at 24 games (half the regular season). Oh wait, wrong sport. Seriously though, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Chicago come back to Earth somewhat as they also lost 6-5 to the Oilers on Sunday.

2. Anaheim Ducks (18-3-3, previous No. 2) – Don’t look now but the Ducks are only six points (three wins) behind the Blackhawks. Given Chicago’s injuries at the moment, I might even like Anaheim’s chances against them in the playoffs. However, we’re still a month and a half away from that so no need to make rash judgments.

3. Boston Bruins (17-3-3, previous No. 4) – The B’s and Canadiens are in a virtual dead heat. They have even split their first two games (with both winning on the road). The only thing that separates them is that Boston has played three games less than Montreal and the Habs only have one more point. It feels like they’re building to another epic playoff series this spring. Wouldn’t that be great?

4. Montreal Canadiens (17-5-4, previous No. 3) The Canadiens have won three games in a row and they are 6-1-3 in their last 10 games. Their goal-differential is plus-18 and they are 9-2-2 on the road. The Bruins might jump them this week since they have five games and the Canadiens only play twice. Winger Michael Ryder (two goals, seven assists) has been solid in his seven games back in a Montreal uniform.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins (18-8-0, previous No. 5) – The Penguins are the hottest team in the Eastern Conference – they have won five games in a row entering Tuesday night’s showdown with Boston in Pittsburgh. It’s a huge week for the Penguins since they play four current playoff teams: Toronto, Rangers and Bruins (twice). We’ll see what kind of shape Pittsburgh is in next week after that gauntlet.

6. Los Angeles Kings (14-8-2, previous No. 9) – The defending Stanley Cup champs are the hottest team in the Western Conference: they are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and 9-2-1 at the Staples Center. Their formula of great goaltending from Jonathan Quick and Jonathan Bernier, plus plenty of goals from Jeff Carter (17 goals, second in the NHL) has been working wonders.

7. Carolina Hurricanes (14-9-1, previous No. 10) – One team was added to the higher rung this week (Kings) but just like last week, after the top teams the drop-off to the mid-level teams is enormous. The Hurricanes have stayed afloat thanks to Alexander Semin’s 19 assists (sixth best in the NHL). They can put some more distance between themselves, Tampa Bay and Washington this week since they play the Capitals twice and the Lightning once.

8. Minnesota Wild (13-9-2, previous No. 14) – The Wild have played well lately (7-3-0) and they’ve been great at home all season (9-2-1). Their goal-differential of minus-1 and road record (4-7-1) say that they are frauds, but they also reside in the Western Conference’s worst division: Northwest. Minnesota has taken advantage of Vancouver’s inconsistent start.

9. Toronto Maple Leafs (15-10-1, previous No. 7) – The Leafs have receded to their more fitting level as they’ve hit a tougher portion of their schedule. They are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games but they play the Jets twice this week, sandwiched around a game with the Penguins, so they need to get points against Winnipeg. The Maple Leafs are 9-5-0 on the road, where they’ve played two more games than at home so far.

10. Ottawa Senators (13-8-5, previously No. 11) – If there was an award for playing hard, the Senators would be a runaway favorite. Unfortunately, this isn’t Little League. Ottawa is getting the most out of its limited roster at the moment but the Sens have trouble when facing the more talented teams that can wear them down. Blowing a 2-0 lead at home to the Bruins on Monday couldn’t have made them feel too good about themselves either.

11. Detroit Red Wings (12-9-5, previous No. 19) – Honestly, the Red Wings didn’t do anything specifically to make this big of a jump from last week. But then again, they are playing a tad better than the rest of the teams are at their same level. Detroit is 5-3-2 in their last 10 games and as always, they excel at home: 9-4-3. Figuring out how to win on the road (3-5-2) is the next step for them to take.

12. New York Rangers (13-9-2, previous No. 17) – The Rangers have clawed back into contention, playing their unique style of ugly, defensive hockey. Rick Nash (five goals, four assists) has been on fire in his last five games and has proven to be ready for the bright lights of New York City after toiling for years in Columbus. The Rangers can fatten up on the Sabres and Jets before facing the Penguins on Saturday in Pittsburgh.

13. San Jose Sharks (11-7-6, previous No. 12) – The Sharks have lost an NHL-high (tied with Vancouver) six games in overtime and they are 4-3 in shootouts this season. That seems like a risky proposition that is bound to catch up to them if they keep playing so many extra sessions. They are one of the more mercurial teams in the NHL since they are 7-1-4 at home but 4-6-2 on the road, plus they’ve lost their last two games (both in overtime).

14. Vancouver Canucks (11-7-6, previous No. 6) – Another team that is spinning its wheels and should be playing much better than they currently are. The Canucks are 3-4-3 in their last 10 games and are 2-5 in shootouts. It might be time for them to shake things up with a roster that has been basically the same for years.

15. St. Louis Blues (13-10-2, previous No. 13) – Speaking of underachievers, the Blues are a squad that look better on paper than they do on the ice. They are 8-5-1 on the road ,which is promising, and have played three less games at home, but they are 5-5-1 there so that has to improve if they want to get anywhere.

16. New Jersey Devils (12-9-5, previous No. 15) – The Devils would have dropped more, if only there were fewer middling teams just like them. They are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games but they are still in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, mostly because the teams on the outside-looking-in are hopeless. Martin Brodeur can’t return soon enough since Johan Hedberg (4-7-2) has been terrible since taking over as the starter.

17. Phoenix Coyotes (12-10-3, previously No. 8) – It’s not that they have struggled that much lately or that I overrated them, it’s more that their division (Pacific) is the toughest in the NHL with four points between the second-place and fifth-place teams. It will probably be that way for the rest of the season since only Los Angeles (first in Pacific) is a notch above the rest.

18. Dallas Stars (12-10-2, previous No. 18) – The Stars continue to hang around which is probably the best-case scenario for them this season. Their goal-differential is 0 and they are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games – it doesn’t get much more average than that.

19. Nashville Predators (10-9-6, previous No. 20) – The Predators put their two most talented forwards on IR Monday in Colin Wilson and Patric Hornqvist, which certainly doesn’t help a team that has still scored the fewest goals in the NHL (54, 31 less than Chicago and Anaheim). Pekka Rinne’s (9-8-5, 4 shutouts-best in the NHL) margin for error is smaller than any other goaltender in the NHL.

20. Winnipeg Jets (12-11-2, previously not ranked) – By virtue of being the only other team in the NHL over .500, the Jets make these rankings pretty much based solely on that. They are 8-5-2 on the road (they must be excited to get out of Winnipeg) and 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. Still, their goal-differential of minus-11 leaves something to be desired.

Follow Metro sports writer Richard Slate on Twitter: @RichSlate

The post NHL Power Rankings: Blackhawks lose twice, but still top this week’s rundown appeared first on Metro.us.

The Rangers and Flyers were deadlocked early in the third period in latest commencement of hostility between the Atlantic Division rivals.

The scene demanded a leading man. Enter Rick Nash.

“There’s no question when you make a deal like that, you add to your top players and you add to your skill level. It’s just a really good deal for us,” head coach John Tortorella said after Nash’s two third-period goals were the difference in the Rangers’ 4-2 win over the Flyers Tuesday night at the Garden.

“You get big plays like that in the third period [and] you win a hockey game.”

Ryan Callahan scored two goals in the first period and Henrik Lundqvist made 23 saves. The Rangers have won three in a row and passed the Flyers for eighth place in the conference. The Rangers have 27 games remaining in this abbreviated season.

“[These] are huge games,” Dan Girardi said. “It’s time to string some wins together. If we keep winning we’ll just keep climbing in the standings, and we have [games in hand] on a couple teams. It’s a busy month, but we have to make sure we’re real sharp in our game.”

Callahan and Nash are now tied with Marian Gaborik and Carl Hagelin for the team lead in goals with seven each. All of Nash’s goals have come in the third period of games.

Last night was no exception, as Nash’s game-winning goal 2:50 into the third broke a 2-2 tie. The play began with Lundqvist making a pad save on a Luke Schenn wrist shot. Girardi cleared the puck to Nash, who carried the puck into the Eighth Avenue end of the ice before wristing a shot past Ilya Bryzgalov (16 saves). The goal was Nash’s third in as many games.

His second goal of the game, nearly nine minutes later, gave the Rangers a two-goal advantage they would not relinquish.

“It would be nice to get them early but when they aren’t coming in bunches, you will take them any way you can get them,” Nash said, “not worry when they come.”

The specialty teams were both a boon and a curse last night. The Rangers went 1-for-4 on the man advantage to bolster a group that had been 6-for-27 in the eight games prior to last night. Callahan’s first goal of the game opened the scoring 1:30 in. His second goal, with 40.2 seconds left in the period, tied the game at 2-2.

On the down side, the penalty kill units surrendered two goals on three power plays. Both goals occurred in the first period, as Wayne Simmonds tied the game at 1-1, 7:18 into the match, and Jakub Voracek’s 10th goal of the season gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead at 17:07.

Entering the game, the Rangers had killed 32-of-34 power plays in the previous 11 matches.

“Their power play was hot,” Lundqvist said. “They were picking us apart in the first period.”

The win was not without cost as the Rangers lost Marc Staal midway through the third period after he was struck on the right eye with the puck. Staal went down immediately and clutched at his face as blood pooled on the ice.

Tortorella did not have an update on Staal’s condition after the game. To a man, the Rangers used the word “scary” to describe the injury to Staal.

The game became chippy in the final minutes. Following a check into the Rangers bench, Flyers left wing Scott Hartnell punched Micheal Haley to set off a melee . After the fracas, Hartnell and Stu Bickel each received 10-minute misconduct penalties.

“He just came into the bench and he didn’t like it, I guess,” Haley said. “It was pretty quick. Maybe he doesn’t like me.

“Things happen pretty quick.”

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

The post Nash, Callahan lead Rangers to win over Flyers appeared first on Metro.us.

Records through March 4

1. Chicago Blackhawks (19-0-3, previous No. 1) – At some point, the Blackhawks are going to lose in regulation, right? This streak is turning into one of the great marks in regular season sports history and true to form, they are winning in a number of ways. Chicago is only two games away from the halfway point of the regular season. So how long until they clinch a playoff spot?

2. Anaheim Ducks (15-3-3, previous No. 3) – I doubt they have many nationally broadcast games this season, since nobody thought they’d be this good, but if you have NHL Center Ice then you already know about the Ducks. They have scored a Western Conference-best 75 goals and they are 8-1-0 at home.

3. Montreal Canadiens (14-4-4, previous No. 5) – You can argue that the Bruins could be here since the Canadiens have played three more games then them, but we’ll go with Montreal since they won 4-3 in Boston on Sunday night. Plus, the Canadiens (7-0-3) are unbeaten in regulation in their last 10 games and they topped the B’s with backup goaltender Peter Budaj in net.

4. Boston Bruins (14-3-2, previous No. 2) – Boston had its six-game win streak snapped on Sunday night vs. Montreal but they have been playing great hockey on the whole. The Northeast Division doesn’t appear to be the walkover it has been the last few seasons with Montreal and Toronto much improved. Tyler Seguin is heating up, while linemates Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron are on fire too.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins (15-8-0, previous No. 4) – The Penguins have 30 points, just like the Bruins, but they have played four more games. Pittsburgh leads the NHL with 81 goals, they’ve gone 7-3-0 in their last 10 and they are 9-4-0 on the road. Evgeni Malkin returned from a concussion Monday and scored a highlight reel goal. Be scared of this team.

6. Vancouver Canucks (11-6-4, previous No. 7) – There is a seismic drop from Pittsburgh to Vancouver. The Canucks haven’t played well in their last 10 games (4-4-2) but you have to respect the assorted talent they throw on the ice every night. Ryan Kesler returned from a shoulder injury for seven games before breaking his foot last week. Vancouver will miss his leadership on a team that lacks many standup guys.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs (14-9-0, previous No. 11) – It is still hard to take the Leafs too seriously but they are treading water while many teams around them fall back due to major injuries or terrible play. Toronto is 9-4-0 on the road and it’s a big week for them with a home game against the Senators on Wednesday, at the Bruins on Thursday and at the Penguins on Saturday. Those three games should give us more of a clue as to whether Toronto is a contender or not.

8. Phoenix Coyotes (11-8-3, previous No. 15) – The Coyotes are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games which means something in the Western Conference (the superior conference). One of the best in the NHL, goaltender Mike Smith is healthy and back on the ice for Phoenix. Nobody has noticed but they have built a nice team in the desert.

9. Los Angeles Kings (11-7-2, previous No. 16) – Outside of the Blackhawks, there is no hotter team in the NHL right now than the defending Stanley Cup champions. They are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and they have been great at the Staples Center (6-1-1). Jeff Carter had a natural hat trick on Monday night as the Kings’ previously dormant offense has begun to wake up.

11. Ottawa Senators (12-7-4, previous No. 6) – It might have taken a little longer than we expected but colossal injuries to the Senators are wearing them down. They are 9-1-2 at home but they’ve already played in five shootouts (3-2), most in the Eastern Conference. It’s hard to see them staying ahead of Montreal, Boston and even Toronto with this AHL-infused roster.

12. San Jose Sharks (10-6-4, previous No. 13) – The Sharks have struggled in their last 10 games (3-4-3) but it’s hard to see them continuing to play at that mediocre level. Don’t ask how a team with Logan Couture, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau is tied with Nashville with the least goals (47) in the NHL. San Jose has played fine at home (7-1-3) but they haven’t gotten enough results on the road (3-5-1).

13. St. Louis Blues (11-8-2, previous No. 10) – Did you know six teams in the Western Conference all have 24 points? It’s absurd. The Blues are one of those squads but they aren’t trending upward since their goaltenders (Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott) haven’t been themselves. The Blues are 6-3-1 on the road which shows you that they can be a quality team when they put their minds to it.

14. Minnesota Wild (11-8-2, previous No. 17) – They still don’t score goals (49) but the Wild have won on their home ice (8-2-1) and have played well in their last 10 games (6-3-1). Mikko Koivu (13 assists) is one of the best passers in the NHL and one of the best defensemen – Ryan Suter (14 assists) – has adjusted quickly to his new team.

15. New Jersey Devils (10-7-5, previous No. 8) – No team has slid farther than the Devils in the last few weeks. That’s what happens when you lose a Hall of Fame goaltender like Martin Brodeur to IR. New Jersey is 2-6-2 in its last 10 games while their division foes, the Flyers and Rangers, have finally awoken. That’s bad news in the Garden State for the Devils who are 0-3 in shootouts.

16. Philadelphia Flyers (11-11-1, previous No. 20) – The Flyers won their only two games last week but they face a much tougher stretch this week: at Rangers (Tues.), vs. Penguins, at Bruins and vs. Sabres. You can’t expect them to be consistent with Ilya Bryzgalov between the pipes but they are tough and can score with anybody so they’ve got that going for them.

17. New York Rangers (10-8-2, previously unranked) – The sons of crazy John Tortorella have started to play their favored style. Fittingly, their goal differential is 0 since they’ve scored the same amount of goals (51) as they’ve allowed. The big news for them is that Rick Nash has returned although Brad Richards is banged up after a dirty hit by Buffalo’s Patrick Kaleta (suspended five games) on Sunday.

18. Dallas Stars (11-9-2, previous No. 12) – If the playoffs started today, the Stars would be left out of the Western Conference playoff picture despite having the same amount of points as LA, San Jose, St. Louis and Minnesota. It’s hard to see them really jumping any of those teams but there is always a random team or two that manages to sneak into the postseason.

19. Detroit Red Wings (10-8-4, previous No. 14) – Not sure if the alarms have sounded yet in Hockeytown but the Red Wings have been arguably the NHL’s biggest disappointment so far this season. They had a great chance to knock off Chicago on Sunday but after grabbing a 1-0 lead in the third period, they took two straight delay of game penalties which led to Patrick Kane’s tying goal. After a scoreless overtime, Chicago won in a shootout. That’s how it’s been for Detroit.

20. Nashville Predators (9-9-5, previous No. 9) – They fell more than anyone in this week’s rankings but unlike the Devils, they don’t have a built-in excuse with a major injury. The Predators have just been playing poorly as they are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games and they’ve lost three games in a row. That minus-12 goal differential sticks out like a sore thumb. They have to find a way to manufacture more goals.

Follow Metro sports writer Richard Slate on Twitter: @RichSlate

The post NHL Power Rankings: Flyers, Rangers climbing appeared first on Metro.us.

Records through Feb. 26

1) Chicago Blackhawks (16-0-3) – Off to the best start in NHL history qualifies Chicago for the coveted top spot in the inaugural power rankings of the season. The Blackhawks also lead the NHL with a ridiculous plus-24 goal differential and even backup goaltender Ray Emery (8-0-0) has played out of his mind while starter Corey Crawford has been out with an injury.

2) Boston Bruins (12-2-2) – It’s hard to argue that the B’s aren’t the Eastern Conference’s best team at the moment. They’ve won four in a row (all on the road) and are 8-1-1 away from TD Garden. Head coach Claude Julien couldn’t have dreamed of a better start for the Black and Gold.

3) Anaheim Ducks (13-3-1) – The surprise of the NHL so far has been the team formerly known as the Mighty Ducks. Unknown rookie goaltender Viktor Fasth (8-1-0) has propelled Anaheim while ageless wonder Teemu Selanne (5 goals, 11 assists) is still getting it done at 42.

4) Pittsburgh Penguins (13-7-0) – Few teams can match the Penguins’ top-end talent (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz and James Neal) but they also have two major issues: Malkin is out with a concussion and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (10-4, 2.27 GAA) was a puddle in last season’s playoffs.

5) Montreal Canadiens (12-4-3) – They actually lead the Eastern Conference in points but the Bruins get the nod over since Boston has played three less games. They don’t score a ton which is why they traded for former Bruins winger Michael Ryder, who previously played in Montreal as well. The good Carey Price (10-3-2, 1.90 GAA) has so far made an appearance this season for the Habs.

6) Ottawa Senators (12-6-2) – Nobody deserves the amount of major injuries suffered already by the Senators to their best players: defenseman Erik Karlsson (out for the season), center Jason Spezza (out indefinitely) and goaltender Craig Anderson (day-to-day). Ottawa might be put together with duct tape but they’re making the best of it thus far, they’ve won five games in a row.

7) Vancouver Canucks (10-5-4) –The team that everyone loves to hate is off to its usual solid start. For some reason, they haven’t traded lame-duck goaltender Roberto Luongo (5-1-3) and he’s actually performed better than the projected starter Cory Schneider (5-4-1) … awkward!

8) New Jersey Devils (10-5-4) – This is misleading since the Devils are freefalling a bit with goaltender Martin Brodeur placed on IR earlier this week. Their games are not easy to watch but they usually get the job done. They are the defending Eastern Conference champions for a reason.

9) Nashville Predators (9-5-4) – The Predators still can’t score goals but goaltender Pekka Rinne (8-5-4, 1.90 GAA, 3 shutouts) is one of the NHL’s best and they’ve built the team around him. BU product Colin Wilson (5 goals, 10 assists) seems to be on the verge of a breakout season, in his fourth year in the league.

10) St. Louis Blues (10-6-2) – After a great start, the team that most resembles the Bruins in the Western Conference have come back to Earth (4-4-2 in their last 10). There is plenty of reason to believe in their deep and talented roster and they look to be built for the long run.

11) Toronto Maple Leafs (12-8-0) – It’s hard to trust a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in nearly a decade (2003-04) and sports the longest Stanley Cup drought in the NHL (45 years). Still, the Leafs are playing decently despite shaky goaltending (as always). Former Bruins whipping boy Phil Kessel (4 goals, 12 assists) hasn’t been finding the net at his usual clip.

12) Dallas Stars (10-8-2) – The Ryder trade, which netted Erik Cole in return. was about building cap space for the future. The Stars also sent a third round draft pick to Montreal. That won’t sell more tickets in an awful market. It’s hard to see this group staying at this level.

13) San Jose Sharks (9-6-3) – For the first few weeks, the Sharks were right there with the Blackhawks. Then they went 2-6-2 and started to fold faster than they normally do. Joe Thornton (4 goals, 15 assists) is still one of the top passers in the NHL but no team is under more pressure to do something in the playoffs than them.

14) Detroit Red Wings (9-7-3) – These aren’t your father’s Red Wings that steamrolled over everyone. With Nicklas Lidstrom’s retirement, Detroit has suddenly taken a major step back in the West. Henrik Zetterberg (6 goals, 19 assists) and Pavel Datsyuk (8 goals, 14 assists) are still must-see TV.

15) Phoenix Coyotes (9-7-3) – Nobody really knows how or why this team is still stuck in the desert, the NHL’s worst decision now that Atlanta doesn’t have a team anymore, but they are not bad at all. The lack of a crowd doesn’t seem to affect them either considering they are 6-3-1 at home and 3-4-2 on the road.

16) Los Angles Kings (9-6-2) – The Stanley Cup champions have gotten off to a bumpy start but that shouldn’t be a shock since they snuck into the playoffs last spring as the No. 8 seed before their unforgettable run. They are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games and have won four straight so they appear to be getting things in order.

17) Minnesota Wild (9-7-2) – Zach Parise (8 goals, 5 assists), the biggest free agent splash of last summer, predictably hasn’t lived up to his absurd price tag while the front office hasn’t surrounded him with much talent. They have scored an NHL-low 39 goals so it’s hard to see them making the playoffs without trading for another sniper.

18) Tampa Bay Lightning (9-9-1) – On the other end of the spectrum, the Lightning can score with the best of them (NHL-high 70 goals) but they still lack a true No. 1 goaltender. Steven Stamkos (14 goals, 16 assists) is basically unstoppable and should be the odds-on favorite to be the NHL MVP (Hart Trophy) this season.

19) Winnipeg Jets (9-9-1) – You won’t find a more boring team than the Jets. They don’t have any stars and they don’t do anything particularly well. Perhaps that’s fitting for such a non-descript outpost. Bruins fans have to laugh at Blake Wheeler (6 goals, 10 assists) being one of their top scorers.

20) Philadelphia Flyers (9-11-1) – I can’t really say the Flyers deserve to be ranked even this high but take a look at the other awful teams below them. Philly is here by default. They are 4-8-0 on the road and still haven’t solved their goaltending issue of the past 10 years or so.

The post NHL Power Rankings: Blackhawks, Bruins at head of class appeared first on Metro.us.

Matt Moulson’s words served a dual purpose.

He wanted to praise Matt Martin’s effort while condemning the Islanders’ lack thereof.

“I don’t think anybody played well except for Matt Martin,” Moulson said after the 7-0 loss to the Flyers Monday afternoon at the Coliseum. The fourth-line left wing was credited with a shot and four hits during his 10:56 of ice time. Martin also fought Wayne Simmonds in the second period and paired off with Braydon Coburn with 1:27 left in the game.

Martin and linemates Corey Cizikas and Colin McDonald had been praised by head coach Jack Capuano for their play in the Islanders wins over the Rangers [4-3 in the shootout at The Garden last Thursday] and the Devils [5-1 at the Coliseum Saturday night].

Philly hierarchy safe for now

Philadelphia is a demanding city, home of an underperforming franchise with high expectations and with a star player criticizing his team’s effort.

Normally, that is a formula for personnel changes. But for the moment, it appears as if Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren and head coach Peter Laviolette are safe.

Peter Luukko, the president of Comcast-Spectator, the corporate entity that owns the Flyers, told the Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday the job statuses of Holmgren and Laviolette is “not an issue.”

“We just need to be patient,” Luukko said. “To even think the general manager or coach are in trouble [is false].”

Following a 103-point season in 2011-12, the Flyers entered the shortened season with Cup aspirations. However, the Flyers are just 7-9-1 and captain Claude Giroux told reporters after a dispiriting 4-1 loss to the Canadiens in Montreal Saturday night that “we’re just going through the motions.”

Tavares honored

The NHL named John Tavares the first star of the week before the game. He totaled seven points (five goals and two assists) in three games last week. Ducks goaltender Viktor Fasth and Hurricanes center Jiri Tlusty were the second and third stars, respectively. The Islanders left after the game for Ottawa. They will play the Senators tonight. Expect Rick DiPietro to make his third start of the season. He is 0-2-0 with a .842 save percentage and 4.60 goals against average.

Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

The post Islanders Notebook: Martin plays well, Tavares honored appeared first on Metro.us.

The Islanders got exactly what they deserved Monday afternoon: a tongue-lashing after not showing up for work.

“They were the hungrier team. They blocked way more shots. They were more physical. They won the board battles. They won the 50-50 puck battles. They manhandled us. That, to me, is controllable. That’s your work ethic. That’s your battle level. That’s what’s unacceptable,” Islanders head coach Jack Capuano said following a noncompetitive, 7-0 loss to the Flyers at the Nassau Coliseum.

“Find it within. Some guys have it. Some guys don’t.”

The loss was the worst of the season for the 6-8-1 Islanders, who came into the game having won two in a row.

“It’s not acceptable,” Mark Streit said. “We had a terrible game.”

Thirteen Islanders finished minus-1 or worse. The top line of Brad Boyes, John Tavares and Matt Moulson were a combined minus-9. Andrew MacDonald was on the ice for four of the Flyers’ six goals, and finished minus-3. Lubomir Visnovsky also had a minus-3 rating.

By means of comparison, 13 Flyers finished with a plus rating, and 10 recorded at least one point led by the  top line of Claude Giroux, Matt Read and Jakub Voracek. Voracek had four assists, while Giroux (two goals and an assist) and Read (a goal and two assists) had three points each in the Presidents Day matinee.

“It’s only one game but we’ve been working well — me and Reader and Jake,” Giroux said. “Hopefully we can keep the chemistry going.”

Danny Briere scored two third-period goals. Brayden Schenn and Zac Rinaldo also scored for the Flyers.

“They have Giroux, Briere and couple other guys who are tremendously skilled,” Matt Moulson said. “They’re going to capitalize if you make mistakes.”

It didn’t take long for the rout to commence. Giroux one-timed a Read pass past Isles goaltender Evgeni Nabokov at 26 seconds. The Flyers had a 1-0 lead on the game’s first shot. It would be all they would need.

“It’s nice to get that going in the other direction,” Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette said. “It’s happened to us too much this year. To go out that first shift [and score], I think that was really important by Claude’s line. “Not only did they score the goal [but] they were physical right off the bat and set the [tone for the game].”

The Islanders’ best opportunity to get back in the game came with 6:10 left in the first as they were awarded a 5-on-3 power play for a full two minutes. But the Islanders were only able to generate one shot on the two-man advantage.

“The effort, the execution, was horrendous,” Capuano said. “We couldn’t execute. We had that 5-on-3 and we didn’t generate anything. We have to be mentally stronger than that.”

While Ilya Bryzgalov did not have to work very hard to record his 30th career shutout and the first of this season, making just 19 saves, Nabokov was under siege all afternoon. Even though the stat sheet showed the Flyers outshot the Islanders, 25-19, the majority of the play was in front of Nabokov.

“He’s been playing great. It’s not on his [shoulders],” Streit said. “We just didn’t help him enough tonight.”

The Islanders lost defenseman Brian Strait for the game in the second period with what the team called “a left ankle injury.” He will be re-evaluated today. Skating near the benches, Strait lost an edge and fell to the ice. It appeared as if the skate blade was stuck in the ice momentarily, forcing Strait to have to crawl to the bench.

“Brian Strait is going to be out for awhile,” Capuano said. “I think he’s going to be out for awhile.”

Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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Brayden Schenn’s goal at the 12:02 mark of the second period did more than just tie the game at 1-1. It also ended Henrik Lundqvist’s shutout streak at 182:32. The last goal Lundqvist had allowed prior to Schenn’s tying marker occurred with 49 seconds left in the second period of the Rangers’ 3-2 overtime win in Boston on Jan. 21. The Bruins’ goal scorers on that day were defensemen Andrew Ference and Adam McQuaid.
 
“I don’t really think about the past when I got in against this team,” Lundqvist said. “It doesn’t really matter what you have done in the past. They are so skilled and they will make you pay if you got out there and think it’s going to take care of itself because you have had some success in the past. I think the key against the Flyers is you just have to work really hard.”
 
Notes

The Rangers wore their Winter Classic sweater. … The organization announced on Friday that Erik Christensen and a 2013 seventh-round pick were traded to the Minnesota Wild for AHL player Casey Wellman. … Flyers center Zac Rinaldo was fined $5,000 for two incidents in Saturday’s 6-4 loss to the Devils, a second-period late hit on Devils’ center Jacob Josefson and a “dangerous trip” of Zach Parise in the third which sparked a melee. … Despite participating in the warm-up, Steve Eminger was a healthy scratch, along with Jeff Woywitka and Wojtek Wolski. Andreas Lilja, ex-Ranger Jody Shelley and Danny Briere sat out the game for the Flyers.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.

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The NHL announced Saturday afternoon that Michael Del Zotto and Florida Panthers right wing Tomas Kopecky were each fined $2,500 for their parts in a skirmish in the final moments of the Rangers’ 4-1 in Sunrise, Fla., Friday night.
 
With eight seconds left in the game, Del Zotto high-sticked Kopecky in the face. Kopecky, who was acquired from Chicago for a pick prior to the last June’s draft, punched Del Zotto in the back of the head which sparked a melee.
 
The teams meet for the final time in the regular season Thursday night at the Garden.
 
Avery goes Whaling

Professional sports is the ultimate what-have-you-done-for-me-lately? industry.
 
Sean Avery can attest to that.
 
The Rangers announced Saturday that Avery had cleared waivers and was shipped down to the American Hockey League’s Connecticut Whale. Avery, who started the season with the Whale, totaled three goals in 15 games and 21 penalty minutes with the Rangers, but had been scratched in the Rangers’ last 10 games.  
 
HBO finale airing Thursday

The final episode of HBO’s highly acclaimed 24/7 Road to the Winter Classic will air Thursday night, the cable network and league said in a joint statement Sunday. Two HBO sources told Metro that the reason for the shift is that producers needed a full day to edit footage including yesterday’s game. 

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After an announcement yesterday confirmed that the worst kept secret in hockey — the 2011 Winter Classic — will be played between the Flyers and Rangers at Citizens Bank Park, the Flyers captain was telling reporters to stay off the outfield grass.

“Hey, off the grass, let’s go,” Pronger shouted.

Pronger will be a center of attention when the Flyers and Rangers get mic’d up for HBO’s “24/7” reality series, an all-access program that takes viewers inside each team’s locker room in the weeks leading up to the Jan. 2 game.

Both teams admit that it will take time to adjust.

“I think there will be an adjustment period at first, having a camera in your face 24/7 and having to do a little bit more interview-wise, but it’s a great opportunity for the fans to see what we’re like off the ice,” said Rangers captain Ryan Callahan.

“I don’t like being mic’d and I don’t like being taped,” Flyers coach Peter Laviolette, “but if the deal is that in order to get a Winter Classic and to be well-represented by HBO like they were [last year], the two teams and the National Hockey League, then I’m all for it.”

Last year, Washington coach Bruce Boudreau morphed into an overnight celebrity — largely due to his penchant for swearing. (He used the F-word 15 times during a speech).

Callahan said he’d definitely be checking out the show, but said he doesn’t plan on trying to show up the Flyers.

“No, I’m not one of those guys that thinks like that,” he said. “But you can tell from last year that the rivalry intensifies a little bit as each show goes on and on.”

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Since its inception in 2008, the NHL’s outdoor showcase has been must-see TV — not just for hockey fans, but all sports fans. What better way to nurse a New Year’s Day hangover than by watching grown men pound each other into oblivion?

This year, the league is upping the ante by pitting two fierce, East Coast rivals — the Flyers and Rangers — in a clash in the City of Brotherly Love. There is no way this can go wrong.

Last year, HBO chronicled the Winter Classic by going inside the Penguins’ and Capitals’ locker rooms for a month as they prepared for the game. It was an instant classic, with Washington coach Bruce Boudreau dropping the “F-bomb” 15 times in an 80-second span during the premiere episode.

HBO wouldn’t confirm if the show is returning in 2012 — they are waiting for an official announcement from the NHL — but imagine the possibilities, with guys like Sean Avery and Chris Pronger stirring the pot.

That, coupled with the close proximity of the two franchises and their opinionated fan bases, could make this the best Winter Classic to date.

Flyers back in Winter Classic

For the second time in the past two years, the Flyers will play in the Winter Classic.

While not yet confirmed by the team, all indications point to a Jan. 2 showdown versus the New York Rangers at Citizens Bank Park. Lincoln Financial Field had been considered, but the Eagles are playing there Jan. 1.

Listed seating capacity for Citizens Bank Park is 43,647. The Flyers home — Wells Fargo Center — has never held more than 20,327 for hockey. That record was set in 2010, for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Flyers left their first Classic, in 2010 at Fenway Park, with a bad taste. The Bruins earned a 2-1 OT win, but it appeared they had too many men on the ice.

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