As the season draws closer and closer to a finish, certain teams are defining themselves as playoff contenders. One team in particular that has emerged as a legitimate contender for the Stanley Cup is the Pittsburgh Penguins.
After losing their captain and reigning league MVP Sidney Crosby to an ankle injury on Jan. 18, the Penguins have gone on a tear, propelling themselves into first place in the Atlantic Division and second place in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 6-3-2 during the 11 games that Crosby has missed.
Led by emerging star Evgeni Malkin, the Penguins look as if they are becoming the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. Malkin has been taking over games as of late, racking up nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points in Crosby's absence. With this current streak, Malkin is now tied as the second-leading scorer in the league, only four points behind Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.
Along with the great play of Malkin, the Penguins have been boosted by the two wingers on their top line. Right winger Peter Sykora has been on a tear lately, scoring at least one point in 10 of the last 11 games, while left winger Ryan Malone has seven goals and six assists since Crosby's injury.
The Penguins also have been boosted by some strong goaltending. Ty Conklin has been stellar between the pipes, earning him the league's top spot in save percentage at .929. There is no doubt that the Penguins were a good team with Crosby, and now they are showing that they can probably withstand the pressure as he recovers.
With Pittsburgh playing great hockey without its captain, the other teams in the league might need to worry. Crosby has begun to skate again, and he could return to the ice in one month.
Another elite team out of the Eastern Conference that is making a push before the playoffs is the Ottawa Senators. The Senators have led the Eastern Conference in points since week one, and the team has recently improved even more with the addition of two veteran players: forward Cory Stillman and defenseman Mike Commodore.
The arrival of these two players brings great leadership and most importantly playoff experience to an already powerful Senators squad. Stillman and Commodore both played on the Stanley Cup-winning Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. The new additions bring an added scoring threat and defensive toughness to a team that has been searching for an identity.
With the trade deadline approaching fast, the Senators were savvy in making an early move. There are sure to be more deals in the next week as teams finalize their roster before the end of the season.
The Hurricanes received defenseman Joe Corvo and forward Patrick Eaves from the Senators. These two players will add depth to a Hurricanes team that is fighting for its playoff life, as the Hurricanes sit just three points behind the eighth-place Boston Bruins. Although they have given up some leadership, they have gotten younger and more mobile in hopes of returning to the playoffs.
The hockey world was witness to a pair of gruesome injuries this week, when both Richard Zednik of the Florida Panthers and Ethan Moreau of the Edmonton Oilers were inadvertently sliced with a skate. Moreau returned to the ice shortly after being cut above the eye by an opponent's skate. However, Zednik was not as lucky.
After having his throat sliced by teammate Olli Jokinen on Sunday night, Zednik underwent emergency surgery to fix the wound to his carotid artery. Zednik has remained hospitalized ever since, but the surgery was a success and Zednik's condition has been upgraded. The veteran will likely be released from the hospital in the next few days.
The Panthers, meanwhile, continue to fight for a playoff spot as Zednik recovers. They currently are two points behind Washington for the lead in the Southeast Division.
The playoff races in both conferences are extremely tight, and the end of the season seems to be shaping up nicely, as many teams will be fighting all the way to the finish.
