THEY’RE KEY TO PLAYOFF HOPES.
Canadian playoff hopes rest on eight players
It was easy to overlook just how important Carey Price was to the Montreal Canadiens about a month ago when he was giving up five or six goals a game and had one of the worst save percentages in the NHL. It didn’t help that when he got hurt the team won its first two games with Charlie Lindgren in net.
Then came the crash. Losers of five straight games, it took the return of Price last week for the Canadiens to rattle off five straight wins and climb back up the standings where they are back in a playoff position. It’s proof that even in a team sport the difference between winning and losing — or qualifying for the playoffs — can come down to one player.
Every team has an X- factor that can tip the scales and turn losses into wins. Here is a look at the key player who can sway a season on each Canadian team ( stats/standings before Monday’s games.)
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS 35 points, second in Atlantic Division
❚ X-factor: Frederik Andersen
Auston Matthews might seem like the obvious choice, but the Leafs are deep up front. What are the chances Toronto could have the same success without Andersen? The Leafs goalie, who had a slow start to the season, has gone 9-2-1 in November, with a 2.14 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage. As the season goes on and the games become tighter, expect his importance to rise.
WINNIPEG JETS 38 points, first in Central Division
❚ X-factor: Patrik Laine
The Jets are now No. 1 in the Western Conference because of goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who is ranked among the top 12 in goals- against average and save percentage. But the team also has a top- five offence led by Blake Wheeler (35 points) and Mark Scheifele ( 34 points). The Xfactor, however, is Laine. A year ago, Winnipeg lost five of seven games when he got hurt in January. This year, the team is 9-2-1 when Laine scores — and 4- 4- 3 when he doesn’t register a point.
MONTREAL CANADIENS 29 points, third in Atlantic Division
❚ X-factor: Carey Price Montreal lost five straight before Price returned to the lineup. In his first game back, he stopped 36 shots in a 3- 0 shutout win against the Sabres and allowed one goal in each of his next two starts. At the same time, the Canadiens have rediscovered their offence. Price is playing like a Hart Trophy candidate again.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS 30 points, fourth place in Pacific Division
❚ X-factors: Henrik and Daniel Sedin
It’s a sign of the times that the Sedin twins are not leading the Canucks in scoring. While it’s encouraging that future stars in rookie Brock Boeser (13 goals), Bo Horvat (10 goals) and Sven Baertschi (eight goals) have taken over the offence, Vancouver still needs Daniel (six goals and 16 points) and Henrik (two goals and 16 points) to score more if the team expects to grab a playoff spot.
CALGARY FLAMES 29 points, fifth place in Pacific Division
❚ X-factor: Matthew Tkachuk
Mike Smith has been a huge upgrade over last year’s goalie tandem of Brian Elliott and Chad Johnson, but on some nights that still isn’t good enough. The team needs goals and while Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau ( 26 combined goals entering Monday’s game) are pulling their weight, more is expected of Tkachuk. The sophomore forward had four goals this season and one goal in his last 16 games before Monday. With Sam Bennett also searching for more offence, the Flames need Tkachuk to get close to 20 goals this season.
OTTAWA SENATORS 24 points, sixth place in Atlantic Division
❚ X-factor: Matt Duchene
The Duchene trade was supposed to lift the Senators. Not yet. Ottawa won its first two games with Duchene in the lineup, but since then has lost eight of nine. Duchene has one goal and one assist in 11 games. Making matters worse is that since the big trade Kyle Turris has eight points in 11 games for the Nashville Predators.
EDMONTON OILERS 24 points, seventh place in Pacific Division
❚ X-factor: Jesse Puljujarvi
So much of Edmonton’s success is reliant upon Connor McDavid. The roster has performed poorly. That’s why Puljujarvi is so important. McDavid cannot do it all. But with Ryan Strome, Milan Lucic and others coming up empty, Edmonton needs the 2016 No. 4 overall pick, who was called up in November, to be an impact player. With three goals in his last four games, he’s off to a pretty good start.