Around the rinks: Werenski sets bar high … Sabres rollin’ ... Laine does trick
Zach Werenski’s game has dropped off somewhat, at least from the high standard the Blue Jackets defenceman set for himself. “The defensive side of the game has been a struggle for me,” Werenski said. “Lately, I’ve been a lot more aware. Watched a lot of video with coaches, talked to them about how I want to play. I think as of late, I’ve been pretty good. When you play against the top players in the world, every shift is a challenge. Someone is bringing something new to the table. It’s being consistent with it.” CAPTAIN JACK: The Buffalo Sabres, who haven’t qualified for the playoffs since 2010-11, have won six in a row. Each win has been decided by one goal, with four coming in overtime or a shootout. “You look at the room, I think the guys are believing the next guy’s going to get the job done and set you up for your shifts,” captain Jack Eichel told the Buffalo News. “We’re a pretty tight bunch right now for how many new guys have come into this team … Everyone out there doesn’t want to let the guy next to them down.” This marks their longest winning streak since an equal run from Dec. 27, 2009 to Jan. 8, 2010. HAT-TRICK LAINE: Patrik Laine netted his sixth career hat trick (and second this season) to propel the Jets to a 6-3 victory over the Canucks in the opener of a four-game road trip on Monday. The three goals were his first in five-on-five situations this season. “I’m not going to say it out loud, but obviously it’s bothering you because you’re not producing five-on-five,” Laine said. “Just being patient, that’s the key, and from now on if I don’t score in the next 20 (games) five-on-five, I am not going to lose it. I am just going to stay patient and keep working hard.” Laine, 20, now trails only Wayne Gretzky for the most hat tricks by a player before his 21st birthday. The
Great One had 12 in 210 games by that age.
STATS AND NOTES: Florida’s Mike Hoffman is the sixth NHL player with a point streak of at least 16 games in his first season with a team … Colorado’s Mikko Rantanen, 22, is the first to reach the 30-point mark in the NHL this season … Alex Ovechkin has 125 career multi-goal games, placing him ahead of Steve Yzerman (124) and into a tie with Dino Ciccarelli (125) for the 11th-most in NHL history … The Red Wings are on an 8-2-0 roll. FROM THE KHL: Ex-Leaf Nikolai Kulemin, back at his hometown of Metallurg, had eight goals and two assists in a sevengame points streak that ended Sunday … Barys defenceman Kevin Dallman will play his 600th KHL game on Friday, becoming the first import to reach that mark. The Niagara Falls native is now a naturalized Kazakh citizen. The 37-year-old played 154 NHL games and will become the 18th player to play at least 600 KHL games.
CWHL WATCH: The CWHL announced dates for two events: The all-star game is Jan. 20 at Scotiabank Arena, while the Clarkson Cup is March 24 at Coca-Cola Coliseum. “We’re so excited to bring the world’s best female hockey players to Toronto, where all sports fans will have the opportunity to witness the world’s top talent in one place,” said CWHL interim commissioner Jayna Hefford.