Three points. That's all that separates the top six teams in the Metropolitan Division as week five of the NHL season nears its end.
In a deep and competitive division such as the Metropolitan, every game becomes important. Here are the stories surrounding the Blue Jackets' rivals as they try to keep pace and stay in the race.
Lean on Me
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Since the injury to Matt Niskanen two weeks ago, a typical night for seasoned defenseman John Carlson includes over 27 minutes of ice time for the Washington Capitals. That includes logging 29:14 in a win over the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
Carlson is earning nearly four minutes more than the next Capitals defenseman, and for good reason. His 11 points is far and away the blue line's best.
Getting consistency and offense from their defense is key for the Capitals as they try to develop youngsters Christian Djoos and Madison Bowey.
Speaking of Defense...
No team has been beaten, battered, and torn with defensive injuries the past couple weeks more than the Pittsburgh Penguins, who lost two of their top blue liners in Matt Hunwick and Justin Schultz.
The pair both re-entered the lineup on Tuesday.
This is big news for the Penguins, who have been without Hunwick for 10 games and without Schultz for six. They are 1-3-1 in their last five games without the pair, giving up over three goals a game in the same stretch. Oh, and they've had goaltending issues as well.
Marcus Absent
Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
On Friday it was confirmed that New Jersey Devils forward Marcus Johansson suffered a concussion in the Devils' game against the Vancouver Canucks the day prior. With the Johansson injury, four Devils forwards are now missing time.
There is no timetable for Johansson's return as of today, and he was a scratch for the Devils' game against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.
The Rise of Josh Bailey
The New York Islanders are off to a solid start with 18 points through their first 15 games. Part of that can be attributed to the contributions of one Josh Bailey.
This is Bailey's eighth year with the Islanders, but it will be his first full season on the top line. He has been up to the task, averaging over a point per game this season while enjoying the luxury of playing with John Tavares.
Bailey entered play Tuesday riding a nine-game point streak, during which he has racked up two goals and 14 assists, including three straight multi-assist games. Now playing on the top line alongside John Tavares and Anders Lee — a trio who played together for a bulk of last year, too — Bailey has been a reliable skater for coach Doug Weight to depend on– Greg Joyce, New York Post
Rangers Heating Up
A renewed confidence may be to credit for the Rangers' current win streak. After a 3-7-2 start to the season, they've surged to five straight wins and placed themselves squarely in the thick of things in the Metropolitan Division once again. Mika Zibanejad spoke on such a confidence Monday after the Rangers' win over the Blue Jackets.
"It's high. It should be. I think we talked about that early on and especially after the second period that if we want to be a good team we have to find ways to win the game even though we are down. We did that and I think obviously the past three games helps that confidence and helps that feeling in the locker room of even if we are down coming into the third to be able to come back. It was important."
The streak has included multiple comeback wins, including erasing two deficits against the Blue Jackets on Monday.
Snapping Skids
They busted out of a four-game losing skid on Tuesday, but now, the Carolina Hurricanes have dropped to last in the Metropolitan Division with 13 points. In fact, in the seven games prior to the win over Florida, the Hurricanes were a combined 1-4-2.
Both Military and Philadelphia Flyers at Practice Monday
A dozen members of the United States Air Force were at Philadelphia Flyers practice on Monday for an on-ice hockey clinic.
In advance of the game, current Flyers Wayne Simmonds and Brian Elliott hosted a dozen members of the U.S. Airforce for an on-ice hockey clinic after Monday's practice. Also on hand were several Flyers teammates, including Taylor Leier and Matt Read. Flyers Alumni president Brad Marsh (who also serves the Flyers as the organization's Director of Community Development) and Bob "the Hound" Kelly (the Flyers Ambassador of Hockey) helped run the session on the ice. – Bill Meltzer, nhl.com
This is a tie-in with the Flyers' military appreciation night which occurs on Saturday.
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