Expect a slow NHL trade deadline
By Ari Baum-Cohen
Trade “dead”-line?
The NHL’s trade deadline is an excellent time to monitor futures odds and bet on a team that makes significant upgrades.
As Ken Campbell of The Hockey News points out, however, most of the top players that would have been available at this year’s trade deadline (such as Ilya Kovalchuk) have already been moved.
Still, there are a few Top-6 forwards and Top-4 defensemen and possibly a goaltender or two that could be moved before the 3:00 p.m. ET deadline Wednesday.
The top forward rumored to be on the move is Carolina’s Ray Whitney. The 37-year-old Whitney has 48 points in 59 games this season. Florida Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun may also be on the move, potentially going to Chicago.
Miller’s cross
Ryan Miller was Team USA’s savior – ending the Olympics with a 1.35 goals against average, .946 save percentage and was named the MVP of the tournament.
"He really made a big statement for himself, and he represented our club [the Buffalo Sabres] so well," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff told the Buffalo News. "He came here and created a lot of hope for the U.S. team."
Miller is on his way to a Vezina-trophy nomination, the award given to the NHL’s top goaltender. His 2.16 goals against and .930 save percentage are second in the league.
The Sabres are fighting with the surging Ottawa Senators for the Northeast Division title and are one point behind the Sens with three games in hand. They entered the Olympic break on a 1-4-2 stretch.
Flying under the radar
The Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators and Los Angeles Kings received a lot of attention for their play because of gaudy winning streaks of 14, 11, and nine games respectively.
Other teams are also playing their best hockey of the season right now. The Anaheim Ducks are 14-6-0 over their last 20 games and have an 11-game home winning streak.
The Ducks will have to find reserve sources of energy, as a league-high seven Anaheim players took home medals at the Olympics.
"They've been under a microscope, all of them, for the better part of two weeks here," Carlyle said. "As the tournament went on, that intensified. I'm sure they're looking for just a little bit of quiet at some point.
Offensive numbers
How much better are the Capitals than the rest of the Eastern Conference?
At +185 at 5Dimes, they are the clear favorite to represent the East in the Stanley Cup finals.
Washington’s 90 points lead the NHL and are 13 points better than the New Jersey Devils - the second-place team in the Eastern conference.
They rarely lose at home, posting a 23-3-3 record at the Verizon Center.
Washington’s goal differential is plus-70 - best in the league. The Capitals have scored 247 goals, an average of 3.92 goals per game, nearly .75 more than the next closest team, the San Jose Sharks.
The Caps have gone over the total in six straight games and have a 34-22-6 over/under record.
On the schedule
Fri. March 5 – Vancouver Canucks at Chicago Blackhawks
Vancouver continues its NHL record 14-game road trip with three games in four nights. After playing Columbus and Detroit on back-to-back nights, the Canucks will have a day off before playing the Central Division leading Blackhawks.
Sun. March 7 – Montreal Canadiens at Anaheim Ducks
The Habs must play four games in six days – all on the road. After a Saturday matchup against the Kings, they make the short trip to Anaheim to play a Ducks team that has won 11 in a row at the Honda Center.
Sun. March 7 – Toronto Maple Leafs at Philadelphia Flyers
The Leafs play three road games in four nights including back-to-back nights in Ottawa and Philadelphia. The Leafs are one of the worst road teams in the NHL at 8-18-6.