With the end of February just one week away, the second half of the 2021 NHL season is in full swing. There is action on a nightly basis as teams try and make up the games they lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many playoff races are beginning to take shape as clubs battle for positioning in their respective divisions. Back with our weekly stock-up, stock down article, the Edmonton Oilers have turned their fortunes around. The team has won seven of their last ten games, including a perfect 4-0 record under the guidance of new head coach Jay Woodcroft. Furthermore, the Calgary Flames and the Colorado Avalanche have remained red hot. Both teams have lost just once over their last ten games to lead their respective divisions.
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Stock Up: Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers looked lifeless under former bench boss Dave Tippett. But, quickly turning their fortunes around under Woodcroft, the team has rattled off four wins in a row to move into third place in the Pacific Division. Led by the play of their two superstars, Connor McDavid has totaled five points over his last three games after undergoing a rough patch. Along with this, Leon Draisaitl added two goals in Edmonton’s win over their divisional rival, the Anaheim Ducks, on Thursday Night. Choosing to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen, the group has improved mightily in their own zone under new vision. They have allowed just six goals over their last four games, including a 3-0 shutout of the San Jose Sharks.
Stock Down: Boston Bruins
Losers of four of their last five games, the Bruins now sit just six points up on the streaking Detroit Red Wings for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. The team is without Brad Marchand in the lineup as the star left-winger is awaiting word on the appeal of his six-game suspension for punching Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Tristan Jarry. Lacking the forward depth they have had in past seasons, Boston looks far from the formidable franchise they have been over the past decade. Struggling to get production from players lower down in the lineup, center Charlie Coyle has just four points in his last ten games. Furthermore, Taylor Hall has just one goal in his previous five.
Stock Up: New York Rangers
New York is continuing to silence its doubters around the league. The team defeated the red-hot Florida Panthers 5-2 to begin February before topping the Bruins in a shootout. Home to one of the deepest forward groups in the league, Chris Kreider is leading the way for the group. He is putting together one of the finest campaigns of his ten-year NHL career. The speedy forward has recorded a new career-high in goals with 33 tallies in 49 games. Furthermore, Igor Shesterkin has remained rock solid in goal for the group. The 26-year-old has won three of his last four starts while amassing a 2.05 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage. They are in the market to add another forward at the trade deadline. This is an exciting group with all the tools to make noise in the playoffs.
Stock Down: Nashville Predators
Quickly falling down the standings in the ultra-competitive Central Division, the Predators have dropped four of their last five games. Struggling to generate chances on the offensive end, the team has scored just 12 goals over that stretch of time. They remain 26th in the league in shots on goal per game with just 29.3 averaged per contest. Largely overachieving this season thanks to the play of their star young goaltender in Juuse Saros, the former fourth-round pick has helped carry Nashville all season long. Firmly in the conversation to capture the Vezina Trophy as the game’s top goaltender, he is 15th in save percentage at .924 and tenth in shutouts while facing the most shots in the league.
Stock Up: Minnesota Wild
Firmly in the conversation to be the best third line in hockey, Minnesota’s trio of Jordan Greenway, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Marcus Foligno continues to produce rapidly. Helping lead the Wild to an 8-2 record over their last ten games, they have combined to rack up 67 points so far this season. In addition, young sniper Kirill Kaprizov is making his case as one of the game’s bright young stars. The reigning Calder Memorial Trophy champion leads the franchise in both goals (22) and assists (37). As stout as they come in their own end, Dean Evason‘s group is currently allowing under three goals per game on average while killing penalties at a 79.7 percent clip.
Stock Down: San Jose Sharks
San Jose is now sitting six points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Sharks are fading quickly after a strong start to the year. They fell 3-0 to their divisional rival in the Oilers on Monday Night before losing in overtime to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. Destined to become sellers at the NHL’s trade deadline in March if they cannot climb out of the basement in the Pacific Division, one name to watch is star center Tomas Hertl. Once again, enjoying another strong season, the 28-year-old trails only winger Timo Meier with 40 points in 48 games. Set to hit unrestricted free agency at the year’s end, he has already seen his name become floated in trade talks.
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