Photo credit: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
8. Anaheim Ducks (9-20-3)
Last week: 8
The week started with back-to-back shutout losses, 3-0 to the Ottawa Senators and 7-0 to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Still, the Ducks tripled their regulation win total last week, defeating the Montreal Canadiens, 5-2, and then the Edmonton Oilers, 4-3.
After going pointless in nine of his previous 10 games, John Klingberg scored three goals over the course of the two wins.
John Klingberg uses Bouchard's screen and rips one home from the side boards, Ducks lead 4-3!#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/UTiOTHqueN
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) December 17, 2022
This week: @ LA, VS MIN, VS CGY
7. San Jose Sharks (10-16-6)
Last week: 7
The Sharks picked up a 3-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes to start the week, but followed it up with a 3-2 shootout loss to the LA Kings and a 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames.
Nick Bonino scored for the fourth straight game in the win over Arizona. He didn’t have a goal on the season before that streak.
4-GAME GOAL STREAK🔥#SJSharks | @NickBonino pic.twitter.com/3uGSSRrLc4
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) December 14, 2022
This week: VS CGY, VS MIN
6. Vancouver Canucks (13-14-3)
Last week: 6
A 4-3 shootout win over the Flames on Wednesday was followed by a 5-1 home loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.
Bo Horvat continued to increase his trade value by scoring in both games. He’s already up to 22 goals on the season and looks on pace to smash his career-high of 31 that he set last year.
Bo Horvat scores his 22nd goal of the year off a deflection in front to ruin Connor Hellebuyck's shutout. #Canucks only behind by four now. pic.twitter.com/mxtjmOJrGx
— Lachlan Irvine (@LachInTheCrease) December 18, 2022
This week: VS STL, VS SEA, @ EDM
5. LA Kings (17-12-5)
Last week: 5
3-2 shootout wins over the Boston Bruins and the Sharks have helped pause the growing discontent over this season for the time being, after it had been exacerbated by a 6-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
Is Pheonix Copley the answer to the LA Kings’ goaltending woes? Todd McLellan may think so, because he’s given Copley the last three starts.
Pheonix Copley said Nope not today 🚫 🙅♂️@LAKings | #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/2rktXKpeS4
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) December 16, 2022
This week: VS ANA, VS CGY, @ ARI
4. Calgary Flames (14-12-6)
Last week: 4
Their winless streak reached five games with shootout losses to the Canadiens and Canucks, then a 5-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues, before defeating the Sharks 5-2 on Sunday.
The Flames hope Elias Lindholm is starting to heat up. He scored a pair of goals on Sunday and has five points over the last two games.
This week: @ SJ, @ LA, @ ANA
3. Seattle Kraken (17-10-3)
Last week: 3
A 6-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning and a 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes capped off a 1-3-0 road trip, but they bounced back with a 3-2 win over the Jets on Sunday. That was just the Kraken’s second win in their last seven games, though.
Jared McCann’s team-leading 14th goal of season broke a 2-2 tie with less than five minutes to go in the third period on Sunday and stood up as the game-winner.
Jared McCann with a LASER for the @SeattleKraken's eventual game-winning goal! 💥 pic.twitter.com/X05RRqHqd0
— NHL (@NHL) December 19, 2022
This week: VS STL, @ VAN
2. Edmonton Oilers (17-14-1)
Last week: 2
Not a great week for the Oilers, who went 1-2-1 and handed the Ducks just their third regulation win of the season on Sunday.
Thursday’s 4-3 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues was a particularly frustrating night for Edmonton. They allowed short-handed goal to tie the game with 20 seconds left in the third period, then had an overtime winner wiped out by a controversial offside review.
leon draisaitl's overtime goal is negated after it was ruled connor mcdavid put himself offside. pic.twitter.com/ib7GkTgfDL
— zach (@zjlaing) December 16, 2022
This week: @ NSH, @ DAL, VS VAN
1. Vegas Golden Knights (22-10-1)
Last week: 1
The Golden Knights continued their dominance on the road, collecting a 6-5 win over the Jets and a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks to improve their road record on the season to 14-2-1. Then their mediocre results at home also continued, losing 5-2 to the New York Islanders on Saturday to drop their home record to 8-8-0.
Reilly Smith closed out the week with two-goal performances in back-to-back games. He leads Vegas with 16 goals in 33 games, already matching his goal total in 56 games last season.
Reilly Smith with his second goal of the night! 🚨🚨
The @GoldenKnights within one! pic.twitter.com/wmHB1NVYBe
— AT&T SportsNet™ | RM West (@ATTSportsNetRMW) December 18, 2022
This week: VS BUF, VS ARI, VS STL