Every Tuesday, theScore's editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."

Calgary Flames

Plus: Where to start? The Flames bagged three wins, extending their win streak to six games, and briefly sat atop the division summit after their 6-2 thumping of the Jets. Johnny Gaudreau's delivered multi-point efforts in all four games since his return, Sean Monahan's come alive, and Dougie Hamilton looks every bit as Brian Burke advertised when he shut down the swirling trade talk.

Minus: The players will gladly accept the two days they were given to recharge after cooling the Jets, but a soft portion in the schedule may be coming at the wrong time for the red-hot roster. Calgary is in the midst of a nine-day stretch with just two games.

The Take: Gaudreau's surgeon may have saved the season.

Edmonton Oilers

Plus: After coughing up third-period advantages against the Sabres and Flyers on a recent four-game losing streak, the Oilers showed some needed resolve over the weekend. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins pulled them level with the Wild before losing in a shootout Friday, and they came all the way back in the third Sunday versus the Jets.

Minus: Edmonton will be without Darnell Nurse for the next three months after the often mean-spirited defender underwent ankle surgery. The club cannot afford another injury to an impact player on the back end.

The Take: Zack Kassian's negated breakaway goal Sunday is precisely what's wrong with video review in the NHL

Montreal Canadiens

Plus: An outlier to call their own, the Canadiens hung 10 on the Avalanche five weeks after suffering the same fate against the Blue Jackets. Max Pacioretty scored four times in the contest, and with his play of late, has absolved himself from his early season struggles. Never mind the broken foot.

Minus: With their overtime loss to the Bruins in the second half of a back-to-back (which is obviously nothing to sneeze at), the Blue Jackets jumped ahead of the Canadiens for the best record in the NHL.

The Take: Alexei Emelin might just be developing a reputation.

Ottawa Senators

Plus: The Senators won their first game in California with a 4-2 victory over the Sharks, ensuring the typically uncertain progress from the dreaded three-game gauntlet.

Minus: The Senators felt that was enough, apparently, as they turned in listless efforts against the Kings and Ducks over the weekend. Building up multi-goal deficits in the first period of each contest, the Senators were outscored 9-2 on aggregate in their SoCal back-to-back.

The Take: Oh joy. The first game back from their west coast road trip is against the Sharks. They won't be motivated at all.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Plus: Well, this depends on which side of the fence you're on in the 'ol process vs. results divide. Toronto was out-attempted nearly two-to-one in a 4-1 victory over the Bruins on Saturday, and then on a second half of yet another back-to-back, they recorded the most shot attempts in a single game this season (99!), and ended up losing 3-1 to one of the worst teams in the league.

Minus: Found above.

The Take: Perhaps the fourth line was constructed in a way as to keep the kids stay on the straight and narrow. Mitch Marner was the latest subjected to sharing shifts with Matt Martin, punishment for what Mike Babcock suggested was a drift in overall focus of late.

Vancouver Canucks

Plus: Canucks fans might have the opportunity to see Thatcher Demko much earlier than expected. With Ryan Miller dealing with an injury, and usual call-up Richard Bachman dealing with a setback, too, Demko was recalled over the weekend.

Minus: As expected, it's become increasingly difficult to consume these games. The Canucks needed a fifth power play to record a shot on Braden Holtby in Sunday's 3-0 loss to the Capitals.

The Take: Jannik Hansen's return means Sven Baertschi's departure? Really?

Winnipeg Jets

Plus: We know what sort of captain that Blake Wheeler is. The immediateness to which Wheeler wrapped his arm around Patrik Laine in an effort to make the super rookie feel better about burying an own goal was truly telling about his character.

Minus: Besides the moment of camaraderie, the week really couldn't have been more of a nightmare. The Jets took one point from four games at the end of a nine-day stretch where they played six times. Though still fourth in the division, they now have the fourth-worst record in the NHL in terms of point percentage.

The Take: With four winnable games (including two against the Canucks), and appropriate rest in between, the Jets' schedule between now and the holiday break is critical.

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