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

Calgary Flames

Plus: Matthew Tkachuk is the latest Canadian club rookie to make noise in the Calder race. The Flames youngster is playing his most consistent hockey to date, riding a six-game point streak.

Minus: Tkachuk is fortunately picking up the slack for Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, who've both gone quiet after enjoying hot streaks. The duo has combined for just three points over Calgary's last five games - all coming off the stick of Gaudreau.

Take: Having allowed two goals or fewer in five of his last six appearances, Brian Elliott is finally starting to come around. If Elliott can keep it up, it's the boost Calgary needs to remain in a playoff spot.

Edmonton Oilers

Plus: Following a mini-slide, the Oilers have recovered to go 4-0-2 in their last six games, pulling to within two points of top spot in the Pacific.

Minus: The team could use a little more offense to start the new year. Last month, the Oilers scored more than three goals in a game just twice over 14 contests.

Take: They've hit their bumps in the road, but the Oilers remain firmly in a playoff spot. Barring a major meltdown, Edmonton should finally end its 10-year postseason hiatus.

Montreal Canadiens

Plus: With points in five of his last seven games - and now up to 15 goals and 15 assists - Max Pacioretty is playing some of his most inspired hockey of the year.

Minus: The Canadiens have come back down to earth, going 1-2-2 in their last five games. Their perch atop the Atlantic Division appears safe, but the team - including Carey Price - has shown they are certainly beatable.

Take: Alex Galchenyuk still sits tied for third in team scoring despite being out of the lineup since Dec. 7. While his return gets closer with each passing week, the Canadiens could still use more production from their collective.

Ottawa Senators

Plus: The Senators may have found a diamond in the rough in Ryan Dzingel. The 2011 seventh-round pick has found a home on the top line, using his wicked speed to post an admirable 20 points, including six over his last nine games.

Minus: Scoring continues to be an issue, as the Senators test the waters for another forward. That being said, they could use a bump from Derick Brassard.

The 29-year-old has just 17 points to date, on pace for his lowest total since the 2013 lockout season.

Take: With whispers that the Senators could trade away a defenseman for help up front, it's nice to know they have prospect Thomas Chabot coming up the pipeline.

Ottawa's 2015 first-round pick has been stellar on Canada's blue line at the world juniors, posting seven points in five games, and at least one in every contest.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Plus: Auston Matthews. We all know what he did at the Centennial Classic, and after being named first star of the week and sitting second league-wide in goals with 20, it's safe to say the kid is scorching.

Minus: While the Maple Leafs are riding a five-game winning streak, Sunday's outdoor game saw the club give up yet another third-period lead.

Things are looking good, but Toronto needs to be more polished in the final 20 minutes, lest they give away meaningful points.

Take: The Maple Leafs are right in the thick of the playoff hunt, with games in hand on every Atlantic club minus the Buffalo Sabres. More inspired hockey could vault the club up the standings.

Vancouver Canucks

Plus: Expected to continue as bottom feeders, a four-game winning streak has put the Canucks within a single point of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Minus: Loui Eriksson continues to struggle. The 31-year-old has just two goals over his last 16 games and has lost his spot next to the Sedins. In turn, the team has experimented with Jayson Megna on its top line.

That's a bad sign, especially considering Megna has just three goals in 22 games. Eriksson must be better.

Take: For a team whose best interest would be to bottom out for a top draft pick, Vancouver's latest surge keeps fans happy - for now - but could hurt long-term.

Winnipeg Jets

Plus: The trio of Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine, and Nikolaj Ehlers has continued providing the bulk of the offense for the Jets. The trio has combined for 44 goals and 95 points.

Minus: Goaltending. Be it Connor Hellebuyck or Michael Hutchinson, the team is not getting any help from its last line of defense, and in turn has the fourth-highest goals against in the league, giving up an average of nearly three per game.

Take: The Jets are an anomaly. The team rattled off four wins in five games in late December, but now enters 2017 on a two-game losing streak after a humiliating 6-2 loss to the New York Islanders.

Winnipeg can turn it on when it wants, but lacks consistency, likely putting the team on pace for a spot outside the playoffs, but also outside a top-5 pick in next year's draft.

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