"Just a really, really disappointing game for a team that usually finds a way to answer," Foligno said following the defeat. "That's what I'm most disappointed about. You know, you chalk it up to a loss and get ready for the next one, but we're always a team that prides ourselves on - after a tough loss we come back and we answer right away. And tonight we didn't, and we did it the wrong way the whole game."
Columbus was coming off a 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. Monday marks the second time in less than a week that the Blue Jackets lost 7-2, with their previous such defeat coming at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 12.
Foligno pointed to "the lack of emotion and the lack of care" as the source of his disappointment.
The Los Angeles Kings walked into Wells Fargo Center on Monday and laid a beating on the Philadelphia Flyers, thumping them 4-1 to snap the Flyers six-game winning streak.
The loss brought an end to Brian Elliott's personal six-game winning streak and marked the first time he's allowed more than three goals in a game since Nov. 27.
With the win, the Kings snapped their own three-game losing streak and momentarily moved ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights for top spot in the Pacific Division.
Erik Karlsson is sticking to the business of playing hockey,
After shining in Saturday's NHL100 Classic, the Ottawa Senators captain was forced to address remarks made by team owner Eugene Melnyk the night before, wherein relocation was suggested should the arena remain unfilled on a regular basis.
"That's none of our business," Karlsson told reporters after practice on Monday, per TSN. "That's what he (Melnyk) worries about. We worry about playing hockey and that's all we can control.
"We show up here every day and do the best that we can and what we do ... There's nothing I can do about that. Whatever he chooses to say is on him and we just worry about showing up wherever we're told to every day."
Having said that, Karlsson appears to be a fan of building a new rink closer to the city's core.
"I do think it would be better for a rink downtown, just for commuting and you know there's more people down there," he explained. "It would be a cool experience to have a rink in downtown Ottawa since we have a beautiful city.
"I think this is a great market, it's always treated me real well, whether things are going well or if things haven't been going well."
The outdoor win over Montreal improved Ottawa's record to 11-13-7. The Senators sit six points behind Boston for third place in the Atlantic Division.
"It's more of a bone bruise and more day-to-day than week-to-week for his return," general manager Jim Benning said, according to Ben Kuzma of Postmedia. "It's a relief. We can't afford to lose a player like that."
The injury occurred early in the second period when Boeser blocked a shot on the power play, after which the 20-year-old struggled to get to the bench.
The timeline for his absence is unknown, but any significant time would be catastrophic for the Canucks, as Boeser paces the team with 17 goals and 30 points in 31 games.
Prior to a game between the two clubs on Dec. 7, Trotz said the Capitals acquired Shattenkirk last season with a view to installing him as a top-pair defenseman down the stretch, but he didn't come as advertised and failed expectations.
Trotz, however, later clarified his comments in a personal moment with Shattenkirk.
"He came up to me and apologized after the game," Shattenkirk said Monday, per Larry Brooks of the New York Post. "He explained what he had said and told me that it had been portrayed differently than he intended. I appreciated that."
Washington won that game 4-2, and Shattenkirk added Trotz's comments were weighing on his mind when he took to the ice.
"That game I felt I had a point to prove and then the first shift it’s in the net,” said Shattenkirk, whose turnover led to a goal 14 seconds in. "I felt that I was playing catch-up the rest of the way. But after the game, talking to him and with the explanation he gave me, I put it out of my mind. It hasn’t stuck with me."
Weber has missed seven games this season due to the ailment.
While the duration of his absence is unknown, head coach Claude Julien told reporters that the team is going to "shut him down for a bit," according to Sportsnet's Irfaan Gaffar.
Weber has been dealing with the injury for most of the season, per TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
Weber missed Montreal's game against the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 9, but then returned for the club's next four games. He then sat out six straight contests before rejoining the lineup for the Canadiens' most recent six games.
The Habs are 4-2-1 without their top defenseman in the lineup so far this season, but this news is certainly a big blow to a team trying to scratch and claw their way into a playoff spot.
Kane registered four goals - including two game-winners - and one assist to help the Blackhawks improve their winning streak to five games.
Elliott, who was named the NHL's third star last week, stayed red-hot in the Flyers' crease, going 3-0-0 with a 1.31 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage.
Bailey is showing no signs of slowing down in what has been a career year, collecting four goals and four assists this past week.
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the franchise's first-ever game, Dec. 19, 2017 will be known as "Toronto Maple Leafs Day," the city's mayor John Tory and team president Brendan Shanahan announced Monday.
The then Toronto Arenas lost 10-9 to the Montreal Wanderers back on Dec. 19, 1917. Because of the mid-afternoon start in that game, the Leafs will play at 2 p.m. against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.
Unfortunately for Torontonions, nowhere in the letter does it say residents will be excused from work to watch the matinee.
EAST MEADOW, N.Y. – NHL goal-scoring is at its highest rate in over a decade - and for the majority of the season, it has felt like the New York Islanders have been solely responsible.
New York enters the week ranked second in the league in goals scored per game (3.52), behind only the best team in hockey, the Tampa Bay Lightning. But all that offense has come at a price: the Isles also rank joint-second in goals allowed (3.42), behind only the lowly Arizona Coyotes.
That combination of full nets at both ends of the ice, as one might expect, has led to an 18-12-3 record, good for fourth place in the rugged Metropolitan Division entering play Friday – four points from the top of the division, but two points from being out of the playoffs altogether.
“We preach a lot of movement and we want to play offense,” said rookie center Mathew Barzal, fourth on the Islanders with 28 points. “I’m an offensive guy and I like that. We take advantage of the system – I haven’t really played in a system with so much offense. I think it’s our mentality.
"(Head coach) Dougie Weight was an offensive guy, he knows what it takes to score goals and how to score goals. We’ve got to tighten up defensively, but I think we’re doing a great job on the offensive side.”
As one of 87 players in the NHL’s century-long history with 1,000 career points, Weight was indeed an offensive force during a playing career that included four All-Star appearances. The Islanders’ coach would like to see better defensive work from his team, and believes that even while playing a “harder” game, they could still score as much as they already do.
“Yes, you can, absolutely - you can score more,” Weight said. “If you can defend better and quicker ... you can score and still be better in those areas and be simpler.”
While Barzal took some heat for defensive lapses in Thursday night’s 6-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets - mistakes which he owned - the Islanders really need their bottom six to be more dependable defensively, a point Weight made indirectly by saying he could not start Barzal’s line and John Tavares’ line in both the offensive and defensive zones all the time.
If Weight could do that, though, the Islanders would really be something else. Barzal, flanked by Jordan Eberle and Andrew Ladd, is in the thick of the Calder Trophy race, but it’s Tavares’ line with Josh Bailey and Anders Lee that is really ensuring New York is never out of any game. Bailey notched his first career hat trick on Thursday, helping the Islanders rally from a three-goal deficit to tie the Blue Jackets before they ultimately fell.
This is Bailey’s 10th season in the NHL, all with the Islanders after they made him the No. 9 overall pick in the 2008 draft. With 40 points, he's already enjoying his third-highest single-season total, with his career high of 56 from last term very much within reach.
The 28-year-old winger is, in fact, on pace for 99 points - meaning that, with Tavares also on track for the same number, the Islanders have a legitimate chance at having their first 100-point scorer in a quarter-century, since Pierre Turgeon’s 58-goal, 132-point bonanza in 1992-93.
“I just try to go play,” Bailey said. “I’m fortunate enough, I get to play with two of the best goal-scorers in the game. For me, I think, those guys have a knack for putting the puck in the back of the net. My game’s always been more of a playmaking type of player.
"I just try to get the puck to those guys in good spots, and usually, they find a way to put it in. I think the three of us have been feeding off those guys, and a lot of the credit goes to them and their ability to finish.”
Bailey has assisted on 10 of Lee’s 20 goals and eight of the 19 tallied by Tavares, plus three apiece by Barzal and defenseman Nick Leddy, as well as goals by seven other teammates. That’s 31 assists, tied with Blake Wheeler and Steven Stamkos for second in the league behind only Jakub Voracek.
“You look back at his hockey card, he’s always been a very good assist man,” Weight said. “The discrepancy of numbers is different, but in junior when he was drafted, he was a playmaking centerman. He’s moved to wing, and I think you have two guys with him right now that have an amazing amount of camaraderie together and confidence.
"Any line of work, it doesn’t matter, if you’re confident and you’re skilled, and you’ve got people around you that you trust and you like being around, it’s gonna be good. It’s been a good recipe for us and we’re definitely relying a lot on him.”
theScore's NHL Power Rankings are published every other Monday. Our sixth installment is put together by editors Craig Hagerman, Cory Wilkins, and Sean O'Leary.
1. Nashville Predators (21-7-4) ▲
Previously 3rd
The Predators are looking like the same club that made a dazzling march to the Cup Final last season. The offense is thriving and Pekka Rinne is playing some of the best hockey of his career. What's not to like? - Hagerman
2. Tampa Bay Lightning (24-6-2)
Previously 2nd
With seven straight wins, the Lightning continue to roll along, taking out nearly everyone in their path. - Hagerman
3. Washington Capitals (21-12-1) ▲
Previously 10th
Reuniting Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin has helped the Capitals' offense explode over the last two weeks. Ovechkin is tied for the league lead in goals again and Washington's first in the Metropolitan Division. - Hagerman
4. Los Angeles Kings (20-10-4)
Previously 4th
The Kings have lost three straight, but prior to that, they'd strung together an eight-game winning streak, and Anze Kopitar's sizzling season hasn't cooled off. Things are still looking up for an L.A. club that missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons. - Hagerman
5. Vegas Golden Knights (21-9-2) ▲
Previously 15th
The hockey world is still waiting for a Golden Knights collapse that never comes. Making matters worse for everyone else, Marc-Andre Fleury is back after a two-month absence and looks to be picking up where he left off before his concussion. - Hagerman
6. St. Louis Blues (22-11-2) ▲
Previously 8th
The Blues are still tied for the Central Division lead even with recent injuries to Alex Pietrangelo, Jaden Schwartz, and Jay Bouwmeester, but the Predators have three games in hand. - Hagerman
7. San Jose Sharks (17-10-4) ▲
Previously 9th
Undefeated in regulation in their last five games, the Sharks have begun to make up some ground on the Golden Knights and Kings in the Pacific. What's more promising, after scoring just once in the first 21 games, Brent Burns looks to be heating up with five goals in his last five contests. - Hagerman
8. Winnipeg Jets (19-10-5) ▼
Previously 1st
The Jets have dropped five of its last seven games to slide out of top spot in the Central. - Hagerman
9. Toronto Maple Leafs (20-13-1) ▼
Previously 5th
The Maple Leafs are suddenly struggling to score goals, with just 10 in their last seven contests. The fact they've been missing Auston Matthews over the past four is part of the equation, but it's not everything. Luckily, Frederik Andersen's keeping Toronto from entering a significant tailspin. - Hagerman
10. Chicago Blackhawks (17-11-5) ▲
Previously 19th
Five straight wins - including a 5-1 drubbing of the Jets - have pushed the Blackhawks back into a playoff spot. Corey Crawford's return from injury is a big reason for this, as he's gone 5-0-0 with just seven goals against and a .954 save percentage. - Hagerman
11. New York Rangers (18-12-3) ▲
Previously 14th
Winners of four of their past seven, the Rangers can thank Michael Grabner for scoring three goals over that stretch. The speedy winger has 16 tallies this season and continues to be one of the league's best bargains. - Wilkins
12. New Jersey Devils (18-9-5) ▲
Previously 16th
Despite slowing down in recent weeks, the Devils have held down a playoff spot in the ultra-competitive Metropolitan because of their hot start. Taylor Hall's taken another step forward offensively. - Wilkins
13. Columbus Blue Jackets (20-12-1) ▼
Previously 7th
Coach John Tortorella is understandably testy considering his team's lost three of its past six outings by a combined score of 13-4. - Wilkins
14. New York Islanders (18-12-3) ▼
Previously 6th
Winning just three of their past eight, the Islanders have been playing like a sub-.500 club too. If only they could shore up their goaltending. - Wilkins
15. Dallas Stars (18-14-2) ▼
Previously 12th
Despite a change behind the bench, the Stars are still struggling defensively, having allowed as many goals as they've scored. Dallas is barely holding onto a wild-card position in the West. - Wilkins
It could come down to two teams for the final postseason berth in the Atlantic Division, and right now, the Bruins hold that ticket. - Wilkins
18. Pittsburgh Penguins (17-14-3) ▼
Previously 11th
With the season nearing its halfway point, the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions don't occupy a playoff spot. That's more than a little concerning for general manager Jim Rutherford. - Wilkins
19. Anaheim Ducks (14-11-8) ▲
Previously 23rd
Undefeated in regulation in their past six contests, the Ducks have kept their heads above water despite seemingly constant attacks from the injury bug. - Wilkins
20. Philadelphia Flyers (14-11-7) ▲
Previously 30th
After dropping 10 straight, the Flyers strung together six consecutive victories to climb back into the playoff picture and grant coach Dave Hakstol a little breathing room. - Wilkins
21. Montreal Canadiens (14-15-4) ▼
Previously 18th
Some nights, the Habs look like they've begun to right the ship. Other nights, they get shut out by the Senators. Even with the ultimate X-factor in Carey Price at their disposal again, this team is incredibly difficult to gauge. - O'Leary
22. Carolina Hurricanes (14-11-7) ▲
Previously 27th
The Hurricanes are among the league's best at generating shots and scoring chances, but with newcomer Scott Darling producing a .903 save percentage, the same ol' problem is hindering Carolina's efforts to compete. - O'Leary
23. Vancouver Canucks (15-15-4) ▼
Previously 21st
The Canucks look much better under Travis Green, but this team still isn't talented enough to contend. - O'Leary
24. Edmonton Oilers (14-17-2) ▼
Previously 22nd
With Cam Talbot back in goal and five home games before the end of 2017, now would be a good time for the Oilers to start a run. - O'Leary
25. Calgary Flames (17-14-3) ▼
Previously 17th
Beyond the top-line duo of Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, the Flames are struggling to put the puck in the net. The current lack of production throughout the lineup won't cut it in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. - O'Leary
26. Colorado Avalanche (15-15-2) ▼
Previously 24th
The good news: Nathan MacKinnon has never looked better. The bad news: The Avs still allow just over 3.3 goals per game - the fifth-highest mark in the NHL. - O'Leary
27. Florida Panthers (12-16-5) ▲
Previously 28th
Now that the Panthers are second-last in the Eastern Conference and own a minus-20 goal differential, it's almost as if letting go of Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith in the expansion draft was a bad idea. - O'Leary
28. Detroit Red Wings (12-13-7) ▲
Previously 29th
With only two wins over their last 10 games, it's time again for the Red Wings to decide which players can be shipped out of town for future assets. - O'Leary
29. Ottawa Senators (11-13-7) ▼
Previously 25th
A nice win on a historic night in Ottawa took a back seat to owner Eugene Melnyk, who picked a dandy time to pour gasoline on an already raging fire with some dumbfounding comments about the state of his team. - O'Leary
30. Buffalo Sabres (8-18-7) ▲
Previously 31st
On a night when Jack Eichel dominated to the tune of his first career hat trick, the rest of Buffalo's roster activated full Sabres mode and spoiled the dazzling performance with an overtime loss. At this point, their greatest hope is some lottery luck come April, and we all know how that's gone in the past. - O'Leary
31. Arizona Coyotes (7-23-5) ▼
Previously 26th
It's nearly Christmas, and the Coyotes have 19 points. There's not much else to say. - O'Leary
