As the bye weeks start leading up to the All Star game, the Oilers are running hot and the Leafs are without Auston Matthews for at least 3 weeks. Lots of teams seem to be on a mission to get Connor Bedard but Gary Bettman says nobody tanks….hmm

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Banter

Title Player 

Matt Stajan

Feedback – Howard Hargrave

News

Jets struggling – Bowness pissed during press conference after losing 4-0 to Flyers

Matt Berlin – Emergency Back up for Edmonton gets 2 and a half minutes of playing time vs Chicago.

Gary Bettman on tanking:

“Nobody tanks because we have a weighted lottery,” 

“You’re not going to lose games to increase your odds by a couple of percentage points. That’s silly. And frankly, suggesting tanking, I believe, is inconsistent with the professionalism that our players and our coaches have. Nobody tanks.”

Friedman – NHLPA expected to announce new Exec Director – maybe as early as All Star Weekend

Mike Gillis one of candidates

Bally’s declaring bankruptcy – significant revenue shortfall – how will it affect the cap?

Leafs

Matthews – on LTIR due to knee sprain

Does it matter if Lightning catch them?

Bye Week Feb 2-9

Oilers

8 game points streak going into All Star

McDavid at 92 points in 50 games – 150 pt pace

Draisaitl nursing an injury? 

Lots of trade speculation – Friedman says Bjugstad is possible

Oilers start Bye Week – Off until Feb 7

Binnington getting into scrum with Avs – Georgiev did the skate to centre ice

Does the NHL have a Pride night problem? 

Team of the Week

New York Islanders

25-22-5  55Pts 

6th in Division

2 points out of Wildcard spot (Penguins have 3 games in hand)

CF% 49 (23) SF% 49.72 (18) GF% 54.1% (8) 

SH% 8.55 (13)  SV% 92.89 (5)

What the hell? 

All Situations SH% 9.3 (23)  SV% .914 (6) 

PP% 15.54 (31)  PK% 83 (4)

Sorokin is #1 but both goalies have been great

Summary – 5 v 5 play overall not great but good results

PP terrible 

Not likely to make playoffs if results come back to actual play

Crazy Stat – 

Hot / Not 

Metro NJD 8-1-1 / CBJ 3-6-1 (now last in league)

Atlantic TBL 8-2-0 / MTL 4-5-1  

Central COL 7-3-0 / ARI 3-6-1 

Pacific EDM 7-1-2 / VGK 2-6-2 – things are tight in Pacific

DOPeS 

Valimaki fine for slash on Max Jones – meh