Writing about the Metropolitan Division being the tightest race in hockey has become redundant.
Another week has passed, and there's still no separation at the top. Four points is all that stands between first and sixth...and it's only going to get tighter as the season goes along.
Here are the top stories from around the division.
Dun Deal
The Carolina Hurricanes have finally resolved who the next majority owner of the franchise will be: Dallas businessman Tom Dundon. Dundon will take majority control of the team once the deal becomes official.
"I am thrilled to continue to build upon what Peter Karmanos started in Raleigh," Dundon said in a statement from the team. "The Hurricanes are a team on the rise, and I believe we have an opportunity to take the franchise to the next level. I'm ready to get to work."
As far as a potential move by the team, officials have vehemently denied any plans to do so, even as the Hurricanes retain a place near the bottom of the league in terms of attendance. There's reportedly a seven-year agreement in Dundon's deal to keep the team in Raleigh.
Hall Injured
Forward Taylor Hall will not play for the New Jersey Devils when they travel to Montreal to take on the Canadiens.
Hall should be available to return shortly, as he was diagnosed with only a right knee contusion, but losing your team's points leader is a big blow regardless of the length of time he misses. Hall has 31 points through 30 games.
Capital Rising
The defending Metropolitan Division champions have returned to the top of the division, sitting in a tie with the Blue Jackets after winning eight of their last 10.
A large part of this can be credited to a kick in the rear received by the Capitals after losing 6-2 on the road to the Colorado Avalanche.
“I think we got our butts chewed a little bit, rightfully so, and guys stepped up, started playing better,” defenseman Matt Niskanen said. “Hockey’s a lot more fun when you’re playing well, playing hard for each other, like we are right now.”
The Washington Post has more information on this unexpected turnaround from the Capitals.
Mika Back Soon
New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad has missed seven consecutive games after suffering a concussion a few weeks ago.
He's back on the ice and practicing, albeit in a limited sense, for the Rangers.
“He’s coming along real well,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “Today he had a full practice on D. I thought he looked real sharp. I’m looking forward to trying him in the middle here shortly.”
Island Sunk
Last week, the story for the New York Islanders was their surge back into the Metropolitan race fresh off winning seven of eight games.
Over the last six games, however, their record is 2-3-1.
In fact the Islanders barely snapped a three-game winless streak Monday against the Capitals. They were smoked in Brooklyn last night by the Dallas Stars and arrived in Columbus late last night.
PENGUINS SLIDING
The Pittsburgh Penguins now sit at sixth place in the Metro after back-to-back losses to close a five-game home stand.
It remains early, but things need to change if they want any sort of remote chance at a three-peat.
The Penguins don't have a problem this season -- they have problems, plural, and every time they think they have one figured out, another one pops up.– Greg Wyshynski, ESPN
Allowing goals continues to be the primary issue, as the Penguins have yielded the fourth-most in the NHL so far. That's a recipe for losing.
Taking Flight?
The Philadelphia Flyers were toiling near the bottom of the division only 10 days ago, going winless in 10 straight games with seemingly no end in sight. And while they are still tied in the cellar with the Hurricanes, they've shown at least a glimmer of hope recently.
Since that 10-game winless streak, the Flyers have won four in a row. It's not much, but at least they're showing some semblance of life.
Follow 1st Ohio BatteryFacebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
