NHL Central: Hossa fitting right in with Red Wings
Sports Network | November 14, 2008
(Sports Network) - It hasn't taken Marian Hossa long to find a comfort level with his new team, the Detroit Red Wings.
When Hossa signed with Detroit this past offseason, inking a one-year deal with the team that had just beaten him in the Stanley Cup Finals, it didn't actually address an area of concern for the Red Wings. After all, Detroit finished third in the NHL last year with 252 goals scored.
Regardless of whether the Red Wings needed Hossa or not, the question was how long it would take for him to find his role on a Detroit offense that already featured the likes of Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Holmstrom and Johan Franzen?
The answer -- not long.
Though Hossa didn't score in any of his first four games this year, when his first goal did come -- the 300th tally of his career on October 18 versus the Rangers -- it came during a season-long six-game assist streak that was also part of what ended up being a nine-game point streak.
Hossa had six goals and eight assists over the run, and has posted points in 13 of his 15 games this year. The 29-year-old Slovakian skater leads Detroit with 21 points (8 goals, 13 assists) and hasn't been shy about taking charge with the puck. His 59 shots are second on the team to only Zetterberg's 60.
Hossa's quick progress in Motown has helped the club jump out to a 10-2-3 start and a five-point lead over Chicago in the Central Division.
BLACKHAWKS: GETTING OFFENSIVE
The Chicago Blackhawks did something on Wednesday they haven't done all year. That is, score just one goal in a game.
The Blackhawks ranked 10th in the NHL last year with an average of 2.85 goals per game. However, the young club has upped the pace this year, netting an average of 3.43 GPG, ranking third in the league. Chicago has been even better at home, lighting the lamp an average of four times per game.
Prior to a 2-1 shootout loss versus Boston, the Blackhawks had netted a season-high six goals in back-to-back games. No surprise then that the club has posted points in five straight games (4-0-1) and in 11 of its past 12 (7-1-4).
Much of Chicago's success can be attributed to reigning Calder Memorial Trophy winner Patrick Kane, who hasn't slowed down after an outstanding rookie season that saw him post a freshman-leading 72 points.
Kane, who turns just 20 years old next week, leads the team with 19 points (7 goals, 12 assists) this year, a total that is tied for sixth in the league, and has a point in five straight games. The American-born forward has two goals and eight helpers over his current streak.
Chicago's offensive output could still come as a surprise, though, given how fellow sophomore and captain Jonathan Toews has performed. After netting 24 goals as a rookie a year ago, Toews went the first 12 games of 2008-09 without a goal. However, the 20-year-old has now scored in back-to-back games, meaning the 'Hawks' red-hot offense could be getting even better.
BLUE JACKETS: GOALTENDING CONTROVERSEY BREWING
Netminder Pascal Leclaire was activated from injured reserve on Wednesday, the same day that Columbus hosted the Phoenix Coyotes. However, the starting netminder was on the bench that night despite returning from his sprained ankle in favor of rookie Steve Mason.
Leclaire is coming off a solid 2007-08 season in which he won 24 games and posted a 2.25 goals against average. He also finished second in the NHL in shutouts with nine, shattering the Blue Jackets' previous club record of five in a season, set twice by Marc Denis.
The 26-year-old eighth overall pick of the 2001 draft has struggled a bit this year, though, going 3-3-0 with a 3.41 GAA and .885 save percentage in seven games before his injury in an October 25 outing that cost him seven games.
In stepped the 20-year-old Mason, who has started Columbus' last four games. A former third-round pick himself, Mason won his first three NHL starts and got better each time out. He escaped with a win in his debut versus Edmonton on November 5 despite allowing four goals, then gave up another three in a win over Montreal on November 7.
Back in net the next night, he held Calgary to a mere goal in a 3-1 win.
Mason made a name for himself last year, winning 32 of his 42 games in the OHL with London and Kitchener to go along with a 2.51 GAA. He also went 5-0-0 with a 1.19 GAA and .951 save percentage in leading Canada to a gold medal in the 2008 World Jr. Championships, collecting tournament MVP honors along the way. Those stats certainly caught the eye of Columbus' front office.
Mason, though, did suffer his first career loss last time out, allowing four goals in a 5-2 setback versus Phoenix on Wednesday.
PREDATORS: SCORING COMES IN BUNCHES ON ROAD TRIP
The Nashville Predators have been a little inconsistent on the scoring sheet on their current six-game road trip.
The Predators are just 1-3-0 so far on the swing, getting shutout twice. The club netted six goals in one game in between those blankings, but still lost 7-6.
Even Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win against San Jose wasn't easy. Netminder Dan Ellis had to come up big, as he set a franchise record with 54 saves in the game. That eclipsed Mike Dunham's previous club-best 52 saves against Detroit back on October 21, 1998.
Nashville has played nine of its first 15 games this year on the road. It has struggled away from the Sommet Center, going 2-6-1 as the visiting team. The Predators are allowing four goals per game on the road, while countering with just 2.67 GPG.
Shea Weber, though, has found his groove for Nashville. He has four goals and two assists in his last six games, and his seven goals are tied with Martin Erat and Jason Arnott for most on the team. His 15 points ranks second among Nashville skaters.
Not bad for the 23-year-old that managed only six goals, 14 assists and 20 points in 54 games a year ago.
Nashville will visit Anaheim on Friday night before ending its swing in Los Angles on Saturday.
BLUES: STRUGGLING IN GOAL
An All-Star last year, Manny Legace struggled at the start of this season. He has been even worse since returning from a hip injury.
The 35-year-old got off to a hot start a year ago, posting a 17-13-4 mark and 2.28 save percentage in 37 games prior to the All-Star break. Though he cooled down a bit in the second half, he still managed to go 27-25-8 with a 2.41 GAA.
This season didn't start off well for Legace before he suffered a freak injury. Though he won his first four starts, he still posted a 2.75 GAA and allowed three or more goals in three of his first six starts.
Then came a home contest against Los Angeles on October 24, a game that featured a ceremonial first-puck dropping by former Republican vice- presidential candidate Sarah Palin. It seemed like a harmless enough event until Legace tripped on the carpet that had been laid out for the Alaskan governor. He allowed two goals in the game's first period before leaving the contest due to a strained left hip flexor.
That injury sidelined the goaltender until November 8, when he returned to face those same Kings. However, he was tagged for four goals on 30 shots in a 5-3 loss. Back in net four days later, Legace yielded three goals on seven shots in just 5:18 of action before being lifted.
"I felt great going into the game," Legace said. "I'm just not stopping the puck, it's as simple as that. I'm just not doing the job. It's no one's fault but my own. I came out a little flat."
With backup Chris Mason also struggling (0-5-0, 3.13 GAA), the Blues need Legace to get it going. St. Louis is currently dead last in the NHL with only 11 points.
