The Week Ahead

With the NHL All-Star festivities out of the way, it is time for NHL teams to focus on the next two months of the season that will decide which 16 teams make the Stanley Cup playoffs. So welcome to another installment of "The Week Ahead". We will take a look at the "Three Stars of the Week", give you our "Three Players to Keep an Eye On", "Two Teams to Watch", our "Game of the Week" and of course "Other Games to Keep an Eye on".

Teams, players to watch in second half

With the All-Star weekend in our rear-view mirror, it’s time to look ahead to the season’s final two-plus months. Which teams will get hot? Which players will put their teams on their back? Here are five to watch, for both sides, in the second half.

Power Rankings: Week 17

1. New York Rangers… LW: 3
With 66 points in 47 games thus far, the Rangers lead the league in points percentage (.702) at the break.
2. Detroit Red Wings… LW: 2
The Red Wings are out-scoring opponents by a score of 88-39 at home this season, good enough for an NHL-best +49 home differential.
3. Boston Bruins… LW: 1
If you take out a remarkable November, Tim Thomas is 11-9-0 with a 2.27 GAA and .930 save percentage this year. Not bad, but not his usual dominant numbers, either.

Video: Team Chara wins All-Star Game

Here are the highlights from today's All-Star Game in Ottawa, where Team Chara pulled away from Team Alfredsson to win 12-9. New York Rangers forward Marian Gaborik was named the game's MVP with a hat trick and an assist.

Panthers rely on power of three

SUNRISE, Fla. -- I can't speak for all of the media that straggled in to BankAtlantic Center on July 8th for the press conference welcoming the club's new acquisitions, but I felt a tad excited about the talent GM Dale Tallon and assistant GM Mike Santos had brought to the Florida Panthers. I soon found out I was in the minority, however.

Morning Skate: January 29

Game of the day:
Team Chara vs. Team Alfredsson
4:00 ET… TV: CBC, NBC Sports Network

Players to watch:
TC- Marian Hossa
Hossa is quietly amongst the league leaders in points at the break. I have a feeling the former Senator will have a big day.
TA- Steven Stamkos
Stamkos, the NHL’s leading goal-scorer put on a nice display of skills in the Elimination Shootout last night. Will that performance carry over?

Video: Chara blasts 108.8 mph shot

In tonight's SuperSkills competition in Ottawa, Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara continued his dominance in the Hardest Shot competition and beat out Nashville's Shea Weber. Chara broke his own league record, which was set last year, with this 108.8 mph blast...

Video: Kane's Superman goal

During tonight's NHL SuperSkills competition, Patrick Kane donned a Superman cape and scored this crazy goal in the breakaway challenge...

Saturday Faceoff: Best division in NHL?

There are two great divisions in the NHL right now (and then the rest), as the Central and Atlantic Divisions are dominating the first half of the season. Which division is better? Alexander and I debate…

Blackhawks face tough second half

The All-Star Break couldn't have come at a better time for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Nabokov deserving of longer stay on Long Island

It was just last season that Evgeni Nabokov wouldn’t report to Long Island when the Islanders claimed him on waivers. Nearly a year later he has become a key component to the Islanders' recent hot stretch.

Storylines for All-Star Weekend

The rosters are set. The battle lines have been drawn. Team Alfredsson and Team Chara are ready to go at it. Here are five storylines to watch this weekend in Ottawa.

Trophy Tracker

Every other week, we’ll bring you an updated look at the candidates for the major awards around the NHL…

All-Star Fantasy Draft Recap

This year's All-Star fantasy draft wasn't quite as fun as last year's (no "Phil Kessel sitting all alone" moment?) but it still provided plenty of laughs and awkwardness. The following are the results of the fantasy draft, as well as some observations on the evening.

On pace for how many points?

Here at the All-Star break, some teams’ point totals are still a bit deceiving despite what the overall standings look like. Through Wednesday’s action, here’s a look at how many points each team is on pace to accumulate this season.

What if we had an Olympic point system?

Here is our third look of the 2011-12 standings as if there was a different points system. The most popular solution is to dish out three points per game (and the one I’m in favor of the most) like they do in the Olympics.

Morning Skate: January 26

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:
Canadiens 7, Red Wings 2

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. David Desharnais, MTL (2 goals, 1 assist)
2. Max Pacioretty, MTL (1 goal, 1 assist)
3. Rene Bourque, MTL (1 goal, 1 assist)

Rinne recharges for another second half run

NASHVILLE – Pekka Rinne’s recent dominant stretch shouldn’t come as any surprise. The all-world goaltender usually performs better and better as the games become more and more important. With that in mind, Rinne is recharging the batteries for another late-season playoff push.

Where will Ales Hemsky land?

The NHL trade deadline is less than a month away with Edmonton Oilers right wing Ales Hemsky listed as one of the top commodities. His team continues to free fall in the standings as they likely prepare for yet another lottery pick. Hemsky has roughly $1.6 million remaining on his $4.1 million cap hit which makes him an affordable option for nearly every team craving that final piece.

Let’s look at the possible suitors for the crafty Czech.

Morning Skate: January 25

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s results:

Rangers 3, Jets 0

Maple Leafs 4, Islanders 3 (OT)

Capitals 5, Bruins 3

Sabres 2, Devils 1 (SO)

Flyers 3, Panthers 2 (SO)

Lightning 4, Blue Jackets 2

Penguins 3, Blues 2 (SO)

Predators 3, Blackhawks 1

Stars 1, Ducks 0

Sharks 1, Flames 0

Coyotes 3, Senators 2

Wild 3, Avalanche 2

Canucks 3, Oilers 2 (SO)

RLD 3 stars of the night:
1. Mathieu Perreault (3 goals, GWG)
2. Kari Lehtonen (27 saves, shutout)
3. Antti Niemi (25 saves, shutout)
---

Tonight’s slate:
Red Wings @ Canadiens

Game of the night:
Detroit Red Wings @ Montreal Canadiens
7:30 ET… TV: RDS, TSN, NBC Sports Channel

Who should replace Ovechkin at All-Star Game?

With Ovechkin bowing out of the NHL All-Star Game, there's an open roster spot to fill prior to Thursday's All-Star Draft. Who deserves the nod?