Remember a bit earlier in the column when I discussed how Bernier’s even-strength save percentage has been roughly equivalent to Pekka Rinne’s over the past five years? Well Jhonas Enroth’s has been better – albeit in a much smaller sample of games.

Doing what Rinne has done consistently – starting 60+ games a year and maintaining an elite level of performance – is different and more impressive than managing those results in platoon and backup duty like Bernier and Enroth have. They’re still good bets though for a team looking to improve in net. 

Enroth is a pending unrestricted free agent, and a sharp team will overlook his size issues and sign him to a deal. It would be very interesting to see him play behind a team that isn’t historically awful.

*

In a high-octane, Eastern Conference heavyweight matchup, the Boston Bruins outlasted the New York Islanders thanks to a third-period goal from Loui Eriksson. Though he didn’t get the win the Islanders have to be relieved that Chad Johnson didn’t get blown up – as he’s been wont to do this season. The Bruins meanwhile have now gone 7-2-1 over their past 10 games and are looking every bit the threat we expected in the Eastern Conference. 

Some particularly good signs for Boston: Milan Lucic managed seven hits and a shot on Saturday, while Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron combined for 10 shots (and Bergeron scored a goal). Meanwhile that third-line of Eriksson, traffic director Carl Soderberg, and Chris Kelly manufactured the game winner and did very well to control play throughout. This is a team that’s looking deep and stingy again, which is bad news for the Eastern Conference.

*

Life without Henrik Lundqvist began for the New York Rangers with a 3-2 loss against Nashville on Saturday. Cam Talbot played well, and even the two goals in 41 seconds weren’t really on him. I do worry about this Rangers club in Lundqvist’s absence though.

The Rangers, for the past couple of months, have been getting rolled in the puck possession battle at five-on-five. Those flaws have been covered up rather thoroughly though by the stellar goaltending Lundqvist (and yes, Talbot too) have provided. 

Luckily for New York, there isn’t a team like Minnesota that’s charging hard and really poised to challenge them in the East. This could be a very long three weeks for Rangers fans though.

*

Shea Weber and his defense partner Roman Josi managed to deflate the Rangers with two quick goals late in the second frame. Both of Nashville’s top-pairing guys are now in the top-10 among all NHL defenseman in terms of their fantasy rank (assuming a standard Yahoo! league that counts G, A, PPP, +/-, and SHOTS). 

*

The Columbus Blue Jackets rolled both the Ottawa Senators (who have been play much better hockey of late) and the St. Louis Blues (one of the league’s best teams) by a combined score of 11 to 2 this weekend. What could’ve been if they’d been healthy…

*

The Montreal Canadiens game, a 6-2 defeat of the New Jersey Devils, maybe should have been ended with one of the on-ice officials pleading with the Habs power-play “Stop! Stop! They’re already dead.”

It was a fantastic night for P.K. Subban fantasy owners at least, as the Canadiens defender racked up three assists – all of them on the power-play. Max Pacioretty had a big night too with two assists and five shots, while Brendan Gallagher took seven shots and added an assist. Dale Weise meanwhile scored two goals. Two goals! So don’t expect him to be off that top-line anytime soon…

*

Tomas Tatar scored his 23rd goal of the season, and I swear, he’s going to hit 30 and no one will write about it. 

I don’t understand why Tatar’s emergence as this bona fide top-six slayer has been so overlooked this season. On a team with Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, and Gustav Nyquist it’s Tatar who leads all Red Wings players in scoring rate this season. He’s the 14th most efficient goalscorer in hockey, and hasn’t been reliant on the bounces to achieve it.

He’s just a goal scoring machine.

*

Vancouver destroyed Pittsburgh 5-0 and several of their players hit career milestones. Daniel Sedin, for example, beat Markus Naslund’s franchise record for power-play goals with a garbage time third period tally. Radim Vrbata meanwhile recorded his 500th career NHL point, which is a pretty great accomplishment for a player who even most ardent hockey fans couldn’t pick out of a crowd. 

*

Justin Faulk’s three assits helped power the Carolina Hurricanes past a San Jose Sharks club that specializes in losing to inferior clubs. 

Though it came in a losing effort, Patrick Marleau managed a goal and an assist on Saturday and is quietly on a nice little streak. The aging Sharks forward has managed four goals and seven assists in his past 10 games. 

Thomas Drance is the editor in chief of the Nation Network.