Washington Capitals // 19-6-2 // L7 Days: 2-0-1

For a team that limped into the playoffs last year on Charlie Lindgren's shoulders, the Capitals are top of the Eastern Conference and top of the NHL standings. The team has certainly held down the fort while Alex Ovechkin has been on the shelf – which might not be too much longer. OV's been skating in a non-contact jersey prior to team practice.

Tom Wilson took a puck to the face in Montreal on Saturday. When asked if he was concerned that Wilson would not be able to play against Columbus on Thursday, Coach Spencer Carbery has said the concern level is not high but there is a chance [he would not play]. 

New Jersey Devils // 18-10-2 // L7 Days: 2-1-0

Jake Allen is day to day with an upper-body injury. The Devils called up Isaac Poulter from the minors to serve as Markstrom's backup tonight against the Maple Leafs. Allen is not expected to be out long term. 

Florida Panthers // 17-9-2 // L7 Days: 2-0-1

Matthew Tkachuk is back! 15 points in his last six games and 11 in his last three has brought Tkachuk's points pace from the 70-point range we have been rooting against these past few weeks to a now 107-point pace. His power play totals are healing as well. 

Aaron Ekblad has been holding firm to that top power play quarterback deployment. Seven points in the nine games since being promoted and three power play points in that nine game span has the forecast looking good for him to hold that deployment for a bit.

Carolina Hurricanes // 17-9-1 // L7 Days: 1-2-0

Pyotr Kochetkov returned on December 3rd, he's played three games since then and started tonight's game against the San Jose Sharks as well. One win, no Quality Starts, two Really Bad Starts and no games over 900 in his last 4 games (12/10 vs SJS not included).

Andrei Svechnikov seems to be settling quite nicely into a 70-point range player, six points in his last couple games puts him right back into the 70-point pace neighborhood. The ceiling always seems so much higher than what it winds up being with Svechnikov. This year being his best chance, the power play deployment has never been better, consistent top power play time, the best ice time he's seen and best shots on goal per game rates. The powder keg hope still lives on!

Shayne Gostisbehere is leading all NHL defensemen in power play points.

Toronto Maple Leafs // 16-9-2 // L7 Days: 2-2-0

Max Pacioretty returns to the lineup, suiting up with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Matthew Knies is with John Tavares and William Nylander. Knies keeps his top power play deployment as the Leafs are running a five forward power play. 

Boston Bruins // 15-11-3 / L7 Days: 3-0-0

The Bruins are 7-2-0 under Interim Head Coach Joe Sacco. They're scoring three goals a game on average and only giving up two. The results seem to be benefiting the players as well: Jeremy Swayman is 4-2-0 with a .918 save percentage since Sacco's hiring, David Pastrnak has 10 points in those nine games (only one goal however and a 3% shooting rate), Brad Marchand has eight points in nine games, Pavel Zacha seems like a new player, but we're still waiting for Elias Lindholm to get going. 

Tampa Bay Lightning // 14-9-2 // L7 Days: 2-0-0

Anthony Cirelli and Erik Cernak are both on the shelf with day-to-day injuries. Nikita Kucherov is back, however, after missing two games with a lower-body injury.

Jake Guentzel is closing in on point-per-game pace; 25 points in 26 games and four in his last four games played. 

New York Rangers // 14-12-1 // L7 Days: 1-3-0

Jacob Trouba was traded this past week for Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 Fourth-Round pick. K'Andre Miller has seen a two-minute uptick in time on ice in the two games without Trouba. 

It makes sense why they would want to shake things up: The Rangers are ranked 31st in the NHL over the last three weeks for points only Nashville has fewer points but has two less games played – which puts the Rangers at 32nd ranked for points percentage. If you keep going back day by day, you would have to go all the way back to October 17th to get the Rangers at a .500 win percentage. Only four games took place for the Rangers before October 17th – they've been under .500 since game five. 

New York Islanders // 11-11-7 // L7 Days: 2-1-1

Anders Lee has been on a heater lately with 10 points in his last seven games – six of which are goals. Lee leads the Islanders with 13 goals. 

Philadelphia Flyers // 12-12-4 // L7 Days: 0-2-1

Matvei Michkov now has 12 power play points – last year the team high for power play points was 11 (Morgan Frost). Michkov's prowess on the man advantage does not seem to be a case of a rising tide lifting all boats; however, Travis Konecny is the only Flyer who has more than four power play points. 

Pittsburgh Penguins // 12-13-4 // L7 Days: 2-1-0

Philip Tomasino continues to provide value. He returned to the lineup tonight after being day to day with an undisclosed injury. Four points in his first five games as a Penguin and three goals. 

Columbus Blue Jackets // 12-12-3 // L7 Days: 1-3-0

Tough follow up for the Blue Jackets after coming off their previous hot week. Kent Johnson won't let that slow him down however . A three-game pointless streak has been broken with back to back multi-point efforts against Winnipeg and Philadelphia, his fourth multi-point game in the last ten games. 

Ottawa Senators // 12-13-2 // L7 Days: 2-1-0

Whispers of Brady Tkachuk being traded to the New York Rangers during the Jacob Trouba buzz has Ottawa management in a tizzy. 'Soft tampering' was what Senators owner Michael Andlauer had said regarding the situation, to which New York vehemently denied the allegations and 

Detroit Red Wings // 11-13-4 // L7 Days: 1-2-1

Sebastian Cossa got his NHL debut on Monday, coming in as relief in the second period. A debut which garnered a win in a 6-5 shootout victory – the first goalie in NHL history to win his debut as a result of a shootout in relief. 

Buffalo Sabres // 11-13-4 // L7 Days: 0-2-2

Rasmus Dahlin was put on Injured Reserve Monday for his back, retroactive to December 5th. He is eligible to return Thursday or later.

The Sabres play the Rangers on Wednesday, two teams in desperate need of a win and some momentum. 

Montreal Canadiens // 11-14-3 // L7 Days: 3-1-0

Juraj Slafkovsky is performing at a level that does not at all justify his cost on draft day. His Yahoo! Average Draft Position was 117.3, which is a 9th or a 10th round pick in 12-Team leagues. It's hard to be disappointed in a 9th round draft pick, but all the ingredients were there for Juraj to break out and his early season performance hinted at that – there's still plenty of time this season and many more seasons to come. 

Juraj is 25 games into the season, 11 points in the front 13 games and only three points in the twelve games since. It's in the tank, just not at the surface at the moment. 

— 

That's our Eastern Edge Eastern Conference update for the week. Thank you for reading, as always feel free to chirp me in the comments below, in the Fantasy Hockey Discord  or you can reach out on X – @FHFHockey. In the meantime you can catch updates from me on the Five Hole Fantasy Hockey Podcast.