Welcome back for another week of 'Eastern Edge' where we review each team's recent performance in the NHL's Eastern Conference focusing on some key players. This week includes Logan Thompson, Frederik Andersen, Brandon Hagel, Mathew Barzal, and many more.

Washington Capitals // 31-10-5 // L7 Days: 3-0-0

Logan Thompson has been named the NHL's First Star of the Week, delivering an outstanding performance with three wins, two shutouts, a 0.33 Goals Against Average (GAA), and a stellar .984 Save Percentage (SV%). His shutout streak of 198:22 is the longest by any goalie this season. With Thompson in net, the Capitals have secured 44 out of a possible 50 points.  

Thompson deserves to be part of Hart Trophy conversations—not as a runaway favorite, but his name unquestionably belongs in the mix. As for Team Canada in the upcoming Four Nations Face-Off, Jordan Binnington, Samuel Montembeault, and Adin Hill will need to deliver near perfection. If Thompson feels snubbed, that chip on his shoulder might just fuel his determination even further.

Toronto Maple Leafs // 29-16-2 // L7 Days: 2-1-0

Fraser Minten rejoined the Maple Leafs lineup against the Lightning, centering a line with Max Domi and Nick Robertson. Meanwhile, Morgan Rielly's ice time has plummeted to its lowest in years. Playing just 16:27 against the Canadiens on Monday, it marked his lowest total since his injury during a game in 2017. To make matters worse, Rielly has seemingly lost his spot on the top power-play unit, and potentially for good.  

The Maple Leafs are again deploying a five-forward power-play setup, with John Tavares sidelined week-to-week after suffering an injury in practice. In Tavares's absence, Bobby McMann and Matthew Knies have joined William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and Auston Matthews on the top unit.  

Matthews has been red hot since returning from injury, scoring at nearly a goal-per-game pace.

New Jersey Devils // 26-17-6 // L7 Days: 0-2-2

Stefan Noesen has returned to the lineup following an illness, a setback that temporarily opened the door for Dawson Mercer to join the top power-play unit. Mercer's promotion surprised many, especially fantasy managers who expected Timo Meier to step into that role. Whether it's a handedness issue or a sign that Meier isn't viewed as Sheldon Keefe's "next man up," the decision has sparked debate.  

Meanwhile, some frustration is brewing in the Simon Nemec camp. The former second-overall draft pick has voiced disappointment with spending a third season in the AHL rather than earning a spot in the NHL. While Nemec has stated it's too early to request a trade, he made it clear that: "If this situation continues, it will have to be addressed".

Carolina Hurricanes // 27-16-3 // L7 Days: 1-1-0

Frederik Andersen has been cleared to play and is set to make his first start since October on Monday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.  

Meanwhile, Jackson Blake has hit double-digit goals for the Hurricanes. While it's always wise to take Rod Brind'Amour's line combinations with a grain of salt, Blake has recently spent some time on the top line alongside Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho. If Brind'Amour sticks with this combination for any extended stretch—whether a few games or even just a handful of periods—Blake could offer significant value while deployed in such a prime position.

Florida Panthers // 27-17-3 // L7 Days: 2-2-0

Over the past month, only the San Jose Sharks have scored fewer goals per game than the Florida Panthers—a statistic that reflects the growing frustration within the team. Jesper Boqvist has been the Panthers' most productive player during this span, leading the team in points per game with eight points in 11 games since December 20.  

While Boqvist's individual performance is commendable, the fact that Jesper Boqvist leads a team filled with superstar-level talent underlines just how poorly the Panthers have been performing overall.

Tampa Bay Lightning // 25-16-3 // L7 Days: 2-1-0

Brandon Hagel has been a standout performer for Tampa Bay, ranking 10th in the league in even-strength points. Among a crowded field of top scorers, he sits in a three-way tie for 4th in even-strength goals, alongside Jack Roslovic and Matthew Knies. Just ahead of him are Leon Draisaitl, Nikita Kucherov, and Rickard Rakell (tied for 2nd), with William Nylander holding 3rd place outright and Cole Caufield alone at the top.  

What makes Hagel's production even more impressive is that he hasn't relied on the power play to generate his offense, despite his consistent deployment on Tampa's top unit. His ability to excel at even strength highlights his individual propensity to create offense.

Ottawa Senators // 24-18-4 // L7 Days: 3-0-1

Leevi Merilainen played five straight games for the Senators before finally getting a break during a back-to-back set against Boston and New Jersey this weekend. While Merilainen managed a win, he showed some cracks by allowing five goals against the Bruins.  

Linus Ullmark has joined the Senators on their four-game road trip and is listed as day-to-day.

Boston Bruins // 23-19-6 // L7 Days: 2-0-1

David Pastrnak appears to be back to his elite form, with 11 points in his last four games. His production has been steadily improving, and since late November, Pastrnak has been the player everyone expected him to be. Currently, he leads the NHL in scoring since January 1st.

Columbus Blue Jackets // 22-17-7 // L7 Days: 2-0-1

The Blue Jackets have significantly improved their defensive game since the new year, a notable turnaround from earlier struggles. They now rank 5th in goals allowed per game since January 1st.  

Though Elvis Merzlikins continues to struggle, Jet Greaves and Daniil Tarasov have stepped up, allowing just one goal per game across their three starts. Their efforts have been key to the team's recent success. 

Montreal Canadiens // 23-19-4 // L7 Days: 3-1-0

Lane Hutson should be the far-and-away favorite for the Calder at this point with 38 points in 46 games as a rookie defenseman. Four points shy of Cale Makar's first 46 games in his rookie year, 9.52% fewer points on a team scoring 9.79% less than the 2019-20 Colorado Avalanche. Impressive.

New York Rangers // 22-20-4 // L7 Days: 2-0-2

The Rangers have found their stride, ranking first in the league since January 1st and climbing into the top-10 overall since the Christmas break. In 2025, they've played 10 games with a 6-1-3 record, averaging 3.2 goals per game and boasting a 25% success rate on the power play.  

Scoring contributions are coming from all over the lineup, with 12 skaters at or above a half-point-per-game pace. Despite injuries and limited games for key players like Filip Chytil, Chris Kreider, and Brett Berard, the Rangers seem to have unlocked their potential. Trade rumors aside, this hungry team is trending upward and remains in the mix for a playoff push.

Philadelphia Flyers // 21-20-6 // L7 Days: 3-0-1

John Tortorella has confirmed that Ivan Fedotov has moved up to the Flyers' number two goaltender position, pushing Aleksei Kolosov to third.  

Meanwhile, Samuel Ersson has won four consecutive starts, posting a shutout and a .920 SV% over the last 10 days. He finds himself in elite company alongside Logan Thompson and Leevi Merilainen in recent performances.

Detroit Red Wings // 21-21-4 // L7 Days: 1-3-0

A seven-game winning streak for the Red Wings came to an end against the San Jose Sharks. While they managed to beat the Florida Panthers, they've since dropped games to Dallas and Tampa Bay.  

What's intriguing is Detroit's strong underlying numbers during this stretch. Despite losing three of their last four games, their Corsi For percentages (CF%) have been dominant:  

• – 65.3% CF% loss vs. SJS  
• – 32% CF% win vs. FLA  
• – 62.4% CF% loss vs. TBL  
• – 60.6% CF% loss vs. DAL  

It's a strange pattern for such a small sample size.

Pittsburgh Penguins // 19-21-8 // L7 Days: 1-2-0

Rickard Rakell missed Monday's game due to a family matter, and we hope everything is well on his end.  

Tristan Jarry went unclaimed on waivers and has been sent to Hershey in the AHL. Meanwhile, Joel Blomqvist pulled off an impressive win against the league-leading Washington Capitals. Alex Nedeljkovic narrowly missed achieving the NHL's first-ever "Goalie Howe Hat Trick". For now, the Penguins appear to be managing their goaltending situation effectively.

New York Islanders // 18-20-7 // L7 Days: 1-2-0

Anders Lee has gone cold recently, with no points in two games aside from seven hits and three shots. He managed to get back on the scoresheet with a goal in his third game.  

Meanwhile, Mathew Barzal is heating up, posting two goals, three assists, one power-play point, and eight shots over his last three games. Bo Horvat has also been productive, tallying three goals, two assists, two power-play points, and a staggering 14 shots in three games.

Buffalo Sabres // 17-23-5 // L7 Days: 1-1-0

Jiri Kulich is currently centering the top line alongside Jason Zucker and Tage Thompson. In a recent game against Seattle, Kulich registered three hits, two penalty minutes, three faceoff wins, and six shots—all of which were turned aside by Joey Daccord.  

Kulich also saw 26.5% of Buffalo's power-play time. If his role on the top line solidifies, he could become an intriguing option moving forward.

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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.