The Season Rolls On!

The NHL season continues to roll! In this week’s edition of The Puck Bulletin, we’re taking a look at the current NHL goalie leaders along with the usual Weekly Roundup and the Player Spotlight!

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Goalie Save % Leaders

Near the midpoint of the NHL season, let’s take a look the top ten league leaders by Save %:

1. Linus Ullmark (BOS) ~ .937

2. Jake Oettinger (DAL) ~ .926

3. Connor Hellebuyck (WPG) ~ .924

4. Ilya Sorokin (NYI) ~ .924

5. Filip Gustavsson (MIN) ~ .922

6. Tristan Jarry (PIT) ~ .921

7. Juuse Saros (NSH) ~ .919

8. Ilya Samsonov (TOR) ~ .919

9. Alexander Georgiev (COL) ~ .918

10. Craig Anderson (BUF) ~ .917

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The Weekly Roundup

Atlantic:

1. Boston Bruins (78 pts | 37-5-4)

   • LW: W 6-0 PHI, W 4-1 NYI, W 3-1 NYR, W 4-0 SJS

   • 1/24 @ MTL, 1/26 @ TBL, 1/28 @ FLA, 1/29 @ CAR

   • The Bruins continue to roll and chase NHL history.

2. Toronto Maple Leafs (64 pts | 28-11-8)

   • LW: W 5-4 FLA, W 4-1 WPG, OTL 2-3 MTL

   • 1/23 vs. NYI, 1/25 vs. NYR, 1/27 vs. OTT, 1/29 vs. WSH

   • The Leafs are chugging along at a good pace.

3. Tampa Bay Lightning (59 pts | 29-15-1)

   • LW: W 4-1 SEA, W 5-2 VAN, L 3-5 EDM, L 3-6 CGY

   • 1/24 vs. MIN, 1/26 vs. BOS, 1/28 vs. LAK

   • Tampa Bay’s win streak was snapped with back-to-back losses in Alberta.

4. Florida Panthers (51 pts | 23-20-5)

   • LW: W 4-1 BUF, OTL 4-5 TOR, W 6-2 MTL, W 5-3 MIN

   • 1/23 @ NYR, 1/24 @ PIT, 1/27 vs. LAK, 1/28 vs. BOS

   • The Panthers are playing their best hockey of the season.

5. Buffalo Sabres (49 pts | 23-19-3)

   • LW: L 1-4 FLA, OTL 3-4 CHI, W 3-2 NYI, W 6-3 ANA

   • 1/23 @ DAL, 1/24 @ STL, 1/26 @ WPG, 1/28 @ MIN

   • The Sabres have a road-trip against the Central this week.

6. Detroit Red Wings (46 pts | 19-18-8)

   • LW: L 3-6 COL, L/SO 3-4 ARI, W 3-2 VGK, L 1-2 PHI

   • 1/24 vs. SJS, 1/26 @ MTL, 1/27 @ NYI

   • The Red Wings are slowly falling away from the playoff contenders.

7. Ottawa Senators (43 pts | 20-23-3)

   • LW: L 1-2 STL, W 5-4 PIT, L 1-4 PIT, L 1-5 WPG

   • 1/25 vs. NYI, 1/27 @ TOR, 1/28 vs. MTL

   • The Sens seem to have cooled off from their winning ways.

8. Montreal Canadiens (43 pts | 20-24-3)

   • LW: W 4-1 WPG, L 2-6 FLA, W 3-2 TOR

   • 1/24 vs. BOS, 1/26 vs. DET, 1/28 @ OTT

   • Sad news in Montreal with Cole Caufield out for the season.

Metropolitan:

1. Carolina Hurricanes (66 pts | 29-9-8)

   • LW: W 5-2 MIN, W 5-2 NYI

   • 1/25 @ DAL, 1/27 vs. SJS, 1/29 vs. BOS

   • Max Pacioretty re-tore his achilles this past week and will miss the remainder of the season.

2. New Jersey Devils (64 pts | 28-12-3)

   • LW: W 4-3 SJS, OTL 3-4 SEA, W 2-1 PIT

   • 1/24 vs. VGK, 1/26 @ NSH, 1/27 @ DAL

   • The Devils played 3 OT games this past week.

3. New York Rangers (57 pts | 25-14-7)

   • LW: W 3-1 CBJ, L 1-3 BOS

   • 1/23 vs. FLA, 1/25 @ TOR, 1/27 vs. VGK

   • The Rangers went .500 in a light week.

4. Washington Capitals (56 pts | 25-18-6)

   • LW: W 4-3 NYI, L 2-4 MIN, W 4-0 ARI, L 2-6 VGK

   • 1/24 @ COL, 1/26 vs. PIT, 1/29 @ TOR

   • Washington had a bit of an up-and-down week.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins (54 pts | 23-15-8)

   • LW: W 4-3 ANA, OTL 4-5 OTT, W 4-1 OTT, OTL 1-2 NJD

   • 1/24 vs. FLA, 1/26 @ WSH, 1/28 vs. SJS

   • The Penguins finished the week with at least a point in each game played.

6. New York Islanders (51 pts | 23-20-5)

   • LW: OTL 3-4 WSH, L 1-4 BOS, OTL 2-3 BUF, L 2-5 CAR

   • 1/23 @ TOR, 1/25 @ OTT, 1/27 vs. DET, 1/28 vs. VGK

   • The Isles are struggling a bit as of late.

7. Philadelphia Flyers (47 pts | 20-21-7)

   • LW: L 0-6 BOS, W 5-2 ANA, L 1-4 CHI, W 2-1 DET, L 3-5 WPG

   • 1/16 @ BOS, 1/17 vs. ANA, 1/19 vs. CHI, 1/21 @ DET, 1/22 vs. WPG

   • Is there any chance this Flyers team could push for the playoffs?

8. Columbus Blue Jackets (30 pts | 14-30-2)

   • LW: L 1-3 NYR, L 1-2 NSH, L 3-5 ANA, W 5-3 SJS

   • 1/23 @ CGY, 1/25 @ EDM, 1/27 @ VAN, 1/28 @ SEA

   • Johnny Gaudreau returns to Calgary this week.

Central:

1. Dallas Stars (63 pts | 28-13-7)

   • LW: W 4-0 VGK, L 3-5 SJS, W 4-0 LAK, W 4-0 ARI

   • 1/23 vs. BUF, 1/25 vs. CAR, 1/27 vs. NJD

   • The Stars continue to roll into a week against some strong Eastern conference teams.

2. Winnipeg Jets (63 pts | 31-16-1)

   • LW: L 1-4 MTL, L 1-4 TOR, W 5-1 OTT, W 5-3 PHI

   • 1/24 @ NSH, 1/26 vs. BUF, 1/28 vs. PHI

   • After a tough start to the week, the Jets got right back to their winning ways.

3. Minnesota Wild (54 pts | 25-16-4)

   • LW: W 4-2 WSH, L 2-5 CAR, L 3-5 FLA

   • 1/24 @ TBL, 1/26 vs. PHI, 1/28 vs. BUF

   • The Wild are cooling off a bit on their road trip out east.

4. Colorado Avalanche (53 pts | 25-17-3)

   • LW: W 6-3 DET, W 4-1 CGY, W 4-1 VAN, W 2-1 SEA

   • 1/24 vs. WSH, 1/26 vs. ANA, 1/28 vs. STL

   • The Avs are starting to roll with a 5-game win streak.

5. Nashville Predators (50 pts | 22-18-6)

   • LW: W 2-1 CGY, W 2-1 CBJ, L 2-5 STL, W 5-3 LAK

   • 1/24 vs. WPG, 1/26 vs. NJD

   • The Preds are slowly climbing the Central standings.

6. St. Louis Blues (49 pts | 23-21-3)

   • LW: W 2-1 OTT, W 5-2 NSH, L 3-5 CHI

   • 1/24 vs. BUF, 1/26 @ ARI, 1/28 @ COL

   • Ivan Barbashev had a Gordie Howe hat trick against Chicago.

7. Arizona Coyotes (35 pts | 15-27-5)

   • LW: W 4-3 DET, L 0-4 WSH, L 0-4 DAL, W 4-0 VGK

   • 1/24 vs. ANA, 1/26 vs. STL

   • The Yotes have regressed back towards their early season expectations.

8. Chicago Blackhawks (32 pts | 14-27-4)

   • LW: W 4-3 BUF, W 4-1 PHI, W 5-3 STL, L 1-2 LAK

   • 1/24 @ VAN, 1/26 @ CGY, 1/28 @ EDM

   • Chicago put together a pretty solid week!

Pacific:

1. Vegas Golden Knights (60 pts | 29-17-2)

   • LW: L 0-4 DAL, L 2-3 DET, W 6-2 WSH, L 1-4 ARI

   • 1/24 @ NJD, 1/27 @ NYR, 1/28 @ NYI

   • Vegas seems to be a bit inconsistent as of late.

2. Seattle Kraken (59 pts | 27-14-5)

   • LW: L 1-4 TBL, L 2-5 EDM, W 4-3 NJD, L/SO 1-2 COL

   • 1/25 vs. VAN, 1/27 vs. CGY, 1/28 vs. CBJ

   • The Kraken cooled off a bit after their record setting road trip.

3. Los Angeles Kings (58 pts | 26-17-6)

   • LW: L 0-4 DAL, L 3-5 NSH, W 2-1 CHI

   • 1/24 @ PHI, 1/27 @ FLA, 1/28 @ TBL

   • The Kings had a bit of a meh week.

4. Edmonton Oilers (57 pts | 27-18-3)

   • LW: W 5-2 SEA, W 5-3 TBL, W 4-2 VAN

   • 1/25 vs. CBJ, 1/28 vs. CHI

   • Evander Kane is back in the lineup and the Oil are on a 6-game win streak.

5. Calgary Flames (53 pts | 22-16-9)

   • LW: L 1-2 NSH, L 1-4 COL, W 6-3 TBL

   • 1/23 vs. CBJ, 1/26 vs. CHI, 1/27 @ SEA

   • I’m not sure what to think of this Calgary team. Could they miss the playoffs?

6. Vancouver Canucks (39 pts | 18-25-3)

   • LW: L 2-5 TBL, L 1-4 COL, L 2-4 EDM

   • 1/24 vs. CHI, 1/25 @ SEA, 1/27 vs. CBJ

   • Bruce Boudreau out, Rick Tocchet in.

7. San Jose Sharks (37 pts | 14-25-9)

   • LW: L/SO 3-4 NJD, W 5-3 DAL, L 3-5 CBJ, L 0-4 BOS

   • 1/24 @ DET, 1/27 @ CAR, 1/28 @ PIT

   • Erik Karlsson for Norris?

8. Anaheim Ducks (31 pts | 13-29-5)

   • LW: OTL 3-4 ANA, L 2-5 PHI, W 5-3 CBJ, L 3-6 BUF

   • 1/24 @ ARI, 1/26 @ COL, 1/28 vs. ARI

   • I wouldn’t mind seeing Connor Bedard in Anaheim.

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Player Spotlight

Kevin Labanc, San Jose Sharks

This week’s player spotlight is on San Jose Sharks forward Kevin Labanc. The 27-year-old from Brooklyn, New York is having a solid season for the Sharks, tallying 25 points (10g, 15a) in 43 games.

Drafted #171 overall in 2014 by the San Jose Sharks, Labanc has spent his entire NHL career with the Sharks. After doing a little bit of research, I noticed Labanc had an interesting path to the NHL for an American-born player. After playing with the US National Team Development Program, Labanc decided to take his game to the OHL and play three seasons for the Barrie Colts before making his NHL debut in 2016. Now, in his 7th season with San Jose, Labanc continues to be a solid offensive contributor. One more fun fact I learned about Labanc, is that his father, Milan Labanc, was a Slovak professional ice hockey player and moved to the US in 1994.

Next time you find yourself watching a San Jose Sharks game, take a break from being mesmerized by their beautiful teal jerseys and look out of Labanc, #62, who’s on pace for one of his best offensive seasons of his career.