NHL Network and ESPN analyst Kevin Weekes will offer his pluses and minuses for big games each week throughout the season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs (24-9-3) visit the New York Rangers (25-10-4) at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, SN, NHL LIVE). Then the Colorado Avalanche (25-8-3) visit the Anaheim Ducks (19-15-7) at Honda Center (10 p.m. ET, TNT, TVAS, TSN4, NHL LIVE). Here is my breakdown of the games.
Maple Leafs
Pluses:Auston Matthews can tie the NHL record for most consecutive road games with a goal (11), shared by Pavel Bure for the Vancouver Canucks (1993-94) and Steve Yzerman for the Detroit Red Wings (1988-89). The center has been on fire and his wrist seems much better after having issues last season. Jack Campbell (19-5-3, 2.13 goals-against average, .931 save percentage, four shutouts) is having a season worthy of the Vezina Trophy given to the best goalie in the NHL and defenseman Morgan Rielly (31 points; four goals, 27 assists) is quietly having a good season. Their depth players (forwards Alex Kerfoot, Michael Bunting and Ilya Mikheyev) have also contributed. Minuses: They have lost two of their past four and haven't been playing as well defensively as they can. Other than that, I have no negatives for them. They haven't gone back-to-back games without a point since Oct. 23 and 25.
Rangers
Pluses: Even with forwards Artemi Panarin (38 points), Chris Kreider (35) and Mika Zibanejad (35), it's Adam Fox who leads them with 39 points. He's showing that his Norris Trophy win last season voted as the best defenseman in the NHL wasn't a fluke. Goalie Igor Shesterkin has missed some time this season but is 17-4-2 with a 1.99 GAA, .939 save percentage and three shutouts. The Rangers have looked like a different team under coach Gerard Gallant. Minuses:They have played well all season; the only thing I think could improve would be the backup goaltending. When Shesterkin doesn't start, they are 8-6-2. Alexandar Georgiev is 7-5-2 with a 2.71 GAA and .908 save percentage.
Avalanche
Pluses:After a slow start (4-5-1), the Avalanche have shown why they are a Stanley Cup contender by going 13-1-1 in their past 15 games. They are the most dynamic team in the NHL, leading in scoring (4.25 per game) and showing great depth at forward with Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen and Nazem Kadri. Then there's Cale Makar, who leads defenseman with 16 goals, and Devon Toews, who is plus-30. Minuses:I have no negatives for them. There's been nothing but positives the past month, month-and-a-half
Ducks
Pluses:Troy Terry (36 points), Trevor Zegras (29) and Sonny Milano (25) have shown that the future is bright with young talent in Anaheim. And let's not forget veteran Ryan Getzlaf, the captain who's having a solid season with 24 points. The Ducks have continued to take steps and grow and are in the thick of the Pacific Division race. Anaheim has been money on special teams, ranking fifth on the power play (25.9 percent) and fourth on the penalty kill (84.8 percent) Minuses:Goalie John Gibson has been one of their best players this season but has missed five games while in NHL COVID-19 protocol. Not surprisingly, the Ducks are 1-4-0. They're also 2-6-2 in their past 10, so let's see if they can turn that around.
