Bruins roll, Leafs win thriller vs. Rangers: Atlantic Division roundup

News already covered on our site: Nick Suzuki is sidelined an estimated 2–4 weeks and the Canadiens have recalled Owen Beck.

Bruins stay on top with another one-sided win

The Boston Bruins remain firmly in first place in the Atlantic Division with 17 points in 11 games (8-2-1) after a 6–0 demolition of the Nashville Predators. Michael DiPietro recorded his first NHL shutout, a night Sportsnet notes carried special meaning for him as it came on Hockey Fights Cancer Night. Up front, David Pastrnak led the way with two goals and two assists in the blowout victory.

Leafs take wild one from Rangers, but blue line takes a hit

Sitting fourth with 14 points in 12 games (6-4-2), the Toronto Maple Leafs pulled out a dramatic 5–4 win over the New York Rangers. Troy Stecher played the hero, scoring the game-winner with just 28 seconds left for his first goal of the season. According to Sportsnet, the fourth line of Zack MacEwen, Teddy Blueger and Brandon Duhaime was a major factor, with Duhaime scoring his first goal as a Leaf by burying his own rebound. Easton Cowan got Toronto going early by scoring only 96 seconds into the game.

The win came with a cost on the back end. Daily Faceoff and Sportsnet report that defenceman Marshall Rifai has been placed on injured reserve and is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Daily Faceoff adds that he did not play in the win over the Rangers after he was “dealing with something” during the morning skate.

Red Wings in control, while Panthers and Senators stumble

The Detroit Red Wings, sixth in the division with 11 points in 10 games (4-3-3), took advantage of a free-falling Canucks team in a 5–2 win. Lucas Raymond scored twice and added an assist, while Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Viktor Arvidsson chipped in with two assists each as Detroit “cruised” to victory, as described by Sportsnet. Daily Faceoff reports that goaltender John Gibson left the game against Vancouver with an upper-body injury and did not return. Sportsnet points out that the loss marked a ninth straight defeat for the Canucks.

Further down the table, the Florida Panthers (fifth with 12 points) were shut out 4–0 by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sportsnet notes that goaltender Cooper Black made his NHL debut and, at six-foot-nine, became the tallest goalie ever to play an NHL game.

The Ottawa Senators (third with 14 points, 7-4-0) were thumped 6–2 by the San Jose Sharks, who, according to Sportsnet, picked up their first regulation win of the season. Yaroslav Askarov made 39 saves, Kiefer Sherwood added two assists, and Sportsnet highlighted a spectacular cross-crease glove save by Askarov on Drake Batherson on a play that looked like a sure goal.

The Montreal Canadiens (seventh with 10 points) are in Chicago tonight for Game 10 of their season, with Eyes on the Prize detailing viewing options. The same outlet notes that Oliver Kapanen is being asked to take on a larger role in the wake of what Montreal media call the “huge loss” of Suzuki. The Buffalo Sabres (eighth) and Tampa Bay Lightning (second) were idle, with no major news in the last 24 hours.