NHL Weekly Recap: Jan. 30
A historic losing streak was finally broken and one of the NHL’s most controversial characters finally found a home in a wacky week of league action.
Starting on the winning side of things, the Colorado Avalanche have continued to flex their muscles winning all of their games for the second consecutive week. The surging Avs defeated the Blackhawks twice and the Bruins once during the stretch.
The Stanley Cup hopefuls have now won nine in a row and are now 14-0-1 in their last 15 games.
Polarizing figure Evander Kane found a home in Edmonton this past week. The former Thrasher, Jet, Sabre and Shark has been under scrutiny from both fans and the league for gambling and abuse of his estranged wife.
Kane already served a 21-game suspension involving a fake COVID-19 vaccination card.
Despite all the allegations and controversy surrounding him, Kane had interest from a plethora of teams before signing with the Oilers.
In his first game with the new squad, Kane redirected a point shot for his first goal of the season.
The Philadelphia Flyers have endured nothing but losses the last couple of weeks, setting a franchise record for longest losing streak with their 13th loss in a row earlier this week. However, the Flyers and their fans finally found jubilation when they knocked off the Los Angeles Kings in overtime on Saturday.
After giving up the lead in the final two minutes, Scott Laughton found the back of the net in the extra session to give the Flyers their first win since Dec. 29.
The Rangers sent number 30 up to the rafters for longtime great goaltender Henrik Lundqvist on Friday night.
The goalie nicknamed “The King” is the 11th Rangers player to have his jersey retired by the team after playing for New York for 15 seasons.
The fans could not go home completely happy as the Rangers lost to the Minnesota Wild 3-2.
While visiting the broadcast booth, Lundqvist hilariously said to not let former teammate and current Wild player Mats Zuccarello score. Mere seconds later, Zuccarello tied the game at two with a power play goal.
The Arizona Coyotes have had a mess of a season both on and off the ice. From missed taxes, a possible arena relocation and a struggling club just about nothing has gone right in Arizona this year. Now it is being rumored that the Coyotes could play in Arizona State University’s hockey barn, which holds about 5,000 people.
Wherever the Coyotes end up, their future as a franchise remains murky to say the least.
If this week of action shows anything at all, it is that there is never a dull moment in the NHL.
Maclain Young is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email macyoung21@gmail.com.
