Division News-Northwest and Northeast Divisions

Northwest-

The Avalanche are having a tough break with their string of recent injuries, including beloved captain Joe Sakic, having won only one game of their last five. They will have to get their forwards to produce more points if they're going to see any success. They ended their 4-game losing streak with a 2-1 win in overtime against the New York Islanders. Although they gained a well earned 2 points, their power play has dropped to 0-for-16. Their next game is January 8th against the Red Wings in Detroit. On the road the Avs are 6-10-3 and have a chance to improve to 11-10-3 if they have a perfect road trip this week with 5 away games ahead of them. Can the struggling Avalanche team not only improve their road record, but also improve on their place in the Northwest division without their 2 main men Joe Sakic and Ryan Symth?

The New York Rangers have become Luo's 6th shutout victim at GM Place. Vancouver is deadly at home and are now 11-0-2 in their last 13 games there. Their next game is at home against the New York Islanders who are stuck in back-to-back games and play the 7th at Edmonton.

The Edmonton Oilers may be last in points in the Northwest division but they are inching closer to an NHL record: shootout wins. One more win in a SO and they will tie the Dallas Stars for their mark set in the 2005-2006 season. Edmonton's next game is the 7th at home against the New York Islanders who are coming off a 2-1 OT loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

Jarome Iginla is on a scoring streak. The Flames are coming off their 5th straight victory and Iginla is part of that reason. He, along with Huselius and Kiprusoff are playing great. The Flames' next game is against Phoenix at home.

The Wild battle the Stars tonight in Dallas and hope to extend the Stars' losing streak. They have won three of their last five games. In 14 of their last 15 losses, the Wild has been held to 2 or less goals.

Games This Week:
1/7 Minnesota Wild @ Dallas Stars
1/7 New York Islanders @ Edmonton Oilers
1/8 Colorado Avalanche @ Detroit Red Wings
1/8 Phoenix Coyotes @ Calgary Flames
1/8 New York Islanders @ Vancouver Canucks
1/9 Colorado Avalanche @ Washington Capitals
1/10 Minnesota Wild @ Detroit Red Wings
1/10 Phoenix Coyotes @ Edmonton Oilers
1/10 Vancouver Canucks @ San Jose Sharks
1/11 Minnesota Wild @ Chicago Blackhawks
1/11 New York Islanders @ Calgary Flames
1/11 Phoenix Coyotes @ Vancouver Canucks
1/12 Colorado Avalanche @ Carolina Hurricanes
1/13 Colorado Avalanche @ Florida Panthers
1/13 Vancouver Canucks @ St. Louis Blues
1/13 Phoenix Coyotes @ Minnesota Wild
1/13 Calgary Flames @ Edmonton Oilers*

*-interdivisional game

Northwest Division Standings
1. Calgary Flames (22-14-7) 51 points
2. Vancouver Canucks (23-14-4) 50 points
3. Minnesota Wild (23-16-2) 48 points
4. Colorado Avalanche (22-16-3) 47 points
5. Edmonton Oilers (18-21-4) 40 points

Northeast-
After a well fought battle against Atlanta, the Buffalo Sabres are still slumping, having lost 6 in a row. They are now 19-18-3. "We just have to get back in sync with each other, and we'll be all right," states Ryan Miller, Buffalo's goaltender. Can the defending Presidents Trophy winners come back with a win in their next game on the 8th at New Jersey? Let's hope so.

With one of their star goaltenders, Vesa Toskala, out, and also numerous others, the Toronto Maple Leafs need to take it up a notch. Toronto is 13-11-4 with Toskala in goal, and 3-7-4 without him. They lost their last game 3-2 to Philadelphia. Their next game is January 9th against the Anaheim Ducks. It will be their first California road trip since November 2003.

The Montréal Canadiens suffered an OT loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday. The Habs fell to 7-7-5 at the Bell Centre. Their next game is against Chicago at home on Tuesday.

After donning a Team Canada jersey at practice Monday, Daniel Alfredsson and the rest of the Ottawa Senators gear up for a game against Buffalo at home on Thursday. Buffalo hopes to end their 6-game losing slump at New Jersey on Tuesday and can hopefully bring themselves some luck in Scotiabank Place. The Senators, on the other hand, hope that the Sabres can wait to rid themselves of a slump until after they've visited them.

The Boston Bruins beat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 in their last game and hope to continue this 3-game win streak when they play the Hurricanes at home on Tuesday.

Games This Week:
1/8 Carolina Hurricanes @ Boston Bruins
1/8 Buffalo Sabres @ New Jersey Devils
1/8 Chicago Blackhawks @ Montréal Canadiens
1/9 Toronto Maple Leafs @ Anaheim Ducks
1/10 Buffalo Sabres @ Ottawa Senators *
1/10 Montréal Canadiens @ Boston Bruins *
1/10 Toronto Maple Leafs @ Edmonton Oilers
1/12 Boston Bruins @ Philadelphia Flyers
1/12 New Jersey Devils @ Buffalo Sabres
1/12 Detroit Red Wings @ Ottawa Senators
1/12 Montréal Canadiens @ New York Rangers
1/12 Toronto Maple Leafs @ San Jose Sharks
1/13 New York Islanders @ Ottawa Senators

Northeast Division Standings:
1. Ottawa Senators (27-10-4) 58 points
2. Montréal Canadiens (20-13-8) 48 points
3. Boston Bruins (21-16-4) 46 points
4. Buffalo Sabres (19-18-3) 41 points
5. Toronto Maple Leafs (16-18-8) 40 points

Northwest/Northeast IR Report:
Boston-Patrice Bergeron, Glen Murray, Andrew Alberts, Aaron Ward, Manny Fernandez
Buffalo-Maxim Afinogenov (Groin, DTD), Teppo Numminen (Heart)
Calgary-David Moss
Colorado-Tyler Arnason, Joe Sakic (Hernia), Ryan Smyth (Fractured Ankle), Kurt Sauer
Edmonton-Matt Greene (Fractured fibula), Raffi Torres (Torn ACL, out for season)
Minnesota-Mikko Koivu (Leg), Derek Boogaard
Montréal-Steve Bégin, Bryan Smolinski
Ottawa-Patrick Eaves
Toronto-Bryan McCabe, Vesa Toskala (Groin)
Vancouver-Jeff Cowan, Brendan Morrison, Kevin Bieksa