There's always a winner and a loser in the NHL, and this is a new nightly look at some of the winners and losers in the biggest games and biggest situations across the league.
Winners
Ilya Bryzgalov, Philadelphia Flyers: Journey back to January with me. Remember how things were going for Bryzgalov? Simply put: Not good, not good at all. My how things have changed.
For the third time in four games, Bryzgalov posted a shutout. His shutout on Saturday night in Toronto even included a perfect go at it in the shootout considering the Flyers gave him no goal support in 65 minutes. But when you are in a zone like this, you don't need it.
With 29 saves in the win, Bryzgalov has now stopped 128 of the last 130 shots he's seen. I think that's pretty good. Some might even say they are out of this universe.
The win while continuing to build Bryzgalov's and Philly's confidence that they can make a serious run in the playoffs also means that the Flyers keep ahead of the Devils in the battle for fifth place. Then again, maybe you can look at it that they are losing the battle for sixth considering the potential matchups with those seeds.
Either way, with more performances like that from Bryzgalov, the Flyers suddenly turn awfully scary.
[Related: Flyers 1, Leafs 0 (SO) | Giroux with filthy shootout goal]
Buffalo Sabres: I just can't shake the belief that this team is going to make the playoffs. They just won't go away. Their 4-3 shootout win on Saturday night in Ottawa showed that.
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Three times the Sabres fell behind in the game and three times they came calling back. The final equalizer was scored by Marcus Foligno , his first career goal and it happened to come against his brother Nick's team to boot.
Despite the three goals against, Ryan Miller was his old spectacular self again. He has been the engine behind Buffalo's roaring comeback that now has them two points back of the Capitals for a playoff spot and tied with the Winnipeg Jets.
The only thing Miller didn't do on Saturday was keep Erik Karlsson from scoring two goals. The Senators defenseman continued his unbelievable season with his 18th and 19th tallies.
[Related: Sabres 4, Senators 3 (SO]
Andrei Kostitsyn, Nashville Predators: Think he likes being off the fourth line in Montreal and reunited with his brother? I bet it feels so good.
The two Kostitsyns teams up not once but twice for goals as the Preds took down the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 at home on Saturday night. Andrei scored the game winner with some beautiful passing, the final one from his brother Sergei .
They are comfortably in the playoffs but they want to move on up. At this point it's pretty clear they are going to be in the 4-5 matchup and the goal has to be to have the home-ice advantage. Smashville means that much to them now. After this, the Preds are only four points back of Detroit and they have one game in hand on Detroit.
I don't know about you but I'd gladly skip right to the playoffs now for that first-round matchup of Wings and Preds.
[Related: Predators 3, Red Wings 2]
Losers
San Jose Sharks: I think they were already aware but just in case, yes San Jose , it's OK to pull out the panic button. After being shut out by Mike Smith and the Coyotes on Saturday night, it might even be time to press it.
Here we are with 15 games left on the schedule and the San Jose Sharks are out of the top eight in the Western Conference. They are now six points back of the Stars in the Pacific Division race and are in a dog pile of teams fighting for eight place. Not exactly where a Cup contender wants itself to be.
For those keeping score at home, that's five straight losses for the Sharks (two came in shootouts, to be fair). They have lost four in a row on the road and eight of the last nine. And their next two are away from the Tank. It isn't going to get much easier from here.
The only good news is that they do have a lot of games with teams they are fighting with, including two more against the Coyotes, who moved three points up on the Sharks.
[Related: Coyotes 3, Sharks 0]
| Poor Jack Capuano. (Getty Images) |
New York Islanders: Oh, what a punch in the gut. The groin too.
Having kept the New Jersey Devils off the scoreboard for more than 58 minutes and nursing a 1-0 lead with Anders Nilsson in net, the Islanders remembered they are the Islanders. They promptly surrendered two goals in 14 seconds. The result was a Devils miracle comeback.
Some might say it was even more miraculous for the Devils considering the winner was scored by Marek Zidlicky .
But poor Islanders is how I took the result, not yay for the Devils. It was almost expected really, that's how tortured this fan base has become. I feel for you Isles fans. And you, Jack Capuano.
[Related: Devils 2, Islanders 1
Tampa Bay Lightning: That's not how you start a home stand that has the potential to get you back in the playoff picture.
With the Hurricanes pretty much done in regards to the playoffs and the Lightning within reach and a desperate club, it was the underdog that came through thanks to two Jeff Skinner goals.
For the Bolts, that one is a massive blow. With the Capitals and Sabres getting wins they had to keep pace. Instead they don't even get one point and fall five back of a playoff spot again.
Now they still have six games in a row at home to make it up, but that wasn't the way you want to start it. That five-point hole starts to look pretty daunting again.
[Related: Hurricanes 4, Lightning 2]
Blooper of the night
I love bloopers, so when I find them I will share them.
Tonight I bring you another failed national anthem, this one from a singer in Ottawa who blanked on the French lyrics in O, Canada. But it is a bit heart-warming that the crowd picked it up for her and gave her a big applause. And she was good sport about it all.
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