Vezina Trophy Power Rankings: Bobrovsky, Gibson make late surges

Welcome to the second edition of theScore's Vezina Trophy Power Rankings, where we rank this season's top five goaltenders.

5. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning

Previously: 3rd

GP Record GAA SV% SO
61 42-15-3 2.59 .921 7

Vasilevskiy's season has been a case of Jekyll and Hyde. In his first 34 games, he had a .939 save percentage and six shutouts, and looked to be running away with the Vezina. Since then, his save percentage is just .900 in 27 games, and he has only one shutout.

It's clear that fatigue has played a part in Vasilevskiy's first full season as a starter, but the dropoff has been more dramatic than anyone expected. Regardless, his lights-out first half was enough to keep him in the top five.

4. John Gibson, Ducks

Previously: Honorable mention

GP Record GAA SV% SO
58 30-18-7 2.46 .925 4

Gibson's stellar play has not only put him in a spot to potentially be a Vezina finalist, but also put the Ducks in a good position to make the playoffs - a prospect that was in doubt for a good chunk of the season.

Entering Tuesday night's game, Gibson was 13-3-2 with a .938 save percentage and three shutouts in his last 18 games played. Health has plagued him in the past, but he's started 58 games this year - good for seventh-most in the league.

3. Sergei Bobrovsky, Blue Jackets

Previously: 4th

GP Record GAA SV% SO
62 35-22-5 2.38 .921 5

While Bobrovsky only comes in at No. 3, he's arguably the goalie most crucial to his team's success. The Blue Jackets were averaging the fewest goals per game among teams in a playoff spot entering Tuesday night, putting an immense amount of pressure on their goaltender.

Once the Jackets were able to generate some offense, they strung together a 10-game winning streak that was snapped last week, backed by a .940 save percentage by Bobrovsky, who was in net for seven of those wins.

2. Connor Hellebuyck, Jets

Previously: 2nd

GP Record GAA SV% SO
63 40-11-9 2.38 .923 6

Hellebuyck continues to be solid as a rock in the Jets' crease. He'll have to be spectacular down the stretch to take over the top spot, but he's undoubtedly solidified himself as a finalist.

1. Pekka Rinne, Predators

Previously: 1st

GP Record GAA SV% SO
56 41-11-4 2.25 .929 8

It's remarkable that Rinne has never won the Vezina Trophy, but barring some sort of late-season collapse, he has it all but locked up. Sure, the Predators are the league's best team, but they certainly wouldn't be there without the play of their star netminder.

Honorable mentions: Frederik Andersen, Marc-Andre Fleury, Jonathan Quick, Tuukka Rask

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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Playoff Percentages: Ducks lose costly game, Blues keep rolling

Through the remainder of the regular season, we'll take a look at how the night's action impacts the playoff races, while highlighting which teams' postseason odds went up or down significantly.

Western Conference

The Anaheim Ducks suffered an embarrassing loss at the hands of the bottom-feeding Canucks, putting their playoff chances in doubt.

Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues stayed hot with a massive victory - their sixth in a row - over the Sharks, snapping San Jose's eight-game winning streak in the process. The Blues now hold the first wild-card spot in the West.

Team Result Playoff Chances Change
Blues 3-2 OTW vs. SJ 80.8% +13.3%
Ducks 4-1 L vs. VAN 67.6 -16.2%

Eastern Conference

In the East, the Devils walked away with a crucial victory over the Hurricanes. The Panthers now trail New Jersey by three points, but have two games in hand.

Team Result Playoff Chances Change
Blue Jackets 7-3 W vs. EDM 93.9% +5.1%
Devils 4-3 W vs. CAR 70.7% +6.6%
Panthers Off 52.2% -7.8%

To see percentages for the entire NHL, visit Sports Club Stats.

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Blue Jackets score 7 unanswered to spoil McDavid’s milestone night

For the first 10 minutes, the Edmonton Oilers looked fantastic.

As for the remaining 50? Not so much.

On the strength of three points from captain Connor McDavid - who reached the century mark for the second consecutive season - the Oilers jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead over the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets, setting up what seemed to be a rare pleasant night at Rogers Arena.

That is, until the Jackets poured in three goals of their own in the latter portion of the opening frame, and seven unanswered overall, to take a convincing 7-3 victory.

Columbus reversed its fortunes on the strength of a hat trick from Thomas Vanek, who has 13 points in 14 games since being acquired at the trade deadline.

While there's little consequence for the Oilers losing another game, it was a massive win for the Blue Jackets, who sit just one point back of the Pittsburgh Penguins for second in the Metropolitan Division.

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Blues snap Sharks’ winning streak, extend their own to 6

The St. Louis Blues won their sixth straight game Tuesday night against the Sharks, ending San Jose's eight-game winning streak in the process.

The Blues are now tied with the Winnipeg Jets for the longest active winning streak in the league.

After a dismal stretch in which they lost seven straight games during the second half of February, the Blues are now holding onto the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, as they leapfrogged the Colorado Avalanche with Tuesday's overtime win.

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Oilers’ McDavid becomes 1st player with back-to-back 100 point seasons in 8 years

Connor McDavid recorded his 100th point of the season on a first-period assist in the Oilers' game against Blue Jackets Tuesday, becoming the first player to reach the century mark in back-to-back seasons since Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin did so in 2008-09 and 2009-10, per Hockey Reference.

Shortly thereafter, McDavid potted his 40th goal and 101st point of the season. He wasn't done there, though, as he added another assist in the first period just for good measure.

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Referee Steve Barton stretchered off after hitting head on ice

Referee Steve Barton was removed from the ice on a stretcher in the first period of Tuesday's contest between the Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Barton hit his head on the ice after a collision with Connor McDavid, and was motionless before being attended to by medical staff.

There's no word on Barton's condition, though he did appear alert and gave the crowd a thumbs up before exiting the ice.

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Jets’ controversial goal counts due to inconclusive evidence

Perhaps the NHL should make the same changes to plays on the goal line as it recently implemented for goaltender interference challenges.

Early in Tuesday's game between the Winnipeg Jets and Boston Bruins, Jets winger Brandon Tanev tried to force the puck over the line as Bruins goaltender Anton Khudobin did his best to keep it out.

The on-ice official closest to the play immediately waved it off, but the one outside the zone called it a goal, so the league's Situation Room initiated a review.

After the room in Toronto ultimately ruled it a goal, it issued this explanation:

"At 5:33 of the first period in the Bruins/Jets game, the referee informed the Situation Room that Brandon Tanev's shot completely crossed the Boston goal line.

"After the Situation Room initiated a video review, it was determined there were no definitive replays to overturn the referee's call on the ice. Therefore the referee's call on the ice stands - good goal Winnipeg."

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Golden Knights offer unique playoff plan to season-ticket holders

Fresh off clinching a playoff berth in their inaugural season, the Vegas Golden Knights are offering a unique plan to incentivize season-ticket holders.

The Golden Knights announced the "Knights Vow," which provides significant savings on cost and removes the option for holders to re-sell tickets through StubHub.

Should a fan choose to opt out of the program and put their tickets on the secondary market, their discount options become limited.

The Golden Knights shattered virtually every expansion record in the NHL history books in 2017-18, and sit in prime position to hold home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs and potentially beyond.

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Report: Gretzky signs deal to grow game of hockey in China

Great Wall, meet Great One.

Wayne Gretzky signed a lucrative deal with "hockey powers in China," TSN's Darren Dreger reports.

Gretzky's name and brand will appear on hundreds of arenas being built across the country, and the hockey luminary will be heavily involved in the development of academies and camps in China as well as an equipment line.

The 2022 Winter Olympics will be held in Beijing, and while it's unclear whether NHL players will participate, both the league and the Canadian Women's Hockey League have taken significant steps to grow the game in China.

Gretzky has gotten involved in many business ventures over the years, including acquiring ownership stakes in the then-Phoenix Coyotes and the CFL's Toronto Argonauts, owning an eponymous restaurant in downtown Toronto, and opening a winery and distillery in the Niagara region of Ontario.

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