Blueshirt Bulletin

Bulletin Board: Edmonton And Ottawa Riding Surprising Hot Streaks

2011 top pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the young Oilers have a five-game winning streak

The Bulletin Board keeps you abreast of the latest news around the NHL Monday-Friday.

- The Edmonton Oilers win their fifth-straight game yesterday and sit atop the Western Conference. Edmonton has had a lead in 10 consecutive games and the only game this season the Oilers never led was the first of the year, which they won in a shootout. The Oilers are about to embark on a six-game road trip, which could easily knock them backwards.

- Just over a week ago the Ottawa Senators called a players’ only meeting to discuss their awful 1-5 start to the season, but now Ottawa is the hottest team in hockey and has won six-straight.

- Rumors are swirling that the Columbus Blue Jackets are preparing to fire GM Scott Howson and Coach Scott Arniel. Former Calgary GM and current TSN analyst Craig Button is thought to be the potential new general manager and Ken Hitchcock could return to his post behind the bench.

- Detroit re-signed defenseman Niklas Kronwall to a seven-year contract extension worth $33.25 million.

- It took Jaromir Jagr a while to get going this season, but after going goal-less in his first seven games he now has five markers in his last three. Jagr has been part of an explosive line with Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell that has 23 points in the Flyers’ last four games.

- Montreal beat Boston on Saturday to pick up its third-straight win. Boston is just 3-7-0.

- Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne picked up his 100th career win on Saturday, a 3-0 shutout of Anaheim.

- Vinny Prospal scored his fifth goal of the season on Saturday. He has 10 points already this year.

- In a clash of heavyweights, Vancouver outlasted Washington 7-4 on Saturday as Alex Edler, Chris Higgins and Max Lapierre all scored twice.

- Colorado finally picked up its first home win of the season yesterday, a 3-2 victory over Los Angeles.

- Former Rangers’ prospect Roman Horak recorded a goal and an assist for the second game in a row on Friday.

- To no one’s surprise, 2011 first-round picks Adam Larsson and Gabriel Landeskog are in the NHL to stay.

- Check out this stat: New Jersey has had 46:31 of power play time this year and Ilya Kovalchuk has been on the ice for 45:19 of that time, but the Devils have the second-worst power play in the league.

- This dramatic realignment plan is picking up momentum.

- Toronto Coach Ron Wilson says Dion Phaneuf is the NHL’s best defenseman “by a country mile.”

- The Nashville Predators traded Cal O’Reilly to the Phoenix Coyotes for a fourth-round pick.

- Matthew Hulsizer has agreed to purchase the St. Louis Blues.

- St. Louis defenseman Kent Huskins is out indefinitely with a fractured ankle.

- Ilya Bryzgalov was highly critical of himself after Thursday’s 9-8 Philadelphia loss and has been one of the more entertaining quotes in the NHL for some time. But Bryzgalov has decided to limit his interviews and will only speak to the media after games he starts.

- Check out these wild stats 10-games into the season.

- There are two other games on the schedule tonight beside San Jose @ New York.

Past editions of the Bulletin Board:

9/21/11 - 2011 First-Round Draft Picks Shine In Preseason Action >

9/22/11 - Jody Shelley Delivers First Controversial Hit of 2011 Season >

9/23/11 - Shanahan Impresses As New NHL Disciplinarian >

9/26/11 – Sidney Crosby Participates In “Controlled Scrimmage” >

9/27/11 – Montreal Signs Chris Campoli >

9/28/11 – Top 2011 Draft Picks Shine In Preseason Action >

9/29/11 – Sestito Suspended Four Games For Hit On Deveaux >

9/30/11 – Kings Lock Doughty Up With Huge Deal >

10/3/11 – Former Rangers’ Prospects Grachev And Horak Make NHL Clubs >