Trending Up, Trending Down: Dubnyk rises, Schneider slides
Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back.
▲ Devan Dubnyk
Devan Dubnyk delivers. Since arriving in Minnesota in January 2015, he's taken on an impressive workload and made the most of it.
The lanky veteran ranks among the best goaltenders since that time, with the most games played and the most shutouts, plus second-best finishes in wins, goals-against average, and save percentage.
Dubnyk's success in the Wild's crease has continued this season, as he boasts the NHL's best GAA at 1.60, in addition to a mind-boggling .947 save percentage. After allowing just 37 goals in 23 games and coming away with 14 wins, there's no doubt he continues to be the MVP in St. Paul.
Dubnyk manned the crease through the Wild's December bounce back, winning five games in a row of the six they've played in the month. He hasn't lost in regulation since a 3-2 defeat to the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 19.
▼ Cory Schneider
After an incredible season last year, Cory Schneider has been incredibly pedestrian in 2016-17. Through 21 games, Schneider's captured just nine wins while owning an inflated 2.83 GAA and a very average .907 save percentage.
From another angle: 13 goaltenders who have played as many games as Schneider own a better save percentage.
Last season, Schneider posted an impressive .924 mark with 27 wins through 58 games. The New Jersey Devils need more of that kind of performance if the team is to snap its postseason drought and grab a playoff berth for the first time since 2012. That's already a tall task in the ever-competitive Atlantic. The Devils sit nine points back of a wild-card seed, so there's no doubt Schneider feels the pressure.
▲ Alexander Wennberg
Now we know why the Columbus Blue Jackets could afford to move a top center in Ryan Johansen to bring in stud defenseman Seth Jones: Their next top center was waiting in the wings.
Alexander Wennberg is a key reason why the Blue Jackets own one of the NHL's top records through mid-December. In just his third NHL season, the 22-year-old has already put 24 points on the board, on pace for a 73-point campaign. As a bonus, two of his six goals on the year have come as game-winners.
▼ Anze Kopitar
In the absence of starting goaltender Jonathan Quick, the Los Angeles Kings have looked to their offense to the carry the load, and that means expecting more production from new captain Anze Kopitar.
But fresh off signing a long-term extension with the club that pays him $10 million a year, Kopitar's scoring prowess has been beyond disappointing.
Through 23 games, Kopitar has registered just three goals and is on pace for just 50 points. Previously, his worst full season was his 61-point rookie campaign. The Slovenian center averaged 69 points a year over the past three seasons, and that's the sort of play that's helped him win two Stanley Cups already. Los Angeles currently sits outside the postseason picture, though, and the playoffs are no certainty for the Kings without a turnaround by Kopitar.