Trending Up, Trending Down: Pacioretty surging, Flyers floundering
Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back.
▲ Max Pacioretty
Remember when Pacioretty's head coach had to deny a report that he questioned the winger's worthiness as captain of the Montreal Canadiens?
Those days seem oh so long ago given how terrific the winger has played lately.
Pacioretty scored his second overtime game-winner in as many nights Wednesday against the Dallas Stars, tying him for the most in franchise history.
He moved into a tie with Alex Ovechkin, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Cam Atkinson for sixth in the NHL's goal-scoring race with 18 in 39 games.
Pacioretty has four goals in his last four games and 10 in his last 12. Only Jeff Carter has more game-winners this season, as Pacioretty is tied with Ovechkin and Artem Anisimov for second with six game-deciding goals in 2016-17.
▼ Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers are flailing following Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers. Philadelphia has lost five straight games and seven of its last eight, and now hold a mere three-point lead for the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot over the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have three games in hand.
So what's going on in the City of Brotherly Love?
The Flyers have no problem scoring, as their issues lie on the other end of the ice. Philadelphia ranks eighth in goals per game (2.85), but sits fourth-worst in goals allowed per contest (3.03).
They have the second-worst even-strength save percentage in the NHL (90.77, according to Corsica Hockey), and that's largely due to the inconsistency of Steve Mason, who's come back down to earth after a hot stretch last month.
▲ Vancouver Canucks
Just as the Flyers have stumbled to a surprising five-game losing skid, the Canucks have surged to an even more unexpected run.
Vancouver shut out the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday to earn its fifth consecutive victory.
Not too long ago, the Canucks were undoubtedly preparing to be a lottery team, but thanks to some solid play of late and the mediocrity (to put it kindly) of the Pacific Division, the Canucks find themselves within striking distance of a playoff berth.
Seriously?
The Los Angeles Kings have a one-point lead over the Canucks and the Winnipeg Jets for the second Western Conference wild-card spot, and the Kings have two games in hand on Vancouver, but the fact that the Canucks are even this close after their dismal start is simply unreal.
Then again, we're only nearing the halfway point of the season and there's still plenty of hockey to be played.
▼ Jordan Eberle
The Edmonton Oilers have been mediocre of late, winning five of their last 10 games. No one player is to blame, but Eberle is one who has to be better.
After three straight 25-plus-goal campaigns, Eberle has only eight in the first 39 games of this season and none since Dec. 6, an 11-game drought.
He's been dropped out of the Oilers' top six and down to the third line alongside Benoit Pouliot and rookie Drake Caggiula.
Eberle can't single-handedly get Edmonton back into its high-flying form, but if he could raise his game to the level he's established in the past, it would certainly help the Oilers become the powerhouse they showed they can be at times earlier in the season.