Looking North: Canucks' outbreak escalates, Maple Leafs rolling again
Welcome to the 12th edition of "Looking North," our weekly Friday dive into the all-Canadian division. This installment dates back to April 2.
The rundown
The North Division had managed to avoid COVID-19 outbreaks until last month. Then, the Montreal Canadiens had four games postponed after two of their players landed in virus protocol. However, the Vancouver Canucks' subsequent and ongoing outbreak is by far the worst yet among the NHL's teams north of the border.
It could complicate the end of the regular season for all Canadian clubs and even the rest of the league. But most importantly, it has served as an important reminder of what matters most: the health and safety of those involved. It has also underscored how dangerous the coronavirus and its variants have become, as well as how quickly they can spread.
The Canucks' numbers have climbed steadily since their first game was postponed March 31. Nearly their entire roster has now tested positive, and several staff members have also been affected. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Thursday the league hopes Vancouver can get back on the ice by the end of next week, but when the team can actually return remains to be seen.
Though the Canucks' uncertain situation remains the biggest story in the division, there were notable on-ice results this past week. The Toronto Maple Leafs have reeled off five straight wins and gained some breathing room in first place ahead of the Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers.
However, the Oilers have also been rolling lately. Edmonton has won seven of its last 10 games, though its three wins over the last week came against the struggling Calgary Flames (one) and Ottawa Senators (two).
| Team | Points over last week |
|---|---|
| Maple Leafs | 8 (4-0-0) |
| Oilers | 7 (3-0-1) |
| Jets | 5 (2-0-1) |
| Canadiens | 2 (1-3-0) |
| Senators | 2 (1-3-0) |
| Flames | 0 (0-3-0) |
| Canucks | 0 (0-0-0)* |
*The NHL postponed all four of the Canucks games since last Friday.
The stars
Forward: Auston Matthews just keeps scoring. The Maple Leafs superstar buried four goals in as many games this week, with all four coming in his last three contests. In doing so, he padded his league-leading total of 28 in 37 games.
Defenseman: Thomas Chabot notched a few helpers over four contests. More impressively, though, he averaged a whopping 28:17 of ice time during that span.
Goaltender: Jack Campbell has been a revelation for Toronto. He set the Maple Leafs' franchise record with his 10th straight win Wednesday night in a victory over the Canadiens. The 29-year-old also went 3-0-0 this past week with a .937 save percentage.
Canadian of the week
Connor McDavid has earned this honor before, and rightfully so. The Oilers dynamo had himself another outstanding week, amassing six points in four games. He leads the NHL with 46 assists and 69 points in 41 contests.
The moments
Brady Tkachuk elbows Wheeler up high 😬
The Jets will be without their captain for the foreseeable future. Senators forward Brady Tkachuk elbowed Blake Wheeler in the head Monday, and while Wheeler finished the game, head coach Paul Maurice said later in the week that the veteran forward didn't feel well in the following days. Wheeler was diagnosed with a concussion Thursday and isn't flying with the team on its current five-game road trip.
Campbell establishes franchise record 📜
Campbell's historic win Wednesday was no fluke, as the Maple Leafs netminder turned aside 32 of the 34 shots he faced in a 3-2 win over the Canadiens. The Toronto goalie grabbed sole possession of the club record after tying Felix Potvin (1993-94), Jacques Plante (1970-71), and John Ross Roach (1924-25).
Draisaitl at the buzzer ... and it's good! ⏰
Leon Draisaitl notched a hat trick in the nick of time Wednesday night. The reigning Hart Trophy winner scored in the first and second periods before firing home an empty-netter with less than one second remaining in the third to cap a 4-2 victory over the Senators.
The question
The most pressing concern amid the Canucks' outbreak is the health of those infected, but the uncertainty also brings into question how the situation will affect the rest of the schedule for Vancouver, the rest of division, and the league going forward in 2021.
Daly's target of mid-April for the Canucks' return to the ice seems optimistic at this point considering the growing number of players and staff members testing positive and the fact that most of Vancouver's roster remains in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol.
It may be possible considering a symptomatic player who tests positive must wait 10 days or have two negative tests before returning, and it's already been over a week since the outbreak began. But on the other hand, the team's list has been growing almost by the day, and the symptoms some players have reportedly exhibited are very concerning.
The Canucks aren't likely to qualify for the postseason, but the situation affects their opponents as well, including the four teams that are virtual locks to make the playoffs.
What happens to the rest of the division schedule if Vancouver's has to be postponed further or if the team is unable to complete it? The NHL has already started to delay the postseason but clearly doesn't want to - or can't - beyond a certain point. So, would it come down to points percentage? That would be the most reasonable solution, but it's not an ideal one. Though once again, the outbreak itself is a more pressing matter.
Stat of the week
When the New York Islanders shut out the Washington Capitals 1-0 on Tuesday, it gave the Senators a distinction that was equal parts surprising and impressive.
Tonight marked the first game this season that the Capitals did not score a goal. Entering tonight's game, Washington was one of two teams (Ottawa) in the NHL that had not been shutout.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 7, 2021
The Senators lost both of their subsequent games to the Oilers on Wednesday and Thursday. However, they prevented Edmonton from shutting them out in both contests (4-2 and 3-1 defeats, respectively), keeping their streak of not being blanked alive through 41 games in 2021.
Regardless of Ottawa's overall record (13-24-4) and position in the North Division (last place), at least the "Sickos" have something (else) to be proud of.
Games to watch
Two teams heading in opposite directions - the Flames and Oilers - will reignite the "Battle of Alberta" on Saturday. Earlier that evening, the Senators and Maple Leafs will resume the "Battle of Ontario." The first-place Leafs and second-place Jets (points percentage-wise) will face off again Thursday.