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          Cross Checks Blog

          Hawks and Ducks trending up, Vanek and goalies down out West

          • Katie Strang, ESPN.comDec 8, 2014, 10:52 AM ET
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              Katie Strang covers the Detroit Tigers for ESPN.com. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
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          Trending up

          • Chicago Blackhawks: With a win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday, the Hawks recorded their sixth straight victory and grabbed the lead in a hotly contested Central Division. Winners in nine of their last 10 games, Chicago is on one heck of a hot streak; not even the loss of starting goaltender Corey Crawford is slowing them down.

          • Anaheim Ducks: A 4-3 overtime win over the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday allowed the surging Ducks to take a three-point lead in the Pacific Division. Special teams have been an Achilles' heel for the club this season, but the Ducks tallied two power-play goals in the victory, perhaps a sign of life for the struggling unit.

          • Ryan Getzlaf: Speaking of the Ducks, captain Ryan Getzlaf is leading the way with some key production. The 29-year-old center chipped in with three assists Sunday, extending his points streak to five games. He has two goals and 10 points during that span.

          • Las Vegas’ chances of getting a team: OK, so not technically a Western Conference category yet, but we can still speculate. With the board of governors set to convene this week in Boca Raton, Florida, one has to mention that this rumored expansion possibility will at least be discussed.

          • Radim Vrbata: The veteran forward is finally garnering some much-deserved recognition after spending the past five seasons in Arizona. Vrbata, who finished with a goal and an assist in the Canucks’ 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night, made a sensational play, using a hesitation move to draw out a defender and deking to put the puck past goaltender Craig Anderson.

          Trending down

          • Edmonton Oilers: This seems to be a trend, right? Where to start. Ahh yes, that odd, defensive news conference starring general manager Craig MacTavish, who acknowledges that change is needed yet seems reluctant to part ways with either his coach or his core players. Not exactly sure how he expects anything different, then. Interesting tactic, however, to throw his current boss under the bus as he distanced himself from the previous regime’s mistakes and asked not to be lumped in with their previous foibles. Yes, the Oilers snapped an 11-game skid with a 2-1 win Sunday over the San Jose Sharks, but that does little to distract from the rampant dysfunction that has defined their season.

          • Coyotes’ goaltending: This promised to be a make-or-break year for netminder Mike Smith, and things are not looking rosy for him right now. The 32-year-old Smith has posted a dismal 5-13-2 record with a .890 save percentage and a 3.27 goals against average. His cohort, Devan Dubnyk hasn’t been much better as of late. He was pulled in the team’s 5-2 loss to Boston on Saturday after allowing four goals on 24 shots.

          • Thomas Vanek: The coveted sniper of the summer has so far disappointed in his first season with the Minnesota Wild, with just two goals in 25 games. Things are even worse off the ice for Vanek, who has been dealing all season with legal issues involving his reported gambling debts.

          Injury Report

          • Corey Crawford: He's expected to miss two to three weeks after suffering an off-ice injury that, according to ESPNChicago’s Scott Powers, occurred while he was attending a concert Monday night. Can't imagine Coach Joel Quenneville is pleased with that.

          • Corey Perry: Bad week to be a Corey, huh? The Ducks star forward missed Sunday’s game against Winnipeg because of a knee injury he suffered in Friday’s win over the Minnesota Wild. It is not immediately clear how much time he will miss.

          What to watch for

          • Veteran goaltender Martin Brodeur recorded his first win of the season for the St. Louis Blues when he was called upon in relief during the team's trip to Long Island this weekend. The 42-year-old netminder, who signed a one-year deal with the Blues last week, made 14 of 15 saves against the New York Islanders on Saturday, a performance that earned him the next start for the Blues against the Florida Panthers. Should be interesting to see what sort of impact he can have for the Blues and just how much rust remains for the NHL’s all-time wins leader.

          • Eastward-bound: The Calgary Flames sit just two points back of the second-place Vancouver Canucks in the Pacific Division as they embark on a four-game trip that features three stops in the East -- Toronto, Buffalo and Pittsburgh -- before they face the streaking Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. Will the Flames leapfrog the Canucks? Can they catch the Ducks?