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FORWARDS Trending up: Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings -- I mean, how can we overlook his most recent performance? Kopitar put up a whopping five points in the Kings’ 6-4 win over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night, marking a career-high for the Slovenian center. With six points in the last two games, Kopitar’s production is on the uptick after what has otherwise been a rather slow start to the season. Trending down: James Neal, Nashville Predators -- Yup, I’m calling him out for being the first player to be publicly shamed for his repeated diving. The NHL revealed this week that Neal has been fined $2,000 for his embellishment, after receiving a first citation and a warning. Neal can’t be pleased with that, but we like the idea of using this technique to rid the game of this stuff. Surprise of the week: Rick Nash, New York Rangers -- His skill and scoring ability are hardly a surprise, but this sort of steadiness from Nash has been a pleasant surprise for the New York Rangers. Though traditionally he has been a very streaky player, Nash has been almost mind-numbingly consistent in the midst of putting together one heck of a season for the Blueshirts. The star winger, who has 20 goals and 33 points, is riding an 11-game point streak, with 14 points during that span. He hasn’t been held off the score sheet in over a month, and he’s registered points in all but four games this season. Impressive.
DEFENSEMEN Trending up: Justin Faulk, Carolina Hurricanes -- You have to figure that Justin Faulk is one of the cornerstone pieces the Hurricanes want to build around for the future, despite a dreadful start to the 2014-15 season. And though the 22-year-old blueliner has seen his share of struggles this year, he recorded a goal and an assist in the Canes’ 4-1 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night to help halt a six-game skid for Carolina. Trending down: T.J. Brodie, Calgary Flames -- When the Flames were riding high, their blue line was chipping in on the offensive end and giving them balanced production. That type of contribution has slipped of late, coinciding with the team’s nosedive. Brodie, who has six goals and 23 points on the season, has gone eight straight games without a goal and has registered just two assists during that span. The Flames need more from him in order to make up some ground surrendered during their recent slump. Surprise of the week: Mike Green, Washington Capitals -- It’s been hard to know what to make of Green (not to mention his trade value) after injuries have hampered him in recent years, but Thursday night he provided some reminders of his offensive abilities, figuring in two important goals en route to the Capitals' 5-4 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
GOALTENDERS Trending up: Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins -- Fleury not only evaded the mumps virus that has been wreaking havoc in the Penguins’ dressing room but also recorded his league-leading sixth shutout of the season Thursday night in a game that not many people expected him to start. After testing negative for the mumps, Fleury made 29 saves to blank the Colorado Avalanche, despite a good performance from Avs rookie Calvin Pickard, who made 47 saves yet was saddled with the loss. Trending down: Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings -- Let us first offer a disclaimer: Howard has been terrific this season in regulation and in overtime. It's his shootout struggles that earn him this dubious honor. The Red Wings are an abysmal 1-6 in the shootout this season. Granted, their shooters need to pull their weight, as well, but we’d like to see Howard pull one out in the skills competition sometime soon. Surprise of the week: Niklas Svedberg, Boston Bruins -- The Bruins’ 25-year-old backup goalie was sensational in helping them edge the Minnesota Wild in a 3-2 overtime win Wednesday night. Svedberg made 35 of 37 saves to post a dazzling .946 save percentage, and he has a .925 save percentage overall on the season. Last season, Chad Johnson proved to be an incredibly effective backup to starter Tuukka Rask. Svedberg has shown he can fill that role nicely, as well.
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