Forwards
Trending up: Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks -- After being held off the score sheet in the Sharks’ 5-2 loss Monday to the New Jersey Devils, Couture delivered a fine three-point effort against the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night. Couture, who has 18 goals and 42 points this season, tallied twice and chipped in with an assist in the Sharks’ 4-2 victory. Couture has nine goals and 19 points in 24 career games against the Kings.
Trending down: Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs -- It was only four years ago that Kessel had the dubious honor of being Mr. Irrelevant at the 2011 NHL All-Star Game draft, but another shot at ignominy has to be the last of his concerns heading into this weekend’s All-Star festivities in Columbus. Kessel is mired in a six-game goal-less slump, one that coincides with the Maple Leafs' dispiriting tailspin under interim coach Peter Horachek. The Leafs dropped their sixth straight Wednesday night in a 4-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Kessel has just one assist during that span.
Surprise of the Week: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins -- Malkin was a late scratch Wednesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks, with coach Mike Johnston telling reporters after the game that Malkin was injured in Tuesday night’s grudge match against the Philadelphia Flyers. That means Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky might not be the only player to need an eleventh-hour injury replacement for the All-Star Game.
Defensemen
Trending up: Erik Karlsson, Senators -- It has been a rough road for the Senators this season, but at least new coach Dave Cameron has one of the most dynamic young defensemen in the game at his disposal. Karlsson recorded two goals in the 4-3 win against the Leafs on Wednesday night, giving the former Norris Trophy winner four points in the past four games. The 24-year-old Swede is tied with All-Star forward Bobby Ryan for the team lead in scoring with 33 points.
Trending down: Mark Fistric, Anaheim Ducks -- The former first-round draft pick was demoted to the American Hockey League after clearing waivers Wednesday afternoon. Fistric, who signed a three-year deal with the league-leading Ducks in January 2014, has not played since Dec. 22. The 28-year-old defenseman is scoreless in all nine games played this season.
Surprise of the week: Michael Del Zotto, Flyers -- It has been an up-and-down season for the 24-year-old Del Zotto, who is already on his third team in the past calendar year, but the once-highly touted New York Rangers prospect is showing marked improvement for the struggling Flyers these days. Del Zotto, who was a consistent healthy scratch earlier this season, extended his points streak to three games with an assist in the Flyers’ 3-2 win over the Penguins on Tuesday night and has been logging major minutes lately.
Goaltenders
Trending up: Michael Hutchinson, Winnipeg Jets -- The rookie goaltender has been so good this season we can no longer in good conscience put him in the “surprise” category. Hutchinson has been both consistent and spectacular, and a 29-save shutout against the Blue Jackets only advanced his case for the starting job. We wonder if he has played himself into an injury-replacement spot for this weekend’s All-Star Game, with Bobrovsky on the shelf.
Trending down: Joni Ortio, Calgary Flames -- It was such an auspicious start for Ortio, who rattled off four consecutive victories in his first four appearances of the season. The young Finn was brought back to earth Wednesday when he was yanked after surrendering four goals on 11 shots in the Flames’ 6-3 loss to Anaheim on Wednesday night.
Surprise of the week: Tom McCollum, Detroit Red Wings -- Thrust into his first NHL game since the 2010-11 season, the 25-year-old McCollum acquitted himself nicely Sunday night in helping the Red Wings complete a comeback against the Buffalo Sabres. Thrown into the fire to replace Petr Mrazek with the Wings in a three-goal hole, McCollum turned away seven of eight shots as Detroit rallied for a 6-4 victory.