Crossing The Atlantic: Maple Leafs Divisional Report

Nov 22, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward

(71) celebrates a goal by forward

(not pictured) in front of Detroit Red Wings goaltender

(35) at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Detroit 4-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

It’s time to take a look at what the Toronto Maple Leafs division rivals did over the past seven days.

The division stayed the same as last week with the exception of the Maple Leafs leap frogging over the Ottawa Senators into 5^th in the division.

As always, the slides are in order of the division standings.

Next: Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens

Nov 23, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers defenseman

(8) and Montreal Canadiens right wing

(8) fight during the third period at Madison Square Garden. New York Rangers won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

The goal well dried up again for the Canadiens as they were shutout twice this week en route to a 2-2 record for the seven day span.

They scored six goals in four games beating the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins while losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers. Despite the average week the Habs were able to hang on to the top spot in the Atlantic.

Brendan Gallagher had a pair of assists, Tomas Plekanec had a goal and a helper and Max Pacioretty pitched in two goals to shine for Montreal’s offense.

The Canadiens won’t be able to hold on to first in the Atlantic for much longer if they continue to struggle offensively with Tampa hot on their heels boasting the Eastern Conference’s deepest roster.

Next: Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning

Nov 22, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goalie

(30) looks on against the Minnesota Wild during the third period at Amalie Arena. Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Minnesota Wild 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Like Montreal, the Lightning saw the goals go away for them as well as they scored six goals in three games while losing 5-2 decisions to the Islanders and Maple Leafs before beating the Minnesota Wild 2-1.

Steven Stamkos had two goals and Anton Stralman had two assists during the seven day stretch.

After going 1-2 over the week the Lightning can’t be happy with their results. The good news for them is that averaging two goals per game isn’t something that should become a trend and they should get better results this week.

They sit three points back of Montreal for first in the Atlantic and have a game in hand.

Next: Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins

Nov 22, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins center

(37) shoots the puck while Montreal Canadiens defenseman

(79) defends during the third period at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The Bruins went 2-1 during the week to hang on to third in the division as the Red Wings kept pace throughout the week behind them.

Boston continues to play well despite a decimated blue-line that should have written this team off. Tuukka Rask continues to pull this team along while they wait for injuries to subside.

Patrice Bergeron scored a goal and added an assist while Tuukka Rask record a 33 save shutout.

Boston has turned to the success of their younger players this season to get through the first quarter but they will need to find help from other avenues if they want to continue throughout the season with the Red Wings and Leafs not far behind them.

Next: Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings

Nov 22, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard (35) makes a glove save against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Detroit 4-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit went 2-1 during three road games this week, losing only to the Maple Leafs while scoring 10 goals over the three game span.

Tomas Tatar paced the Wings offense scoring four goals and adding an assist as the drafting skills of the Red Wings remain on full display this season. Riley Sheahan added a goal and two helpers as well.

The Wings sit one point back of Boston with two games in hand and one point up on Toronto with one game in hand and will look to climb over the Bruins this week with a four game schedule featuring three games at home.

Next: Ottawa Senators

Ottawa Senators

Nov 22, 2014; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators right wing

(6) and left wing Coling Greening (14) follow the puck in the second period against the St. Louis Blues at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

Ottawa had a light week, playing only two games, and split their contests with a win and a loss, each by a score of 3-2.

The Senators are 2-3-2 over their last seven games and have started to level off from their hot start to the 2014-2015 campaign.

Bobby Ryan, Erik Karlsson and Mika Zibanejad all had one goal and one assist on the week to highlight the Senators lack of depth in the organization.

The Sens watched as Toronto stepped over them in the Standings and now find themselves two points back of 5^th with two games in hand.

Next: Florida Panthers

Buffalo Sabres

Nov 18, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing

(12) celebrates his second goal of the game against the San Jose Sharks during the third period at First Niagara Center. Sabres beat the Sharks 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo went 2-0 in their two games this week and are now on a three game win streak which has allowed Columbus and Edmonton to catch up to them in the Connor McDavid sweepstakes.

Veteran Brian Gionta led the way for the Sabres with two goals and two assists while Jonas Enroth stopped 62 of 64 shots in goal.

The goals that Buffalo couldn’t buy early in the season have come in bunches over the last few games but it shouldn’t concern anyone above them in the Atlantic.

The Sabres lack of offensive weapons make their current output of scoring unsustainable.

The Sabres sit alone in 8^th in the Atlantic six points back of Florida and having played three more games.