Tag-up offsides, shootouts, and the elimination of the two-line pass. The NHL has been flashier and more exciting this season, and different teams are starting to make an impact.

Games of the Week:

Wednesday, February 1: Nashville at Dallas—Dallas leads the Western Conference in wins, but the upstart Predators have surprised many this year. Both teams are near the top of the conference.

Thursday, February 2: Philadelphia at Buffalo—The Flyers’ Peter Forsberg is second in the league in assists, and Simon Gagne is third in the league in goals, but the Sabres won the last meeting between these two teams in a shootout.

Rollin’:

Carolina Hurricanes—It’s been high tide for the ‘Canes in the month of January, with only one loss in 13 games during the month. They just traded for playmaking center Doug Weight, hoping to fit together the final piece of their Stanley Cup puzzle.

New Jersey Devils—After a stagnant 2005, the Devils are 10-2-1 in the New Year. Goalie Martin Brodeur has four shutouts in that span; he signed a $32 million contract extension last week and will end his career where he started it.

Stumblin’:

Pittsburgh Penguins—Sid the Kid has lived up to the hype, but the other free agent acquisitions haven’t worked out and they can’t keep the puck out of their own net. Plus, Super Mario has run out of lives; the player-owner hung up his skates (again) and put an end to an amazing career.

Toronto Maple Leafs—The team has dropped nine of its last 11, including an 8-4 loss to Buffalo and a 7-0 whitewashing by Ottawa. Ouch.

On Fire:

Dominik Hasek, Ottawa Senators—The goalie turned 41 on Monday but is playing like he’s 25 again. He has stopped 58 of the last 61 shots he’s faced, including shutouts against Montreal and Toronto.

Andy McDonald, Anaheim Mighty Ducks—The forward and Colgate alum has nine points, five on the power play, in his last five games.

Ice Cold:

Alexander Mogilny, New Jersey Devils—The 1000-point scorer was waived by the Devils. When no other team claimed him, he was sent down to the minors. While Mogilny netted the game-winner in his first AHL game, he’d rather be with the parent club.

Mathieu Garon, Los Angeles Kings—Garon has given up 14 goals in his last three games, including a five-goals-against performance against Anaheim where he was pulled after only 25 minutes.

Ex-Files:

Brian Pothier ’00 is 1-17-18 with 45 penalty minutes in 46 games for the Ottawa Senators.

Nathan Marsters ’04 has been seeing most of the time in net for the Portland Pirates. For the season, he has racked up a 14-8-2 record with a goals-against average of 3.30.

Matt Murley ’02 is 1-5-6 in 41 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins and has seen time on the team’s top penalty-killing unit. Murley, however, suffered a shoulder injury two weeks ago and may miss the rest of the season.

Eric Healey ’98 made his NHL debut for the Boston Bruins on November 25 after eight years in the minors. He played two games, picking up two penalty minutes, before being sent back down to Providence.

Marc Cavosie ’03 has a 2-4-6 line for the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL.

Steve Munn ’02 has five assists in 44 games for the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals, where he also serves as an alternate captain.

Nick Economakos ’05 is 3-4-7 in 26 games for the ECHL’s Bakersfield Condors. Also suiting up for the Condors is Scott Basiuk ’04, who has a goal and 17 assists in 34 games.

Danny Eberly ’03 is 7-14-21 with 22 PIM in 34 games with the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators.