NHL Horoscopes Week 8: The calm before the Aries storm

By Mar 2, 2021, 12:00 PM EST
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Pisces season is underway and we’re in a waning moon week, so it should be a little more calm. This is the NHL though, and chaos reigns, so who’s to say, really.

The moon cycle projects a big week for Geminis though so that bears plenty of watching.

Stat Leaders

Connor McDavid: 40 points, 26 assists (Capricorn)
Auston Matthews: 18 goals (Virgo)
Ben Chiarot: 39 PIM (Taurus)
Andrei Vasilevskiy: .938 Save % (Cancer)

EAST DIVISION

• Boston Bruins: Highest concentration in Taurus

Gemini David Pastrnak has been playing out of his mind and Sagittarius Charlie McAvoy is playing the best hockey of his life.

Horoscope: Mars leaves Taurus this week. There could be a wall ahead.

Do: Offensive depth Don’t: Ignore defensive issues

• Buffalo Sabres: Highest concentration in Sagittarius

Where to begin.

Horoscope: There’s a Sagittarius moon on Friday, maybe that will bring some luck. Probably not.

Do: Idk not this Don’t: Make a short-sighted move

• Washington Capitals: Highest concentration in Taurus

The Capitals have done a good job treading water, at least.

Horoscope: Leaving the Mars Taurus cycle signifies change. Taurus’ should look back on the past cycle at how far they’ve come.

Do: Pick up momentum Don’t: Lose against lesser clubs

[Your 2020-21 NHL on NBC TV schedule]

• New York Rangers: Highest concentration in Aquarius

Aries Mika Zibanajed has been slumping pretty rough.

Horoscope: Mercury is still in Aquarius, there’s plenty of time for more New York Rangers Nonsense (TM).

Do: Find consistency Don’t: Stagnate worse

• New York Islanders: Highest concentration in Aquarius

Gemini Mat Barzal has continued to grow this season.

Horoscope: The Isles are very sure in their identity. There’s time in this Mercury cycle for that to go awry.

Do: Get offense moving Don’t: Rely too heavily on goaltending.

• New Jersey Devils: Highest concentration in Scorpio

Sagittarius goalie Mackenzie Blackwood continues to play really well.

Horoscope: Tuesday’s Scorpio moon is perceptive. It’s a good time to reflect on what can be better.

Do: Ride the hot hand in net Don’t: Give said hot hand nothing to work with

• Philadelphia Flyers: Highest concentration in Taurus

The Flyers won for the first time in 17 days earlier last week.

Horoscope: While the Mars cycle is still active they have to make the most of it. Build from there.

Do: Get healthy Don’t: Get impatient

• Pittsburgh Penguins: Highest concentration in Leo/Taurus

Kind of wild to think they’ve won four times in regulation all season.

Horoscope: Leos have to make their own energy right now and with the Mars cycle ending, the Pens have to step it up.

Do: Defensive game Don’t: Be complacent in regulation

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CENTRAL DIVISION

• Detroit Red Wings: Highest concentration in Aquarius

The Red Wings power play needs some cosmic intervention.

Horoscope: The young players have gotten creative, a true Aquarius trait.

Do: Youth movement Don’t: Lose track

• Tampa Bay Lightning: Highest concentration in Gemini

The thing about the Lightning is they make the good teams look pretty bad.

Horoscope: The Sagittarius moon is expected to have an impact on Geminis as a mutable sign. It projects an optimistic outcome, because of course it does for the first place team.

Do: Keep growing Don’t: Complacency

[NHL Power Rankings: Kaprizov, Zuccarello helping Wild make big climb]

• Florida Panthers:  Highest concentration in Virgo

At some point we have to talk about Taurus goalie Chris Driedger.

Horoscope: Both the Libra and Sagittarius moons this week bode well for perhaps the most unique team in the league.

Do: Goaltending Don’t: Overreact to anything

• Carolina Hurricanes: Highest concentration in Cancer

A series with the Lightning was tough but the Canes have still looked legit for a while.

Horoscope: This projects to be a quiet period for Cancers, but are the Hurricanes ever quiet?

Do: Goaltending (this feels like a trend) Don’t: Fall off

• Nashville Predators: Highest concentration in Gemini

Rebuild season should be on the horizon.

Horoscope: This week’s moon cycle has a rosy outlook for Geminis, but what does that mean for a team in a desperate need for change?

Do: Probably rebuild Don’t: Overcommit to bad contracts

• Dallas Stars: Highest concentration in Gemini and Cancer

Five on five scoring is going to have to show up for the Stars to get over the hump.

Horoscope: The moon projects a calm, but positive, week ahead for the Stars.

Do: Get back on track Don’t: Spiral

• Chicago Blackhawks: Heaviest concentration in Aries

Taurus goalie Kevin Lankinen and Sagittarius Malcolm Subban have been a solid combination in net.

Horoscope: Chicago should be very excited to get into Aries season this month.

Do: Goalies goalies goalies Don’t: Go away from what works

• Columbus Blue Jackets: Heaviest concentration in Cancer

Aries Patrik Laine is possibly the only good thing they have going.

Horoscope: It just feels like a vibe change needs to happen.

Do: Keep growing with Laine Don’t: Goalie drama

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WEST DIVISION

• Minnesota Wild: Highest concentration in Virgo and Cancer

Taurus rookie Kirill Kaprizov has changed everything for Minnesota.

Horoscope: The Libra and Sagittarius moons should bring good things for Virgos after their full moon to begin the week.

Do: The Kaprizov show Don’t: Fall into a trap

• St. Louis Blues: Highest concentration in Cancer and Aries

Sagittarius Vladimir Tarasenko can’t come back soon enough.

Horoscope: Usually a Cancer-Aries combo is the moodiest thing imaginable but this should be a relatively calm time for them both.

Do: Offense Don’t: Spiral with injuries

• Arizona Coyotes: Highest concentration in Leo

What’s the vibe here? Tough to read.

Horoscope: The Coyotes are so up and down and inconsistent. Leos should have a calm period coming up though.

Do: Find the vibe Don’t: Chase the vibe

• San Jose Sharks: Highest concentration in Aries

Gemini Erik Karlsson keeps battling injuries, unfortunate to watch what’s happened for him.

Horoscope: The moon leaving the Taurus cycle might invigorate some Aries action a little bit. The Sharks sure could use an energy boost.

Do: Energy Don’t: Fall behind

• Vegas Golden Knights: Highest concentration in Leo

It’s clear Sagittarius goalie Marc-Andre Fleury owns the Vegas net.

Horoscope: Things continue to roll for the Leos in Vegas. It’s fire sign central for all their success.

Do: Keep rolling with Fleury Don’t: Fall past other top teams

• Anaheim Ducks: Heaviest concentration in Aquarius

Pisces Trevor Zegras is the entire hype for the Ducks.

Horoscope: The Ducks could sure use some cosmic intervention to stop giving up three-goal leads, eh?

Do: Stop giving up three-goal leads Don’t: Give up three-goal leads

• Los Angeles Kings: Highest concentration in Libra

Low key the Kings are kind of fun.

Horoscope: A six-game winning steak? In this economy? This week’s Libra moon should highlight a team that’s weirdly enjoyable.

Do: Belief  Don’t: Over rely on the older guys

• Colorado Avalanche: Highest concentration in Scorpio 

Scorpio goalie Philipp Grubauer has been really good.

Horoscope: A fun little Scorpio moon, as a treat. As if the Avs need any more cosmic guidance.

Do: Roster depth Don’t: Freak out about injuries

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NORTH DIVISION

• Vancouver Canucks: Heaviest concentration in Cancer and Libra

Everything is a nightmare except Sagittarius goalie Thatcher Demko.

Horoscope: The Canucks have five wins against not-Ottawa teams. Maybe the Libra moon this weekend gets them some more consistency.

Do: Get defense on track Don’t: Lose to every team but Ottawa

• Calgary Flames: Heaviest concentration in Pisces

The Sens series has been a trip to Yikea.

Horoscope: Pisces season has not been kind to the Flames. They should change that.

Do: Maybe beat the Senators Don’t: Let emotions get the best of you

• Edmonton Oilers: Heaviest concentration in Cancer and Libra

Capricorn Connor McDavid is still really good at this hockey thing.

Horoscope: The stars have projected a lot of stability for the Oilers all season. Their stars on the ice, though, are why they are where they are.

Do: McDavid and Draisaitl, obviously x3 Don’t: Get caught up in a pretty bad division

• Winnipeg Jets: Heaviest concentration in Aries

Cancer Pierre-Luc Dubois has really fit in well with the Jets.

Horoscope: They’ve done a pretty solid job with goaltending and their best forwards are their best forwards. Aries aggression serves them well.

Do: Quick paced offense Don’t: Lose that edge

• Ottawa Senators: Heaviest concentration in Pisces

If the Senators won more games they’d probably be the funnest team in this league.

Horoscope: The Senators are the opposite kind of Pisces than the Flames are. Calgary has crumbled into an emotional heap, the Sens passive aggressiveness serves them better.

Do: Enjoy the ride Don’t: Ignore goalie issues

• Montreal Canadiens: Heaviest concentration in Leo and Taurus

Taurus head coach Claude Julien was showed the door last week.

Horoscope: This has been a season of turmoil for the Canadiens. The Pisces season should calm things down before they contend with a Fire sign season to come.

Do: Give new coaches space to figure it out Don’t: Star reacting to every little thing

• Toronto Maple Leafs: Heaviest concentration in Gemini

Virgo Auston Matthews, not slowing down.

Horoscope: Should be a fun week for Geminis across the league, and it’s already been a fun season for the Leafs in the chaotic North.

Do: Keep widening the gap Don’t: Let teams hang around

More NHL news

Florida Panthers Power Play
Barkov sets Panthers’ points mark in 5-2 win over Red Wings
Ferguson stops 47 shots, Senators top reeling Penguins 2-1
Sharks goalie James Reimer declines to wear Pride jersey

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Marisa Ingemi is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop her a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Ingemi.

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    Barkov sets Panthers’ points mark in 5-2 win over Red Wings

    Associated PressMar 20, 2023, 10:41 PM EDT
    Florida Panthers Power Play
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    DETROIT – Aleksander Barkov set the Florida franchise record for most career points, Carter Verhaeghe scored two goals, and the streaking Panthers beat the Detroit Red Wings for the ninth consecutive time, 5-2.

    Barkov recorded a second-period assist, giving him 614 points, breaking a tie with Jonathan Huberdeau for the team record.

    Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and two assists, giving him 14 points over the last five games. Eric Staal and Gustav Forsling also scored for the Panthers, who are 6-0-1 over their last seven games, and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 20 shots.

    Pius Suter and Dylan Larkin scored for the Red Wings, who have lost 10 of their last 12 games. Ville Husso had 20 saves.

    The Panthers led 2-1 after the first period.

    The first Florida goal came after Lucas Raymond‘s turnover in his own zone. Sam Bennett made the steal and passed it to Tkachuk for his 33rd goal.

    Verhaeghe made it 2-0 with a slap shot that got past a screened Husso. The Red Wings challenged for goalie interference, but the goal was upheld after a video review.

    Just after killing off the subsequent penalty, Detroit got on the board when Suter jammed in a rebound of David Perron‘s shot.

    Forsling scored on shot from the point midway through the second period to restore Florida’s two-goal advantage. Barkov had the second assist, allowing him to break the franchise points record.

    Larkin scored on a delayed penalty off a pass from Raymond at 7:53 of the third to cut the Panthers’ lead to 3-2.

    Staal scored on a breakaway off a pass from Anthony Duclair with under four minutes left, and Verhaeghe added a power-play goal.

    GAME NOTES

    Panthers F Eetu Luostarinen had an assist in the 200th game of his career. … Florida is 29-2-3 when leading after two periods. … The last time the Red Wings beat the Panthers was Feb. 20, 2021. … Barkov has 42 points in 38 career games against Detroit. … Andrew Copp notched his 150th career assist on Larkin’s goal.

    UP NEXT

    Panthers: At Philadelphia on Tuesday night.

    Red Wings: At St. Louis on Tuesday night to open a home-and-home set.

    Ferguson stops 47 shots, Senators top reeling Penguins 2-1

    Associated PressMar 20, 2023, 10:39 PM EDT
    Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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    PITTSBURGH – Drake Batherson‘s power-play goal from in front with 2:09 left in regulation lifted the Ottawa Senators to a 2-1 win over the reeling Pittsburgh Penguins.

    The Penguins finally beat Ottawa goaltender Dylan Ferguson on a Rickard Rakell goal with 5:21 to play, but a hooking penalty by Penguins defenseman Chad Ruhwedel gave the Senators the man advantage and Batherson responded with his 21st goal of the season.

    Ferguson, making his first NHL start and first appearance in the league in more than five years, made 47 saves to send Pittsburgh to its fourth straight loss. Thomas Chabot scored his 10th goal of the season for Ottawa as the Senators snapped a five-game slide.

    The Penguins fell behind Florida in the race for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. Tristan Jarry played well but couldn’t get in the way of Batherson’s jam shot from just outside the crease.

    Ferguson began the night having played nine minutes at the NHL level as a teenager for Vegas early in the Golden Knights’ debut season in 2017-18. He has bounced around various levels of the minors ever since and was in the process of being sent down to the ECHL by the AHL’s Toronto Marlies earlier this month when the Senators signed him to a two-way deal.

    Something clicked. He played well enough in six games for Ottawa’s AHL affiliate in Belleville to receive a call-up on Sunday. Just over 24 hours later, the Senators made the now 24-year-old Ferguson the sixth goaltender they’ve used this season when they gave him the nod against the struggling Penguins.

    Ferguson looked like he belonged from the opening faceoff. He made a series of sharp saves early, including a couple of stops from in close against Jake Guentzel and a flashy glove save on a slap shot by Malkin.

    Jarry, a two-time All-Star who has struggled to find any sort of consistency since returning from an extended stay on the injured list, took a step forward, turning aside multiple odd-man rushes and a breakaway by Brady Tkachuk in the second period.

    The lone goal Jarry allowed came 16:46 into the first when Chabot took a feed from Claude Giroux and rather than fire a shot from high in the slot skated down to the right circle and beat Jarry to the far post.

    Jarry was solid the rest of the way, though he spent most of the game watching Ferguson dazzle at the other end before Rakell broke through with just over 5 minutes to go.

    UP NEXT

    Senators: Travel to Boston on Tuesday to face the NHL-leading Bruins.

    Penguins: Start a difficult back-to-back on the road on Wednesday when they visit the Avalanche in Denver.

    Sharks goalie James Reimer declines to wear Pride jersey

    Associated PressMar 19, 2023, 3:44 PM EDT
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    San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer didn’t take part in pregame warmups, saying the team’s decision to wear Pride-themed jerseys in support of the LGBTQ community runs counter to his religious beliefs.

    Reimer said in a statement Saturday that he made the decision based on his Christian beliefs, adding that he “always strived to treat everyone with respect” and that members of the LGBTQ community should be welcome in hockey.

    “In this specific instance, I am choosing not to endorse something that is counter to my personal convictions, which are based on the Bible, the highest authority in life,” Reimer said.

    Reimer is the second NHL player this season to refuse to take part in warmups with Pride-themed jerseys, with Philadelphia’s Ivan Provorov declining to in January. Reimer was not slated to start in Saturday night’s home game against the New York Islanders, which is Pride night.

    Additionally, the New York Rangers opted not to wear Pride jerseys or use Pride stick tape as part of their night in January despite previously advertising that plan.

    The Sharks said in a statement that they are proud to host Pride Night, saying the event reinforces the team’s commitment to inclusiveness.

    “As we promote these standards, we also acknowledge and accept the rights of individuals to express themselves, including how or whether they choose to express their beliefs, regardless of the cause or topic,” the team said in a statement. “As an organization, we will not waver in our support of the LGBTQIA+ community and continue to encourage others to engage in active allyship.”

    The You Can Play Project, which works to promote inclusiveness in sports, said the organization was disappointed in Reimer’s actions.

    “Religion and respect are not in conflict with each other, and we are certainly disappointed when religion is used as a reason to not support our community,” the organization said. “Wearing pride jerseys, like any celebration jersey worn, is not about the personal feelings of an athlete; rather the communication from the team that a community is welcome in the arena and the sport.”

    Panarin, Shesterkin lead Rangers to 6-0 rout of Penguins

    Associated PressMar 19, 2023, 1:18 AM EDT
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    NEW YORK — Mika Zibanejad had a goal and two assists, Artemi Panarin scored twice and Igor Shesterkin made 33 saves as the New York Rangers routed Pittsburgh 6-0 on Saturday night for their second win over the Penguins in three days.

    Vladimir Tarasenko, Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba also scored for the surging Rangers, who have won nine of their last 11 home games and are 12-4-0 in their past 16 at Madison Square Garden.

    Shesterkin won his fifth straight and posted his second shutout this season. He nimbly denied Pittsburgh forward Mikael Granland with a sprawling save five minutes into the third period to preserve the shutout, the 10th of his career. His other one this season was a 1-0 home win over Philadelphia on Nov. 1.

    “When you put in hard and honest work, miracles happen,” Shesterkin said through a translator. ”We played wonderfully today – scored many, many goals. Honestly, I hope the fans loved it. We’re playing for them.”

    The Penguins lost their third straight and trail the Rangers by 12 points for third place in the Metropolitan Division. Pittsburgh, still in wild-card position, is trying to reach the playoffs for the 17th straight time.

    “Tonight was a humbling experience for all of us,” coach Mike Sullivan said. ”At this time of year, you have to have a short memory. We still have control of our destiny.”

    Patrick Kane and defenseman K’Andre Miller also had two assists apiece as New York improved to 7-1-1 in its last nine home games against Pittsburgh. The Rangers are five points behind the second-place New Jersey Devils, who lost at Florida on Saturday.

    “This was a big game for our goalie and our team,” Panarin said. “If you work at playing the right way, you have opportunities for goals.”

    Since Dec. 5, when they turned around their season with a 6-4 comeback win at home over St. Louis, the Rangers are 29-9-5.

    As he did on Thursday when the Rangers beat the Penguins 4-2, Zibanejad opened the scoring. He got his team-leading 36th goal at 5:10 of the first, beating Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry. Trouba and Miller assisted.

    Panarin made it 2-0 at 19:49 on the power play, whipping the puck past Jarry from the left circle off a pass from Adam Fox.

    Tarasenko increased the lead at 3:54 of the second with his fifth goal since joining the Rangers in a trade with St. Louis on Feb. 9. Tarasenko has points in 10 of his first 18 games with the Rangers.

    Kreider made it 4-0 at 6:43 with his 31st goal and third in two games against the Penguins. Kane and Vincent Trocheck assisted on Kreider’s 260th career goal, which moved the Rangers forward within two of Vic Hadfield for fifth place on the franchise list.

    New York won Thursday when Kreider scored the go-ahead goal in the third and added an empty-netter.

    After Casey DeSmith replaced Jarry in net following Kreider’s goal, Trouba beat the replacement with a sharp-angle shot at 8:39 for his eighth to increase the margin to 5-0. Trouba has points in six of his last eight games.

    Panarin scored again at 16:38 of the second – his 22nd goal of the season – to make it 6-0, with assists to Kane and Filip Chytil.

    “We’re building chemistry, building every day and every game,” Kane said.

    Panarin has points in eight of his last 10 games and leads the Rangers with 77 points overall, while Kane has seven points in his last six games.

    “It’s nice to see that many great players on your team,” added Panarin, whose first two NHL seasons were played alongside Kane with the Chicago Blackhawks. “We’re happy tonight.”

    Zibanejad assisted on goals by Tarasenko and Trouba and has 25 points – including 14 goals – over his last 20 games.

    “It was just one of those nights when the puck goes in for us,” Zibanejad said. “And obviously Igor gives us a boost making all those saves.”

    NOTES: The Penguins were missing defenseman Jeff Petry after he was hit with an unpenalized elbow from Rangers forward Tyler Motte on Thursday. … Pittsburgh also scratched defenseman Jan Rutta and forward Dalton Heinen and played defenseman Mark Friedman for the first time since Feb. 11. … The Rangers were without injured defenseman Ryan Lindgren for the 10th straight game.

    UP NEXT

    Penguins: Host the Ottawa Senators on Monday.

    Rangers: Host the Nashville Predators on Sunday night.