Kiefer Sherwood starred for the Vancouver Canucks with two goals and an assist, leading the team to a 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Wednesday night. Thatcher Demko recorded 26 saves, helping the Canucks recover from an early deficit. Aatu Raty, Derek Forbort, and Teddy Blueger also found the net for Vancouver. The Islanders' scoring came from Casey Cizikas and Tony DeAngelo, with Ilya Sorokin being pulled after allowing four goals on 19 shots.

Vancouver took control of the game with three goals in just over seven minutes, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead. Blueger's early third-period goal prompted the Islanders to replace Sorokin with Marcus Hogberg. Despite the loss, DeAngelo extended his point streak to four games. The Canucks will look to build on this momentum in their next game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, while the Islanders face the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Vancouver Canucks achieved a significant 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild, propelled by crucial contributions from Elias Pettersson, Kiefer Sherwood, and Teddy Blueger. Pettersson broke a 15-game scoring drought by netting the opener on a power play. Sherwood scored the game-winner late in the third, showcasing his offensive prowess. Blueger's empty-net goal solidified the win, while defenseman Filip Hronek stood out with two assists. Vancouver's goalie, Kevin Lankinen, was stellar, stopping 37 of 38 shots faced. With this win, the Canucks leapfrogged the Calgary Flames into playoff positioning as they eye a playoff berth with 20 games remaining in the season.

The Vancouver Canucks secured a critical 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild, with Kiefer Sherwood netting the decisive goal late in the third period. Elias Pettersson ended his 15-game scoring slump by scoring the Canucks' first goal during a power play. Teddy Blueger added an empty-netter to seal the win. Filip Hronek was a standout with two assists, while goalie Kevin Lankinen performed admirably, stopping 37 of 38 shots. Minnesota's Brock Faber temporarily equalized with a power-play goal, but the Wild could not maintain momentum. The Canucks' victory propelled them ahead of the Calgary Flames into the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, with 20 regular-season games remaining.

As the NHL trade deadline approached, the Edmonton Oilers made strategic moves to strengthen their roster, specifically targeting their blue line and forward depth. General manager Stan Bowman noted that goaltending has been a hot topic, acknowledging the slow start from netminders Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard while aiming to relieve pressure on them during the playoff push.

The Oilers acquired defenseman Jake Walman from the San Jose Sharks, alongside forwards Trent Frederic and Max Jones from the Boston Bruins through a three-team trade. Bowman expressed confidence in Walman’s abilities, citing his physicality and competitive spirit as crucial assets to help the team. Jones made an immediate impact, contributing an assist in his debut.

Despite giving up first-round picks in their trades, emphasizing a win-now mentality, the Oilers retained top prospects Matthew Savoie and Sam O’Reilly, indicating a commitment to both the present and future. Additionally, Evander Kane will remain on long-term injured reserve, freeing up salary cap space. As the Oilers aim for another deep playoff run, the effectiveness of their new acquisitions and the performances of their goaltenders will be closely monitored.

Patrik Laine is the leading player in fantasy points per 60 minutes (FPP60) among NHL players with less than 200 minutes on the ice this season, averaging 10.4 points. This rank allows us to highlight effective players, even if they may not see increased ice time opportunities.

For instance, if an injury were to occur on the Winnipeg Jets' power-play unit, Nikolaj Ehlers, currently averaging 15:38 minutes, could see a rise in minutes, as he ranks in the top 10 for FPP60. Other notable players like Dylan Guenther and Kiefer Sherwood are also under observation for potential increased roles due to their current production rates.