NHL Daily: Flyers’ RW Gaining Respect; Isles Winning Without Barzal

Owen Tippett has played so well lately that Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella is making lineup decisions to give the right winger more ice time.

Tippett has taken advantage, and he has been a difficult player to defend.

When healthy, Mathew Barzal is another player who is hard to defend, and the New York islanders, surprisingly, are winning without the injured forward and staying in the playoff race.

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Around the NHL and National Hockey Now

Philly Hockey Now: Coach John Tortorella is so enamored by Owen Tippett’s play that he is using seven defensmen so he can get the right winger more playing  time. Philadelphia Flyers.

Philly Hockey Now: Former Flyer Claude Giroux is 35 going on 26. The Ottawa RW He has been sizzling, and earned the NHL’s second star of the week. Ottawa Senators.

New Yok Islanders Hockey Now: The Isles looked dead in the water with Mathew Barzal injured, but they are 4-1-1 without their star forward. Several players have stepped up in his absence, especially the goaltenders.  New York Islanders.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Penguins GM Ron Hextall tried to acquire Florida defenseman Radko Gudas before the deadline. Both have Philly ties. Pittsburgh Penguins.

Colorado Hockey Now: The Avs would get a boost if Gabe Landeskog returns, but no one knows when/if that will happen. Colorado Avalanche.

Washington Hockey Now: This won’t make Caps fans any happier, but at least management tried to acquire defenseman Jakob Chychrun before Arizona dealt him to Ottawa. They were in it until the end, per GM Brian MacLellan. Washington Capitals.

Florida Hockey Now: Eetu Luostarinen, who has a career-high15 goals, has quietly put together a strong season and helped the Panthers stay in the playoff hunt. Coach Paul Maurice called the 24-year-old center a “young player who is able to carry a line now.” Florida Panthers.

Detroit Red Wings: Detroit has lost six straight and fallen out of the playoff race, but the Wings will at least have five of the top 50 picks in this year’s draft. They also have two first-round picks in each of the next two drafts. Detroit Red Wings.

Montreal Hockey Now: The Habs could be jumping into the NCAA free-agent pool. Montreal Canadiens.

Boston Hockey Now: TSN analyst Craig Button sees the Bruins cruising to the Eastern Conference title, and believes Colorado is the only team in the West that can give them a challenge. Don’t sleep on Carolina in the East, Mr. Button. Bosotn Bruins.