Hits
Mark Borowiecki was credited with 17 hits in three matches. The bulk of his physicality came against Philadelphia when he posted nine body checks in 12:31 of ice time. The Senators defender ranks fifth in the league with 61 hits in 18 games. Nic Dowd also accounted for 17 hits last week, but he accomplished the feat in four outings. The Los Angeles forward had seven collisions versus New Jersey. That was also the third straight game where Dowd picked up an assist. Winnipeg’s Brandon Tanev and Colorado’s Blake Comeau were just behind last week’s leaders with 16 hits apiece. Tanev skated in four games and his highest hit total came against Boston when he recorded six. He has amassed 50 body checks in 21 games this year, which leads all rookies. Comeau returned from a groin injury and played in three matches. He had six hits against Los Angeles and seven versus Minnesota. Comeau has produced 32 hits in 13 games.
Blocks
Mark Pysyk topped all skaters with 14 blocks in four games. He was especially busy against Ottawa last Saturday when he turned aside 12 shots. http://www.nbcsports.com/edge/player/NHL/4301/Josh-MorrisseyJosh Morrissey registered 12 blocks in four outings. He spread out his stops with four blocks coming twice, three once and he closed out the week with one against Carolina. Morrissey ranks second among all rookies with 37 blocks this season. He also has 31 hits and four points in 21 contests. Derek Forbort is first among all first-year players with 46 blocks in 20 appearances. He also stopped 12 shots last week and accounted for nine hits. Ryan Callahan and Nick Bonino led all forwards with seven blocks each. Bonino ranks first among forwards with 26 blocks this season and he posted five against Washington last Wednesday.
Draws
Jeff Carter led all skaters with 60 faceoff victories. He posted just 42 losses, while generating four goals and two assists in four games. Carter also had six hits and three blocks along with 22 shots on goal. He did it all for the Kings and ended up recording three game-winning goals. Carter was above 60 percent on the draw in two of his outings, but his best performance came against Edmonton when he won 19 and lost only nine. Mikko Koivu was the only other pivot to top 50 wins on the draw last week. He won 51 puck drops and 59.3 percent of his 86 total faceoffs in three games. Koivu amassed 20 wins on 35 draws versus Colorado and he was just above 60 percent in his other two outings. He has been superb this season even though he is slighting below his career average of 54.4 percent at 54.1 percent. Paul Stastny went 43 for 68 on his faceoffs in three matches. His best performance came against Nashville when he won 17 draws and lost seven for a 70.8 success rate. Stastny has been victorious on 54.5 percent of his 407 total faceoffs. Claude Giroux ranks fifth overall on the faceoffs taken list at 412, which is just above Stastny. The Flyers captain won 43 puck drops and lost 22 in three appearances last week. He went 20 for 29 against Ottawa in a dominating performance. Giroux is fourth in the NHL with 224 wins in the circles.
