NHL updates for Canada's teams

The GIST: With the All-Star break just around the corner (more to come later this week), let’s journey across the nation to see how the league’s Canadian teams have been faring.

Western Conference: The sixth-in-the-Pacific-Division Vancouver Canucks are barely treading water after shockingly trading their “lifer” captain Bo Horvat to the NY Islanders on Monday as part of a three-player blockbuster deal. Bruce Bo there it is.

• Also disappointing in the Pacific Division are the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. Despite boasting the league’s top point and goal scorer in captain Connor McDavid, the Oilers are still at risk of slipping out of playoff contention, while the Flames can’t seem to relight the spark.

• Over in the Central Division, the Winnipeg Jets are battling to top the standings, but after a recent three-game losing streak, the ’Peg is living up to its moniker of Canada’s coldest city in more ways than one.

Eastern Conference: Starting at the top of the Atlantic Division, the Toronto Maple Leafs are sitting in second behind their arch nemesis Boston Bruins, who they’ll face tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Buds’ biggest problem? Star center Auston Matthews is out for three weeks with a knee sprain. It’s not easy being blue.

• On the other end of the spectrum, the bottom-of-the-Atlantic-Division Ottawa Senators and Montréal Canadiens closed out their pre–All Star action against each other last night. While the Sens topped the Habs 5–4, their current standing may make Ryan Reynolds regret his ownership offer.