Pluses and minuses: Fans show support for Gordie Howe

Times columnist Helene Elliott rates the pluses and minuses in the NHL from the past week:

+ Gordie Howe has regained some movement on his damaged right side following a massive stroke but is weak and sometimes gets frustrated, according to his son, Hall of Fame defenseman Mark Howe. Gordie, 86, is recovering at his daughter Cathy’s home in Lubbock, Texas. The Detroit Red Wings, whose winged wheel he wore for 25 seasons, gave get-well placards to fans last Friday and saluted him during their game against the Kings. Never bet against Gordie Howe in a fight at any age.

+ Score one for a little guy with a big dream. Rocco Grimaldi of Rossmoor, who stands 5 feet 6 and 160 pounds, made his NHL debut last week with the Florida Panthers in a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Grimaldi, who played for the California Wave and the University of North Dakota, was a second-round draft pick by the Panthers in 2011.

+ The Minnesota Wild is the NHL’s last unbeaten team at home (5-0-0). Last Saturday against Dallas, the Wild scored its first power-play goal in 29 tries and cut its team goals-against average to a league-best 1.80. The Wild (7-3-0) has outshot every opponent, averaging 35 shots per game and a league-low 22.9 shots against.

- NHL discipline czar Stephane Quintal was quiet early this season, but since last week he has handed out six suspensions totaling 19 games. Four of those bans were for illegal checks to the head, including a three-game suspension issued against Edmonton’s Andrew Ference on Monday for a high hit on Vancouver’s Zack Kassian. Players now know the league is keeping a close eye on those hits.

- What’s wrong with the Chicago Blackhawks? They’re 2-5 in their last seven games and have lost two straight 1-0 decisions at home, to the Ducks last Tuesday and to Winnipeg on Sunday. They led the NHL last season with 267 goals, but through Sunday ranked 26th with an average of 2.25 goals per game.

- If not for bad luck, Toronto winger Joffrey Lupul would have no luck at all. He tripped over a stick at practice last week and broke his right hand, the latest in a list of injuries to his shoulder, elbow, foot, groin, knee, and — while with the Ducks — a dangerous post-operative blood infection.