What we learned in the NHL this past week

Lessons learned from the past week in the NHL:

+ Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane’s 19-game points streak would be remarkable in any era but merits special notice during a time of declining scoring. Kane has 37 points in 24 games, which projects to 127 over an 82-game schedule. Last season’s top scorer, Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars, had 87. That’s one reason that Kings defenseman Christian Ehrhoff considers Kane’s streak extraordinary. “It’s really impressive, and especially the amount of points he has already in the season,” Ehrhoff said after Kane extended his streak with a goal and an assist against the Kings last Saturday. “Last year the top scorer was almost at a point-per-game pace, and the pace he’s putting up, we haven’t seen that in a long time.” Kane’s streak will be on the line Tuesday when the Blackhawks host the Minnesota Wild.

+ Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, last season’s league MVP, will be sidelined for at least six weeks after again suffering a lower-body injury, believed to be his right knee. He was three games into his return from an injury that kept him out of nine games in late October and early November. However, Canadiens General Manager Marc Bergevin told reporters Monday that the latest injury wasn’t caused by Price’s returning too soon.

+ The Kings’ team defense might have played a larger role in goalie Jonathan Bernier’s early success than anyone realized. Bernier, traded by the Kings to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2013, has struggled and was scheduled to be passed over Monday so that 22-year-old Garret Sparks could make his NHL debut. Bernier is 0-8-1 with a 3.62 goals-against average and .888 save percentage. “When you get your opportunities you’ve got to make good on them,” Coach Mike Babcock said Sunday. James Reimer remains sidelined because of an undisclosed injury.

+ If the Calgary Flames were living the dream last season while making the playoffs and advancing to the second round, they’re living a nightmare now. They ranked 29th in the NHL through Sunday’s games and have lost three in a row and six of nine. Their goal differential was a league-worst minus-31 (56 for, 87 against).