3 takeaways from last week in NHL

What we learned from the last week of play in the NHL:

Consecutive victories record remains safe

The Columbus Blue Jackets’ franchise-record winning streak ended last week at 16, one short of the NHL record set by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins. They followed their streak-busting 5-0 loss with a 5-4 loss to the New York Rangers — their first regulation defeat in a game they had led after two periods — but they bounced back Sunday for a 2-1 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Sergei Bobrovsky’s goaltending, their defense and their league-leading power play should enable them to continue competing at a high level. Incidentally, the 1992-93 Penguins didn’t follow that 17-game streak with a Stanley Cup triumph.

Claude Julien’s job security might be shaky

The Bruins (21-17-5) have been going sideways lately with a 4-4-2 record in their last 10 games. They’re holding a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division but they’ve played four more games than some of their pursuers.

“I think we’re shy of where I thought we would be,” General Manager Don Sweeney told the Boston Globe. Asked if he’d rule out firing Julien, Sweeney replied, “I have to look at everything.”

Not the strongest vote of confidence ever offered.

Post-World Cup fatigue might be going around

It’s not usually news when Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews collects two goals and five points over five games. But considering that his spree padded his totals to seven goals and 20 points — and was probably his most productive stretch this season — it emphasized how much the 28-year-old center has struggled this season.

But so have several older players who played in the World Cup before the NHL season began. Kings center Anze Kopitar, 29, who played for Slovenia in Olympic qualifying before the World Cup, was stuck on three goals through Sunday. San Jose’s Joe Thornton, 37, has two goals (and a respectable 24 assists). Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf, 31, has five goals. Ducks right wing Corey Perry, 31, who averaged 37 goals in his previous three seasons, has seven goals. Kings winger Marian Gaborik, 34, broke his foot at the World Cup and has two goals in 18 games.

Could it be they’ve played too much hockey? The NHL and NHL Players’ Assn. plan to stage the World Cup again and have said they’d like to create other international events to increase revenues and exposure but they must proceed cautiously if the cost is extensive wear-and-tear on players’ bodies.

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