If last year was any indication, it is way too premature to make any assumptions. Yet the Montreal Canadiens are back to winning in October, as they are now 9-0-1 to begin the season. They are now first in the NHL Power Rankings, and they have to hope that neither Carey Price nor hot backup Al Montoya get hurt.
The Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal’s closest rival in the Atlantic Division, swapped with the Canadiens and fell to third, while Edmonton took a huge jump.
1. Montreal Canadiens (19 points)
Previously 3 (13 points)
Here we go again. The Canadiens cannot lose in October. Their first regulation loss last year was to Vancouver on October 27, and that was with an earlier start to the season. Unless Montreal remains undefeated until March (no chance), Vancouver will not ruin the run this year after getting shut out on Wednesday. Alexander Radulov had two assists on Saturday and a goal on Wednesday to continue his hot start in his return to the NHL, and Carey Price stopped 42 Canucks shots to record his first shutout in over a year.
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2. Pittsburgh Penguins (15 points)
Previously 2 (9 points)
Leave it to Evgeni Malkin to take control. Not only did he score the game-winning goal against Philly, but that goal gave him 300 for his career. He has since passed that mark with a goal in a blowout win over Anaheim, giving him four goals in three games.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning (12 points)
Previously 1 (10 points)
Their road trip went too far south, for they lost three straight games and the Rangers blew them out. Then Tampa Bay switched things up and did the slaughtering, themselves. They pummeled the Islanders, 6-1, to finish their road trip 3-3-0. Nikita Kucherov narrowly missed a hat trick on Tuesday, with two goals and two assists.
4. Edmonton Oilers (15 points)
Previously 11 (10 points)
When facing a goalie who has too much on his mind, sometimes teams have to concede wins to watch a memorable moment. Edmonton was shut out against Craig Anderson, whose wife is battling cancer, and Ottawa on Sunday. Unfortunately for the Oilers, Nazem Kadri was the next player to burn them with an overtime goal on Tuesday. Cam Talbot had five straight games of at least a 95% save percentage before Toronto snapped that streak.
5. New York Rangers (14 points)
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Previously 9 (10 points)
It was not an assuring start, for they lost at Carolina, but their last two games went from marquee match-ups to laughers. The Rangers scored seven second period goals in their last two games, and they outscored the Lightning and Blues 11-1. Michael Grabner lit up Madison Square Garden on Sunday, recording his third career hat trick on six shots on goal.
6. Washington Capitals (13 points)
Previously 6 (7 points)
They looked poor against Edmonton, but they ended their Western Canadian road trip in style. They won three straight games and only sweated in the MTS Centre after the Jets rallied in the third period. Jay Beagle won the game with 30 seconds left, but Marcus Johansson was the star on the road. He has a whopping five goals during the current win streak.
7. San Jose Sharks (12 points)
Previously 8 (8 points)
They made quick work of a struggling playoff team and what is considered a non-contender at home, but they let the second period get away from them against Arizona, destroying a perfect week. Joe Thornton had a goal and two assists for the week, with two of those points coming in the win over Nashville.
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8. St. Louis Blues (12 points)
Previously 4 (9 points)
They can thank their hot start to the season for their solid spot in the Central Division, but things have not been as encouraging after the first week. They have just two wins after a 3-0-0 start, and they scored zero or one goal in each of their five losses. Once again, the offense is a serious cause for concern in St. Louis. Jake Allen was outstanding on Saturday, shutting out Los Angeles on 27 shots.
9. Chicago Blackhawks (13 points)
Previously 10 (7 points)
Things were looking bleak coming out of the gates, but Chicago did not need much time to recover to get into a tie for first in the Central Division. Corey Crawford played a big role this week, allowing just three goals in as many games. He also recorded his first shutout of the season against the Kings on Sunday.
10. Ottawa Senators (12 points)
Previously 12 (8 points)
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It was meant to be for Craig Anderson. In his first start since finding out his wife has cancer, the Sens goaltender went into Rogers Place and put together the most heart-wrenching performance of recent memory. He shut out the high-flying Oilers on 37 shots and was deservedly named the first star of the game.
11. Minnesota Wild (13 points)
Previously 13 (9 points)
Perhaps the shutout streak is over, but Devan Dubnyk was by far the best goalie over the past week. He shut out three straight opponents – Boston, Buffalo, and Dallas – before the Sabres solved him in the rematch. Still, two goals allowed in four games is highly praiseworthy. Joel Eriksson Ek, Minnesota’s first-round pick in 2015, had three assists against the Bruins.
12. Florida Panthers (9 points)
Previously 5 (7 points)
What was the one thing that stopped Florida from losing five straight and seven of eight? A Colton Sceviour hat trick. His scoring outbreak was the difference in Florida’s win over Detroit. The offense, however, would be a disaster if Sceviour and Jonathan Marchessault did not break out in October.
13. Philadelphia Flyers (11 points)
Previously 16 (7 points)
The Flyers do not unload on the net, but they are still second in the NHL in scoring. They have scored at least four goals in seven games, and they have only passed that total once. After falling short with four goals on Thursday and Saturday, they got two game winners to hit the four-goal plateau. Jakob Voracek did what he could in the loss to Pittsburgh, scoring twice, and then had the overtime goal to defeat Detroit on Wednesday.
14. Detroit Red Wings (13 points)
Previously 17 (10 points)
Wednesday Night hockey out east is known to be thrilling, and this week’s edition was no exception. Unfortunately for Detroit, it resulted in their first overtime loss. This loss definitely hurts, because the Wings have now lost three straight after a six-game winning streak. Frans Nielsen scored Detroit’s only goal on Thursday against the Blues, while Henrik Zetterberg ended the lengthy shootout to temporarily preserve the win streak.
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15. New Jersey Devils (10 points)
Previously 20 (7 points)
After the Blackhawks needed overtime to become the first team to defeat the Devils in the Prudential Center this season, New Jersey continued its roll at home with a win over the suddenly chilly Lightning. Now New Jersey has to translate their success to the road, as they take on both Florida teams again before visiting Carolina. Adam Henrique scored his 100th career goal in the win over Tampa Bay.
16. Dallas Stars (8 points)
Previously 7 (7 points)
Dallas was a Western Conference powerhouse last season because of their top-ranked offense. Now? They are 26th in goals per game. Just when they were about to catch a silver lining by winning one of three on the road, Columbus tied Tuesday’s game at two with 13 seconds remaining in regulation and won in overtime. After scoring on Tuesday. Tyler Seguin has now scored in three of the last four games.
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17. New York Islanders (8 points)
Previously 14 (6 points)
What a horrible week for the Islanders. Jaroslav Halak’s agent expressed his displeasure over the three-goalie rotation, and Halak may be traded any day now. On the ice, Tampa Bay burned through both Halak and Thomas Greiss. For a team that is already struggling to fill the smallest hockey arena in the league, this could actually hurt the team in a dramatic way.
18. Winnipeg Jets (8 points)
Previously 21 (4 points)
The Cardiac Kids did it again, except Washington stunned them late on Tuesday to hang on. Fortunately for them, they got wins on Thursday and Friday to avoid the Central Division cellar (temporarily, at least). Michael Hutchinson has been a rumored target for the Las Vegas franchise, and he impressed on Friday, shutting out the Avalanche on 37 shots.
19. Boston Bruins (10 points)
Previously 22 (6 points)
A stable goaltender works wonders. When Tuukka Rask was hurt, the Bruins were heading south fast. Since his return, however, they have had the most stifling defense in the league. He shut out the hated Red Wings on Saturday and only allowed one goal against the Panthers. At this rate, there will be a lot of Two U’s, Two K’s, and Two Points.
20. Anaheim Ducks (10 points)
Previously 18 (6 points)
How nice that the Ducks only have to catch San Jose, who only looked dangerous after the playoffs started last year, and Edmonton, which has no playoff experience in recent memory. Of course, Anaheim would be better off if they were competitive against teams like Pittsburgh rather than just the offensively challenged teams, like Nashville and LA. Rickard Rakell had contract and Visa negotiations to deal with, but he returned and torched the Kings with a goal and two assists in his season debut. Look for Hampus Lindholm to make his season debut very soon.
21. Nashville Predators (7 points)
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Previously 15 (4 points)
With the exception of an overtime loss in Los Angeles, it has been either exceptional or ugly for the Preds. They salvaged just one point in a blowout-heavy trip to California, but easily handled Colorado on Tuesday. Craig Smith was the main beneficiary, with two goals and two hits against the Avalanche.
22. Calgary Flames (9 points)
Previously 19 (7 points)
Calgary is the next team to travel through California, and they will certainly be looking for a better trip than Nashville’s. After a three-game winning streak, they have since lost to Washington and Chicago, and the Flames are the last team that can afford a five-game losing streak. Dougie Hamilton carried the Flames in the win over Ottawa, scoring twice and adding an assist.
23. Colorado Avalanche (8 points)
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Previously 25 (6 points)
Not a whole lot to celebrate, but their win in Arizona was another good day for Matt Duchene. He had his second two-goal game in his last four to help Colorado outlast the Coyotes. He also tallied an assist against Nashville, but the Avalanche were shut down on both sides of the ice.
24. Vancouver Canucks (9 points)
Previously 24 (9 points)
At least they have scored recently, unlike Los Angeles. Unfortunately, they are the only team with a six-game losing streak, and the fantasy run they previously had is all but gone. Bo Horvat has quietly scored four times this season, with his goal against Washington on Saturday being the last Vancouver goal.
25. Buffalo Sabres (10 points)
Previously 26 (4 points)
The Sabres have ripped off a three-game winning streak after digging a huge hole to begin the season, and goaltending has a lot to do with it. Anders Nilsson shut the Panthers on 33 shots on Saturday, then Robin Lehner returned from illness and allowed just one goal in each of his last two games. Perhaps one of them can successfully replace Chad Johnson. Also, Josh Gorges had six blocked shots against Minnesota on Tuesday.
26. Los Angeles Kings (8 points)
Previously 23 (6 points)
After four extra time wins in a row, the Kings are the coldest team in the NHL. They have been shut out three times in a row, with the latest coming off a brutal beatdown from their Southern California rivals. Jack Campbell had to replace Peter Budaj in that game, and Anders Lindback is now a potential candidate in backing up the former Av and Hab.
27. Columbus Blue Jackets (9 points)
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Previously 27 (5 points)
How many points did Columbus have through eight games last year? Zero. 0-8-0. Anything would have been an improvement, but four wins during the same span is a success story. Sam Gagner has been the hottest skater on the team. After driving the Jackets with two goals in a four-goal first period against Anaheim, he tied the game late in the third period in their game against the Stars. Columbus would win on a Seth Jones strike to sweep the season series.
28. Toronto Maple Leafs (9 points)
Previously 28 (5 points)
Nazem Kadri sealing Tuesday’s win in overtime was sweet. What was even more sweet? He scored after bruising past the one Connor McDavid. Holding? Perhaps. Regardless, one of the more anticipated match-ups in the years to come ended in a thriller, even though neither McDavid nor Auston Matthews scored. Kadri, however, scored twice, and he has now scored all five of his goals against Canadian teams. That is much harder than you think.
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29. Carolina Hurricanes (7 points)
Previously 29 (4 points)
The likely pushover of the season. Carolina has the fewest wins in the NHL, and they have now fallen in extra time thrice. Perhaps more home games would help, but a lengthy home stand is still more than a week away. Justin Faulk scored his third goal of the season, a wrister through heavy traffic, against Philly on Sunday.
30. Arizona Coyotes (6 points)
Previously 30 (2 points)
It is not a coincidence that Montreal is the only team that is, at this moment, “out of the woods.” All of the other teams have yet to get much separation from the rest of their division rivals. Fortunately for Arizona, they can still catch Los Angeles with a win over Nashville and a King loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday. Their horrrrrrrible road trip was not as devastating as initially perceived. Despite having only one two-point game to start the season, Brad Richardson is leading Arizona in points with eight, and is on pace to blow past his previous career highs in goals and points (14 and 31, respectively).
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Bold Predictions:
Last week:
The Maple Leafs get two goals from both Auston Matthews and William Nylander against Florida on Thursday. I guess they took a break and let Tyler Bozak do the work for them.
The Nashville goalie (Pekka Rinne, most likely) allows just one goal on at least 30 San Jose shots on Saturday. I would have been better off doing the other way around.
Vladimir Tarasenko defeats the New York Rangers in overtime with a breakaway goal on Tuesday. Did St. Louis even show up?
This week:
Brock Nelson leads the Islanders in goals from Thursday-Wednesday.
LA beats the Penguins on Thursday, but they will have to wait for their first regulation win.
Patrik Laine gets another hat trick.