NHL Power Rankings: Washington Capitals Off to Hot Start in Week 2

NHL Power Rankings (Week 2) – Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning Continue Their Dominance, Avalanche/Canucks Off to a Hot Start, Columbus Blue Jackets Quickly Find a Home in NHL’s Basement

We’re now seven days into the new season with teams having played anywhere between two to four games so far.  There has been no shortage of headlines over the past week with high-scoring affairs as teams are still looking to tighten things up defensively.

History was made on opening night when the Toronto Maple Leafs faced off against the Ottawa Senators.  1st overall pick Auston Matthews put his name in the record book with an outstanding four-goal performance in his debut.  His second goal was a work of art beating two opponents, he briefly lost the puck to Erik Karlsson, but lifted his stick and drove to the net for a beauty.

Edmonton Oilers phenom Connor McDavid put up back-to-back three-point efforts against Alberta rival Calgary before being left off the score sheet in a 6-2 loss to Buffalo on Sunday and again on Tuesday.  Sabres Ryan O’Reilly had a four-point night on Sunday, while D Rasmus Ristolainen provided three assists.

Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand led the way in the B’s debut last Thursday toppling the Blue Jackets 6-3.  Marchand had five points, David Pastrnak had four, and David Backes had three.

Other highlight performances of the past week included hat-tricks by Winnipeg Jets F Patrik Laine, Colorado Avalanche F Joe Colborne, Chicago Blackhawks F Richard Panik, and Detroit Red Wings D Mike Green.

Top Scorers After Week 1 (Oct.12-Oct.18)

1. D Brent Burns, SJ – 8pts
2. F Brad Marchand, BOS – 7pts
2. F Chris Kreider, NYR – 7pts
2. D Erik Karlsson, OTT – 7pts
5. F David Pastrnak, BOS – 6pts
5. F Connor McDavid, EDM – 6pts
5. F Paul Stastny, STL – 6pts
5. F Joe Pavelski, SJ – 6pts
5. D Mike Green, DET – 6pts
5. F Mark Scheifele, WPG – 6pts
11. F Blake Wheeler, WPG – 5pts
11. F Richard Panik, CHI – 5pts
11. F Vladimir Tarasenko, STL – 5pts
11. F Leon Draisaitl, EDM – 5pts
11. F Thomas Vanek, DET – 5pts
11. F Joe Thornton, SJ – 5pts
11. F Auston Matthews, TOR – 5pts
11. F Patrik Laine, WPG – 5pts
25 players tied at 19th with 4pts

Previous Ranking: 2 (+1)

Team Record: (2-0-1)

Player of the Week: Braden Holtby (2gp 1w 1.45GAA .942 save percentage)

Special Teams

Washington is tied for 19th on the PP, operating at 15.4 percent efficiency. They’ve converted two of 13 chances through three games. The Caps are 26th (4th from last) on the penalty kill (PK) allowing two goals on seven opportunities for a dismal 71.4 percent.

Goaltending

Holtby started the first two games for Washington, proving once again why he’s amongst the best in the world. He allowed two goals on 30 shots against Pittsburgh on Oct.13 and one goal on 22 shots against the NY Islanders two nights later. Backup Philipp Grubauer filled in on Tuesday night, capturing his first career shutout.

Defense

Five Caps defenders have recorded an assist through the first three games. As usual, Carlson and Niskanen are assuming a bulk of the minutes, while Dmitry Orlov ranks third taking away some of those extra minutes Brooks Orpik logged in 2015-16 when he was healthy.

Forwards

Washington’s forwards have been somewhat quiet thus far. Alex Ovechkin has a goal and an assist, Nicklas Backstrom has three assists, Evgeny Kuznetsov has one assist. The Caps have been fortunate enough to have three players score two goals in each of their first three games. Andre Burakovsky did it on opening night, Daniel Winnik against the Islanders, and T.J. Oshie on Tuesday night.

Previous Ranking: 4 (+2)

Team Record: (3-0-0)

Player of the Week: Steven Stamkos (3gp 2g 2a 4pts)

Special Teams

Tampa Bay is also tied with Buffalo and St. Louis at 25 percent PP efficiency, but with four less chances on the man advantage. The Lightning have converted three of 12 opportunities thus far. Ranked 10th on the PK, TB has done a good job staying fairly disciplined and have only allowed one goal in eight chances.

Goaltending

Elite starter Ben Bishop had two rough starts to begin the season. He allowed four goals on 32 shots against Detroit in the opener and three goals on 31 shots on Tuesday night versus Florida. His early stat line reads 3.40GAA and .889 save percentage. Backup Andrei Vasilevskiy fared much better in his lone start against New Jersey stopping 32 of 34 shots.

Defense

On a positive note, Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman continue to serve as quality top options for the Lightning. Hedman has three assists in three games already. If we look to the ugly, Jason Garrison is only averaging 15:29 of ice-time/game, lowest of all TB defenders, yet has a stagger four giveaways in three games.

Forwards

The first line currently contains Ondrej Palat, Steven Stamkos, and Jonathan Drouin. Who knows if that sticks, but one thing that has stood out is the chemistry between Stammer and Drouin. The pair sit tied with Alex Killorn for the team lead with four points, while Ondrej Palat has three. Valterri Filppula is providing some secondary scoring on the third line with two goals and an assist, while Cedric Paquette has a goal and an assist playing in a limited fourth-line role.

Previous Ranking: 3 (-)

Team Record: (3-1-0)

Player of the Week: Brent Burns (4gp 3g 5a 8pts)

Special Teams

The Sharks rank 10th on the power play with three goals on 13 chances for a 23.1 percent efficiency rate. Their PK will need to be considerably better after allowing three goals on the first eight PP’s. Through four games, the Sharks sit 28th with an ugly 62.5 percent on the penalty kill.

Goaltending

Martin Jones is coming off a great 2015-16 campaign and looks ready to challenge for the Vezina Trophy. Jones started San Jose’s first three games with two hot starts stopping 21 of 22 shots in the season opener against LA and 26 of 28 shots against the Blue Jackets. His third one is a game he’d like to have back after allowing five goals on 27 shots against the NY Rangers. Playing on back-to-back nights, SJ turned to their backup Aaron Dell who made his NHL debut on Tuesday. He stopped 21 of 23 shots to earn a win in his first start.

Defense

The Sharks defense has picked up where it left off in the Stanley Cup Finals. Top pairing Brent Burns/Marc-Edouard Vlasic are proving dangerous once again. Burns is tearing apart the NHL four games into the season with three goals, five assists.

Forwards

Captain Joe Pavelski is off to a hot start, already among the league leaders with six points in four games. Veteran Joe Thornton is ranked 2nd in team scoring with five assists, followed by Logan Couture with two goals and two assists. All three have a pair of PP points, helping lead the way for the 10th ranked power play.

Previous Ranking: 1 (-3)

Team Record: (2-1-1)

Player of the Week: Phil Kessel (4gp 2g 0a 2pts) *game-winner and SO winner

Special Teams

No team has been given more PP opportunities than the Stanley Cup Champion Penguins. After four games, Pittsburgh has converted four of 18 chances to rank 11th at 22.2 percent efficiency. At the same time, the Pens rank near the top for playing shorthanded as well, and have allowed the exact same amount of goals on the same amount of chances (four of 18). Unfortunately, that leaves them at 21st operating at a mere 77.8 percent on the PK.

Goaltending

With Matt Murray sidelined, Marc-Andre Fleury is getting an extended workload. He has appeared in all four games for the Penguins, putting up two solid performances to star the year. Fleury stopped 39 of 41 shots in the opener vs. Washington, then 34 of 36 shots against Anaheim two nights later. Unfortunately, he struggled in back-to-back games on Monday/Tuesday allowing four goals on 31 shots versus Colorado and four goals on 32 shots in Montreal.

Defense

Pittsburgh received more bad news recently (aside from having Crosby and Murray on the shelf already). Kris Letang is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury, which is a disappointing blow after a solid start with two assists in four games. Trevor Daley and Brian Dumoulin will have to step up in Letang’s absence.

Forwards

Pittsburgh was delivered a pair of low blows to start the season losing goaltender Matt Murray and captain Sidney Crosby. Crosby is still recovering from a concussion and could be back soon if the reports are true. This is huge news for the Pens, but it’s important they be careful with their superstar center. In the meantime, Phil Kessel has provided a spark in his absence with two goals in four games. They were both important goals including a game winner and shootout winner that doesn’t even make the score sheet.

Previous Ranking: 6 (+1)

Team Record: (3-0-1)

Player of the Week: Vladimir Tarasenko (4gp 4g 2a 6pts)

Special Teams

Tied with Buffalo and Tampa Bay for 7th on the PP, the Blues are operating at 25 percent efficiency. Similar to the Sabres, St. Louis has converted four of 16 chances so far. STL is also a top 10 team on the PK sitting tied at 6th at a 93.3 percent efficiency rate. They’ve allowed one goal on 15 PP chances.

Goaltending

The trade of Brian Elliott in the offseason paved the way for Jake Allen as the undisputed starter. It looks like he might begin the year on the IR, but managed to avoid be put on the shelf. He stopped 17 of 19 shots for a season opener win against Chicago, then 19 of 21 shots for another victory at home vs. Minnesota. Backup Carter Hutton stepped up against the Rangers and only allowed two goals on 35 shots en route to a win. Ken Hitchcock turned back to Allen on Tuesday against Vancouver; he stopped 24 of 26 shots but St. Louis lost 2-1.

Defense

It’s worth noting that Kevin Shattenkirk is only logging a little over 19 minutes/game worth of ice-time. He still leads all Blues defenseman with three points in four games. Seeing how much more they’re using Colton Parayko only lends to the notion that Shattenkirk could soon be on his way out the door.

Forwards

The offensive lines are merely temporary with Jaden Schwart due to return soon. They’ve also got an unexpected emergence from Nail Yakupov, which is starting to raise a question as to where certain players fit in the Blues lineup. It might be a safe assumption that Ken Hitchcock is continually juggling the lines throughout the year. Early performers in 2016-17 include the Tarasenk-show and center Paul Stastny, who each have six points in four games.

Previous Ranking: 5 (-1)

Team Record: (2-1-0)

Player of the Week: Jamie Benn (3gp 1g 2a 3pts)

Special Teams

Similar to Philly, Dallas is also two for 10 on PP chances through three games. 20 percent efficiency puts them in a tie for 13th in the middle of the pack. The PK is struggling so far ranked 24th in the league. DAL has allowed three goals on 11 chances for 72.7 percent.

Goaltending

The Dallas Stars have received quality starts in two of their first three games, a nice change from last season. Antti Niemi started the season opener stopping 33 of 35 shots to beat Anaheim, but followed it up with a poor performance yielding five goals on 20 shots two nights later against Colorado. Lindy Ruff eventually pulled Niemi, with Lehtonen stopping 12 of 13 shots in relief. Kari Lehtonen started Tuesday’s game against Nashville and looked solid allowing just one goal on 28 shots.

Defense

Dallas’ blue line took a lot of heat over the way things played out in 2015-16. As this writer predicted, the Stars defense is looking considerably better after shaking things up a bit. Offensive stud John Klingberg seems to be getting better defensively on his quest to become a more complete player. Dan Hamhuis is filling in nicely to replace the big minutes lost from Alex Goligoski. But perhaps the biggest breath of fresh air is late 2015-16 emergence Stephen Johns. He can provide a bit offensively, but it’s his defensive presence that stands out. Johns is a big boy who likes to use his body and isn’t afraid to block shots.

Forwards

The Stars forward lines are a complete mess right now. A rash of injuries leading into the new season made things rather interesting heading into the season opener. We wouldn’t be surprised if Brett Ritchie (1 goal 1 assist) eventually makes his way up to the top line once more bodies are healthy. He plays a rugged style that would blend nicely deep in the corners with Jamie Benn.

Through three games, five forwards are tied with three points: Jamie Benn (1g 2a), Tyler Seguin (2g 1a), Antoine Roussel (1g 2a), Adam Cracknell (2g 1a), Devin Shore (1g 2a), and Patrick Eaves (0g 3a).

Previous Ranking: 8 (+1)

Team Record: (2-2-0)

Player of the Week: Chris Kreider (4gp 3g 4a 7pts)

Special Teams

The Rangers are operating at 14.23 percent PP efficiency, having converted two of 14 opportunities. Turning to the PK, the NYR were in the middle of the pack heading into Wednesday’s loss.  They allowed one PP goal on four chances for a season total of three goals on 16 power plays – New York now sits 81.25 percent.

Goaltending

Despite receiving mediocre performances from Henrik Lundqvist and Antti Raanta over the first four games, the Rangers have still managed to hammer out a pair of wins.  King Henrik has allowed six goals on 40 shots in three starts; Antti Raanta allowed four goals on 31 shots in his lone start.

Defense

There’s been a lot of shuffling around on the Rangers blue line in the early season.  They lost Dan Girardi to injury after two games, and Kevin Klein appeared in his first game on Wednesday night.  Nick Holden is averaging 22 minutes of ice-time/game so far, but those numbers should dip significantly as the season grows older.

Forwards

For those of you keeping count. New York has the early lead in the offseason trade for Mika Zibanejad. The Swede has two goals, three assists (five points) in four games, compared to Brassard who has one goal, two assists in four games. Sad thing, it could very well end this way when the dust finally settles – and best of all, Ottawa hands the Rangers draft picks.

On a side note, fans were expecting big things from Chris Kreider in 2016-17, and so far he’s delivering. He has three goals, four assists (seven points) sitting near the top of NHL scoring.

Previous Ranking: 7 (-1)

Team Record: (2-2-0)

Player of the Week: Patrick Kane (4gp 1g 5a 6pts)

Special Teams

Chicago is looking dangerous on the PP again just four games into a new season. They rank 4th at 35.7 percent after capitalizing on five of 14 chances. Unfortunately, their penalty kill is borderline embarrassing so far. After allowing opponents to convert on nine of 17 PP chances, the Hawks sit in 30th place at 47 percent efficiency. Ouch.

Goaltending

It’s been a rough start so far for Chicago’s starter Corey Crawford. He’s coming off a monster year in which he had seven shutouts, so it’s surprising to see him allow three or more goals in his first three starts. Don’t expect this to be a trend as he should have no issue rebounding from a slow start.

Defense

Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook continue to prove why they’re considered one of the top pairings in the NHL.  Keith is plus-1 (plus/minus) with four assists, while Seabrook has one goal, four assists with a plus-2 rating.

Forwards

After a quiet start against Central Division opponents in their first three games, the Blackhawks offense opened up in a big way against Philadelphia. The top line from 2015-16 of Artem Anisimov, Patrick Kane, and Artemi Panarin combined for 11 points. Kane and Anisimov each had four, while Panarin had three.

Perhaps the most intriguing storyline is how the other two lines will shake up as the year progresses. Chicago is having success with Toews between Motte and Panik (who scored a hat-trick vs. NSH), but you have to wonder how long it will last. Both Tyler Motte and Nick Schmaltz are an intriguing pair of rookies to watch in 2016-17.

Previous Ranking: 11 (+2)

Team Record: (2-0-1)

Player of the Week: Al Montoya (3gp 1.30GAA .962 save percentage)

Special Teams

Tied with New Jersey for 17th at 16.7 percent PP efficiency, the Canadiens carry an identical stat line of two goals on 12 chances. The Habs sit alone at 4th on the PK with a 94.1 percent efficiency rate. They’ve allowed one goal in 17 chances.

Goaltending

Free agent signing Al Montoya is serving as the starter while Carey Price is sidelined with the flu. He was a brick wall through the first three games stopping 30 of 31 shots vs. BUF, 35 of 38 against OTT, then a shutout against the Cup Champion Penguins on Tuesday.

Defense

The Canadiens have put Shea Weber with Nathan Beaulieu on the top pairing to start the season.  They’re hoping the match-up works similar to the Weber-Josi combo in Nashville, where Shea would retrieve the puck and allow Josi to be an outlet to carry the puck out.  We’ll see if it works – Beaulieu is certainly not Josi.

Forwards

Aside from third liner David Desharnais (3pts), the Habs are receiving very little offense from anyone besides their top line. Brendan Gallagher has two goals, one assist, captain Max Pacioretty has a goal and two assists, while Alex Galchenyuk has three assists. Coach Michel Therrien has already begun shuffling his lines, having had Paul Byron in the top-six one night. If someone doesn’t step up soon, Montreal might be forced to turn to call-ups like Michael McCarron, Charles Hudon, or Jacob de La Rose.

Previous Ranking: 13 (+3)

Team Record: (2-0-1)

Player of the Week: Roberto Luongo (2gp 0.98GAA .957 save percentage)

Special Teams

Another team putting up goose eggs for PP goals, the Panthers have also failed to convert going 0 for 8 on the power play. Luckily, Florida is also putting up zeros on the PK having killed off all seven penalties for a perfect 100 percent efficiency tied for 1st.

Goaltending

Luongo started the first two games for Florida, allowing just one goal in each contest. He stopped 23 of 24 shots vs. NJ and 21 of 22 against DET. Reimer gave Lu some relief on Tuesday, but had a shaky first start against a tough TB squad allowing three goals on 28 shots. Consider this a blip on the radar against a powerhouse Lightning team; James Reimer will be fine and continue to see a similar ratio for starts (1:3-4 games).

Must Read: Atlantic Division Breakdown/Analysis

Defense

Despite having zero points in three games, Aaron Ekblad and Keith Yandle have played fairly well.  The only real offense Florida is receiving from the back end is rookie Michael Matheson who has a goal and an assist.  It’s only three games, but based on his performance with Team Canada at the World Championships, it looks like Matheson could be a big part of the Panthers defense core this year.

Forwards

The Panthers were dealt an ugly hand to the start the new season. They lost Nick Bjugstad for the first month and Jonathan Huberdeau in the final preseason game for an extended period of time. Those losses paved the way for rookie Denis Malgin to start the year at third line center and Jonathan Marchessault an opportunity on the top line. He had an assist in the season opener, followed up with a four-point performance vs. DET in game two. Jonathan was left off the score sheet in their 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay.

Previous Ranking: 10 (-1)

Team Record: (1-2-0)

Player of the Week: Ryan Johansen (3gp 0g 4a 4pts)

Special Teams

The Preds are on fire early in the new season ranking 1st on the PP with a mind-boggling 45.5 percent efficiency. Yes, that’s right, they’ve converted five of 11 chances in the first three games. Nashville’s PK will need to be better moving forward though after allowing two goals on nine chances. That ranks the Preds 22nd on the penalty kill at 77.8 percent.

Goaltending

Elite starter Pekka Rinne has looks good early on. He hasn’t allowed more than two goals in both of his starts against Chicago and Dallas. The same cannot be said for backup Marek Mazanec, who started the second of the back-to-back vs. the Blackhawks. He allowed five goals, including a hat-trick to Richard Panik.

Defense

Safe to say it’s way too early to inject opinion on the new pairing of P.K. Subban and Roman Josi. A three game sample size that includes a back-to-back against Chicago, followed up by Dallas is a tough way to start the year. Both Subban and Josi have a goal and an assist with a -2 plus/minus rating. Watch how quickly those numbers change after a big offensive night for the Preds.

Forwards

Given the immense amount of depth in the Preds offensive group, it’s safe to assume we should see a lot of line juggling throughout the season. Who knows if Kevin Fiala is the long-term answer alongside Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen, but he should have an opportunity to lock down a top-six spot if he can begin to find the score sheet. Somewhat of statistical anomoly, veteran Mike Fisher has three points in the first three games, all of which came on the man advantage. This is the same guy that posted five points on the PP over the entire 2015-16 season.

Previous Ranking: 16 (+3)

Team Record: (2-1-0)

Player of the Week: Ryan Suter (3gp 1g 3a 4pts)

Special Teams

Minnesota is tied with Washington for 19th at 15.4 percent efficiency on the man advantage. They’ve managed for score two goals on 13 chances. The Wild are tied for 1st on the penalty kill at 100 percent efficiency after shutting the door on 11 straight PP chances.

Goaltending

Minnesota will be looking for some better play in the crease moving forward. Starter Devan Dubnyk allowed three goals in his first two starts, forcing Bruce Boudreau to turn to Darcy Kuemper in game three on Tuesday night. Luckily, he got the win, but also allowed three goals in the process.

Defense

Minnesota’s top pairing of Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon are playing well early on.  Suter has four points in three games, while Spurgeon has a goal and an assist.  They’re also a combined plus-3 plus/minus rating.  Unfortunately, their second pairing has been a letdown so far recording just a goal and combined -5 rating between Marco Scandella and Matt Dumba.  Despite only logging a little north of 15 minutes/game, Jonas Brodin has a goal and an assist on the bottom pairing.  Brodin and defensive partner Christian Folin have combined for a plus-5 rating.

Forwards

While one goal in three games doesn’t look like much for free agent signing Eric Staal, it’s worth noting he’s played considerably well. He should continue to see big minutes and should have no problem bouncing back from the worst season of his career.

The Wild are getting a spark from their bottom six group. Chris Stewart had a Gordie Howe hat-trick (goal, assist, fight) in the second game vs. Winnipeg, leaving him with three points in three games. Waiver claim Teemu Pulkinnen is also playing well even with limited fourth-line minutes. He should start to see more time on the second PP unit.

Previous Ranking: 19 (+5)

Team Record: (2-1-0)

Player of the Week: Brad Marchand (3gp 2g 5a 7pts)

Special Teams

The Bruins are one for 10 on the PP after three games. They’ve managed to collect wins without special teams, but 25th place at 10 percent will need to improve as the season grows older. The B’s have fared better on the penalty kill ranking 7th at 91.7 percent. Boston has allowed one goal in 12 opportunities.

Goaltending

Give Tuukka Rask some credit, he has looked great early on. In fact, he almost looks like that 2013-14 Rask that won the Vezina Trophy. He stopped 28 of 31 shots in the opener versus Columbus and 34 of 35 shots against Winnipeg on Monday. What the stats don’t show you are the quality of saves being made.

Defense

While Marchand and Pastrnak stole the headlines in Boston in their season opener, it was rookie D Brandon Carlo who quietly had a big night.  He recorded an assist and a plus-5 plus/minus rating.  Carlo now sits at a plus-7 rating after three games.  All that being said, Zdeno Chara has been the B’s top defender so far.  He has two points and a plus-6 rating and almost looks rejuvenated out there like the Chara of old that we know so well.

Forwards

Three players led the way in Boston’s 6-3 season opener win versus Columbus. Brad Marchand notched five points, David Pastrnak had four, and free agent addition David Backes had three. Backes put up goose eggs in the last two contests, but Marchand now leads the way with seven points, while Pastrnak has six.

On a side note, you have to wonder if the emergence of Danton Heinen paves the way for a deal that sees Ryan Spooner traded (maybe in a package) for an upgrade on the blue line.

Previous Ranking: 12 (-3)

Team Record: (0-3-0)

Player of the Week: Anze Kopitar (3gp 1g 2a 3pts)

Special Teams

The Kings are struggling tied for 22nd place on the power play. They’ve only managed to capitalize on one of eight chances for a disappointing 12.5 percent efficiency rate. LA also sits near the bottom on the PK ranking 20th at 77.8 percent, allowing two goals on nine PP opportunities.

Goaltending

Los Angeles is currently scrambling to find an answer between the pipes. Jonathan Quick is expected to miss at least three months, at which point the Kings could be well out of a playoff position. Jeff Zatkoff looked decent in relief of Quick stopping 15 of 16 shots to close out the opener (when Quick went down). He followed up it by allowing four goals on 30 shots vs. Philadelphia, then five goals on 16 shots before getting the hook in favor of Peter Budaj. Budaj stopped all nine shots in relief. Don’t be surprised if Los Angeles is in talks with Winnipeg to acquire Ondrej Pavelec.

Defense

Given the circumstances in goal, a combined -3 plus/minus for the top pairing of Doughty and Muzzin isn’t all that bad considering how bad the team has looked overall.  Don’t let the numbers fool you, this is still one of the NHL’s elite defensive pairings – they just need a little help between the pipes.  It also wouldn’t hurt to find a better permanent option for Alec Martinez aside from Brayden McNabb.. again.

Forwards

The absence of Marian Gaborik has opened a hole for PTO signing Devin Setoguchi. He has only has an assist in three games but looks rejuvenated after some time away from the NHL. As expected, familiar faces lead the way early on for Los Angeles. Captain Anze Kopitar has a goal and two assists, Tyler Toffoli has a goal and an assist, Jeff Carter sits with two helpers, while Tanner Pearson has a pair of early goals.

Previous Ranking: 15 (-1)

Team Record: (1-1-1)

Player of the Week: Travis Konecny (3gp 0g 4a 4pts)

Special Teams

Tied at 13th with Dallas and Toronto, the Flyers are operating at 20 percent efficiency to begin the year. They’ve scored on two of 10 chances, with one shorthanded goal allowed. Philly is tied with Dallas and Detroit at 25th on the penalty kill, as all three teams have allowed three goals on 11 PP chances.

Goaltending

Philly turned to Michal Neuvirth in the season opener, not surprising based on his World Cup performance. He stopped 23 of 25 shots to start the new year off with a win. They turned to Steve Mason in game two (Arizona’s first game) but fell short 4-3 to the Yotes. Mason allowed four goals on 35 shots. The Flyers went back to Neuvirth in game three versus Chicago, but he was run out of the net after allowing four goals on 16 shots. Mason didn’t fare much better in relief allowing two goals on 11 shots.

Defense

The “Ghost” Shayne Gostisbehere doesn’t seem to be showing the signs of a sophomore slump.  He could hit a wall at some point of course, but two assists in three games is a promising sign.  That top pairing of Andrew MacDonald and Gostisbehere has played extremely well early on.  The Flyers second pairing containing veteran Mark Streit and rookie Ivan Provorov had a hiccup in their game against Chicago on Tuesday. In a 7-4 loss, Provorov was a minus-5, while Streit was a -3 plus/minus rating.

Forwards

Keeping in mind that we’re only three games into the new season, it’s starting to look as though Philly could have four legitimate lines that can score. They’ll need the chemistry to continue flowing between Matt Read, P.E. Bellemare, and Dale Weise. But more importantly, the Flyers need rookie Travis Konecny to keep up his strong play. It’s no longer a question of whether Philly keeps him as the conversation now turns to Calder Trophy consideration.

Previous Ranking: 20 (+3)

Team Record: (1-1-1)

Player of the Week: Cory Schneider (3gp 1.99GAA .935 save percentage)

Special Teams

The Devils are two for 12 on the power play for an efficiency rate of 16.7 percent, which leaves them tied for 17th. NJ is tied with Carolina for 8th at 90 percent on the penalty kill, also allowing one goal on 10 chances.

Goaltending

Schneider continues to be the most consistent player in New Jersey. He’s off to a hot start despite only recording a single win. He stopped 32 of 34 shots in the opener versus Florida, 31 of 34 shots against the potent Lightning roster, then shut the door allowing just one goal on 24 shots vs. Anaheim on Tuesday.

Defense

We were hoping to see rookie Steven Santini beat out Ben Lovejoy for that spot on the second pairing, oh well, it’s a long 82-game season – injuries are bound to occur.  No one is standing out on the score sheet for New Jersey so far, but it’s worth pointing out that Damon Severson has looked great filling the void left by Adam Larsson.

Forwards

Waiver claim P.A. Parenteau is off to a hot-start on the top line with two points in three games, but who knows if that will last. The combination of Taylor Hall and Travis Zajac, on the other hand, will more than likely stay together based on early chemistry. Hall already has a pair of goals, with Zajac providing a goal and an assist. Between Hall-Zajac on the first line, Henrique-Palmieri on the second, and rookie Pavel Zacha centering the third line, New Jersey has more than enough firepower to make some noise in 2016-17.

Previous Ranking: 14 (-4)

Team Record: (2-2-0)

Player of the Week: Mike Green (4gp 3g 3a 6pts)

Special Teams

Detroit ranks 6th on the power play after converting four of 12 chances for 33.5 percent efficiency. The Red Wings killed off all four PP chances for NY on Wednesday pushing them up for 24th to 17th on the PK.  They’re now operating at an 80 percent efficiency rate.

Goaltending

Petr Mrazek was handed the first three starts of the season.  He put up a stinker in the opener allowing five goals on 35 shots.  He began to settle down in game two stopping 34 of 37 shots, before finally earning a win against a hot Senators squad on Monday after only allowing a single goal on 32 shots.  Jimmy Howard stepped up on Wednesday night to shut the door stopping 32 of 33 shots for a 2-1 win.

Defense

Detroit’s blue line could still use some tinkering as the years goes along. Don’t be surprised if Ken Holland is heavily pursuing one of Cam Fowler, Kevin Shattenkirk, or Jacob Trouba. In the meantime, Mike Green is providing an unexpected early spark for the Red Wings. He has three goals and three assists in three games, including his first career hat-trick on Monday against Ottawa.

Forwards

The Red Wings top-six is off to a pretty good start. Who would have imagined that most of the offense was being provided by the third line though? Buyout victim Thomas Vanek is proving that Minnesota was nothing more than a bad fit having posted three goals, three assists (six points) in four games. Even Darren Helm is providing a major spark after racking up three goals, one assist, which included a multi-goal game (2) vs. OTT.

Previous Ranking: 18 (-1)

Team Record: (1-2-1)

Player of the Week: Chad Johnson (2gp 1.88GAA .923 save percentage)

Special Teams

The Flames have certainly had their chances to convert on the man advantage, but have failed to capitalize. They rank 28th after going one for 16 on the PP through their first four games. Calgary is also struggling on the penalty kill as they rank 18th at 78.9 percent, having allowed four goals on 19 chances.

Goaltending

It was assumed that Brian Elliott to start the bulk load of games in 2016-17. He stumbled out of the gates with a pair of sloppy starts against Alberta rival Edmonton Oilers. Chad Johnson took over in the next two games and looked solid. This could be more of a tandem than first thought – similar to what Dallas does with Niemi/Lehtonen.

Defense

The Flames defense are off to another slow start in 2016-17.  Luckily this time around, they’re healthy and have better options between the pipes.  They’ll need a little more from T.J. Brodie and Dougie Hamilton as the season goes on, but at least Mark Giordano is providing his usual offense.  He has three assists in four games while logging north of 26 minutes/game.

Forwards

Calgary’s bottom six group deserves a lot of credit for helping at least collect three points so far.  Mikael Backlund (four assists) and Michael Frolik (three goals) lead the way in scoring, while others have stepped up at opportune times.  The Flames will need their top line, particularly Jonny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan to be a lot better following a sloppy start.

Previous Ranking: 22 (+2)

Team Record: (3-1-0)

Player of the Week: Erik Karlsson (4gp 2g 5a 7pts)

Special Teams

Ottawa is having no issue winning games, but scoring goals on the PP is another story. They’re only one for 11 operating at just 9.1 percent efficiency after four games. Oddly enough, the PK is struggling too despite the W’s being racked up. The Senators have allowed four goals on 17 chances, ranking them 23rd at 76.5 percent.

Goaltending

You’d think the Sens were getting amazing goaltending based on their record. But if you look at the goals against, you’ll see a discrepancy. Starter Craig Anderson allowed four goals against Toronto on Oct.12, three goals vs. Montreal on Oct.15, and four goals versus Arizona on Tuesday – yet he managed to collect a win in each contest. Backup Andrew Hammond yielded five goals on 25 shots vs. Detroit back on Monday, earning him the loss.

Must Read: 5 Bold Predictions for the Atlantic Division

Defense

Apparently, Erik Karlsson has a chip on his shoulder after being snubbed for the Norris after an 82-point season.  With seven points in four games (including a point in each game), you have to wonder just how many points the Sens defender is capable of producing.  On the other hand, maybe he’s just making up for the lack of offense from their second pairing.  Cody Ceci and Dion Phaneuf have combined for one assist and a -7 plus/minus rating.

Forwards

The Ottawa Senators have had no issue scoring goals through four games. The bad news? Either have their opponents. Because of the high-scoring affairs, two forwards (Kyle Turris and Mark Stone) have four points, while six others (Mike Hoffman, Zack Smith, Bobby Ryan, Tom Pyatt, Derick Brassard, and Ryan Dzingel) are sitting with three points.

Previous Ranking: 23 (+2)

Team Record: (2-1-0)

Player of the Week: Joe Colborne (3gp 3g 0a) *hat-trick in season opener vs. DAL

Special Teams

The Avs power play is working early, which might explain how they managed to rack up eight straight wins dating back to the preseason (before losing to Washington on Tuesday night). They’ve scored on four of 12 opportunities for 33.3 percent efficiency. They’ll need to tighten things up on the PK if they want to compete in a tough Central Division. The Avs currently rank 29th after having allowed six goals on the first 14 PP opportunities.

Goaltending

Despite a shaky start, Varlamov managed to collect a win while allowing four goals on 28 shots in the opener against Dallas. Pickard stepped in game two and also earned a victory stopping 28 of 31 shots to beat the Cup Champion Penguins. The Avs went back to Varlamov on Tuesday. He stopped 37 of 40 shots for a solid performance but Colorado couldn’t score a goal.

Defense

The Colorado Avalanche defense have a combined two goals, 10 assists (12 points) in three games.  Tyson Barrie has a goal and two assists, Erik Johnson with three helpers, Francois Beauchemin has a pair of assists, Patrick Wiercioch has recorded a goal and an assist, and Fedor Tyutin and Nikita Zadorov each have one assist.  There could be some juggling in the defensive pairings as the year goes on, but for now, Jared Bednar mid as well keep what’s working together.

Forwards

After a promising start to the new season, you’ve gotta wonder if a familiar issue will rear its ugly head. Matt Duchene is primarily serving at wing having only taken 19 face-offs, and as usual, it seems to affect his production. It’s only three games, so still too soon to hit the panic button, but goose eggs are a disappointing early sign. No matter how you look at it, it was necessary to give Nathan MacKinnon the freedom as the focal point. You can tell he’s feeling more security/comfort in the no.1 spot and it’s paid off with four points in three games. If Duchene can’t get things on track, you have to wonder if Joe Sakic might look to trade him to a center desperate team.

Previous Ranking: 17 (-5)

Team Record: (1-3-0)

Player of the Week: Brock Nelson (4gp 2g 2a 4pts)

Special Teams

Similar to the Sens, the Isles are struggling on the man advantage. They’ve only scored on one of 11 chances, which leaves them tied for 26th at 9.1 percent efficiency. The Isles sit tied for 5th on the penalty kill with St. Louis at 93.3 percent. NYI have allowed one goal on 15 PP opportunities.

Goaltending

After being a point of consistency through the entire World Cup, it seems Jaroslav Halak is struggling with just that early on. The good news is that he’s beginning to settle down in each start since his ugly opener versus the New York Rangers. If he can’t get it together quickly, the Isles won’t be shy to turn to Thomas Greiss. He has started one game, allowing just two goals on 28 shots.

Defense

The Isles top two defensemen (Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk) need to be a lot better than they have in the first four games.  They’ve combined for a staggering -14 plus/minus rating (both -7).  If the worrisome overall team play continues, you have to wonder how long before GM Garth Snow begins looking to trade Calvin de Haan or Thomas Hickey.  After all, they could lose one in expansion, and both are taking up space that Ryan Pulock needs to develop.

Forwards

It will be interesting to see how the Isles use their rookies moving forward. So far, Barzal has appeared in just one game logging a little over 10 minutes. Anthony Beauvillier has suited up in three games and has a goal and an assist despite an average 9:05 of ice-time.

Brock Nelson leads the team in scoring with four points, Cal Clutterbuck and Josh Bailey sit tied for second with three points, while captain John Tavares sits tied for third with Jason Chimera, Casey Cizikas, and Beauvillier at two points. New York is looking for a lot more from Andrew Ladd (0 points), Anders Lee (one goal), and Ryan Strome (one goal).

Previous Ranking: 24 (+1)

Team Record: (1-1-0)

Player of the Week: Oliver Ekman-Larsson (2gp 2g 0a 2pts)

Special Teams

Arizona ranks 15th after converting on two of 11 chances on the man advantage. They currently sit at 18.2 percent PP efficiency. The Yotes rank near the middle of the pack on the PK as well, allowing one goal on six chances for an 83.3 percentile that ranks 13th.

Goaltending

Sad that it only took two games for Mike Smith to land on the IR again. We’ve been calling this disaster all summer long suggesting Arizona needs to find an upgrade between the pipes. It won’t take long to figure out that Louis Domingue still needs a little bit of time, at which point GM John Chayka could be making some phone calls.

Defense

It’s difficult to make an assessment after only two games, but there are promising signs down in the Desert. Let’s not forget, Arizona is still without Michael Stone, who is currently at the tail end of his rehab process. Because of that, Alex Goligoski is serving down on the second pairing with free agent Luke Schenn, leaving Murphy to play with OEL. Once Stone returns, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Goligoski paired up with Ekman-Larsson. That could be a dangerous duo should it come to fruition. Lastly, the Yotes will have a tough decision to make on rookie Jakob Chychrun. He suited up for one game and recorded an assist in his debut while logging 12:09 of ice-time. Don’t be surprised if he’s sent back to Junior for my last year of seasoning before stepping in full-time in 2016-17.

Forwards

Martin Hanzal deserves a lot of credit for the Coyotes season opener win vs. Philadelphia. He was the only Arizona player to record a multi-point game (one goal, one assist) en route to being named 2nd star. Jordan Martinook stepped up to provide two goals in the Yotes second game, but it was overshadowed by an ugly shellacking.

Keep an eye on the rookies down in the desert. Laurent Dauphin and Lawson Crouse have appeared in both games playing limited minutes. Dylan Strome drew into the lineup versus Philly and recorded an assist, -1 rating while logging 14:13 of ice-time. We need to see more from all three of these guys before making a proper judgment call.

Previous Ranking: 21 (-3)

Team Record: (1-1-1)

Player of the Week: Ryan O’Reilly (3gp 3g 2a 5pts) *4pt effort vs EDM

Special Teams

Even without key players, the Sabres man advantage has looked decent. They’re tied for 7th at 25 percent efficiency, Buffalo has scored on four of 16 chances. On the PK, Buffalo is tied for 1st with a perfect 100 percent efficiency having allowed no goals on nine chances.

Goaltending

Some folks on social media are having a meltdown over the slow start for Robin Lehner. With all do respect Sabres fan, Robin missed much of the 2015-16 season due to injury. He looked good upon return even though he wasn’t fully healed. He took the summer to recover fully from the nagging injury and also made significant lifestyle changes to his diet and fitness regime. Rumors suggest he lost upwards of 50 pounds this summer. Give the Big Finn some time to settle in and shake the rust off.

Defense

It seems Jake McCabe is earning more trust under head coach Dan Bylsma.  After a strong 2015-16 where he began to see more minutes, McCabe is trending in the same direction again.  After three games, he ranks 2nd on defense with 20:56 of ice-time/game.  There’s not a lot of offense being generated after three games, aside from Rasmus Ristolainen, of course.  He has a point in each game, including three assists in the dismantling of Buffalo on Sunday.

Forwards

Sabres fans were dealt an early blow losing Jack Eichel. Things only got worse as the season started losing Evander Kane as well. Give Buffalo forwards credit, certain players have stepped up even with a mediocre 1-1-1 record. Marcus Foligno is picking up where he left off in 2015-16 when he served as a temporary top six forward. He has a goal and an assist so far. Even Matt Moulson has two early goals, which could put Las Vegas GM George McPhee on notice.

Buffalo’s best performers up front so far is Ryan O’Reilly and Kyle Okposo. ROR racked up two goals, two assists in the pounding delivered to Edmonton, giving him five points in three games. Free agent signing Kyle Okposo missed the season opener, but provided a goal and an assist in Sunday’s big win. He had another helper on Tuesday versus Calgary.

Previous Ranking: 28 (+3)

Team Record: (3-0-0)

Player of the Week: Jacob Markstrom/Ryan Miller (2gp 1.97GAA .913 save percentage/1gp 0.00 1.000 save percentage

Special Teams

The perfect 3-0 Canucks are interestingly enough ranked dead last on the power play after going 0 for 10 in their first three games. Luckily, the PK is faring much better at 85.7 percent after successfully killing off six of seven PP’s to open the season.

Goaltending

As expected, it looks as though the Canucks will yield the majority of starts to Swedish netminder Jacob Markstrom. It only makes sense with Ryan Miller on an expiring contract and Thatcher Demko lurking in the shadows. Miller shut the door in the season opener against Calgary with a shutout. Markstrom stepped in against Carolina and got the win despite allowing three goals on 22 shots. He put in a better performance on Tuesday against STL stopping 23 of 24 shots.

Calder Trophy: Rookies to Watch in the Pacific Division

Defense

That 30th place prediction isn’t looking too good for many experts out there.  Much of the Canucks success is due to solid goaltending and defensive play.  Alex Edler and Chris Tanev haven’t offered up much offensively, but still look good.  Perhaps most impressive in Vancouver’s new second pairing of Ben Hutton and Erik Gudbranson.  As we predicted, these two guys compliment each other extremely well.  Don’t count this team out just yet folks.

Forwards

Those who picked the Canucks to finish 30th were the same people asking where Vancouver’s offense would come from beyond their top line. These so-called experts forgot about Brandon Sutter who was on the shelf for most of 2015-16. They also forget about Bo Horvat and Jannik Hansen. Just imagine what will happen when Anton Rodin re-joins the team. Last place in the NHL? I’m still not convinced.

Previous Ranking: 27 (+1)

Team Record: (3-1-0)

Player of the Week: Connor McDavid (3gp 3g 3a 6pts)

Special Teams

Edmonton is ranked 12th at 21.4 percent efficiency on the man advantage. They’ve capitalized on three of 14 chances, but have allowed two shorthanded goals already. Turning to the PK, the Oilers have allowed three goals on 16 chances, ranking them 15th at 81.3 percent efficiency.

Goaltending

It hasn’t been pretty, but give Cam Talbot credit, he battles every night to give this team a chance to win. His six-goal debacle versus the Sabres on Sunday was admittedly ugly, but his team hung him out to dry in that game. The defense looks much better overall, so it should bode well for Talbot moving forward.

Defense

While the top pairing of Oscar Klefbom and Adam Larsson have only combined for two assists, the four-game sample size is encouraging.  They’ve also got free agent signing Kris Russell on a tear to begin the year with three assists and a plus-4 plus/minus rating.  There’s bound to be juggling on that bottom pairing with Darnell Nurse all year long, but the Oilers definitely have some better options in 2016-17.

Forwards

Even though Connor McDavid sits tied for the team lead in points after two three-point efforts to open the season, it’s Leon Draisaitl and Jordan Eberle that have been a point of consistency putting up points in each of the first four games.  Draisaitl now has two goals, four assists, while Eberle has three goals, two assists.  Oilers fans should expect a bit of line juggling beyond the top line, hopefully that’ll get Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (one goal) and Jesse Puljujarvi (one goal) going after a disappointing start.

Previous Ranking: 26 (-1)

Team Record: (2-2-0)

Player of the Week: Patrik Laine (4gp 4g 1a 5pts) *hat-trick vs. Toronto

Special Teams

Ranked 22nd at 12.5 percent converted on the PP, the Jets only have two goals on 16 opportunities. Winnipeg also sits in the basement for the penalty kill having allowed five goals on 14 PP chances. They rank 27th with a disappointing 64.3 percent efficiency rate.

Goaltending

It’s been a rough start for Jets goaltenders. Connor Hellebuyck allowed four goals on 27 shots in the season opener (but got the win at least) and yielded three goals on 24 shots against the Bruins on Monday. Backup Michael Hutchinson hasn’t fared much better allowing four goals in both of his starts. No need to panic Jets fans, Hellebuyck will be fine. Give the kid some time to settle in, then he’ll start turning some heads.

Defense

The Jets are sporting an interesting look with RFA Jacob Trouba still on the sidelines without a contract.  They’ve got rookie Josh Morrissey paired with Dustin Byfuglien, and Toby Enstrom with Tyler Myers.  Even though GM Kevin Cheveldayoff insists he wants a premium defenseman in return, that attitude could change with the more exposure he has to Josh Morrissey.  It’ll be interesting to see how this one plays out.

Forwards

It didn’t take long for Finnish rookie Patrik Laine to make his way up to the top line with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler.  The trio has provided much of the early offense for Winnipeg combining for 16 points (that’s six more than the rest of all WPG forwards).  Wheeler has three goals, two assists, Scheifele has three goals, three assists, and Patrik Laine is now up to four goals, one assist after his thrilling performance against Toronto on Wednesday night.

Previous Ranking: 30 (+2)

Team Record: (1-0-2)

Player of the Week: Auston Matthews (3gp 4g 1a 5pts) *made history with 4-goal debut

Special Teams

Toronto walked into Wednesday’s game having gone 0 for 8 on the PP. They managed to convert on both chances against the Jets, leaving them two for 10 in three games. Toronto has done an excellent job staying disciplined only being forced to the penalty on just nine occasions so far. They’ve allowed two goals, which ties them for 19th for 77.8 percent efficiency.

Goaltending

Upon trading for RFA Frederik Andersen, the Maple Leafs handed him a five-year contract. It’s too early to make judgments, especially since he was coming off a recent injury. He almost single-handedly lost his team the game in the opener when Matthews scored four goals, and put up another terrible performance on Wednesday against Winnipeg allowing five goals again. His performance in game two against Boston was much closer to what fans can expect moving forward.

Defense

There’s bound to be some juggling with the defensive pairings in Toronto.  It must be driving Mike Babcock crazy that he doesn’t have a proper top four of LH vs. RH shots.  The hope is that Zaitsev or Carrick might develop into those roles, but Leafs management might also be forced to look to the trade market.

Forwards

There’s no point in getting too attached to particular line combinations up front. It’s bound to change as players progress and others (i.e. Nikita Soshnikov) join the lineup. Mike Babcock seems to like Auston Matthews with William Nylander, and Mitch Marner with a couple of veterans. But you’ve gotta wonder if the Leafs bench boss is tempted to put his three-star rookies together at some point. Regardless how the lines shake out, the first three games tell fans everything they need to know. This won’t be a boring, borderline unwatchable team like in 2015-16. No, the kids are here to bring a little creativity, and with it some excitement for the fanbase.

Previous Ranking: 29 (-)

Team Record: (0-1-2)

Player of the Week: Lee Stempniak (3gp 3g 2a 5pts)

Special Teams

Carolina ranks 3rd on the man-advantage with a 37.5 percent efficiency rate. They’ve converted three of eight chances so far. Ranked 8th on the PK at 90 percent, Carolina has allowed one goal in 10 chances.

Goaltending

It’s not surprising that Hurricanes goalies are struggling early on. It’s likely to be a theme that continues. Cam Ward allowed five goals on 26 shots in the opener against Winnipeg. Eddie Lack wasn’t much better in game two allowing four goals on 31 shots. Ward was back in net on Tuesday and earned his second loss allowing three goals on 25 shots.

Defense

It might only be a three-game sample size, but it doesn’t look good for Noah Hanifin.  He was a -2 plus/minus rating in two of the first three games while only averaging 15:48 of ice-time/game.  He’ll need to be much better if he wants to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump.  On a positive note, Justin Faulk is off to a hot start with a goal and three assists.

Forwards

Through three games, the Carolina Hurricanes are receiving next to no help from their 2nd,3rd, and 4th line. Rookie Sebastian Aho is the only one with more than one point (two assists), Jordan Staal and Teuvo Teravainen have a lone goal to their name, while Joakim Nordstrom has racked up a single assist. That’s right, five points from nine players.

If you want to look at the positive, free agent signing Lee Stempniak is settling in nicely on the top line with three goals, two assists. Jeff Skinner is also off to a hot start with two goals, two assists, meanwhile, center Victor Rask has a goal and two assists while providing quality two-way play.

Previous Ranking: 25 (-5)

Team Record: (0-2-0)

Player of the Week: Zach Werenski (2gp 1g 1a 2pts)

Special Teams

Despite the record, Columbus should be feeling optimistic about their special teams. The PP is currently ranked 2nd at 40 percent efficiency, with the Blue Jackets converting two out of five opportunities. CLB is ranked 11th on the penalty kill at 85.7 percent efficiency, allowing one goal on seven chances.

Goaltending

A two game sample size isn’t a whole lot to work with. Coming off an MVP-quality performance at the World Cup, Bobrovsky underwhelmed in the season opener allowing five goals on 36 shots to Boston. He bounced back nicely in their second game stopping 35 of 37 shots, despite taking the loss.

Defense

With Ryan Murray sidelined to start the year, Zach Werenski took advantage of his opportunity on the top pairing alongside Seth Jones. He has a goal and an assist, and looks like he could add a spark to the man-advantage. Things could, however, get interesting the next couple of days with Murray likely to return Friday night. If it were me, I’d simply push Jack Johnson down to the bottom pairing and slide Werenski in with Savard.

Forwards

Alex Wennberg and Nick Foligno had multi-point games in the season opener, Wennberg with a goal and an assist, Foligno with a pair of helpers. Cam Atkinson had a point in each of the first two games, Josh Anderson had a goal, and Brandon Saad with an assist. The sample size is simply too small for good analysis.

We can draw one conclusion with certainty though: John Tortorella needs to do a better job with his line combinations. It’s still early so he gets an obvious pass, but demoting Oliver Bjorkstrand to the 4th line does nothing to help this team, nor the player himself. Columbus needs to give their Calder Cup MVP some time to settle into a top-six role.

Games of the Week (Oct.20-Oct.26)

Thursday, October 20th

More from Puck Prose

• Detroit Red Wings 2023 Rookie Camp Has Plenty of Ups and Downs
• This Columbus Blue Jackets rookie doesn’t want to be forgotten
• 2 trades the Boston Bruins must make to secure the Stanley Cup
• 3 reasons the Avalanche won’t win the Stanley Cup in 2024
• This is a big year for Alex Turcotte and the Los Angeles Kings

San Jose Sharks at Pittsburgh Penguins

Rematch of the Stanley Cup Finals

Washington Capitals at Florida Panthers

Battle of 2015-16 Eastern Division Winners

St. Louis Blues at Edmonton Oilers

Return of Nail Yakupov

Saturday, October 22nd

*Heritage Classic Weekend – Star-studded cast playing in the Alumni game

Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins

A bitter Atlantic Division rivalry that promises to be exciting

Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators

Sens coach Guy Boucher faces off against his old team

St. Louis Blues at Calgary Flames

Troy Brouwer, Brian Elliott face-off against their old team

Next: Anaheim Ducks Facing Conundrum With Lindholm, Inevitable Trade

Sunday, October 23rd

Edmonton Oilers at Winnipeg Jets (3pm et)

Heritage Classic

Tuesday, October 25th

Calgary Flames at St. Louis Blues

Round two of Brouwer, Elliott vs. the Blues

Wednesday, October 26th

Boston Bruins at New York Rangers

An original six rivalry that usually yields an exciting match-up