NHL’s Biggest Surprises: Canadiens and Oilers
The first two weeks of the NHL season have offered some spills and surprises. Some predictable players have jumped out in front in the scoring race, while unexpected teams are leading their divisions.
Hands up if after 9 games you had the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens leading their respective conferences?
Didn’t think so. Even as unpredictable as the NHL can be – this is a surprise.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers have languished amongst the NHL’s worst for a number of years. Even with superstar Connor McDavid they could not have been expected to lose only three of their opening 9 games. Their strength of schedule hasn’t been the hardest – only two of the games so far have been against last season’s playoff teams (home games against the Capitals and Blues). Stellar goaltending from Cam Talbot has been the biggest surprise, conceding the fourth least goals while facing the sixth most shots.
Their special teams have been indifferent – on the power play, they are 20th in the NHL, conceding two short-handed goals against already (both in the same game). On the penalty kill, they are third best, with an impressive 89.7 percent efficiency.
The 29 goals the Oilers have scored leaves them seventh best in the NHL. Spearheaded by McDavid’s 12 points, Edmonton is building a young, speedy, offensive juggernaut. Only three times this season have the Oilers scored less than three goals in a game, two times they scored twice before being shutout on Sunday.
Edmonton lead the Western Conference after 9 games with 14 points, one point ahead of Minnesota. Their goal differential is the third best in the NHL and they look set to improve as their young players find chemistry and get used to the league.
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal would’ve been awfully worried when Carey Price was ruled out of the start of the season with the flu. Flashbacks to the end of last season when they collapsed without him. Backup Al Montoya has been outstanding – as has Price since his return.
The Canadiens lead the Eastern Conference with a 8/0/1 record – they’ve yet to lose in regulation. Their +17 goal differential is the best in the NHL – breaking it down they sit fourth in goals scored and first in lowest goals conceded.
They dispatched the Stanley Cup Champion Pittburgh Penguins (at home) 4-0, as well as beating one of the favorites for this year – Tampa Bay – 3-1. As with the Oilers, the Canadiens schedule hasn’t been particularly grueling, but they’ve taken full advantage of it.
Best news for Montreal is how well marquee signings Shea Weber and Alexander Radulov have settled in. Weber leads the team with 10 points, while Radulov has 7 points in 9 games. Rookie Mikhail Sergachev has got off to a rough start and is the only Canadien yet to record a point this season.
Their power play is the 14th best, certainly an area that needs improvement. While they are the fourth best penalty-killing team in the NHL.
Next: Top 5 Players in the Eastern Conference So Far
The Canadiens know better than most not to get too excited about the fast start. They can take confidence in Montoya’s start to the season, as with how Weber has settled in. Should they stay healthy, they could end up challenging – at the very least – for the Atlantic Division.
What do you think of the Oilers and Canadiens start to the season, can they maintain it? What other teams have surprised you? Let us know in the comments below.