1
Bruins
I’d say David Pastrnak has been sizzling currently, however that might be underselling it. Pastrnak has been cooking because the puck dropped on opening night time. He is on tempo for 58 targets, 62 assists, and 120 factors, which might all be profession highs. Pastrnak has been an elite participant on this league for a handful of years now, however he’s climbing into some uncommon air this season.
1
20-3-1
2
Devils
Coming into the season, I used to be very unsure about whether or not Vitek Vanacek can be the answer to the Devils’ goaltending woes. Through his first 16 appearances in a Devils jersey, Vanacek has made me eat my phrases. He is not essentially in rivalry for the Vezina Trophy, however Vanacek has been properly above common for New Jersey.
1
21-4-1
3
Maple Leafs
Matt Murray simply placed on some of the ridiculous goaltending performances you will ever see. In Tuesday night time’s shutout win over the Stars, Murray saved a whopping 6.14 targets above common. The Maple Leafs gave the Stars seven energy performs, together with a five-on-three, however Murray stood tall by means of every certainly one of them.
2
16-5-6
4
Lightning
In the previous week, Steven Stamkos has recorded his 1,000th profession level, and Corey Perry has performed in his 1,2 hundredth sport. That speaks to the longevity of each gamers, however particularly Stamkos, who has overcome a number of important accidents all through his profession. The Bolts could also be among the many oldest groups within the NHL, however they proceed to defy Father Time and appear like a Cup contender once more.
3
15-9-1
5
Golden Knights
Bruce Cassidy simply took the Golden Knights into TD Garden and ended the Bruins’ 14-game dwelling profitable streak on Monday night time. That needed to really feel good for him, and it was clear the gamers wished to assist him get a bit of revenge on his former workforce. Vegas has now gained three of its final 4, and it has some respiratory room atop the Pacific Division.
4
19-7-1
6
Hurricanes
As it seems, 37-year-old Brent Burns nonetheless has a variety of good hockey left in him. Going from the Sharks to the Hurricanes in all probability does not damage, however Burns has been great along with his new workforce. Burns is fourth on the workforce with 19 factors, and Carolina is dominating play each time Burns is on the ice.
4
14-6-6
7
Jets
It’s straightforward to knock the Jets for some troubling possession numbers forcing Connor Hellebuyck to hold the workforce, however the backside line is that the goaltender is a part of the the workforce. Regardless of what Winnipeg’s course of seems like this season, Hellebuyck has confirmed he can carry a workforce, and the Jets simply hold rattling off wins.
1
16-7-1
8
Penguins
Kris Letang suffered the second stroke of his profession final week, and fortuitously it does not appear to be there will probably be any form of lasting results, and he will probably be again on the ice in some unspecified time in the future this season. Until then, the Penguins want somebody to step up and fill the most important void left by Letang on Pittsburgh’s blue line.
3
14-8-4
9
Kraken
At this level, Matty Beniers seems just like the clear favourite to win the Calder Trophy because the NHL’s greatest rookie. Beniers has 10 targets and 11 assists in 25 video games, which places him on tempo for round 34 tallies and 72 factors. The emergence of Beniers has been one of many main explanation why the Kraken have been one of many high offensive groups within the league this season.
5
15-7-3
10
Stars
Jason Robertson’s bid for the Rocket Richard Trophy could be very actual. Robertson has 12 targets in his final 9 video games, and he now leads the NHL in targets with 23. Robertson has rapidly turn into top-of-the-line pure goal-scorers in the whole league, and he has the power to seek out the again of the web in a number of methods. Robertson is completely snug to sit down within the low slot and function in a telephone sales space, however he may also beat a goalie with an ideal shot from distance.
2
14-7-5
11
Avalanche
The Avs have suffered back-to-back losses to the Bruins and Flyers, and Nathan MacKinnon exited that loss to Philadelphia with an damage. Colorado has had some poor damage luck this season, however dropping MacKinnon for round a month will probably be devastating, as if that wasn’t apparent sufficient.
8
13-9-1
12
Wild
The Wild have discovered some offense currently with gamers on the high of the lineup catching hearth. In explicit, Kirill Kaprizov has been shredding opponents during the last couple of weeks. Kaprizov is driving a 12-game level streak, however he has been even higher currently. Kaprizov has lit the lamp in six straight video games, and he has 12 whole factors in that point.
9
13-9-2
13
Islanders
The goaltending duo of Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov is protecting this Islanders workforce afloat regardless of some discouraging underlying numbers. Those two have mixed for a workforce save share of 93.14%, which ranks sixth within the NHL. They have additionally mixed to save lots of greater than 17 targets above common, per Natural Stat Trick.
1
16-11-0
14
Flames
Jacob Markstrom “simply sucks at hockey proper now”. Those aren’t my phrases. That was Markstrom’s evaluation of his personal play after a 2-1 loss to the Canadiens final week. Dan Vladar has now gotten back-to-back begins in web for Calgary as Markstrom tries to reset and discover his sport. We’ll see how lengthy Darryl Sutter chooses to experience with Vladar.
3
12-10-3
15
Red Wings
In the offseason, the Red Wings paid Ben Chiarot to be a top-four defenseman, and so they have performed him in that position. So far, the outcomes have been moderately underwhelming. Chiarot has been on the ice for over 405 minutes at five-on-five, and Detroit owns a minus-12 purpose differential in that stretch.
4
13-7-5
16
Predators
Roman Josi received off to a slower begin than regular, however he has returned to his elite type not too long ago. Josi has 13 factors in his final 10 video games, and that’s excellent news for the Predators. Unlike most defensemen, Josi is the engine that drives Nashville’s offense, so the workforce usually goes as he goes.
4
12-9-2
17
Oilers
The Oilers really want some assistance on protection. Evan Bouchard, the workforce’s greatest defenseman thus far within the season, was not too long ago benched for mystifying causes. Outside of Bouchard, each different defenseman that has suited up for the Oilers has been under break-even by way of anticipated targets share at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick.
2
14-12-0
18
Kings
In a stunning transfer final week, the Kings waived goaltender Cal Petersen. It in all probability should not have been terribly stunning given his efficiency this 12 months. Petersen has allowed 9.49 targets above common in 10 appearances, however to be truthful, Jonathan Quick hasn’t been a lot better both. Los Angeles has to seek out dependable goaltending from somebody or danger lacking the playoffs fully.
4
14-10-4
19
Rangers
The Rangers are one of many NHL’s largest enigmas nowadays. Despite strong underlying numbers, the Rangers discover themselves exterior a playoff spot at this level within the season. A contributing issue to these struggles is that the Rangers are underperforming their anticipated targets numbers. The blueshirts have generated 93.82 anticipated targets, however they’ve solely scored 82.
3
12-10-5
20
Panthers
Defenseman Josh Mahura has performed a third-pairing position for a lot of the season, however the Panthers may need to give him extra alternative. Mahura has performed simply over 348 minutes at five-on-five, and the Panthers have outscored opponents 22-8 in that point, per Natural Stat Trick. Mahura’s plus-14 five-on-five purpose differential leads the workforce.
2
12-10-4
21
Blues
The Blues have gone again to being ice chilly, going 2-6-0 of their final eight, however fortunately there is perhaps a multi-faceted answer. If St. Louis permits Jordan Binnington to turn into a skater for a couple of video games, he may play in a extra conventional enforcer position. That would enable him to take out his aggression legally whereas additionally giving the Blues’ ahead group some sandpaper.
8
12-14-0
22
Canucks
On Saturday, it was initially reported that Brock Boeser can be a wholesome scratch towards the Coyotes. However, he wound up slotting into the lineup and scored the game-tying purpose in a 3-2 win. That made for an amazing story on the time, but it surely is perhaps truthful to surprise about Boeser’s long-term future in Vancouver.
2
11-12-3
23
Capitals
With so many accidents piling up in D.C., it may be straightforward to be pessimistic. Instead, let’s spotlight a stunning vivid spot for the Capitals this season. 21-year-old Aliaksei Protas has greater than held his personal in a fourth-line position. He hasn’t gotten on the scoresheet a lot, Washington controls possession with him on the ice. In reality, it might not be a foul concept to see what he does with extra taking part in time.
—
11-12-4
24
Senators
Alex DeBrincat is pacing properly under the 41 targets he scored final season, however he appears poised to interrupt by means of in some unspecified time in the future. DeBrincat has scored on simply two of his 60 pictures at five-on-five, which comes out to a capturing share of three.33%. DeBrincat’s total capturing share of 6.8% is lower than half of his profession common (14.8%). He ought to have some constructive regression coming his method.
1
10-14-1
25
Sabres
Owen Power will not be the one Calder Trophy candidate on the Sabres’ roster. Jack Quinn and JJ Peterka have each compelled their method into the dialog. They each have six targets and eight assists, however Quinn may need a slight edge by way of on-ice outcomes. With Quinn on the ice at five-on-five, the Sabres have a plus-six purpose differential, which is a hair higher than Peterka’s plus-four purpose differential.
4
11-13-1
26
Canadiens
Montreal submitted a candidate for Collapse of the Year on Monday night time after they blew a 4-0 result in the Canucks in a 7-6 additional time loss. The Habs have been up 4-0 after the primary interval towards a workforce that has had its head coach on the new seat for the final month, and so they could not convey dwelling two factors. While that is not nice on the floor, it’s nice for the tank.
4
13-11-2
27
Blue Jackets
As if Columbus wanted any extra dangerous information this season, Jakub Voracek revealed that he’s nonetheless recovering from the results of a concussion he suffered earlier this 12 months. As a consequence, it appears unlikely that Voracek will return to motion within the 2022-23 season. At this level, everyone seems to be hoping Voracek can get again to 100% in time to take the ice subsequent season.
—
8-14-2
28
Flyers
John Tortorella scolded reporters for “dumb questions” over the weekend, and the Flyers scored a formidable win over the Avalanche on Monday night time. Maybe issues are beginning to search for in Philadelphia in spite of everything.
4
9-12-5
29
Coyotes
Later this week, the Coyotes will finish their seemingly interminable 14-game street journey earlier than making their wonderful return to Mullett Arena. I’ve to think about that going from Edmonton, Alberta to Tempe, Ariz. will probably be a serious shock to the system.
1
7-12-4
30
Sharks
The commerce rumblings round Erik Karlsson are properly underway, and it looks as if each he and the workforce can be open to a deal. There’s little doubt Karlsson may assist a contender, however shifting his contract will probably be a serious roadblock to any potential commerce. Karlsson nonetheless has 4 extra seasons at $11.5 million per 12 months left on his deal after this one.
4
8-16-4
31
Blackhawks
Patrick Kane recorded three factors, together with the 1,2 hundredth level of his profession, in a 5-2 win over the New York Rangers. Was Kane attempting to ship a message to the Rangers? Was he attempting to point out them what they’re lacking? I suppose we’ll by no means know.
1
7-14-4
32
Ducks
John Gibson and Anthony Stolarz have posted terrible numbers in purpose this 12 months, but it surely’s onerous to know whether or not that’s their particular person performances or the Ducks’ depressing protection. Anaheim has allowed a complete of 103.76 anticipated targets towards, per Natural Stat Trick, which is the worst mark within the league by a large margin.
1
7-17-3
