Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2018 13:42:14 GMT
The 2018-19 season kicks off with some surprise
This was supposed to be the year of parity. Other than Minnesota and Montreal and maybe Winnipeg, the predictions of league managers were all over the map. But so far in the early going, there have been more blow-outs than close games, and a surprising team at the top of the heap.
Here are 16 thoughts as we get set to start the first inter-divisional games of the season
Atlantic Division
Montreal Canadiens (3-0-0, 33-10-2, 66 points, 2nd overall)
This was not the easiest early season schedule, but the Canadiens are steamrolling teams already. The Flyers have not been world-beaters, so a 9-5 Montreal win in week one was only decent. But a 10-4 victory over a Flames team that started very strong was convincing, and the dismantling of the Avalanche – some pundit’s pick for West champion – in week 3 had all the trappings of a championship contender. The Canadiens are firing on all cylinders, and that does not bode well for the rest of the Atlantic in weeks 4 through 6.
Buffalo Sabres (2-1-0, 22-20-3, 47 points, 8th overall)
The results after three weeks for Buffalo is about as predictable as it comes: Borderline playoff contender. They beat the Kings in week one, which would normally be considered extremely impressive except that this year’s Kings look pretty bad to start. Then they lost bad to St. Louis, before beating the Flyers. If it wasn’t for week 2, we might all be fooled into believing in this team again. But the loss to the Blues once again showed just how inconsistent the Sabres are, and why a 9th, 10th or 11th place finish is still the most likely outcome.
Ottawa Senators (1-2-0, 19-19-7, 45 points, 9th overall)
A dominant week one win over the Jets was a great way to bank some points, even though the Jets may be historically bad this season. And the Sens looked tough in a week two loss at New York, coming back from way behind to end up losing only 8-5. Although the Wild had their way in week 3, no one expects Ottawa to contend with Minnesota anyway. There were big changes over the off-season, and all in all, it has been a decent start for the Sens, who certainly remain in playoff contention after three weeks.
Toronto Maple Leafs (1-2-0, 17-24-4, 38 points, 11th overall)
Was it only last year that people predicted the Leafs to be a contender in the Atlantic? How quickly things change. This team looked lifeless in getting smoked by the Rangers in week 3, after an okay start to the season in splitting games against Minnesota and LA. Although that’s a tough opening schedule, Toronto really did not show anything to conclude they can compete this year. We can’t help wondering when a shake-up of this roster might take place – similar to what seems to be happening in Philly with another expansion manager of the same vintage.
Metro Division
New York Rangers (2-1-0, 23-17-5, 51 points, 4th overall)
A really tough loss to the Flames in week one, after leading right to the final day. The Rangers followed it with a decent win against the Sens and then a big victory over the Leafs. This was a pretty easy schedule to open the season, and the Rangers certainly did not take advantage the way a true contender would have. But in the brutal Metro division, this sort of start may be enough.
Philadelphia Flyers (1-2-0, 20-22-3, 43 points, 10th overall)
The Flyers find themselves in the bunch of teams hovering around playoff contention. A loss to Montreal was certainly to be expected, and Philly actually looked pretty good in that contest. Letting the Jets take 4 categories in week 2 may come back to haunt them, but at least the Flyers got into the win column. But a loss to the Sabres really puts things in perspective – those are the matchups the Flyers have to win if a playoff appearance is going to be possible. A big week against the Rangers in week 4 will be an early-season measuring stick.
New Jersey Devils (0-3-0, 11-28-6, 28 points, 14th overall)
A winless expansion franchise, the Devils started off the inaugural campaign in the worst possible way losing 13-1 to Dallas. A close loss to the Golden Knights in week 2 gave some reason for optimism, before the Blues came in to snuff out any semblance of hope. Arguably the Devils had an easier opening schedule than the Isles, so three losses – especially the lopsided loss to St. Louis – have to hurt. But a week 4 chance at redemption awaits in Long Island.
New York Islanders (0-3-0, 12-31-2, 26 points. 15th overall)
Brutal welcome to the league for new GM Brent. Three tough matchups against playoff calibre teams, and three losses, none of them especially close. The Islanders have a lot of holes. There may only be so much that a new manager can do to bail them out. A matchup in New Jersey against the Isle’s expansion brethren may be just what was ordered to kickstart a comeback – however, if the Isles lose that one, the Jack Hughes watch might start in earnest.
Central Division
Dallas Stars (3-0-0, 35-7-3, 73 points, 1st overall)
There isn’t a pundit in the world who would have predicted the Stars would be sitting in #1 after three weeks. And although Dallas hasn’t had the toughest schedule, they have made the most of their matchups and banked some points that will come in handy later in the year. Perhaps most impressive was the week 3 win over LA, although these aren’t your daddy’s Kings. A week 4 matchup against the Wild will give a better idea if the Stars are legitimate contenders.
Minnesota Wild ( 3-0-0, 28-13-4, 60 points, 5th overall)
Not a tough opening schedule, but the Wild took care of business. The win over Toronto in week one left some things to be desired, but tidy victories over the Avalanche and Senators have the Wild right back in the thick of the race for #1 overall.
St. Louis Blues (2-1-0, 23-16-6, 52 points, 7th overall)
An excellent start for the Blues, who are looking to leap over the bunch of contenders into a playoff berth. With a close loss against a solid Las Vegas team in week one, followed by wins over Buffalo and New Jersey, the Blues won the games they have to win to remain a contender. The Central is tough, so St. Louis will really be tested over the next three weeks. But if the Blues can consistently put up points against the Jets, this might be a team that finds itself on the inside come playoff time.
Winnipeg Jets (0-3-0, 8-33-4, 20 points, 16th overall)
No one thought this team would be good, but the early question is how bad can they be? Getting blown out by the Sens in week one really put in perspective how far the Jets are from even contending for the playoffs. Following that with a 10-4 loss to the Flyers and a complete dismantling by the Flames, and the Jets seriously look like a team that may struggle to win a week.
Pacific Division
Las Vegas Golden Knights (3-0-0, 26-16-3, 55 points, 3rd overall)
Vegas GM Josh was vocal about his team being the favourite in the Pacific. Although his Knights sit at 3-0-0, this team is still figuring out whether it’s a contender or bubble-team. A week one 8-6 win over St. Louis is decent. But the Devils picking up 6 categories in week two and the Isles winning 4 in week three are not exactly what a team with designs on a division title want to see. It’s been a solid, if unspectacular start. We’ll know a lot more about this team after the divisional matchups over the next three weeks.
Calgary Flames (2-1-0, 25-18-2, 52 points, 6th overall)
The Flames may have had the best start of any team in the DHL. A week one win against the Rangers could go a long way towards helping Calgary bank points against the division, and a destruction of the Jets raises the bar for the rest of the Pacific teams when they head to Winnipeg. And while the loss against Montreal was not great, the Flames still picked up 4 categories. This is a dark-horse team that is going to take a lot of managers by surprise this year. Still, the Pacific is tough enough that the next three weeks could make or break Calgary’s season.
Colorado Avalanche (1-2-0, 16-28-1, 33 points, 12th overall)
Not a great start for the Avalanche. It was a tough opening schedule, with the top two teams in the first three weeks. The win over the Islanders was solid, and the loss to the Wild not too bad. But the 14-1 loss to Montreal is going to put the Avs behind the 8-ball for the entire season, unless the other Pacific teams lay the same egg against the Canadiens. One bad loss does not ruin a season, but it certainly makes the margin for error a little smaller in Colorado.
Los Angeles Kings (0-3-0, 14-28-3, 31 points, 13th overall)
The most disappointing start by any team so far. While some pundits predicted the Kings to fall from their perch atop the Division, no one expected them to be outside the playoffs. This is, after all, basically the same team that has won President Trophies, Championships and holds a Pacific-division title streak running back to the beginning of the DHL. To make matters worse, the Kings lost to the Sabres and Leafs – not exactly powerhouses – before being stomped by the Stars in week three. With the numbers this team is putting up, the next three weeks might put them right out of playoff contention before the mid-point of the season.