Slow-Starting NHL Teams with the Best Chances to Rebound

The modern NHL awards an extra point to a team for every regulation tie, and that additional point means getting buried in the standings early is fatal.

A team like the Columbus Blue Jackets is going to have an impossible task catching up because of the extra point awarded for an overtime contest.

There are teams who have started slowly but should recover and be heard from in the playoffs next spring. Their underlying numbers, poor goaltending or unlucky shooting percentage will correct, and a hot streak later will place them back in the thick of things.

Here are six teams who started off the pace but remain a good bet to make the playoffs for the 2015-16 season.

Anaheim Ducks

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Where Are They Now? The Anaheim Ducks are in a tie for No. 13 in the Western Conference at this time. They have a goal differential of minus-15 and have not been close to good enough so far this year.

What Is the Problem? The Ducks have six goals in eight games, a statistic that borders on the impossible. The biggest reason for their scoring slump is shooting percentage, currently hovering around three per cent for 2015-16.

What Is the Solution? Anaheim needs goals and wins, but the solution is to stay the course and wait for the players to break out of their slumps. Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Carl Hagelin haven't scored yet, but they are proven NHL scorers. When those pucks start going in, the Ducks will win enough to get back into the playoff race.

Boston Bruins

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

Where Are They Now? The Boston Bruins are currently No. 12 in the Eastern Conference. 

What Is the Problem? The Bruins can't stop the puck, and they currently have one of the worst even-strength save percentages in the entire NHL. 

What Is the Solution? Tuukka Rask has to play better, and the turnaround has to be soon. Joe Haggerty of Comcast Sportsnet quotes Rask as saying, "I’m focusing on my game and trying to make a couple more saves." The 28-year-old is in the prime of his career, and the resume suggests Rask will rebound in a big way later in the year. Boston needs him to recover soon.

Calgary Flames

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Where Are They Now? The Calgary Flames are in a tie for No. 14 in the Western Conference so far this year. They have scored 19 goals fewer than they've allowed and are spending far too much time playing defense.

What Is the Problem? The Flames were not a good possession team last season, but rode a strong counter-strike offense, good goaltending and luck to a playoff spot. The possession numbers remain weak—as reflected by HockeyAnalysis.com's Fenwick measure—well below 50 per cent, and luck has not been on Calgary's side in 2015-16. 

What Is the Solution? T.J. Brodie is an important part of the team and has yet to play a game with the Flames this year. The goaltending has taken a while to figure out, and the counter strike offense isn't clicking as it did one year ago. A substantial trade to add an offensive forward might be required, and Calgary will need to make its move soon. Expect something in the next week if things continue to spiral downward.

Carolina Hurricanes

Gene Puskar/Associated Press

Where Are They Now? The Carolina Hurricanes are in a tie for No. 13 in the Eastern Conference and struggling so far this season. The team goal differential is minus-11, meaning they're over a goal-per-game in the red across the first eight contests.

What Is the Problem? The Hurricanes rank No. 27 overall in five-on-five save percentage and have just over five per cent shooting percentage at even strength. Simply put, Carolina's shots aren't going in enough and the opposition is finding holes in the goalies. 

What Is the Solution? Cam Ward and Eddie Lack have to stop more pucks, starting now. Carolina's possession numbers are strong, ranking them No. 3 overall in Corsi For percentage at five-on-five. Over time, the pucks will begin to go in for them.

Ottawa Senators

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Where Are They Now? The Ottawa Senators sit in a tie for No. 10 in the Eastern Conference so far in 2015-16.

What Is the Problem? The Senators don't have enough effective defenders, and it's impacting the team in important moments. HockeyAnalysis.com shows the team owning more than their fair share of possession with Erik Karlsson, Patrick Wiercioch and Cody Ceci, plus an effective veteran in Marc Methot who has struggled early in the year. 

What Is the Solution? Ottawa has stubbornly run the pairing of Jared Cowen and Mark Borowiecki together for over an hour at five-on-five this season. This tandem is getting killed in possession, and the team has to move away from that pairing.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Where Are They Now? The Pittsburgh Penguins are in a tie for No. 10 in the Eastern Conference early in the 2015-16 season. 

What Is the Problem? The Penguins have only 13 goals in the season's first eight games, despite the offseason acquisition of Phil Kessel and impact talents Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. 

What Is the Solution? The odds of a season-long slump for the fantastic offensive talent in Pittsburgh is extremely low. It is possible the team's complementary players—David Perron could be an example—will need to be changed out in order to improve chemistry. The Penguins are a much better team than the numbers currently show.

All advanced statistics contained in this article are via HockeyAnalysis.com unless otherwise indicated.