What Surprise Team Stays Hot in the NHL?

Well the parade in Toronto will be delayed for the time being(bet you haven’t heard that before) seeing how the Maple Leafs finally faced defeat, albeit in overtime so they still get a point so hope is not lost yet, Toronto. Given that the Dallas Stars were defeated on the same day and the Tampa Bay Lightning suffered defeat to the Florida Panthers soon before, this means that no NHL team will achieve Miami Dolphiness and go 82-0. Of course the inquiries at this point are will hot starts play part to a strong season. Maybe the season won’t continue along at the tremendous pace for some, but is a playoff berth out of the question? So taking a look at the teams who missed the playoffs last season, and are off to starts where it doesn’t look like they are already out of contention, here’s my completely opinionated opinion:

Tavares (center)

NY Islanders

Start so far: Well sure, in actuality those eight points so far have been from six games already, but a record of 3-1-2 (though it should be 3-3, stupid overtime point system) has put the Long Islanders atop the division early tied with Pittsburgh in points, though the Penguins have played seven games. Plus, the fact that the Isles beat the previously undefeated, and therefore clearly Cup winning, Maple Leafs in overtime is a big plus for morale. And yes it does help when the game winner goes to young stud John Tavares.

Outlook: Ok, early on I pegged the Islanders to improve but not enough for the playoffs. Given the fact that they are still only holding a .500 record I am tempted to stand by that assessment. However for that to happen the Rangers need to grow some teeth and the Devils need to figure out what in the hell they are going to do with their cap issues and actually roster a full team. Maybe if the Atlantic division continues to struggle as a majority, and James Wisniewski stays out of trouble for asking Sean Avery to share Fudgsicles during games, the Islanders can find a way in to the playoffs via the bottom eight. The Islanders are proving they have got depth, losing Tavares and captain defender Streit, yet fighting back. Rick DiPietro may regain his form, though that is a race against time and him straining his ACL after having a bad dream. Until then Dwayne Roloson continues to prove he is far more effective and efficient.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Start so far: 4-0 to start is about as good a start as most of Toronto’s dreams can imagine, only topped by a 5-0 start (next year!). Then dreams were dashed and people fell into depression with the team falling in overtime to go 4-0-1. Yet still Phil Kessel is averaging a goal a game, and Clarke MacArthur is following suit. I am surprised about one of those. You can guess which. And I think GM Brian Burke may be happy knowing that so far Tomas Kaberle has four assists and the team isn’t at a point where they are shopping him…yet. All in all, for three gambles this season to start Burke looks like he is nailing it. Though two first round picks for Kessel may never be justified until he pots 60 goals.

Outlook: Like the Atlantic, the Northeast division’s former powers are floundering right now, but Montreal and Boston look to be the real deal. If I had to choose one team of the three to eventually succumb to a turnaround by any team in the East who is underachieving currently, Toronto is the easy pick. While everyone may be saying Tyler Bozak is the solution at center since Mats Sundin graced Toronto, well, simply put, no. If Burke swings a deal for a center (which he certainly has the means to do with all those first round picks…) I say the Leafs may be solidified for a run at the playoffs. As for now…Enjoy the run Toronto.

Stamkos makes the Lightning powerplay work. Always

Tampa Bay Lightning

Start so far: Thank god for the offense in Tampa because the Ellis/Smith tandem in net is not looking to hot. Surprisingly, the defense has allowed a relatively reasonable 28 shots per game average, yet Dan “Moneybags” Ellis and Mike “Generic Name” Smith have allowed 3.6 goals per game which is good for third worst. But jumping out 4-1 is showing that bad goaltending doesn’t matter. Plus, that one loss was against the Florida Panthers at the lopsided affair of 6-0 and if you take that out the Lightning drastically improve in just about every department. Plus those four wins came against Philadelphia, Montreal, the previously undefeated Dallas and the surprising Atlanta Thrashawks. Not bad. So what gives with Florida? And, oh yeah, Steven Stamkos has five goals and nine points to start.

Outlook: The Lightning have been the popular sleeper pick (which is an oxymoron by all rights) for snagging a playoff spot and so far they have looked the part. They have been exciting and dynamic so far, and if the goalie situation gets fixed up (as in elevating anyone’s save percentage to over 88 percent) the Lightning may be a real hazard to just about anyone besides the Panthers.

Atlanta Thrashers

Start so far: 3-2 may not be the greatest start ever, but in Thrashers history this is a very good sign in year 1 AK. Plus with a reliable goalie tandem returning with Ondrej Pavelec coming back after getting all woozy (glad to see he is back and doing alright), most signs point up for Atlanta. No one has been overwhelming on offense, though Anthony Stewart’s four goals in five games is making a case, which is actually good for them seeing how it is a more thorough team effort and not just reliance on a certain player as has been the case in the past. Even more impressive has been the opponents Atlanta has dealt with: Washington, Los Angeles, San Jose, Tampa Bay and Anaheim. Losses to Los Angeles and Tampa Bay, both tough opponents, and wins against Washington and San Jose, the crème de la crème of the league? Yeah I think Atlanta has to be pleased so far. Anaheim doesn’t count on account that they have no defenders dressed. At least ones that actually play defense.

Outlook: I actually had Atlanta as my eight seed out East, which I don’t have in writing on this blog so believe me or not (do), so I though Atlanta may be capable of some big time things. I think they are easily a bubble team, but I don’t quite know if with the rise of other surprise teams that if Atlanta is going to be the one of them that lasts.

Often overlooked, Richards (91) always produces

Dallas Stars

Start so far: Not much changed in Big D besides that whole losing the franchise player and former hotshot goalie. So what happened? Kari Lehtonen, the new kid in pads, goes on to face 38 shots per game so far and is still somehow sporting a reasonable 3.00 goals against average and gets four wins right out the gates. Never mind the fact that the Stars offense is entirely top heavy (impressively so), while they are basically missing the Hanson brothers in their bottom six. Steve Ott does an admirable impression though. Again, that doesn’t matter when Brad Richards is averaging two points a game.

Outlook: Admittedly, I had written Dallas off pretty quick when it came to preseason evaluations. Namely due to their question mark in net, worrisome defense, and utter lack of depth up front. So far only the defense is the troublesome part. So far. Those shots against need to drop fast for Dallas to stay hot. No goalie can keep up that workload and if Lehtonen falters a bit the Stars will be landing flat on their face, which leads to the next issue with the offense. The offense on the Stars has bailed them out so far when the defense has been more problematic, but one injury upfront leaves the Stars scarily vulnerable. Brandon Segal, Adam Burrish, Krys Barch and Brian Sutherby don’t exactly yell offensive threat. Dallas when healthy can be solid roster. Injuries are going to happen though at some point, and Lehtonen is going to slow down a bit so it is likely that Dallas will come back down to earth.

Agree? Disagree? Mostly disagree? I’ll have more to disagree with later.

This is just an opinion…so please Pardon My Bias.