NHL has plenty of surprises
With the NHL in full swing, it
comes as a big surprise the number
of underdog teams and players
producing well to start the new
campaign. The Nashville Predators
are the hottest team in the NHL,
they have yet to lose a game in regulation.
The young Los Angeles
Kings are off to a great start as
well. The Tampa Bay Lightning
have found some good chemistry
in young Steven Stamkos and
Martin St. Louis. St. Louis,
Columbus, Toronto, New York
Islanders, and Dallas are off to fast
starts as well. The question is, will
it last? Edmonton is in familiar territory
at the bottom of the NHL
standings. Some teams not used to
the bottom of the standings are the
New Jersey Devils, Anaheim
Ducks, Buffalo Sabres and the
defending Eastern Conference
champions, Philadelphia Flyers.
After three weeks of the NHL season, some unheralded players are starting to emerge within new teams. Clarke MacArthur of the Leafs is tied for the team lead with six goals, Thomas Vokoun is tied for the league lead with two shutouts in Florida, and Dallas goalie Kari Lehtonen is tied for the league lead with five wins. Underachieving big-name players after three weeks are Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo, New Jersey's $11-million man Ilya Kovalchuk, and Rangers forward Marian Gaborik, who have all struggled since the beginning of the year. My three stars of the week for last week are: third, Chicago's Patrick Sharpe, second , Vancouver's Daniel Sedin, and the first, of the week is Calgary's Rene Bourque.
Coming up this week in the NHL, Leafs sniper Phil Kessel plays his former Boston Bruins team. He has yet to score against them since being traded. The battle of the past two Eastern Conference champions takes place in Pittsburgh when the visiting Philadelphia Flyers take on the Penguins. The second instalment of the battle of Ontario takes place on November 2 between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs took the first game in the season series.
My five games and predictions for next week are:
1. New Jersey Devils vs. San Jose Sharks: Look for Martin Brodeur to play his best game of the year to date and the big guns on New Jersey to fire on all cylinders.
New Jersey 5-1
2. Colorado Avalanche vs. Calgary Flames: The struggles will continue for the Flames. Look for the Avalanche's young guns to score in bunches.
Colorado 6-3
3. Edmonton Oilers vs. Chicago Blackhawks: Having traded most of their championship team, the Blackhawks will be outpowered by the Oilers.
Edmonton 2-0
4. Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: After winning the first game of the season series, look for the Leafs to pounce on the struggling Sens.
Toronto 5-2
5. Vancouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers: Having struggled early on the road this season, look for the Canucks to step up and play as a team.
Vancouver 3-0
After three weeks of the NHL season, some unheralded players are starting to emerge within new teams. Clarke MacArthur of the Leafs is tied for the team lead with six goals, Thomas Vokoun is tied for the league lead with two shutouts in Florida, and Dallas goalie Kari Lehtonen is tied for the league lead with five wins. Underachieving big-name players after three weeks are Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo, New Jersey's $11-million man Ilya Kovalchuk, and Rangers forward Marian Gaborik, who have all struggled since the beginning of the year. My three stars of the week for last week are: third, Chicago's Patrick Sharpe, second , Vancouver's Daniel Sedin, and the first, of the week is Calgary's Rene Bourque.
Coming up this week in the NHL, Leafs sniper Phil Kessel plays his former Boston Bruins team. He has yet to score against them since being traded. The battle of the past two Eastern Conference champions takes place in Pittsburgh when the visiting Philadelphia Flyers take on the Penguins. The second instalment of the battle of Ontario takes place on November 2 between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs took the first game in the season series.
My five games and predictions for next week are:
1. New Jersey Devils vs. San Jose Sharks: Look for Martin Brodeur to play his best game of the year to date and the big guns on New Jersey to fire on all cylinders.
New Jersey 5-1
2. Colorado Avalanche vs. Calgary Flames: The struggles will continue for the Flames. Look for the Avalanche's young guns to score in bunches.
Colorado 6-3
3. Edmonton Oilers vs. Chicago Blackhawks: Having traded most of their championship team, the Blackhawks will be outpowered by the Oilers.
Edmonton 2-0
4. Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: After winning the first game of the season series, look for the Leafs to pounce on the struggling Sens.
Toronto 5-2
5. Vancouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers: Having struggled early on the road this season, look for the Canucks to step up and play as a team.
Vancouver 3-0
