Ice Hockey
2013 DEREK LEUNG
Spent about a quarter of the season, it is finally time to make a first point on the ranking of the National Hockey League, focusing on the revelation teams and on those, however, are disappointing expectations.
Tuesday 20 November 2018 13 minutes reading time
EASTERN CONFERENCE
In the Atlantic Division, as shown in the script, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Tampa Bay Lightning, the series nominated for the victory of the Stanley Cup, lead the standings, while the surprising Buffalo Sabres are in third place, just 2 points from the summit. In the Metropolitan Division, instead, behind the solid Columbus Blue Jackets, who lead with 26 points, the most unthinkable things are happening: the New Yorkers are fighting for a place in the playoffs while at the bottom of the standings we find one of the favorites of the forecasts, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Surprises:
Buffalo Sabers (13-6-2, 28 p.ti)
For the first time since 2013, the Sabers have a positive record. The umpteenth summer revolution seems to be finally that good, despite the departures Evander Kane and Ryan O'Reilly. The grafts of Jeff Skinner and Conor Sheary are giving coach Phil Housley many points and the right depth to the roster. The new goalie Hutton and the Ullmark back-up are very well defending the cage. While awaiting the explosion of Rasmus Dahlin and Casey Mittlestadt, and the return to defense of the injured Matt Hunwick, the Sabers can look to the future with confidence.
New York Rangers (11-8-2, 24 p.ti)
During the trade deadline 2018, the Rangers have sold off half a team, starting a re-foundation path; Alain Vigneault was also exonerated to make room for David Quinn, a debutant in the NHL after 5 years at Boston University. The work of the new coach, up to here, has been excellent and able to revitalize an environment that is anything but peaceful. In addition to the constant Lundqvist, the rookies of Chytil and Howden were positive, and the young defender Pionk was also to be highlighted.
New York Islanders (10-7-2, 22 p.ti)
The hand of the new coach is evident at this beginning of the season. Trotz arrived in New York taking the worst defense of the season 2017/18 (GAA 3.57) and in a few months he turned it into a solid team, with the 8th defense of the championship. Much of the credit goes to the goalie Thomas Greiss and Robin Lenher, authors of an exceptional start to the season. Tavares' departure is not hurting as expected. There are few phenomena in the roster, but the depth of the same is ensuring points from all lines.
Montreal Canadiens (11-6-4, 26 p.ti)
GM Bergevin has been targeting all summer. First for the Kotkaniemi draft pick, then the Galchenyuk - Domi exchange and finally the sale of Pacioretty in Vegas. These contested choices, however, up to now are giving reason to Bergevin. The new signings, Domi and Tatar, seem to be reborn in Canada and are scoring points (Domi has already achieved 25 points, including 10 goals, last year, in 82 games he scored only 9) and Drouin, finally back in his role as wing, is already at 17.
Disappointments:
Pittsburgh Penguins (7-8-4, 18 p.ti)
After a start in line with expectations, something suddenly broke into the perfect Pittsburgh car. 1-7-2 in the last 10 and 6 consecutive defeats. As highlighted by GM Rutherford, what is missing is the support of the major lines to the Big 3 (Crosby, Malkin and Kessel). The roster is still competitive and there is plenty of time to go up the slope.
New Jersey Devils (8-9-2, 18 p.ti)
The exploit of last year seems to have been a flash in the pan. The numerous summer departures have not been worthily replaced. The young people on whom the GM Ray Shero relied - Pavel Zacha, Jesper Bratt and Miles Wood - to date have deeply disappointed their expectations.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
In the Central Division, the big favorites Nashville Predators and Winnipeg Jets dictate the pace. Immediately behind we find the trio Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars. In the Pacific Division, the Calgary Flames contend the top of the standings to the highly favored San Jose Sharks, with the amazing Vancouver Canucks in third place. The ever-changing Edmonton Oilers are in the middle of the standings with the Anaheim Ducks, a bit in difficulty.
Surprises:
Calgary Flames (12-8-1, 25 p.ti)
It is not entirely correct to include Calgary among the surprises; already this summer we had highlighted how the roster of the Alberta franchise was very competitive. However, the first place in the Pacific Division goes beyond expectations. The summer exchange with Dougie Hamilton's Hurricanes for Elias Lindholm (already 22 points for him) and Noah Hanifin proved to be a bet won by GM Treliving. Calgary also waits to see the best James Neal, slow party. To signal the excellent start of the season of goalie David Rittich who, in his first year as a manager, has an SV% .931!
Vancouver Canucks (10-11-2, 22 p.ti)
After the farewell of the Sedin twins, the bet to bet everything on young people is paying off. Vancouver has the best attack of the Pacific Division: the rookie Elias Pettersson is a real eye candy, Bo Horvat now a certainty and Jake Virtanen an excellent scorer. The Canuks are waiting to see Brock Boeser in top form after the injury that has held him for 10 games.
Disappointments:
Chicago Blackhawks (8-8-5, 21 p.ti)
After a good start that has deluded the most, Chicago has suddenly involute registering a poor 2-5-3 in the last 10 races. Crisis of results that has cost the place of the long-time coach Joel Quenneville, identified as a scapegoat, although the shortcomings of the roster are evident.
St. Louis Blues (7-9-3, 17 p.ti)
The summer purchases of O'Reilly (23 points), Perron and Bozak (11 points each) have been spot on, however, St. Louis, also a little bit of bad luck, is in last place in the Central Division. The numbers say that the Blues are in the middle of the standings for goals scored and goals conceded and with a goal difference of -3 should be in the noblest areas of the ranking. Just today, the leadership announced that it has exonerated the coach Mike Yeo held responsible for this failed start.
Vegas Golden Knights (9-12-1, 19 p.ti)
Has the Vegas fable come to an end? Marchessault and Karlsson are confirming their excellent levels last year, but behind them there is a gap. The great summer purchase, Max Pacioretty has achieved only 6 points in 18 races, while the other top player arrived in the summer - Paul Stastny - will be out for injury still a long time. Even Fleury is no longer the impassable wall of last year, with a discreet SV% .901. With the return of Stastny and that in defense of Nate Schimdt (disqualified 20 games for doping) something could change, but the battleship of last year, now in the final of the Stanley Cup, now seems a distant memory.
Los Angeles Kings (7-12-1, 15 p.ti)
With the bombastic purchase of Kovalchuk in free agency, it was expected that the Kings would fight at least for the qualification to the playoffs. After these first 20 games, however, the team is in last place in the standings, with 41 goals scored and 61 suffered. THERE. it struck a lot, especially during the offensive production phase and the defense, historically its flagship, is no longer so solid. Add yet another injury to goalie holder Jonathan Quick and back-up Campbell, and the omelette is made. Unlike other teams, that of L.A. does not seem a moment of difficulty passenger and already on twitter has unleashed the hastag #loseforHughes.
That said, we must remember that we are only at a quarter of the season, and the true values ​​of the teams will emerge in the coming weeks. Who has surprised so far will have to give its best not to collapse in the rest, while the teams who have had a false start will have plenty of time to recover.
After all, everyone knows that the accounts are done at the end!
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