- Make that seven in a row for Anaheim, closing the week with a resounding 6-3 win over Dallas at the Honda Center. They've been clicking on offense, defense, and in net lately, making up for their 28th-ranked power play (9.4%) and tied for 22nd penalty kill (78.6%). Obviously the special teams are an issue here, so something has to give; either the even strength play falters or the PP/PK jumps up and the Ducks become even scarier. We'll have a great chance to see what happens in the next couple of weeks, as the Ducks open their season-long eight game road trip tonight in Toronto.
- It's looking like a lost season already for a few Eastern Conference teams. With one win each, Buffalo, New Jersey, and Philadelphia are hurting. Thing is, I don't know that any of these teams have a bounce back in them. None are playing well defensively, surrendering at least three goals per game each, while only New Jersey has averaged more than two goals per outing on offense.
- What a statement win last night for the Colorado Avalanche. They took it on the chin from Pittsburgh all game long, got badly outshot, took too many penalties, yet still rope-a-doped their way to a 1-0 win at the Consol Energy Center. The victory moves them to 8-1-0, which is their best start in franchise history. They also now have a four-point cushion on second-place Chicago in the Central Division.
- How about Sean Monahan? The Flames' rookie notched his sixth goal of the season last night in a last-minute win at Los Angeles, and is now tied for second on the team in points with nine. He plays big minutes for Calgary and has been a key cog in their surprising 4-2-2 start, which still only has them ahead of archrival Edmonton in the Pacific because the usual suspects are playing so well. Calgary is at Phoenix tonight in what is an early marquee matchup in the NHL's version of Murderer's Row.
- Already starved for goals and general high-level play, the Rangers have now lost Rick Nash to a concussion and there is no timetable for his return yet. Ryan Callahan is out for 3-4 weeks with a broken thumb. Carl Hagelin still isn't ready yet, though he has been cleared for contact in practice. Backup goalie Martin Biron retired over the weekend after being sent down to Hartford. Yikes. A 2-5-0 start with two more roadies to go before the home opener is not what this team needed to open the season.
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