1. The Sharks
Well, this was a big surprise. The Sharks are 2-0, thanks to wins against the Kings (I was there) and the Ducks (The Ducks lost?) They've already scored 7 goals and given up only one, 5 against the Kings and 2 against the Sharks. That one goal was against the Kings. It seems that Coach Peter DeBoer has already made his impact, but I think he's still got a long way to go. One good thing is: He got wins against divisional opponents and that's what matters when you want to get to the playoffs again. But look out, an East Coast swing is coming up and we'll see what happens to this team against good teams like the Islanders and Rangers.
2. How About Them Coyotes?
The Coyotes are also 2-0, thanks to win against the Kings and the Penguins. They've also managed to create tons of offense like the Lightning did last year, and were supposed to have trouble scoring goals this season. But not yet. The offense is clicking with six goals and five different players finding the net. But I still wouldn't be sure about this team. They're 2-0, yes, but the season's too early to make a judgement on them. Let's wait it out and see what happens to this team over the next month or so.
3. The Rise of Oscar Lindberg?
In case you don't know who he is, he is a rookie with the New York Rangers and leading all rookies with four goals in three games. Before the season started, he wasn't even a lock to make the team. But now that he's in and he already has been a huge impact on this Rangers team, look for him to do more magical stuff this coming season.
4. Have the Penguins Fallen?
While the Coyotes have a high-flying offense right now, the Penguins just don't seem to have it. Phil Kessel has nine shots on goal and Sidney Crosby only has one. If the Penguins are gonna get to the playoffs again, they have to get more out of Sidney Crosby than they got the first two games. The Penguins offense is a sure lock to get better as the season progresses, but Crosby only having one shot attempt and being blocked is definitely why Penguins fans are on edge to start the season.
5. Rookies in Detroit
Even rookies with the Detroit Red Wings are picking up the slack for this team. Take Dylan Larkin. He is a 19-year-old kid playing like he's one of the top players for this team. Everyone knows his potential and what he can do, but he seems to be shattering those expectations. He's a plus-6 in two games so far. Looks like the Red Wings are on the right track with this kid.
6. The Terrible Blue Jackets
If you want a team that can't seem to find a break, take the Columbus Blue Jackets. So far this season, they have given up nine goals in two games. They were also expected to roar out of the gate, but somehow have dropped dead. Where is the goaltending and defense when it is needed?
7. The Goal-Scoring of Florida
The Florida Panthers don't get enough credit in my blog posts with what they do down there. So far, they've scored seven times in their season-opening win over the Flyers. If this team can keep up this pace for the season, they'll be a factor in the Atlantic and I would like their chances in the playoffs to get far if they get there.
8. Jets? Real or No?
2-0 Jets? Didn't see that coming, at least from me. They're already a competitor in the tough Central Division. It could figure to be a tough race to keep up with though. But the Jets are starting out strong and they need to keep it up if they expect to keep the other teams at bay.
9. The Coach's Challenge
I always love it when a coach in the NFL challenges a ruling. Now they've brought it to the NHL and it has already made an impact. The first two challenges changed the call on goals. But coaches should be given an extra timeout when they make a challenge. They don't like to give it up early in the game. Get with the NFL, NHL!
Well, those are my surprises I believe are making headlines so far this season with the NHL. Things can change and we might have more surprises, but either way, we've got a great week to start and already some teams are looking strong, others not so much, and the impact of new rules generating interest in the NHL. Let's look forward to one marvelous season, puck heads!
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