The Los Angeles Kings are the most surprising team this season. Anze Kopitar leads the Kings in goals with ten at the age of 36. Quinton Byfield is progressing nicely, but it’s odd a winger has three times more assists than goals. The more interesting things are the Kings have resurrected Cam Talbot’s career after the Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators killed it, and they are second in the team plus-minus at 29. They are the only team in the top three in goals for and against. They are also first in penalty kill.
Despite the Kings winning five in a row and having the fifth most points in the NHL, I still don’t see them doing anything in the playoffs. There’s nothing on the team that screams great. They lack stars, and their top players are old. They remind me of a cross between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes, and neither of those teams has done anything lately in the postseason.
You could say the Vancouver Canucks are the biggest surprise, but the talents have been there. They just needed someone to get it out of them. I’m genuinely surprised it was Rick Tocchet. The Canucks have the best plus-minus at 32 but lost to the San Jose Sharks because why not.
Things I like
- Every time I try to write off the Winnipeg Jets, they return. They had a November to Remember, winning eight of their last nine games until losing to the Nashville Predators. Besides the Predator’s loss, the Jets only lost to the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars, which isn’t shabby. They’re surprisingly in the top ten in goals for and against. They are still led by their big three, Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Josh Morrissey. But younger guys like Cole Perfetti and Mason Appleton are stepping up. Perfetti is quite the sniper, but he’s no Patrik Laine. What could have been if they were on the same line. I just don’t see how this team is much different than all the ones that lost in the first round. It’s a long season, but they’re not much different than the Kings.
Things I don’t
-
For Native American Heritage Day Marc-Andre Fleury wore a custom mask. Except the NHL told him not to wear it, or they would fine him. This is monumental levels of stupidity. Fans in the arena and at home can’t tell what’s on a goalie mask unless it’s large. It shouldn’t be the business of the NHL to dictate what players wear as long as it’s not glaringly detrimental. This reminds me of the NFL cracking down on everything until they had my cause, my cleats. It’s hypercritical for the NHL to be able to promote whatever they want, but the players can’t.
-
A quarter of the way through the season, the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers are beginning to distance themselves from the rest of their divisions. The only thing that kept the Atlantic close was the Bruins actually lost two games in a row, uncharacteristically, too. A score of 5-2 to the Red Wings and 7-4 to the Rangers. It would suck if they managed to suck all the drama out of the division crown race.
Fights of the Week
Special thanks to hockeyfights.com for making this section a little easier to do.
Jeremy Lauzon vs Brayden Schenn
Fast and furious, even though it was sloppy.
Vincent Desharnais vs Jonah Gadjovich
Over 30 seconds of action.
Goat of the Week
Travis Sanheim - Philadelphia Flyers
It’s not the worst turnover, and the Flyer lost by two, but you should never center the puck even when you don’t think anyone is there. A sneaky Chris Kreider made them pay.
https://www.nhl.com/video/nyr-phi-kreider-scores-goal-against-flyers-6341721739112
Goals of the Week
Jack Eichel - Vegas Golden Knights
It was a broken play but also the game-winner.
https://www.nhl.com/video/vgk-dal-eichel-scores-goal-against-jake-oettinger-6341650995112
Mikael Granlund - San Jose Sharks
You won’t see many Sharks do this.
https://www.nhl.com/video/van-sjs-granlund-scores-goal-against-casey-desmith-6341783661112
Stat Line of the Week
11/24/23 Chicago 4 vs. Toronto 3
| Skater | TOI | G | A | +/- | SOG | Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.Dickinson | 17:17 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
Jason Dickinson is not a star player by any stretch, but he did help lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the process, he scored his first career hat trick, so he deserved some love. Two of his goals were off turnovers, but they weren’t egregious. Dickinson’s career high in points was 30 last season. I imagine he’ll pass that this season.
https://www.nhl.com/video/jason-dickinson-with-a-hat-trick-vs-toronto-maple-leafs-6341727413112
Numbers, Numbers
200 – Assists by Jacob Slavin, the most assists by a defenseman in Carolina Hurricanes’ history
1001 – Games played by Cal Clutterbuck
3802 – Career hits for Clutterbuck, first in NHL history
6 – Teams that scored at least five goals on November 22
8 – Teams that scored at least five goals on November 24
8 – Goals for the Tampa Bay Lightning on 14 shots against the Carolina Hurricanes. That’s quite the shooting percentage.
9 – Points by Connor McDavid in his last two games
Rankings
The rankings are based on how the teams are currently playing.
Top 5
- New York R
- Los Angeles
- Vancouver
- Colorado
- Winnipeg
Bottom 5
- San Jose
- Columbus
- Minnesota
- Chicago
- Anaheim