8. Vancouver Canucks (0-4-2)
Last week: 7
Vancouver is the last winless team in the NHL, despite the fact that they had a 3-0 lead in the season opener, and despite the fact that they led in every game of their five-game road trip to open the season and held multi-goal leads in four of them.
So, the locals showed up in a bad mood on Saturday. Then the Canucks lost their home opener, 5-1 to the Buffalo Sabres, and their fans weren’t holding back.
All that booing may seem like a bit much this early in the season, but the Canucks have missed the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons, and patience has clearly run out in Vancouver. None of this seems like it’s fun to be part of at the moment.
We’re dropping the Canucks all the way to eighth this week because we know Canucks fans will accept nothing else.
This week: VS CAR, @ SEA, VS PIT
7. San Jose Sharks (2-6-0)
Last week: 8
Not just one win for the Sharks last week, but two!
Erik Karlsson’s overtime winner against the New York Rangers on Thursday got San Jose into the win column.
Then, James Reimer pitched a 30-save shutout in a 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. Karlsson scored again, too. He’s scored three goals through eight games and leads the Sharks with six points. Mike Grier’s hoping he can keep this up long enough to make his contract tradeable.
This week: VS VGK, VS TOR, VS TB
6. Anaheim Ducks (1-4-1)
Last week: 5
A road trip that started with a 7-1 loss to the New York Islanders never got much better for the Ducks, as they ended up picking up just one point in five games and got outscored 23-9.
Not much good news for Anaheim so far and they’ve got a tough week on the schedule coming up as well. But, uh, hey, at least offseason signing Frank Vatrano is off to a nice start? He’s got three goals in his first six games as a Duck.
This week: VS TB, @ VGK, VS TOR
5. Seattle Kraken (2-3-2)
Last week: 6
Seattle moving up to five is less about them impressing and more about it having been a pretty rough start for most of the division other than the Calgary Flames and Vegas Golden Knights.
The Kraken went 1-2-1 last week. That one win was a 3-2 road win over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday, but then they followed it up with a 5-4 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
They’re getting nice early returns on the Andre Burakovsky signing, as he’s tied for the team lead with three goals and six points through seven games.
This week: VS BUF, VS VAN, VS PIT
4. Los Angeles Kings (3-4-0)
Last week: 4
A 3-2-0 road trip certainly isn’t a disaster, but the ending definitely left the Kings and their fans with a sour taste.
After an ugly 6-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, LA allowed four goals in the third period of Saturday’s game against the Washington Capitals, failing to even get a single point after they entered the final frame with a 2-0 lead. And we can’t even blame Cal Petersen for this one.
The Kings are still having all kinds of trouble keeping pucks out of their net. They’re allowing 4.43 goals against per game so far, which is the fifth-highest total in the league. The good news is Gabe Vilardi is determined to outscore this problem. He’s leading the team with four goals and seven points through seven games. Is it finally Gabe breakout SZN?
This week: VS TB, VS WPG, VS TOR
3. Edmonton Oilers (2-3-0)
Last week: 3
Edmonton was probably looking for better than a 2-3-0 record on a five-game homestand to open the season. A 6-4 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday was sandwiched between a 4-2 loss to the Sabres and then a 2-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday to cap off the homestand.
Despite the mediocre results for the Oilers so far, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been doing their thing, racking up a combined 18 points through five games. I’m not sure what defensive strategy can stop them, but I’m pretty sure it isn’t letting Draisaitl park himself in front of your net with no one in the same area code as him.
This week: @ STL, @ CHI, @ CGY
2. Vegas Golden Knights (4-2-0)
Last week: 2
They beat the Winnipeg Jets, 5-2 on Thursday, but the Golden Knights’ week started with a 3-2 loss to the Flames and ended with a 3-2 loss to the Avalanche.
A healthy Jack Eichel is looking like a difference-maker for Vegas. He’s scored three goals and a team-leading seven points through six games this season.
This week: VS TOR, @ SJ, VS ANA, VS WPG
1. Calgary Flames (4-1-0)
Last week: 1
The Flames have not had an easy schedule so far. They’ve played Colorado, Edmonton, Vegas, Buffalo and Carolina. Which makes their 4-1-0 start that much more impressive.
Tyler Toffoli’s first full season in Calgary is off to a good start. He’s got five points in five games, including a team-leading three goals. His overtime winner on Saturday capped off the comeback after the Flames had fallen down 2-0 to the Hurricanes.
This week: VS PIT, VS EDM
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