NHL Week 1 reactions: What’s real — and what's a mirage?

New York Rangers are really good defensively

VERDICT: Probably real | Their .954 team save percentage (second in the NHL) will come down some, but through four games, Rangers defensive improvements transitioning from Peter Laviolette to Mike Sullivan behind the bench look legitimate. 

Per Natural Stat Trick, New York's 12.2 high-danger chances allowed per 60 minutes at five-on-five was fourth worst in the league last season. Through four games this season, they're at 9.54 per 60 minutes, which would have put them in the top five of the league last season. There's a reason the goaltending has been so absurdly good to start the season for the Rangers (2-2) — the defense is actually giving superstar netminder Igor Shesterkin a chance. 

Anaheim Ducks have a pulse on power play

VERDICT: Jury's out | Anaheim isn't the only team having an early season power-play renaissance. The Ducks were the worst in the NHL last season, finishing at 11.8 percent, so fixing the power play was an obvious goal for them  when they acquired Chris Kreider, the all-time leading power-play goal scorer in New York Rangers history. Scoring at a 40-percent clip, Anaheim has a stellar power play, but the sample is too small.  

Elite goalies are in for down seasons

VERDICT: A mirage | There are big-name goalies at the bottom of the leaguewide save percentage list. In reverse order, Ottawa's Linus Ullmark (.842), New Jersey's Jacob Markstrom (.845), Vegas' Adin Hill (.854), Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy (.855), Calgary's Dustin Wolf (.865), Carolina's Frederik Andersen (.867), Los Angeles' Darcy Kuemper (.868) and Dallas' Jake Oettinger (.875) are off to poor starts despite coming off strong seasons. There's a possibility that someone is due for a down season, but most of these guys should bounce back. 

Buffalo Sabres are a mess

VERDICT: Unfortunately for Sabres fans, this is probably real. | Per Natural Stat Trick, the Sabres have spent the most minutes trailing by any margin (141 minutes, 15 seconds) at all strengths. They're 0-3-0 and have been outscored at home 7-1. Perhaps most alarming, the Sabres have been outshot 32-23 combined in three third periods (27-16 at home), looking particularly bad in the 3-1 loss to Colorado on Monday afternoon. To add injury to insult, top center Josh Norris is expected to miss a chunk of time.

The Sabres look like they're going to keep pace with the 0-6 New York Jets for the ignominious title of longest North American playoff drought — approaching 15 seasons for both franchises.