Go ahead, call it favoritism. Early in the season, some teams are given the benefit of the doubt (Colorado, Dallas, St. Louis) while others have to prove themselves (N.Y. Islanders, Calgary, Montreal) given their respective records over the last few seasons.
Not any more.
Open the season undefeated? Move to the head of the class. Open the season 4-0 on the road and lose in overtime to a roster full of Hall of Famers? Good enough for us. Lose three games by a combined score of 15-6? Tough ta-tas. Go 0-for-19 on the power play and 0-for-4 in the win-loss columns? Brace yourself for the fall.
Maybe we've seen the light. Maybe we're just sick and tired of watching good teams go bad. Either way, things are going to change around here. People are going to be held accountable. (OK, who let Brian Sutter in?)
|
Team
|
Pvs.
|
W-L-T-OL
|
The skinny
|
|
1. Canadiens
|
18
|
4-0-1-0
|
Martin Rucinsky after beating the Devils, 3-1: "Tell me, did we play good or did they play bad?" Pinch us all.
|
|
2. Wild
|
21
|
3-0-2-0
|
When the Wild say they can play better, you can't help but believe them.
|
|
3. Islanders
|
14
|
4-0-0-1
|
Wasn't it going to take a while before the Isles developed chemistry?
|
|
4. Oilers
|
16
|
4-1-1-0
|
Tom Poti? Who's Tom Poti?
|
|
5. Flames
|
15
|
4-1-0-1
|
Forget his 1.38 GAA, what matters most is Roman Turek's .949 save percentage.
|
|
6. Red Wings
|
1
|
4-1-0-0
|
Call it unfair, but shouldn't the Red Wings be obliterating everyone?
|
|
7. Avalanche
|
2
|
2-2-0-0
|
A 4-0 loss to Vancouver is no way for a defending Cup champ to behave.
|
|
8. Sharks
|
10
|
2-0-1-1
|
Now if they could just get their power play to work.
|
|
9. Flyers
|
3
|
2-1-2-0
|
You know the coach means business when you practice without pucks...and you're not in high school.
|
|
10. Blues
|
6
|
1-1-2-0
|
There's more talk about the Blues' confidence in their goalie instead of their confidence in themselves.
|
|
11. Maple Leafs
|
9
|
2-2-1-0
|
When Curtis Joseph says, "I can shoulder the blame for this one," it's usually the truth.
|
|
12. Senators
|
12
|
3-2-1-0
|
Zdeno Chara to the Ottawa Sun: "I look forward to playing against guys like Lindros and Lemieux. I wish every team had someone like that."
|
|
13. Sabres
|
13
|
3-2-0-1
|
A 4-1 win and getting the coach fired. Now that's revenge.
|
|
14. Bruins
|
7
|
3-2-0-0
|
Losses at Minnesota and San Jose prove one thing: Bill Guerin is really the team's captain.
|
|
15. Hurricanes
|
11
|
3-2-0-0
|
The state of the 'Canes: Aaron Ward is offering faceoff tips to Rod Brind'Amour.
|
|
16. Stars
|
5
|
2-2-0-1
|
Donald Audette in the Dallas Morning News: "I don't think they bring me in here and pay me all that money to play me in the stands." No, but did you sign thinking you wouldn't play defense?
|
|
17. Capitals
|
4
|
2-3-0-0
|
Yet another season when the Caps don't start playing until November.
|
|
18. Rangers
|
17
|
1-2-1-0
|
No truth to the rumor that Brian Leetch and Bryan Berard draw straws for who has to stay above the faceoff circles.
|
|
19. Blue Jackets
|
20
|
0-1-4-0
|
Here's hoping the Blue Jackets don't miss the playoffs by a point...or four.
|
|
20. Canucks
|
27
|
2-3-0-0
|
No truth to the rumor that after Todd Bertuzzi received a 10-game suspension after a 4-0 win over Colorado, Marc Crawford offered to pay his mortgage for the month.
|
|
21. Coyotes
|
28
|
2-2-1-0
|
It's amazing what a locker room makeover can do.
|
|
22. Thrashers
|
22
|
1-1-0-1
|
The Thrashers went seven days between their second and third games of the season. So much for a compressed schedule.
|
|
23. Blackhawks
|
23
|
2-3-1-0
|
Of their 17 goals against, eight have been while shorthanded. Blame the penalized, not the penalty killers.
|
|
24. Lightning
|
30
|
2-3-0-0
|
Oooo, a rise in the rankings...head rush.
|
|
25. Mighty Ducks
|
26
|
2-4-0-0
|
Monday's headline in the OCR: "Lightning must have scared off fans." Either that or only 9,579 souls could stomach bad hockey.
|
|
26. Predators
|
29
|
1-2-1-0
|
Mike Dunham to the Tennessean after Saturday's 4-3 loss to Edmonton: "We just played stupid." His words, not ours.
|
|
27. Kings
|
24
|
1-3-1-0
|
"I'd like to think it's our team that's making the other goalies look good." Coach Andy Murray proving there is a reason for everything.
|
|
28. Panthers
|
25
|
1-4-0-0
|
Talk about telling stats: The Bure brothers are a combined 2-3-5 in five games. They also are minus-7.
|
|
29. Devils
|
8
|
0-3-0-0
|
At least make it look like you're trying.
|
|
30. Penguins
|
19
|
0-4-0-0
|
Where is this in the comeback manual?
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