Hurricanes
Martin Necas is unconscious proper now. He is on a 13-game factors streak that dates again to Oct. 22, and he has 13 objectives and 10 assists in that span. Rewind only a few months and Necas’ identify was arising in commerce rumors in every single place earlier than he in the end signed a two-year, $13 million contract. Generally the perfect strikes are those you do not make. 1 14-4-0
2

Jets
For the primary time all season, the Jets appeared mortal in a pair video games in opposition to the Lightning and Panthers. They did nicely to reply with a dominant win over the defending champs on Tuesday night time to cease the bleeding. I am nonetheless not completely positive what to make of Winnipeg’s 48.3% five-on-five anticipated objectives share, which ranks twenty second within the NHL. 1 16-3-0
3

Wild
Is Matt Boldy taking yet one more step ahead in his growth? It definitely appears that means. By means of 18 video games, Boldy already has 10 objectives and 19 factors, and his five-on-five numbers are excellent. Boldy’s 56.7% anticipated objectives share is second on the group, and the Wild have a plus-8 objective differential with him on the ice. The 23-year-old is nicely on his strategy to NHL stardom. 1 12-3-3
4

Capitals
There’s so much to like in regards to the Capitals this season, however quite a lot of that has been overshadowed by Alex Ovechkin’s leg damage. Due to a classic Ovi heater, the Washington captain was main the NHL with 15 objectives, however he’s now out week-to-week with a leg damage. For the sake of the Capitals and hockey followers in all places, hopefully Ovechkin is again sooner fairly than later. 1 13-4-1
5

Rangers
For all the celebrities in New York, the road consisting of Filip Chytil between Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko could be the best. These three have performed simply over 123 minutes collectively at five-on-five and outscored opponents 11-0 in that point. In complete, that trio has mixed for 13 objectives and 21 assists on the season. That is a top quality bottom-six line. 1 12-4-1
6

Golden Knights
With the vacations approaching Jack Eichel is in a giving temper. Eichel already has 23 assists this season, second solely to Nathan MacKinnon’s preposterous complete of 27. Eichel has been particularly beneficiant on the facility play, the place he is recorded 11 helpers. Due to this scorching begin, Eichel is on tempo for 104 assists, which might practically double his present profession excessive of 54. 1 11-6-2
7

Panthers
Sam Bennett has been nice because the Panthers acquired him within the 2020-21 season, however he has nonetheless by no means topped 50 factors in a single season. That may change this yr as a result of Bennett already has 18 factors in 18 video games. Bennett flashed a few of this offensive pop when he scored seven objectives in 19 playoff video games final yr, and now he is carried it over to the common season. 4 12-6-1
8

Stars
The Stars have the eighth-best report within the NHL, and their two finest forwards have not performed wherever close to their finest hockey. Jason Robertson, who tallied 189 factors within the earlier two seasons, has 4 objectives and hasn’t scored in nearly a month. Roope Hintz, who has at the very least 65 factors in every of his final three seasons, is on tempo for 48. As soon as these two get going, Dallas goes to take off. — 12-6-0
9

Devils
Simply as all of us predicted within the preseason, Johnathan Kovacevic and Jonas Siegenthaler have been the Devils’ simplest defensive pairing. These two have been dominant when on the ice, posting a plus-9 objective differential and a 57.8% anticipated objectives share at five-on-five. Seems New Jersey did not even have to signal Brett Pesce. Completely kidding … I believe. 2 12-7-2
10

Maple Leafs
The downfall of John Tavares may need been considerably exaggerated. Tavares took a step again final yr as a 33-year-old, and it appeared like he could be on the downslope of the getting old curve. This season, at 34, Tavares is defying Father Time with 9 objectives and eight assists in 17 video games. On high of that, his five-on-five metrics stay sturdy. By no means doubt the facility of mystical amulets. 2 12-6-2
11

Lightning
Roughly one yr after getting back from again surgical procedure, Andrei Vasilevskiy as soon as once more appears like the most effective goalies on the planet. Vasilevskiy is seventh within the NHL with 6.86 objectives saved above common, and his .919 save proportion ranks twelfth. It is good to see Vasilevskiy working at full capability after a down yr. 4 10-6-1
12

Canucks
I’ve famous Elias Pettersson’s early-season struggles a few occasions already, so I want to present him some credit score for combating by them. Pettersson has 4 objectives and 4 assists in his final six video games, and he is as much as 13 factors on the yr. Vancouver will want Pettersson to maintain it rolling as a result of the group simply introduced that star ahead JT Miller will likely be out indefinitely on account of private causes. 2 9-6-3
13

Oilers
Final week, Connor McDavid recorded his 1,000th level in his 659th sport. He turned the fourth-fastest participant to succeed in that milestone, behind solely Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy. That is simply one other reminder that what we see from McDavid each night time is borderline superhuman. 1 10-8-2
14

Kings
Quinton Byfield lastly got here into his personal final season, and I hoped to see extra of the identical from him this season, however that simply hasn’t occurred but. Byfield has simply two objectives and 7 assists in 19 video games, the Kings are barely breaking even with him on the ice at five-on-five. That stated, there’s hope for a breakthrough. Byfield is just taking pictures 5.4%, and he is created simply over 4 anticipated objectives. 5 10-7-3
15

Avalanche
The Avs proceed to lean on their huge weapons, and it retains working as a result of gamers like Mikko Rantanen can utterly take over a sport. Rantanen is as much as 12 objectives on the season, and he has 10 factors in his final 5 video games. Rantanen has been particularly deadly on the facility play, the place he is now as much as 4 objectives and 6 assists. Colorado’s depth leaves so much to be desired, however that is okay when Rantanen is mauling opponents in his minutes. 2 10-9-0
16

Flames
The Flames have precisely one participant on tempo for greater than 50 factors this season. Rasmus Andersson is on observe to succeed in 51 factors, however the subsequent closest participant is Jonathan Huberdeau. He has two factors in his final eight video games and is now on tempo for 43 factors. Regardless of all that, the Flames are above .500 and within the playoff image with Thanksgiving on the horizon. 3 10-6-3
17

Kraken
Jordan Eberle had six objectives in his first eight video games, and he hasn’t scored since. Meaning Eberle has now gone 9 straight video games with out lighting the lamp, and that lack of offense is an enormous motive why Seattle has been caught in impartial. The Kraken have allowed 55 objectives and scored 55 objectives. They’re tied for eleventh within the former class and tied for nineteenth within the latter. 7 10-9-1
18

Senators
At what level are we allowed to be involved about Linus Ullmark? As a result of I am beginning to get there. The Senators’ new No. 1 goalie has struggled exterior the sturdy defensive setting in Boston. Ullmark has allowed 4.33 objectives above common, and his .884 save proportion ranks fifty fifth within the NHL. 2 8-9-1
19

Sabres
Zach Benson, the No. 13 total choose in 2023, didn’t report some extent in his first seven video games of the season. It was a disastrous begin for the highly-touted teenager in his second NHL season, however he could have put that behind him. Benson now has objectives in three of the Sabres’ final 5 video games, and he has potential to enhance their secondary scoring. 4 9-9-1
20

Flyers
The Flyers are 4-1-1 of their final six video games, and Travis Konecny is an enormous motive for this mini-run. Konecny is shouldering a lot of the offensive burden in Philly with six objectives and 7 assists in his final seven video games. If the Flyers are going to maintain this rolling they will want another person to help Konecny within the offensive zone. 5 8-10-2
21

Islanders
The Islanders are Islander-ing very exhausting once more this season. They’re scoring below 3.0 objectives per sport, however respectable protection and Ilya Sorokin are preserving them in most video games. I want this group to shake issues up a bit of bit as a result of issues have gotten very stale on the island. — 7-7-5
22

Bruins
Jim Montgomery turned the primary coach to get fired yesterday, regardless of a .715 win proportion by 184 video games in Boston. I am very skeptical that firing Montgomery will repair this group’s woes. Can interim coach Joe Sacco swimsuit up and rating 30 objectives this season? That is the one means he turns issues round. 5 8-9-3
23

Hockey Membership
Utah acquired Mikhail Sergachev from the Lightning in hopes he could possibly be the group’s undisputed No. 1 defenseman. By means of 18 video games, Sergachev has dealt with that function nicely. He has a plus-3 objective differential and a 52.1% anticipated objectives share to go together with 12 factors. These aren’t dominant numbers, however I believe he ought to solely get higher as he will get extra comfy together with his new environment. 3 7-8-3
24

Geese
Notable non-Flyer Cutter Gauthier scored his first NHL objective final week in opposition to Detroit, and he added one other on within the subsequent sport in opposition to the Stars. When the Geese swapped Jamie Drysdale for Gauthier, they have been hoping he could possibly be an affect participant up entrance. It was a gradual begin for Gauthier, however the rookie could be beginning to discover his means on the NHL degree. 4 8-8-2
25

Blues
The Blues began November with wins over the Maple Leafs and Lightning, however they’ve gone 1-5-1 since then. Their objective differential in that stretch is minus-15, they usually’ve gotten shelled at five-on-five. St. Louis simply hasn’t been capable of survive a plethora of accidents to its already shaky blue line. 3 8-11-1
26

Crimson Wings
Is the Yzerplan going to kick into excessive gear quickly? If not, it’ll be a really lengthy yr in Detroit as a result of the Crimson Wings are a nasty hockey group proper now. Their 45.2% anticipated objectives share at five-on-five ranks twenty eighth. They’re twenty ninth in objectives scored and twentieth in objectives in opposition to. A complete of three gamers are on tempo for at the very least 20 objectives. Aside from that, all is nicely in Motown. 8 7-9-2
27

Penguins
Pittsburgh has now blown leads in eight of their 14 losses, and it had a multiple-goal lead in 5 of these. Due to a mix of haphazard protection and atrocious goaltending, the Penguins have left fairly a couple of factors on the desk already this season. 1 7-10-4
28

Predators
I’ve touched on the Predators’ five-on-five woes right here and there, however Jonathan Marchessault has been significantly dangerous. In over 248 minutes at full power, Marchessault has but to report a full level. I suppose Nashville can take solace in the truth that he has created 2.43 anticipated objectives – fifth on the group – however he wants to start out changing earlier than the Preds fall out of the playoff race. 1 6-11-3
29

Sharks
The best defenseman on San Jose this season has been Jake Walman, who the Sharks acquired from the Crimson Wings for subsequent to nothing within the offseason. Walman is the one Shark above water in five-on-five anticipated objectives share, and he has a plus-2 objective differential in these conditions. 2 6-11-4
30

Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets not too long ago claimed Dante Fabbro off waivers from the Predators, and I believe it was a worthwhile gamble. Fabbro could not crack the lineup in Nashville, however he was efficient sufficient in his minutes and confirmed the flexibility to carry his personal alongside Roman Josi. Now, Fabbro already has three factors in his first 4 video games with Columbus. — 7-9-2
31

Canadiens
Juraj Slafkovsky returned from damage on Oct. 29. Since then, he has zero objectives and 5 assists in 10 video games. Slafkovsky made some actual strides final season, however he is been unable to make a lot of an affect recently. That could be a lingering impact of his damage, however this stretch remains to be a bit of troubling for Montreal. 1 7-10-2
32

Blackhawks
Taylor Corridor had his 2023-24 season reduce brief on account of an ACL damage, and he simply hasn’t been the identical since returning. Corridor has two objectives and 4 assists this season, and he was a wholesome scratch on Saturday. The Blackhawks introduced in Corridor to assist insulate Connor Bedard as he will get adjusted to the NHL, however Corridor’s damage derailed that plan. 3 6-12-1