Another week is in the books for the NHL There was the first coaching casualty of the young season. There was a change at the top of the divisional standings as Florida struggled. Here is our weekly look at the Atlantic Division – The Atlantic Watch for the week of November 24, 2024.
Atlantic Division Watch – Top Four Teams
Toronto Maple Leafs – With only one game on the schedule this week, Toronto took care of business. Their win against Vegas helped move the Leafs ahead of the Panthers. Goalie Joseph Will stopped all 31 shots he faced shutting out the Golden Knights 3-0.
Florida Panthers – The Panthers had a horrible week. Losing all three games including against the lowly Chicago Blackhawks. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky gave up 10 goals in two of those losses. Let’s see how the reigning Stanley Cup champions answer this recent poor team performance.
Buffalo Sabres – The Sabres had a very impressive week. With three wins, all on the road, Buffalo jumped from sixth to third in the division with the week they had. Alex Tuch and Jason Zucker led the team with two goals each this week. Their goalie tandem of Ukko Luukkonen and James Reimer were stellar, giving up 4 goals total in three games. This is the kind of week that can set this team for success this season.
Boston Bruins – After losing Monday to Columbus, their fourth loss in five games, the Bruins fired their coach. Jim Montgomery was canned less than two seasons after leading the B’s to the President’s Trophy. They did win both games after changing coaches . Interim coach Joe Sacco is undefeated and has his work cut out for him. His team is 31st of 32 teams in goals per game.
Atlantic Watch – Bottom Four Teams
Tampa Bay Lightning – The Lightning went 1-1-1 this week. An impressive come from behind win in Pittsburgh then an an overtime loss to Columbus on the road. Home cooking didn’t work as the Dallas Stars beat the Bolts at Amalie last night.
Detroit Red Wings – Like Tampa, Detroit went 1-1-1 this week. Perhaps the best consolation is that both the regulation and overtime losses were by one goal. Their offense had a decent week climbing up three notches if goals per game. That still only makes them the 27th best of the league’s 32 teams. As I said last week, with names like Dylan Larkin, Patrick Kane, Vlad Tarasenko and Alex deBrincat, it isn’t nearly good enough. Have to believe that coach Derek Lalonde is on the hot seat.
Ottawa Senators – The Senators went 0-3 this week and have lost four games in a row. The mystery around this team is they are 15th in the league in goals per game. Their season goal differential is only a minus -3. But if they can’t begin stringing some wins, this season will pass them by.
Montreal Canadiens – Montreal split their two games this week. It started with an impressive 3-0 win against Edmonton. Then the week ended with an embarrassing 6-2 loss to Vegas. Their Achilles heel is goals against giving up 3.80 goals a game. Until this is corrected , they will remain at the bottom of the division as well as the league.
Look Ahead to Next Week
Toronto Maple Leafs: Utah at home tonight then the Florida two-step. Panthers then the Lightning on the road.
Florida Panthers: Grueling week begins at home against Washington and Toronto. Then a back to back away then home against Carolina.
Buffalo Sabres: Three games with first two at home against Minnesota and Vancouver. They close the week on the road at the Islanders.
Boston Bruins: Three games, first at home against Vancouver then on the road to play the Islanders. Then back home hosting the Penguins.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Four games with three at home including the first two with Colorado and Washington. Then on the road to play Nashville on Friday and a Saturday home game against Toronto.
Detroit Red Wings: Three games. Monday on the road to play the Islanders then back home to play Calgary and New Jersey.
Ottawa Senators: Three games this week. Hosting Calgary then heading west to play San Jose and the Kings on the road.
Montreal Canadiens: Three games with only the first one at home against Utah. Then it’s the road to play Columbus and the Rangers.
