During the marathon NHL season, divisional standings change from week to week. In the Atlantic Division, the parity is evident. I’m going to break down the teams in two parts. The top four teams in the standings then the bottom four teams. Let’s take a look at where things stand and what to expect in the week to come.
Atlantic Division Watch – Top Four Teams
Florida Panthers – The Stanley Cup champs had a good week. In four games, they went 3-0-1. Peeling back the layers, all three victories this week were by one goal. These one goal wins are the stuff of legitimate Cup contenders. In the last week, they’ve played without two of their leaders. Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov. They are both due back this week.
Boston Bruins – Last week the Bruins went 1-1-1. Their goal differential for the season is plus 1. Explains the average week they had. One notable deficiency so far for the B’s is their power play. Over the last few seasons, it was a top 10 power play attack. Currently, they are 20th in the league at 16.5% efficiency. Goalie Jeremy Swayman is off to a decent start and might be the guy that leads this team.
Tampa Bay Lightning – Impressive wins over Vancouver and Vegas at home this week were lost in the unimpressive loss in Ottawa on Saturday. Like Boston, the Lightning power play is near the bottom of the league. They are also below 50% on face offs. On the good side, their top line is producing a boatload of points. Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel have scored 18 points in 4 games.
Toronto Maple Leafs – After a decisive win against the Los Angeles Kings, the Leafs turned in a lackluster performance against the Rangers. Like Boston and Tampa Bay, the Toronto power play is tied with the Lightning for 27th in the league. It shows in the lower than normal point production from their top guys. Usually, Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews and William Nylander are among the league’s best. None of these three are in the top 50 in the league so far this season.
Atlantic Watch – Bottom Four Teams
Ottawa Senators – Last week the Senators won two and lost one. Their power play is the best in the Eastern Conference at 38.1%. Lightning fans saw that in Saturday’s loss. They scored two with the extra man and they won by one. Ottawa can be the surprise team in the division this year. Goalie Linus Ullmark could turn out to be a difference maker. This week is an easy week on the schedule with only two games albeit on the road. They face Utah and Vegas this week, two winning teams early in the season.
Montreal Canadiens – Bad week for the Habs as they went 0-2-1. The Canadiens have some firepower in Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki but coach Marty St. Louis has a tough job ahead. They cut their goal differential deficit in half this week but didn’t win a game. Their goalie Sam Montembault is a bright spot with a save percentage of 93.2%, He also has a goals against of 2.29. With some goal support, Montembault’s performance could win some games for this storied franchise.
Buffalo Sabres – The Sabres ended this week 1-1-1. After starting the season with only one win in four games, this was an improvement. Their special teams are anything but. No goals on the power play yet and only killing 72% of their penalties. Only two games this week to help them begin getting it together.
Detroit Red Wings – Former Lightning GM, Steve Yzerman rebuild looks impotent. Bringing up the rear in the division isn’t what the Motor City faithful expected. They went 1-3 last week. Their goal differential is bad. Their special teams are worse. Downside is that he’s only played in 2 of their 5 games. That could begin changing.
Look Ahead to Next Week
Florida has three games, one at home then two on the road. Minnesota is the home game then the Rangers and Islanders in a New York two-step. Boston has three games, one road game and two at home including the Saturday night showdown with Toronto. For the Lightning, there are four games this week. Toronto and New Jersey in a back to back Monday and Tuesday. Then Minnesota and Washington at home. In addition to the showdown with Boston, Toronto plays a Monday Tuesday back to back. Lightning on Monday and Columbus on Tuesday. Then St. Louis before the Boston game.
Ottawa plays only two games this week, both on the road. Utah then Vegas. Montreal also plays only two games but those are home games. They play the Rangers and the Blues. Buffalo also only plays two games and both are home games. Dallas and Detroit are on tap for the Sabres. Detroit has three games with two of those on the road like last week. They’ll play the Islanders and Sabres on the road and host New Jersey at home.
