Slow starts cause for concern for worst teams
Two weeks into the NHL season, one team has no wins and five have one (going into Wednesday). While a slow start won’t bury a team’s playoff chances, it makes for anxious times.
Ranking how worried those teams with at least five games played should be (the Minnesota Wild have played four games).
1. Arizona Coyotes (0-5-1): After an offseason of additions, the Coyotes look worse than the 70-point team of last season. They are underwhelming in every facet — the defense is overmatched; the offense isn’t generating enough to compensate, and the goaltending has been shaky (plus Antti Raanta is out with an injury). Derek Stepan, Max Domi and Clayton Keller have been a positive possession trio and have combined for 12 points … but also a -15 rating. Oliver Ekman-Larsson hasn’t recaptured his dynamic form from two years ago, and there is no forward ready to carry the offensive load. We might have overestimated the growth potential from this group.
2. Buffalo Sabres (1-4-2): The Sabres are another team that appears destined to finish at the bottom of the standings. They’ve controlled only 45.6% of the shot share, and their biggest issue continues to be defense, which is ex- acerbated by the league’s worst goaltending (.866 save percentage). They aren’t first on this list because they have one of the league’s top talents, Jack Eichel, and they are adjusting to new coach Phil Housley.
3. New York Rangers (15-1): The Rangers’ poor start has been partially driven by bad luck (fourth-worst shooting percentage and 21st save percentage at five-on-five) for a PDO (save percentage plus shooting percentage) of 95.9. A PDO below 100 is seen as unlucky. But that is the extent of silver linings. The defensive play has been dysfunctional, and they are lacking center depth after trading Stepan to Arizona. The big concern is that becoming more mobile on the back end — by adding Kevin Shattenkirk and Anthony DeAngelo and buying out Dan Girardi — has not translated into improved defense or better control of the puck (46.9% Corsi, 23rd). Henrik Lundqvist (.902 SV%) hasn’t been able to cover up for the deficiencies. A division that looks improved also doesn’t help.
4. Montreal Canadiens (14-1): Coach Claude Julien has a track record that includes winning and solid possession numbers. Only one has come true this season: a 53.1% Corsi. But the Canadiens entered the season with questions about goal scoring, and those have not been alleviated as they rank 31st with 1.5 goals per game. Only Jonathan Drouin (two) has more than one goal. On the plus side, their 4.3 shooting percentage at five-onfive, third worst in the NHL, will eventually rise. Even though they rank 23rd in goals against (3.67), the defense has been passable. Carey Price is too good to be sporting a 3.56 GAA and .885 SV%. Their PDO is the worst in the league at 90.7. Better times are coming.
5. Edmonton Oilers (1-4-0): A trendy Stanley Cup pick, the Oilers have done a lot right except for stopping the puck from going into their net. After winning the first game of the season, the Oilers goalies have posted .897, .884, .806, .762 save percentages in their last four games, even though the defense has not been that bad. Cam Talbot has been pulled twice in four starts. Their Corsi is No. 2 at 56.1%. The Oilers’ five-on-five scoring rate of 4.3%, second lowest in the NHL, has torpedoed them. This is still a team that can fulfill its big expectations, and having Connor McDavid’s game-changing ability always helps.