Taylor Swift may be in Toronto all this week for a series of mega-concerts, but one of hockey’s reigning superstars also brings his mega-act to Toronto for a marquee matchup with the Maple Leafs. Connor McDavid and crew are off to another slow start this season, though not nearly as bad as last year. They face a Toronto team that recently has had to learn to live life without their reigning megastar, sniper Auston Matthews. For the most part, the Leafs have responded well, though a recent 3-0 home ice whitewashing at the hands of the rivals Ottawa Senators did not sit well in the Ontario capital. Toronto responded with a 4-3 OT win the next night in Washington.
Talk about bad starts; we present to you the 2024-25 Nashville Predators…a cautionary tale of why to not necessarily fall in love with a team during the summer months. The Predators appeared to pull all the right strings during the off-season, and as a result, many people predicted a top-three finish for the Preds in the tough Central Division. After stumbling out of the gate for the season’s first month, Nashville is now effectively in a battle to secure one of the two Western Conference wildcard spots. The Canucks are in a fight for top spot in the Pacific Division, which in the end may turn out to be a four-way dogfight between Vancouver, Vegas, Los Angeles, and Edmonton.
Break up the San Jose Sharks! The rebuilding teal team has reeled off several recent victories, so opposing teams would be wise to respect the Sharks. Tonight, they host a Red Wings side that is also undergoing a total house renovation, though some are complaining that the roof still leaks. It’s a relatively early game in the season, but one Detroit needs to win if they honestly wish to entertain any thoughts about the post-season this season. A recent 3-2 OT win over the Penguins certainly helps.
And what about the Calgary Flames? Halfway through November, they found themselves unexpectedly sitting in third place in the Pacific Division. Most likely, the Flames won’t occupy that lofty position by mid-April, but the retooling team has made it clear they’ll take points if the other team isn’t on their game. And what about the New York Islanders? Good goaltending and a good work ethic, but putting the puck in the net for the NYI is still a challenge.
Just when it appears the long-suffering Buffalo Sabres are about to embark on a season-defining winning streak, they stumble and fall 7-5 to the last-place Montreal Canadiens. Will this finally be the season the crossed swords make the playoffs? Not if they keep stumbling against last-place teams. Tonight, they tangle with a Kings’ team that has been at or near the top of the Pacific Division since the beginning of the season, despite what the underlying numbers may say.
Please spare a thought for the Minnesota Wild. 15 games into the season, they sported an impressive stat line of 10-2-and-3 for 23 points, good enough for first place in most divisions…except they reside in the Central with the powerhouse Winnipeg Jets, who are only off to the best regular season start in NHL history. The Wild visit the Oilers tonight, slowly climbing out of another pit they dug for themselves.
Yes, the Jets, after 16 games, were a historic 15-and-1. The best start in National Hockey League history. So tonight should be a mismatch as they visit the woeful Pittsburgh Penguins. Should be. The Jets have to lose again sometime, and the Penguins can’t be this bad, right? Right?
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