NHL Storylines: This Week's Five Biggest Surprises
NHL Storylines: The Edmonton Oilers celebrate a second period goal by forward Connor McDavid (97) against the Vancouver Canucks in a preseason hockey game at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
NHL Storylines: Five of the young NHL Season’s biggest surprises: who blew pundits away in the first week NHL action?
What would sports be without the unexpected? Thankfully, that’s an alternate reality that we hockey fans are very far from as the NHL season kicked off October 12th. I mean who would have thought Auston Matthews scores four goals in his NHL debut? Or that Richard Panik would be right up there with Matthews tied for the league lead in goals? We count it all down here at Puck Prose.
Note: Connor McDavid’s back-to-back three-point games were not included in this list. That’s because it wasn’t really a surprise to many people. McDavid is widely expected to lead the league in scoring this year.
Honorable Mentions : Pierre-Luc Dubois sent sown to QMJHL, Brad Marchand scored five points versus Columbus
This is fairly puzzling when you consider how weak the Blue Jackets are down the middle. Adding to the confusion is that Dubois actually impressed down at Traverse City (an eight-team top prospect tournament hosted by the Red Wings) in September.
However, you can also see the logic in this move. Considering the Blue Jackets aren’t expected to be the best of teams, maybe management doesn’t want their third overall pick this summer around a losing environment and instead wants Dubois to help Cape Breton contend for a QMJHL title. It’s similar to what Buffalo did with Sam Reinhart in 2014-15.
Brad Marchand established himself as a star player during September’s World Cup of Hockey, but five points in one game? That’s great for any player. Marchand scored two goals and added three assists in a 6-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, and was by far the best player on the ice. Is Marchand in line for a career year?
Oct 14, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames goalie Brian Elliott (1) guards his net during the warmup period against Edmonton Oilers at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
5. Brian Elliott struggles with Flames
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This comes as a surprise to most, but there were some people out there that expected Brian Elliott and the Calgary Flames to have their woes to start the season. Yes, Elliott’s .923 save percentage over the past five seasons is among the best in the league, but he was also playing behind what is arguably the best defense core in the NHL in St. Louis.
Elliott allowed 10 goals in his first two games with the Flames (both against the Edmonton Oilers), with a 5.08 GAA and .813 SVP. This mediocre play resulted in Elliott losing his starting job to backup Chad Johnson, who was solid in a 2-1 SO loss against Vancouver.
However, let’s not overreact here. Elliott is a still a very capable goaltender, and it will take some time for the 31-year-old to adjust a new team in front of him and a new coach in Glen Gulutzan.
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Oct 15, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Joe Colborne (8) celebrates after scoring a goal in the first period against Dallas Stars at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
4. Joe Colborne explodes for hat-trick in Avs season opener
We go from talking about the Flames new addition to a young player that they decided to let go of this July. Center Joe Colborne signed a two-year, $5M deal with the Colorado Avalanche this summer after the Flames didn’t give the 26-year-old a qualifying offer.
And boy did Colborne make the Flames regret their move Saturday evening. The 6-foot-5, 221 lb. center was a nightmare in front of the Dallas Stars net, scoring all three of his goals from behind the face-off dot (two were rebounds, one was a tip-in). Colborne’s underrated speed and net-front presence is something that they could use over in Calgary…
3. Injuries galore! Stars Jonathan Quick and Evander Kane go down with injuries
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As fans, we all love the speed and skill over grit and strength movement in the NHL, but as the game’s pace continues to rise, the risk of injuries continues to grow.
The biggest example of this came during the Buffalo Sabres season opener versus the Montreal Canadiens. Sabres forward Evander Kane was in a footrace with Habs defender Alexei Emelin to get to the puck before it crossed the goal line and icing was called. Emelin gave Kane a shove that caused the left winger crash into the boards at full speed. Kane suffered three cracked ribs and is out for a significant amount of time.
But Kane isn’t the only big-name player who will miss some time. Kings superstar goaltender Jonathan Quick suffered a serious groin injury in LA’s season opener against the Sharks. Quick may need surgery and is out 3-4 months.
Apr 15, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Richard Panik (14) skates with the puck during game two of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center. The Blackhawks won the game 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports
2. Blackhawks F Richard Panik catches fire to start season
It looks like the Chicago Blackhawks may have struck gold once again. Last year it was super Russian Artemi Panarin, and this year it could be the Slovakian Richard Panik! The 25-year-old Panik has bounced around the NHL for a number of years. His talent was evident, but Panik had yet to find the right fit for him. But it seems left winger has found a home on the Blackhawks first line with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa.
Panik exploded for a hat-trick against the Nashville Predators Saturday night, tying him with Maple Leafs phenom Auston Matthews for the league lead in goal at four on the season. What is next for Panik and the 1-2-0 Blackhawks?
Oct 12, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) in the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators defeated the Maple Leafs 4-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
1. Auston Matthews shocks hockey world with four goal NHL debut
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We knew Auston Matthews was good, but what we didn’t know was how good, and just how fast the Arizona-native was going to get accustomed to NHL play. Matthews was all the rage on the NHL’s opening night October 12th, scoring all four Maple Leafs goals in a 5-4 OT loss to the Ottawa Senators.
If you somehow haven’t heard, that’s an NHL record for a player in his first game. And they weren’t freebies either. Matthews showed elite speed and hands in his first NHL game, and even stripped former Norris trophy winner Erik Karlsson for his second goal of the night.
You wonder if Matthews early success will influence more young players to spend their draft year playing pro hockey in Europe, as the Leafs first overall pick in June did. What else will Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs be able to accomplish this season?
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