Apologies: Sorry @Jack Bauer tuna and @Shockz this post is too long. If needed vote "get good" so I know what to do. Around the League: Two teams managed to win every game they played this week and several teams fell far below expectations. With a few teams exceeding expectations as well, it's hard to say if some of these teams are legitimately good or just playing above their talent level. One more note, scoring per game is down from 3.03 goals per game to 2.67 goals per game through one week. Make of that what you will, though scoring should see atleast a slight increase as players get more comfortable playing NHL 18. The Elite 8 1. Toronto Maple Leafs (9-0-0) Hit: They didn't lose a game the entire week. The defense has looked great and @APsychicTaco has been a brick wall allowing just 5 goals through six games. Miss: None 2. Winnipeg Jets (9-0-0) Hit: The other undefeated team this week had the least goals against in the league as well as the second most goals for. It seems like this team may not have to make many adjustments going into week two. Miss: Their schedule was slightly easier than the Maple Leafs knocking them down to the 2nd spot in the rankings. Look for a big week next week. 3. San Jose Sharks (8-1-0) Hit: The Sharks lost just a single game this week with some great performances by @o S m i i t t y possibly projecting as one of the top five goalies for this season. Miss: That single loss came in regulation versus the expansion team who had struggled all week. It seems there may have also been some availability issues as some players played just two games and the owner @Po1andsFinest playing zero games this week. 4. New York Islanders (6-1-2) Hit: The offense had no issues coming in with the most goals for in the entire league. Five players on the team average three points per game this week. Miss: The forward line of @Basful @Yung Gren and @PureFiishin went 0-1-1 with just three goals in those two games before that line was split up. 5. Boston Bruins (6-2-1) Hit: The Bruins only losses came to two teams ahead of them in the rankings in NYI and TOR and a third loss against a solid Florida Panthers lineup. In addition, @M a x y l19l finished the week third on the team in points and second in plus-minus. Miss: You'd want to see the best players on this team matched up against the best competition, but it's not quite clear what players belong on the first line. 6. Calgary Flames (6-3-1) Hit: They mostly won the games they were expected to putting up 4+ goals in five different games. Miss: The offense seemed to struggle when up against tougher competition. Will be interesting to follow next week. 7. Tampa Bay Lightning (5-2-2) Hit: The Lightning got points in 7 out of 9 games and were good at suppressing opposing offenses. Miss: The first line with @Hxndry @NYR95 went 1-1-1 this week with the only win being a blowout against the Capitals. Availability seemed to be an issue as well. 8. Vancouver Canucks (5-3-1) Hit: The Canucks averaged 3+ goals per game and had the fifth most goals for in the league and looked great in their last game of the week versus the Blues. Miss: They struggled to keep pucks out of the net (2nd most GA out of any team top 6 in their division) and oddly had a tough time against a Nashville team full of ECUs. The Rest: 9. Chicago Blackhawks (5-3-1) 10. New Jersey Devils (5-3-1) 11. Pittsburgh Penguins (5-4-0) 12. Columbus Blue Jackets (5-4-0) 13. Montreal Canadiens (5-3-1) 14. Florida Panthers (5-4-0) 15. Colorado Avalanche (5-4-0) 16. Saint Louis Blues (5-4-0) Games to Watch: San Jose Sharks @ Toronto Maple Leafs Monday Oct. 23 - 11:00 PM One of the top teams in the West faces off with the best team in the East. Calgary Flames @ Winnipeg Jets Tuesday Oct. 24 - 9:00 PM With Sunday games affected by ESHL, this should be the next big test of the Jets team that hasn't lost a game thus far. Surprise of the Week: Edmonton is above .500, is it time to throw first lines at them?
I was planning on it. Would like to have a hit or miss for each team, but through one week the bottom eight had a lot of similarities so I omitted them for now.
