We’re just about two weeks into the new season so it feels like a good time to take a spin around The National. It’s been an exciting kick-off to the year, but what else would you expect from the best show on ice? We’ll have four stories (two from each conference) for you today, but first let’s get into the New York Rangers.

The Blueshirts

Despite giving up a touchdown in a loss to the Devils Thursday night, the Rangers are off to a great start this year. In a season where most of the fan base wasn’t sure what to expect, a 6-3-0 start with all five W’s on Garden ice is a welcome sight. Especially considering that last year the team didn’t have five home wins until March.

This group was dealt a major blow when Igor Shesterkin went down with a season-ending injury. But to their credit they’ve continued (last night aside) to do the things that were helping them win with 31 in the net. The defense has improved immensely with new personnel in the core and the entire group has bought into Mike Sullivan’s approach. Of course, all eyes will remain on Dylan Garand who will own the net for the foreseeable future barring another goalie being acquired. He’s done a nice job so far, and to be honest, the ask remains, stop the easy ones please Dylan.

While most of the forward core has performed well so far, two players have stood out above the rest. The two in question are none other than Alexis Lafreniere and Will Cuylle. The pair have been extremely active so far in each game and have found the back of the net plenty so far, with ten goals combined between the two. They’re lighting the play of their teammates and hopefully it continues to the rest of the way as this team needs all the firepower it can get.

As exciting as the start has been I think it’s still worth keeping the expectations tempered. I don’t think overnight this team became a Cup contender, with or without Shesterkin. They were a fringy playoff team in the preseason and if they continue to play a strong game they’re going to have a chance to actually get in the field. Enjoy them regardless of your expectations! This team is fun again and the energy around the organization is so much better than last year! LGR!

First Period

Orange Crushed: There are bad situations and then there are the Philadelphia Flyers. After a 25-26 season that felt like a real momentum builder under first-year coach Rick Tocchet, the 26-27 campaign has been brutal. They are rock bottom of the East at 0-6-3 on the year and are sporting a -22 goal differential. This franchise always seems to yo-yo in the standings year to year, and while I’m sure they’d like to stay patient with Tocchet, they’re running out of time with the fan base growing restless. The Phillies out of the playoffs early, the Birds and Flyers in a tailspin, it’s up to LeBron and the Sixers to save Philly sports.

Second Period

Who Needs Brady?: File this one under the early surprise category. After back-to-back mediocre playoff appearances, and trading their captain Brady Tkachuk, not much was expected of the Senators. But maybe that’s just how head coach Travis Green and company like it, as the Sens have raced out to a 6-2-0 start to lead the Atlantic Division. While they’re getting good play from just about everyone, they’re keyed by two stars in particular. Tim Stutzle is their igniter on offense with eleven points in the first eight games, continuing to be one of the more underrated talents in the game. The back bone of this squad though, is net-minder Linus Ullmark who is 6-0-0 on the season while sporting a 1.20 GAA and .949 save percentage, Hasek type numbers if I may say so. It’s early but there is justifiable buzz in the Canadian capital that this team will be just fine without “the other brother.”

Third Period

The Boys are Buzzing in SLC: When you finish a season on a high you hope that you can carry it over to the following campaign. After making the playoffs for the first time in club history last year, the Mammoth had high hopes for 26-27. Their rabid fan base ratcheted up the excitement when they acquired Vincent Trocheck and signed Anders Lee in the offseason. Those moves and more have paid off immensely as Utah is atop the Central to begin the year! Head coach Andre Tourigny’s team gets plenty of offense from their forwards and D-core and continues to see good play in goal from the reliable Karel Vejmelka. They’re in a brutal division so I’m sure there be some bumps in the road, but this team looks real to start it off.

Overtime

A Royal Mess: Residing in the penthouse of the Pacific Division are the Edmonton Oilers, who look very good under the much-ballyhooed Mike Babcock. But in the cellar along with the Calgary Flames are the depressing LA Kings. Their play and their imagination with this roster are about as dark as the lighting in Crypto.com Arena. They are the only team in the league capable of making Artemi Panarin’s play style dull. Long time winner in this league Peter Laviolette is in charge and he’s trying to get the most out of a poorly put-together roster. This group is a Frankenstein’s monster assembled by Ken Holland, who is so far past his sell-by date as an exec that would take him off a shelf at the supermarket. This whole thing needs to be torn down and rebuilt, because it’s a disgrace to the era of the Kings hockey that ended with Anze Kopitar retiring.

My Goodness!

This year we’re going to include a highlight that stood out from the recent games in each ATR! This segment is titled “My Goodness!” to echo the words of THE voice of our sport, Doc Emerick. Nothing hits quite like a Doc call and while he’s retired, there are plays every week that live up to the phrasing. This week it’s two generations of Blackhawks stars teaming up to set up the game winner from 20-year-old Artyom Levshunov. Fans in Chicago must be salivating at the sight of Patrick Kane and Conor Bedard teaming up finally, and even happier that the Hawks have won two in a row!

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