NHL Week in Review: Torts era off to good start in Philly, Canucks and Wild a mess
Anthony Scultore
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NHL in Review: Week 1
The NHL completed its first week of the 2022-23 season with some interesting storylines developing for week 2, which begins with 9 games tonight.
Every team played at least two games to start the year with only the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets having played just a single contest.
11 teams did not lose a game in regulation, while 7 teams failed to record a victory.
The Vegas Golden Knights under new coach Bruce Cassidy are the only team that is 3-0-0 and lead the league with 6 points. It’s nice to see them off to a solid start considering the questions surrounding the team after salary dumping Max Pacioretty and Robin Lehner being out for the year with an injury.
On the flip side, the San Jose Sharks are the only team at 0-4-0 after starting the season with two losses in Prague to the Nashville Predators.
NHL Week in Review: Torts off to a good start
John Tortorella is the new bench boss in Philadelphia and has been forthcoming on his thoughts regarding the team. He’s expressed concerns about the locker room and then proceeded to run them ragged in training camp.
Well, it looks like it paid off as the Flyers opened the season 2-0-0 scoring 8 and only giving up 4. It helps that both games were at home and against the hapless New Jersey Devils and struggling Vancouver Canucks.
“We have zero respect in this league. I’m willing to admit that,” Tortorella said via ESPN. “But that’s what gets me going. I love this opportunity.”
Other notable highlights from week 1 are the Pittsburgh Penguins (2-0-0) leading the NHL in scoring with 14 goals. Sidney Crosby is tied for the scoring lead with Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers at 6 points, the latter has played three games.
The Seattle Kraken are 1-1-1 to start the year but it’s rookie Matty Beniers making an early case for the Calder Trophy with 4 points.
NHL Week in Review: Canucks and Wild off to bad starts
When you look at some negative surprises, both the Minnesota Wild and the Vancouver Canucks have yet to win a game this season.
Minnesota has been by far the most disappointing contender out of the gate going 0-2-0 and allowing a staggering 14 goals against.
“You can’t expect to win games when you let in 14 goals in 2 games,” Wild forward Mats Zuccarello said. “Sometimes we play defense like we’re a f**king junior team. It’s the whole team. We’ve got to sharpen up.”
Vancouver has struggled in the early going giving up 8 and only scoring five in their 0-2-0 start. They opened by blowing a 3-0 lead to the Edmonton Oilers on the road for their first loss and then were felled by the Flyers a few nights later.
J.T. Miller, who led the team in scoring last season and signed an 8-year extension in the summer isn’t pleased with his game.
“I don’t have the right to talk about the team at the moment,” Miller explained. “I’m not going to talk about how bad we’ve played when I can’t lead by example. I feel irrelevant and being on the ice for every goal is– I don’t know what to say.”
Another bit of a surprise are the Ottawa Senators, who made some big moves in the offseason opening the year 0-2-0.
Obviously not having goalie Cam Talbot due to injury hurts, but only 3 goals with the likes of newcomers Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux added to a team with Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, and Thomas Chabot is a concerning surprise.
Key NHL Injury Report
- Brandon Carlo, Boston Bruins (upper-body, IR at least 7 days)
- Jake DeBrusk, Boston Bruins (upper-body, day-to-day)
- Patrik Laine, Columbus Blue Jackets (elbow, 3-4 weeks)
- Mike Matheson, Montreal Canadiens (back, IR at least 7 days)
- Owen Tippett, Philadelphia Flyers (upper-body, IR at least 7 days)
- Matt Murray, Toronto Maple Leafs (adductor injury, 4 weeks)
- Carl Hagelin, Washington Capitals (hip, 4 weeks)
