The first month of the season in the NHL always provides intrigue. With all 32 teams starting on even footing in the standings, we were bound to see some surprises both good and bad.
As usual, the NHL didn’t disappoint us.
Teams expected to be bad were very good. Teams who thought they could be good were anything but. Some surprising names both vastly exceeded or fell woefully short of expectations.
As the calendar flips to November, we look back at five of the biggest surprises in the NHL from October. This list has to start with the team that finished the month on top of the NHL standings.
The team no one expected to be around the playoff picture ended the month of October at the top of the NHL standings. Because of course they did.
Never count out a team with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on it. Their 8-2-2 month was spearheaded by Malkin’s resurgence. A better than expected defense has helped too.
With three goals and 17 points in October, Malkin reminded everyone just how talented he still is. If nothing else, this start by the Penguins gives their fans a chance to still see their older talent while trying to transition to a new era once those stars are finally done.
Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha combining for 23 points in October? Rookie Ben Kindel exceeding early expectations? This has been a dream start for the Penguins.
Things may come crashing down soon. But as long as their stars can still perform at a high level, don’t count out these Penguins just yet.
We knew parity was a big thing in the NHL. Overtime and the loser point ensure that happens. But do you see what’s going on in the Eastern Conference?
As of Saturday afternoon and the Boston Bruins’ 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, every single team in the East was at hockey .500 or above. That begs the question. Is the East actually that good? Or is there just a lot of average, middling teams trying to figure out who they are?