5 teams off to surprisingly poor starts
Were just over a week into the NHL season and while many of the stories sweeping the league have been the strong starts from teams we didn't expect, we have also seen the complete opposite.
Related: 3 teams off to surprisingly good starts
Clubs such as the Vegas Golden Knights and New Jersey Devils are off to perfect 3-0-0 starts, while reigning Atlantic Division champs, the Montreal Canadiens, are struggling just to score a couple goals a game.
It's too early to say any team's poor start will result in missing the playoffs, but still, these five teams are struggling out of the gate and very few expected it.
Montreal CanadiensThe Canadiens can't score, it's as simple as that.
Through four games the club has gone 1-3-0, while managing a league-low five goals, despite averaging 38.8 shots per game. Brendan Gallagher is the lone Canadien to manage more than a single point on the season (one goal and one assist).
It doesn't help that Carey Price hasn't been his usual self, either. Through the first four games he's rocking a 3.30 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage.
The Canadiens have a minus-8 goals differential, the second-worst in the league. The team needs more goals and to allow fewer, which is easier said than done with its current roster.
Boston BruinsThe Boston Bruins might only be 1-2-0 on the season, but it's troubling that both their losses have come at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche.
Sure the Avalanche are off to a strong start, but after they put up the worst record in the salary cap era last season, Bruins fans likely expected at least a split in their home-and-home series.
The Bruins have just seven goals through three games, while Tuukka Rask has been underwhelming, posting a 3.75 GAA and a .870 save percentage.
Having Patrice Bergeron sidelined by an injury doesn't help, but the Bruins should still be able to put up a better effort than they have early on.
Dallas Stars
After adding Ben Bishop and Alexander Radulov in the offseason, many penciled the Dallas Stars into a playoff position. However, through four games the Stars haven't gotten off on the right foot.
The club has gone 1-3-0 and are averaging two goals per game while allowing an average of three - not a winning formula.
Luckily for the Stars, they play the Avalanche twice, the Arizona Coyotes twice, and the Vancouver Canucks once before the end of the month. Of course nothing is certain - as the Bruins have learned - but these games should provide an opportunity for the Stars to get back on track.
New York RangersThrough four games the New York Rangers are also off to a 1-3-0 start. They have shown that their potential to be great is there, but the goaltending remains a question mark.
The Rangers have scored 10 goals in four games and showed resiliency against the Toronto Maple Leafs after falling behind 5-1 and rallying to tie the game before ultimately conceding to an 8-5 loss.
Related: Why the Rangers' goaltending woes are destined to continue
The club has also lost to the Avalanche and its lone win came against the struggling Canadiens. The Rangers can certainly get things back on track, but they will need to figure out their issues in net first.
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are among the oddsmakers' favorites to win the Stanley Cup this season, but the club has had a bit of a hiccup to start the year.
The Oilers are 1-2-0, having dropped their last two games against the Canucks and the Winnipeg Jets after shutting out the Calgary Flames 3-0 in their season-opener.
They've given up just eight goals, but have failed to do much offensively, tallying just seven of their own - of course, Connor McDavid has three of those.
The Oilers are averaging just under 40 shots per game, so some better puck-luck and secondary scoring should correct things.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
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