Keeping up with the Metropolitans: Week 2

Well, we’re two weeks deep into this fresh new season. Raise your hand if you saw the Devils in first place and scoring goals like crazy. On the flip-side, raise your hand if you saw the Rangers stumble out to a 1-5 record. Will these story lines continue throughout the year, or is this just some early season success/adversity?

Meanwhile, in D.C., the Caps lost one of their key defenseman with an uncalled slash on Matt Niskanen that resulted in a trip to the IR for him. The Capitals were already spread very thin on defense, and lost the next game 8-2 against the Flyers (Flyers home-opener) without him. Coincidence? There are some problems that need worked out in D.C. at the moment, and the solution has to come from within as the Capitals are also battling the salary cap.

The Flyers are still an interesting story, and not sure what to think of them yet. First, they collapse in epic fashion against the Predators after climbing back twice in the third. Then the Flyers come out the next game and completely dismantle the Capitals. They can score with the best of them, and the rise in penalties helps them out as they always seem to be a very good power-play team. As always, the question will still remain about the man between the pipes in the City of Brotherly Love.

The Jackets are starting off exactly how they left off last year. They’re looking pretty strong defensively and are only in 2nd place in the standings due to a tie-breaker. The Islanders are treading water while getting the California trip over early in the year. The Isles have a lot of road games to start this season, and how they fare in those games will play a major role in how this season finishes for the Islanders.

The Pens had a nice rebound week after a wild first week that was all over the place. They played a strong team game against the Capitals and also defeated the Panthers behind a good game by Crosby. The Lightning took care of business against the Penguins in Tampa, 24 hours after the Penguins battle against the Capitals in D.C. As mentioned many times already, the Penguins have a lot of back-to-backs to figure out this year, and the Pens will have the chance for redemption against the Lightning this Saturday, one night after the rematch against the Panthers in Sunrise.

And for some reason, the Canes have only played 3 games somehow.

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Pittsburgh Penguins

3-2-1, 7 pts; 20 GF / 25 GA;
2-1 record last week

10/11/17
PIT: 3
WSH: 2
Recap: Victory with a Capital V. Pens down Washington 3-2

10/12/17
PIT: 4
TBL: 5
Recap: Lightning Strikes. Pens lose 5-4.

10/14/17
FLA: 3
PIT: 4
Recap: Hoooooold. Pens hang on for 4-3 win over Florida Panthers

Week Ahead:

Tuesday October 17 - @ NYR, 7 PM ET

Friday October 20 - @ FLA, 7:30 PM

Saturday October 21 - @ TBL, 7 PM

Injuries:

• 10/7/17, D Ian Cole - IR; mouth

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New Jersey Devils

4-1-0, 8 pts; 21 GF / 13 GA
3-1 record last week

10/9/17
NJD: 6
BUF: 2
Devils’ Offense Unloads Again, New Jersey Beats Sloppy Sabres 6-2

10/11/17
NJD: 6
TOR: 3
New Jersey Devils Passed a Test in 6-3 Victory Over Toronto Maple Leafs

10/13/17
WSH: 5
NJD: 2
Reality Check: New Jersey Devils Soundly Lost to Washington Capitals, 5-2

10/14/17
NJD: 3
NYR: 2
New Jersey Devils Edged the Hated New York Rangers, 3-2

Week Ahead:

Tuesday October 17 - vs TBL, 7:30 PM

Thursday October 19 - @ OTT, 7:30 PM

Friday October 20 - vs SJS, 7 PM

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Columbus Blue Jackets

4-1-0, 8 pts; 16 GF / 11 GA
3-0 record last week

10/10/17
CBJ: 2 OT
CAR: 1
Recap: It’s Always Sonny in Columbus

10/13/17
NYR: 1
CBJ: 3
Panarin Scores His First, Columbus Roars to Life: Blue Jackets 3, Rangers 1

10/14/17
CBJ: 5 OT
MIN: 4
Recap: The Columbus Blue Jackets Found a Way

Week Ahead:

Tuesday October 17 - @ WPG, 8 PM

Thursday October 19 - vs TBL, 7 PM

Saturday October 21 - vs LAK, 7 PM

Injuries:

• 10/13/18, D Gabriel Carlsson - Day to day; Upper-body injury

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Washington Capitals

3-2-1, 7 pts; 11 GF / 5 GA
1-2-1 record last week

10/9/17
WSH: 3
TBL: 4 OT
Capitals vs. Lightning Recap: Penalties Killed but a Penalty Kills as Caps Fall 4-3 (OT)

10/11/17
PIT: 3
WSH: 2
Caps vs. Pens Recap: Djoos Looses Deuce, But Penalties Sink Washington 3-2.

10/13/17
WSH: 5
NJD: 2
Capitals vs. Devils Recap: Washington Wins - Defy Date and Devils in Dominant Display

10/14/17
WSH: 2
PHI: 8
Capitals vs. Flyers Recap: Washington Walloped in Weekend Metropolitan Matchup

Week Ahead:

Tuesday October 17 - vs TOR, 7 PM

Friday October 20 - @ DET, 7:30 PM

Saturday October 21 - vs FLA, 7:30 PM

Injuries:

• 10/13/17, D Matt Niskanen - IR; Upper-body injury

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Philadelphia Flyers

3-2-0, 6 pts; 21 GF/ 15 GA
1-1 record last week

10/10/17
PHI: 5
NSH: 6
Predators 6, Flyers 5: Two comebacks, one heartbreaking loss

10/14/17
WSH: 2
PHI: 8
Recap: Holy crap, the Flyers

Week Ahead:

Tuesday October 17 - vs FLA, 7 PM

Thursday October 19 - vs NSH, 7 PM

Saturday October 21 - vs EDM, 1 PM

Injuries:

• 10/3/17, G Anthony Stolarz - IR; Knee
• 10/3/17, RW Colin McDonald - IR; Lower-body injury

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New York Islanders

2-3-1, 5 pts; 15 GF / 18 GA
1-2-1 record last week

10/9/17
STL: 3 SO
NYI: 2
Blues 3, Islanders 2 (SO): Stole one point, but missed chances cost them two

10/11/17
NYI: 2
ANA: 3
John Gibson stops 39 of 41 Shots and Islanders Power Play goes 0-5 as Ducks win 3-2

10/14/17
NYI: 3
SJS: 1
Thomas Greiss Stops 40 in Islanders 3 (EN) - 1 Victory

10/15/17
NYI: 2
LAK: 3
Kings 3, Islanders 2: Kopitar stars in Hollywood

Week Ahead:

Thursday October 19 - @ NYR, 7 PM

Saturday October 21 - vs SJS, 7 PM

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Carolina Hurricanes

1-1-1, 3 pts; 7 GF / 8 GA
0-1-1 record last week

10/10/17
CBJ: 2 OT
CAR: 1
Recap: Carolina Hurricanes overcome malaise with late equalizer, fall to Columbus 2-1 in OT

10/14/17
CAR: 1
WPG: 2
Recap and Rank ‘Em: ‘Canes Fall 2-1 to Jets

Week Ahead:

Tuesday October 17 - @ EDM, 9 PM

Thursday October 19 - @ CGY, 9 PM

Saturday October 21 - @ DAL, 8 PM

Injuries:

• 10/2/17, RW Lee Stempniak - IR; Hip
• 10/13/17, D Trevor van Reimsdyk - IR; Concussion

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New York Rangers

1-5-0, 2 pts; 13 GF / 21 GA
0-3 record last week

10/10/17
STL: 3
NYR: 1
Rangers Vs. Blues: Rangers Come Up Short Against Blues, Fall to 1-3-0

10/13/17
NYR: 3
CBJ: 1
Rangers Vs. Blue Jackets: Still Not Panicking

10/14/17
NJD: 3
NYR: 2
Rangers Vs. Devils: Rangers Lose Third Straight Game After 3-2 Loss To Devils

Week Ahead:

Tuesday October 17 - vs PIT, 7 PM

Thursday October 19 - vs NYI, 7 PM

Saturday October 21 - vs NSH, 12:30 PM

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• Standings via NHL.com as of 10/15/17
• Injuries via TSN as of 10/15/17

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