Keeping up with the Metropolitans: Week 3

Your weekly dose of Metropolitan action!

By t.cann112 Oct 23, 2017, 9:30am EDT

NHL: Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers

With most teams in the Metro approaching double digits (Keep up, Carolina!) in the games column, the high-powered New Jersey Devils(?!?) have the most goals and wins with a 4-0 road record as well. Cory Scneider went down last game, but is said to be ready when the Devils pick up action again on Friday or Saturday. The Devils are off for 6 days, and only a back-to-back with Ottawa and Arizona this weekend and rest for 3 more days. That could be a good or a bad thing in New Jersey. The Devils are looking last year’s Toronto Maple Leafs. Can they keep this up?

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been an absolute roller-coaster to begin this season. Whether it’s Sidney Crosby being 4th in the NHL in PIM - behind other future HOF’ers Derek Dorsett, Ryan Reaves, and Cody McLeod - or the team’s current 4.33 GAA while still in 2nd place in the Metro as of this morning, words really can’t explain what’s happening. The good news is that there’s no lack of offense at the moment. The Pens are scoring enough to win games, but haven’t been able to stop enough of goals from going in at the same time. The new season has started, it’s time for the Pens to right the ship. I have complete faith in Mike Sullivan to do just that.

On the other side of the Keystone State, the Flyers are off to a red-hot start to this year. Their big guns are being just that behind the offensive output of Giroux, Gostisbehere, Simmonds, and Voracek. Val Filppula is looking pretty good to begin this year in Philly. He’s not your stereotypical Flyers player, and Nolan Patrick has yet to uncork yet as well. Michal Neuvirth has looked good in his games and Brian Elliott has put together one dud and otherwise pretty solid performances. The Flyers could be for real this year.

It was a slightly bumpy week for the Blue Jackets, but all seems to be well in Columbus at the moment. I said it last week as well, the Jackets are playing like last year’s team. The Islanders have won 3 out of 4 and are being a little too quiet for the norm in Brooklyn. I’m not sure what to make of them just yet. However, Josh Bailey did score quite an impressive goal last week.

Josh Bailey with a disgusting goal for the Islanders tonight pic.twitter.com/UNT2hbaNoz
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) October 22, 2017

The Capitals are feeling the losses this year. From off-season departures, to in-season injuries, the Capitals have given up more goals than they have scored, despite Ovechkin playing like he’s in his 20s again. They’re headed to western Canada, and don’t play again until Thursday. There’s a possibility that the Caps could be in 7th place in the Metro when the puck drops in Vancouver.

The Rangers are still finding ways to lose games, and have only 2 wins early this season. Luckily for the Rangers, they’re playing two teams this week who are also struggling as much as them in the Coyotes and Canadiens. Rick Tocchet is missing the Penguins as much as they’re missing him at the moment. The (currently 0-7-1) Coyotes will be facing the (2-5-2) Rangers on Saturday in a surprise game of bottom feeders at The Garden.

And the Hurricanes are finally going to be making up in the games column this week. The Canes have a tough week ahead of them starting with the Lightning coming to town and then traveling to Toronto for the first half of a back-to-back with the Blues waiting for them back in Raleigh. The Ducks will then take them on in a Sunday evening game to end the Ducks’ 4 game trip to the East that started in Philadelphia but managed to avoid Pittsburgh.

It’s been a weird year to begin this season in the NHL. Looking forward to seeing what this week brings.