Keeping up with the Metropolitans: Week 4

Since I crashed a little bit too early last night, there’s not much of a breakdown for last week. Here’s a few quick points, however.

• We’re about a month into this 2017-18 season, and the Metro is not the way many predicted it to be.
• Who saw the Devils being 8-2 and scoring at 4 gpg? Who saw the Pens giving up 50 goals in the first 13 games? Who saw the Rangers winning 3 out of 12 games? Who saw the Capitals losing 7 of their first 12 games as well.
• The only team who is performing as advertised is the Blue Jackets, and there is still room for improvement in Columbus as well.
• The Metro has under performed so far compared to how dominant the Division was last year.
• Penguins are still only one point out of first place, and that’s with the not-so-great start of the year.
• Pens are headed out West for the Canadian road trip. Luckily, Daylight Savings ends on Sunday night. That would have just been icing on the cake for the 2nd half of back-to-backs if the Pens also had to battle through Daylight Savings, although we are ‘gaining’ that hour back.
• Lastly, the schedule makers must have forgotten the Canes exist. They’ve only played 10 games so far, and only 2 on the schedule this week. Keep up!!!

Pittsburgh Penguins

7-5-1, 15 pts; 36 GF / 50 GA
2-2 record last week

10/24/17
EDM: 1
PIT: 2 OT
Penguins vs. Oilers Recap: Phil thrills with OT goal in Pittsburgh win

10/26/17
WPG: 1
PIT: 2 OT
RECAP: Déjà Phil. Pens Ground Jets 2-1 in Overtime.

10/28/17
PIT: 1
MIN: 2
RECAP: Penguins Fall to Wild in Tight Game; Lose 2-1

10/29/17
PIT: 1
WPG: 7
Pens vs. Jets Recap: Oh no, we suck again

Week Ahead:

Wednesday November 1 - @ EDM, 8:30 PM ET

Thursday November 2 - @ CGY, 9 PM

Saturday November 4 - @ VAN, 10 PM

Injuries:

• 10/16/17, D Matt Hunwick - IR; Concussion
• 10/21/17, RW Carter Rowney - IR; Hand
• 10/24/17, D Justin Schultz - IR; Concussion

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New Jersey Devils

8-2-0, 16 pts; 40 GF / 31 GA
2-0 record last week

10/27/17
OTT: 4
NJD: 5 SO
New Jersey Devils Salvage a 5-4 Shootout Win Over Ottawa

10/28/17
ARI: 3
NJD: 4
Special Teams Drove New Jersey Devils 4-3 Win Over Arizona Coyotes

Week Ahead:

Wednesday November 1 - @ VAN, 10 PM

Friday November 3 - @ EDM, 9 PM

Sunday November 5 - @ CGY, 9 PM

Injuries:

• 10/21/17, RW Kyle Palmieri - Day-to-day; Lower-body injury
• 10/27/17, LW Marcus Johansson - Day-to-day; Lower-body injury

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Columbus Blue Jackets

7-4-0, 14 pts; 33 GF / 27 GA
2-1 record last week

10/25/17
BUF: 1
CBJ: 5
Recap: Blue Jackets Parry the Sabres in 5-1 Home Victory

10/27/17
WPG: 1
CBJ: 2 OT
Blue Jackets Pull Out Penalty-Filled Overtime Win Over Winnipeg, 2-1

10/28/17
CBJ: 1
STL: 4
Capitals vs. Flames Recap: Kept Out in Calgary

Week Ahead:

Tuesday October 30 - vs BOS, 7 PM

Thursday November 2 - @ FLA, 7:30 PM

Saturday November 4 - @ TBL, 7 PM

Injuries:

• 10/13/18, D Gabriel Carlsson - IR; Upper-body injury
• 10/22/18, C Lukas Sedlak - IR; Ankle

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New York Islanders

6-4-1, 13 pts; 39 GF / 35 GA
2-1 record last week

10/24/17
ARI: 3
NYI: 5
Hat Trick for Johnny T: Islanders 5, Coyotes 3

10/26/17
NYI: 4
MIN: 6
Wild 6, Islanders 4: Lost in the wilderness

10/28/17
NYI: 6
NSH: 2
Islanders 6, Predators 2: Tavares, Eberle lead Isles

Week Ahead:

Monday October 30 - vs VGK, 7 PM

Thursday November 2 - @ WSH, 7 PM

Sunday November 5 - vs COL, 6 PM

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Philadelphia Flyers

6-5-0, 12 pts; 38 GF/ 31 GA
1=2 record last week

10/24/17
ANA: 6
PHI: 2
Ducks 6, Flyers 2: A series of very unfortunate events

10/26/17
PHI: 4
OTT: 5
Senators 5, Flyers 4: Philadelphia battles back, but drops second in a row

10/28/17
PHI: 4
TOR: 2
Flyers 4, Maple Leafs 2: Bouncing back on Hockey Night in Canada

Week Ahead:

Monday October 30 - vs ARI, 7 PM

Wednesday November 1- @ CHI, 8 PM

Thursday November 2 - @ STL, 8 PM

Saturday November 4 - vs COL, 7 PM

Injuries:

• 10/3/17, G Anthony Stolarz - IR; Knee
• 10/3/17, RW Colin McDonald - IR; Lower-body injury
• 10/21/17, D Andrew MacDonald - IR; Lower-body injury
• 10/25/17, C Nolan Patrick - Day-today; Upper-body injury
• 10/27/17, D Shayne Gostisbehere - Day-to-day; Upper-body injury

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Washington Capitals

4-4-1, 9 pts; 28 GF / 31 GA
1-2 record last week

10/26/17
WSH: 2
VAN: 6

10/28/17
WSH: 5
EDM: 2

10/29/17
WSH:
CAL:

Week Ahead:

Thursday November 2 -vs NYI, 7 PM

Saturday November 4 - @ BOS, 7 PM

Injuries:

• 10/13/17, D Matt Niskanen - IR; Upper-body injury
• 10/18/17, C Tyler Graovac - Day-to-day; Upper-body injury

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Carolina Hurricanes

4-4-2, 10 pts; 28 GF / 30 GA
1-2-1 record last week

10/24/17
TBL: 5
CAR: 1
Recap and Ranker: Hurricanes return home, drop 5-1 decision to Lightning

10/26/17
CAR: 6
TOR: 3
Recap and Ranker: Hurricanes emerge victorious with high-flying effort in Toronto

10/27/17
STL: 2
CAR: 1
Recap and Ranker: Hurricanes Fall Flat in the Third Period in 2-1 Loss to Blues

10/29/17
ANA: 4 SO
CAR: 3
Recap and Ranker: Hurricanes overcome dismal start, fall 4-3 to Ducks in SO

Week Ahead:

Thursday November 2 - @ COL, 9 PM

Saturday November 4 - @ ARI, 9 PM

Injuries:

• 10/2/17, RW Lee Stempniak - IR; Hip

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New York Rangers

3-7-2, 8 pts; 34 GF / 43 GA
1-2 record last week

10/23/17
SJS: 4
NYR: 1
Rangers Vs. Sharks: MSG Woes Continue As Sharks Topple Rangers 4-1

10/26/17
ARI: 2
NYR: 5
Rangers Vs. Coyotes: Rangers Defeat Coyotes 5-2 on Home Ice

10/28/17
NYR: 4
MTL: 5
Rangers Vs. Canadiens: Rangers Fight Back From Three Goals Down But Lose 5-4

Week Ahead:

Tuesday October 31 - vs VGK, 7 PM

Thursday November 2 - @ TBL, 7:30 PM

Saturday November 4 - @ FLA, 7 PM

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• Standings via NHL.com as of 10/29/17
• Injuries via TSN as of 10/29/17