10 Early Season Stats

1. Anaheim’s Daniel Winnik has five goals in the Ducks’ first four games. Even more impressively, all five have been scored even strength. Winnik had five goals for Colorado last season…in 63 games.

2. Andrei Markov has scored the game-winning goal in each of Montreal’s three victories. Sometimes people forget how good Markov, 34, was before all his injury problems. In 2008-09, he had 64 points in 78 games. If he can stay healthy, the Habs have a shot at the playoffs.

3. Ottawa’s Craig Anderson leads all NHL goalies with a .975 save percentage. The 31-year-old has stopped all but three of the 119 shots he’s faced in four games.

4. Alex Ovechkin has spent a league-high 33:29 on the power play…and he only has one goal. In 2007-08, Ovechkin led the NHL with 22 power-play goals.

5. Drew Doughty has yet to register his first point of the season, despite playing almost 30 minutes per game in the Kings’ first five contests. Offense was an issue for the 23-year-old last year as well, when he tallied just 36 points, significantly fewer than the 59 he registered in 2008-09. Granted, he turned it around during the playoffs, racking up 16 points in 20 games on the way to winning the Stanley Cup. And to be fair to Doughty, much of a defenseman’s point total is related to the effectiveness of the forwards when they get the puck. The Kings have just 10 goals so far.

6. The Florida Panthers (1-4-0) have a minus-11 goal differential, the worst in the NHL. After beating Carolina, 5-1, in their first game of the season, the Panthers have lost four in a row by a combined score of 18-3. It’s worth noting Florida’s goal differential last season was minus-24, by far the worst of the 16 playoff teams.

7. The Canucks have blown a pair of 2-0 leads in their first six games. Last Sunday, they took a 2-0 lead on Edmonton and lost 3-2 in a shootout. Last night, the exact same thing happened in Los Angeles. Oh, and both times Roberto Luongo was in goal. (Update: This isn’t a criticism of Luongo, who was outstanding against the Kings. Just thought I’d point it out, given the guy’s made two starts this year and the Canucks have blown 2-0 leads in both.)

8. Only one team has yet to surrender a power-play goal, and that’s the Boston Bruins, who are a perfect 23-for-23 on the penalty kill. In a partially related story, the B’s haven’t lost in regulation yet.

9. Toronto’s Phil Kessel has 24 shots and zero goals. That’s the most shots of any player without scoring. Next in that category is Jarome Iginla, who’s taken 19 shots without any going in.

10. The Blues’ Kevin Shattenkirk leads all NHL defensemen with eight points, all of them assists. Avalanche GM Greg Sherman must be so happy for him.

LMAO at Ovechkin and Kessel.

I've watched two Caps games this season, and it's very true to say he don't care about hockey here anymore. If it wasn't for his sponsorship deals he'd have stayed in Russia. It's a shame too, when he's on his game, he's right up there with Crosby as the best player in the world.

ANd Kessel. SMH. People only hate on this kid because of the trade in which Brian Burke gave up two first rounders(the first being Tyer Sequin lmao ouch). Not Kessel's fault, that be Burkie's fault. With that said, Kessel needs to focus on his defensive game. I played hockey most of my life and the one thing you always learn from a young age is if your game isn't getting it done, you go to another part of your game. It's common sense...boy do I feel bad for Leaf fans.

I just don't know what is up with Ovechkin. The guy can be a human highlight reel but seems to have fallen down the pecking order of best player category so quickly. I said before the season start that I thought this would be a rebound year for him. I still think he'll be productive, but not the same as before.

Like I said in my previous post...he don't care about his career here anymore. WHich is quite sad, but along with most other russian(no no stereotyping here just fact) his attitude stinks and has no interest here but the paycheck. Maybe the constant "sydney crosby beats you at every level" comments have finally got to him lol.

Ovechkin got a goal last night but what has happened to Kessel as well? I know he'll turn it around but not a good start.

Kessel is on pace for 219 shots and 0 goals....oops

Here's a funny GIF that sums up Ovechkin greatly. The man who likes to circle and keep puck as much as possible. For once he didn't shoot though

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XnWf6Wiyz5k/UQstkY50zTI/AAAAAAAAJ5g/XxkPLdp_WJI/s1600/ovicircle3.gif

LMAO at the GIF.

The Leafs have to be the single most inconsistent team in the league One or two horrible games, one or two great games, I dunno lol.

STupid Calgary flames...I turn my phone on this morning and the headling right on the opening screen is Snowy Avalanche Extinguish Flames...like wtf hahahah Oh welll, I'm use to them not being very good so what's another year?

You sound just like how I view the Twins games every year lol start of season there is optimism and then the season starts and it just goes downhill straight away

Yeah I know What's another year? Then BAAAAAM!!!! I get hit by a bus and ndver see my Flames win another cup :'(