Two weeks (not quite) into the NHL season, and we find some pretty familiar stories.   Las Vegas and Colorado are already being crowned out west, and Boston and Philadelphia (?) lead the Eastern divisions.  Carter Hart has three wins already, and Sean Couturier ($4800) leads the league with a (+7), on a team that has only outscored their opponents by four. Tonight, at the Dallas Stars? No, I'm not playing that one.   

Oh yeah.  The Carolina Hurricanes have both scored AND given up the most goals in the NHL.  I don't think we saw that coming, either.

Rip the Net 

Let's start with a western Canada match between Edmonton and Winnipeg.  Yeah, that guy.  Connor McDavid ($9900) has gone pointless once in his last 15 games against the Jets, and in twelve of those he's had multiple points.  Leon Draisaitl ($8900), three points in each of two 2022-23 contests, but four goose-eggs over that 15-game span. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ($6200)? 41 career points in 36 games. Maybe add Zach Hyman ($6500) to this list. Off to a good start with 2G, 4A, and five of these points at even-strength.  Inexpensively add Warren Foegele ($3100) to this list, from RNH's second line. I'd take two of these forwards, and avoid Connor Hellebuyck, who's won twice in his last ten meetings with the Oilers, and has a career 3.22 GAA against them.  

Jack the Ripper?

Yes, Jack Eichel ($7500) leads the NHL in shots on goal in our first 11 days, with 28. And Vegas will feast on the Blackhawks' young defensemen, spoiling their home opener. It's Adin Hill's turn in goal, though his cost in a fantasy lineup may be prohibitive. William Karlsson ($3700), five points and +6 +/-, and Shea Theodore ($6000), five points and +4, should both improve those season stats today.  

Ripped a New One

More than just a couple of coaches should be raising their locker-room volume, even here in Week 2. Spencer Carbery has to be the lead here – all four centers (Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nicklas Backstrom, Dylan Strome, and Alex Protas) have all failed to register a single point, and Alex Ovechkin ($7900) has a single assist, and no shots on net in the past two games (a career first!)  The power play is at zero-for-eight. And I didn't expect goose-eggs from Rasmus Sandin ($3100), either. Washington being 32nd in goals scored simply wasn't on my radar. In goal, Darcy Kuemper ($7900) has an OT win against Calgary, but an 0.884 SV% and 3.84 GAA.  At Montreal tonight? An opportunity. 

Other loud coaches might meet as St. Louis hosts Pittsburgh. Start with the hot-and-cold visitors – it's the bottom six where the Penguins have miserably failed so far, having a combined one assist (Lars Eller), and none of those skaters has a positive +/-. The established stars have been better than the Pens 2-2 record, and I'd expect Rickard Rakell ($5800) to soon join seven other teammates who already have three points. Reilly Smith ($4700) has found a home on the second line, paired with Evgeni Malkin ($6900).

As for the Blues, ice-cold is the best descriptor. Jordan Binnington ($7300) has turned two opponents into ice, as he's started with an 0.92 GAA and 0.969 SV%. Just two games, no Vezina talk yet. Can he keep Pittsburgh off the scoresheet?  He'll need to, as it's the TOP-six for the Blues that has a single goal, and a single assist in their first three matches. And none of their top-four defensemen have a point thus far. Like Washington, zero power-play scores, but more worrisome is that opponents have scored on four of their last five, so the penalty killers will have their hands full. A flier on Kevin Hayes ($3200), to afford some of the big guns above?

And an honorable mention has to go to the winless San Jose Sharks – although a team projected to finish last shouldn't have to start with the Knights, Avalanche, Hurricanes, and Bruins. Their October schedule looked daunting even before their captain (Logan Couture) went down. 

My Lineup for Tonight

Centers McDavid and William Karlsson, wings Ovechkin, Hyman, and Smith. D-men Sandin and Pierre-Olivier Joseph ($2700), and utility forward Foegele. Those last two make the group "under the cap" as it works. I struggled with my goalie choice, choosing Kuemper to complete a Capitals' rout. 

Last Week

Simply, no. I had hits, for sure – Chandler Stephenson and Adin Hill for Vegas, Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy from Boston, and good stats/score from Cole Caufield. But not enough.  Missing Boone Jenner's hat trick? I don't even feel bad about that.

Meanwhile, the Coyotes (my season-long shot in the dark) finally found some offense after being shut down by Igor Shesterkin and Ilya Sorokin in consecutive one-goal losses in New York.  But an opening 2-2 road trip projects to be miles above last season's seven road wins out of 41.  

Again, see you in a week.