The NHL season is now one-quarter of the way through and we can finally start to see which teams look like they will be in the hunt for the title this year. Obviously a lot can change with 60-ish games remaining in the season, and it is important to remember that we still have no idea which teams will make trades in order to drastically improve their Stanley Cup chances. However, we can still take a look at some of the strongest teams to this point in the year.
The Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens had a decent start to the year, and they have really turned it on over the last few weeks. They have earned 16 points in their previous 10 games, and they lead their division. Their goal differential makes me question their staying power at the top of the standings, but for now, they have proven that they are as good as anyone.
The Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks bought low on Ryan Kesler, and that has paid huge dividends for them in the early going, as he has been a key contributor for the Ducks on both ends of the ice. The Ducks were billed as a Stanly Cup favorite entering the year, and they have not disappointed. Expect them to continue playing this well for the rest of the campaign.
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The Pittsburgh Penguins. To the surprise of exactly nobody, the Penguins are doing pretty well this year. They are among the highest-scoring teams in the league, and they are - to this point - playing elite defense. If they continue to excel at both ends of the ice, we can expect to see them snag a top seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Vancouver Canucks. The Sedin twins are doing their thing, and American Olympic Hero Ryan Miller appears to have returned to his elite form after a down season last year in Buffalo and St. Louis. The surprising Canucks are third in the NHL with 31 points, and they have a game in hand against the division-leading Anaheim Ducks.
Below you can see the highlights from a recet showdown between the Penguins and the Canadiens.
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