I didn't see the 2 games in Cali - turns out my Center Ice wasn't renewed. Wife is fixing that. I told her she didn't have to. She said it's only $100. I suppose that's cheaper than Xanax. Anyway...
Anyone here expect:
MTL to have only one win to date (against BUF)?
NJD & LVK to be out of the gate hot?
PIT to have 7 points after 6 games, despite a -5 goal differential?
There's 75 more games for the usual suspects to throw Lehner and Reinhart under the bus, or crucify Tim Murray in absentia.
OTOH, I would not expect other teams with 10 new members (even Pominville's new to this particular team), a new coach, and a new system to have all 25 players firing perfectly on 6 cylinders after a few weeks together. I'd expect they may even look like utter crap while doing it, as if they forgot how to play hockey 1-on-1, or as part of a D-pairing, or forward line, or 5-man skating unit. And all that crappy play even without excessive injuries.
Step back from the ledge, and let's assess at Thanksgiving.
~150 possible points remain, teams will need 60-66% of them to make the playoffs. Some who are off to a solid start will falter, others off to a poor start will make the playoffs.
I am not panicked, any more that I would assume a hot start by BUF would guarantee they'd make the playoffs, or if they did, that they would persevere beyond a first round.
Perspective.