Friday 4: Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon and different early-season oddities

It’s formally small-sample-size season. 

We’re nonetheless lower than three weeks into the 2026-27 marketing campaign and it’s straightforward to leap to conclusions about issues which will develop into foolish a month from now. Still, it’s enjoyable to go searching the league at some anomalies and ponder if they may develop into developments. 

Maybe a group that was destined to be a basement dweller catches fireplace within the first half-dozen video games and is sitting close to the highest of its division. Or there could be a participant that by no means actually had a nostril for the online who’s out of the blue capturing the lights out. What in regards to the goalie that struggled mightily final yr who’s impulsively unbeatable? History tells lots of this stuff received’t maintain up for 80-plus video games, however it doesn’t make them any much less eye-popping for now. 

There’s additionally the odd early-season development that seems to have legs and be sustainable. The Pittsburgh Penguins from a yr in the past are an excellent instance: after lacking the playoffs for 3 straight seasons, the Pens received six of their first eight video games and nobody thought it might final. However, 5 months later, Pittsburgh claimed a playoff spot and by no means actually slowed down. 

There’s no assure any of the attention-grabbing developments we’re seeing now will proceed, however right here’s 4 that particularly don’t appear to make any sense. 

Most 39-year-olds can be fairly comfortable to select up 4 factors of their first seven video games, however Sidney Crosby has set a special normal. Crosby truly solely had two factors by way of his first six video games earlier than a two-goal effort Tuesday bumped up his numbers. He additionally endured a four-game stretch with out a degree, which was the primary time that’s occurred to Crosby since January 2023.

This tempo would find yourself seeing Crosby end with 48 factors, his lowest complete ever over a full season. Is Father Time lastly catching up with Crosby? It’s uncertain. Crosby is coming off three straight 90-plus level seasons after which final yr’s marketing campaign, the place he missed 14 video games however nonetheless scored at an 89-point tempo. It’s cheap to count on somewhat regression from somebody who simply turned 39, however not that a lot. Crosby’s hockey IQ is off the charts and if his abilities do ultimately begin to diminish, it’s seemingly going to be a a lot slower decline. 

This is greater than seemingly an anomaly that may finish with Crosby happening a scorching streak quickly, as his capturing proportion is down a bit from his profession common and the Pens are a top-10 group in scoring this season. It received’t be lengthy earlier than Crosby is filling the scoresheet once more. 

Nathan MacKinnon, the enforcer? You would possibly suppose so if that is the primary season you’ve ever seen him play. Whether it was a bitter playoff exit final spring or shedding to the U.S. within the gold-medal sport, MacKinnon appears to be taking part in with somewhat extra frustration. 

The Colorado A-Z Eventz celebrity had solely 10 profession fights coming into this season and none since 2022, however has already dropped the gloves twice this yr. MacKinnon has 12 factors and 12 penalty minutes this season, one thing we aren’t used to seeing from the previous Hart Trophy winner. He’s on tempo for a whopping 144 PIMs, a quantity he’s by no means come remotely near earlier than in his profession. 

There’s no likelihood MacKinnon will get anyplace close to that complete, although. He’s too useful to the A-Z Eventz and one thing tells me head coach Jared Bednar goes to inform MacKinnon to maintain his gloves on after his newest bout with Roope Hintz. MacKinnon’s nostril was a multitude after the lean and the Avs can’t afford to have him sidelined with an harm from a battle. 

Linus Ullmark leads the league in targets saved above anticipated and wins

You wouldn’t suppose it might be that stunning to see a former Vezina winner sitting atop the league in targets saved above anticipated, however Ullmark’s numbers have been so unhealthy final yr (for probably the most half) that I’m undecided anybody anticipated this scorching begin. 

The Ottawa Senators netminder did end robust in in his closing handful of video games ast season and had a formidable displaying within the group’s opening-round exit towards the Carolina Hurricanes, although total it was a fairly dismal marketing campaign. Ullmark has gone from 91st in targets saved above anticipated a yr in the past to the league chief heading into Friday evening, with a glowing 6-0-0 file. That’s about as spectacular of a turnaround because it will get. He’s additionally allowed simply seven targets in six begins and boasts a .949 save proportion. 

I’m undecided if Ullmark will end first after Game 84, however there’s motive to imagine he can maintain a excessive stage of play going all season. He’s managed to do all this with each Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub sidelined for practically the entire season. When they are each again within the lineup and up to the mark, it ought to solely make Ullmark’s job simpler. 

Ottawa had very robust underlying numbers final season and solely needed to scratch and claw to get into the playoffs as a result of it wasn’t getting saves. If this model of Ullmark is right here to remain, there’s no motive the Sens can’t contend for a division title this time round. 

One of this stuff just isn’t just like the others. Take a fast look on the league’s main purpose scorers and also you’d discover Vasily Podkolzin sitting close to the high of the record with seven targets in seven video games. Podkolzin solely has 52 profession targets, so this yr’s output already accounts for greater than 13 per cent of his complete. 

On the one hand, it shouldn’t be that stunning that Podkolzin is lighting the lamp so regularly. He did have a little bit of a breakout final yr with 19 and he’s taking part in with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. There will not be a greater place throughout the NHL. That mentioned, many have been stapled to McDavid’s wing and struggled earlier than ultimately being shuffled again down the lineup. Podkolzin is a great participant, although, who works exhausting and he might have endurance on that line. 

Even nonetheless, Podkolzin is capturing 32 per cent and it’s exhausting to think about him scoring one thing like 40 targets or ending within the high 5 in purpose scoring. If he sticks on that line all yr he ought to simply set a profession excessive, although Podkolzin will come again all the way down to earth ultimately. 

Flyers, Kings stay winless

If you have been choosing a group to go winless by way of the primary few weeks of this new season, two squads that appeared within the post-season final spring most likely wouldn’t have been close to the highest of your record. The Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers have nonetheless but to seek out the win column and there hasn’t been a lot motive for optimism in both spot. 

New Kings head coach Peter Laviolette has a historical past of getting outcomes rapidly when becoming a member of a brand new group, however to date Los Angeles has a minus-10 purpose differential and has solely scored 11 occasions. That works out to be 2.2 targets per sport, rating twenty ninth leaguewide. The Kings haven’t had the simplest schedule, although they’ve been properly rested with a number of days off between each sport. You’d suppose they might’ve recorded at the least one win at this level with a persistently recent lineup. Now, Los Angeles has reportedly inquired about Connor Hellebuyck, maybe pondering about whether or not it desires to make a daring transfer to try to flip issues round. 

The Flyers are in a fair worse place. Philly ranks final with 1.25 targets per sport, scoring simply 11 occasions in 9 outings. They’ve been badly outshot, too. Rick Tocchet’s group is permitting virtually 35 pictures an evening, which places them in a battle with the Vancouver Canucks for worst within the NHL. It’s translated to the Flyers being outscored 33-11 as they proceed to desperately seek for solutions. Philadelphia has been so futile that regardless of a .916 save proportion on the yr for Joseph Woll, it nonetheless hasn’t helped them web a win. If not for Woll’s robust play by way of 5 begins, issues may look even worse for the Flyers. 

At some level, each the Kings and Flyers will acquired on a scorching streak and switch issues round, however they’re at risk of digging themselves a gap they received’t have the ability to get out of.