Every Tuesday, theScore's editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."
Calgary Flames
Plus: Johnny Gaudreau finally seems to be finding his feet and has assumed his expected spot atop the Flames' scoring list after recording four points in his past three games.
Minus: Sean Monahan, on the other hand, continues to struggle, with only four goals to his name. His assist totals jumped from 12 to 31 to 36 over the past three seasons, but he has yet to notch a helper through ten games.
The take: It's no coincidence that Calgary appears to have turned a corner as Brian Elliott has found his game with his new club. Wins over Chicago and St. Louis are encouraging, and an upcoming four-game road trip will show more of what a Glen Gulutzan coached team is made of.
Edmonton Oilers
Plus: The Edmonton Oilers began last week with a win over the Washington Capitals, the most impressive of their seven victories to date. The Oilers finished October first in the Western Conference and with the second-highest point total across the league.
Minus: While Cam Talbot has been nothing short of a sensation in net, that he has started all nine games is cause for concern. At some point, backup Jonas Gustavsson will need to give Talbot a break, lest the Oilers' star goalie burn out before he's needed most.
The take: Edmonton could not have asked for a better October, but a hot start means nothing if they're not among the eight playoff teams come April.
Montreal Canadiens
Plus: Carey Price. Enough said.
Minus: With only two goals in nine games, captain Max Pacioretty is on pace for 18 on the season, well down from the 35 he's averaged over the past three campaigns. His shot rate is also down, as Pacioretty is on track for 240 after topping 300 in each of the past two seasons.
The take: General manager Marc Bergevin's offseason moves appear to be paying off, but make no mistake, it's a healthy Price - who boasts a perfect 5-0-0 record and a .954 save percentage - who's proving to be the Canadiens' most valuable player.
Ottawa Senators
Plus: Craig Anderson's shutout win over Edmonton in his first start since his wife's cancer announcement is a prime example of why we watch and love this game.
Minus: The defensive pairing of Dion Phaneuf and Cody Ceci has been a disaster, and needs to be broken up immediately.
Take: The Ottawa Senators rallied around their goalie when he needed them most, both on and off the ice, and that's really all that matters.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Plus: The kids have been much more than alright for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team is led in scoring by William Nylander (11 points) and Auston Matthews (10 points), while Mitch Marner holds a share of third spot with six points of his own.
Minus: Toronto's goaltending has been nothing short of awful, and the Maple Leafs rank 28th in team save percentage (.875).
The take: Despite sitting last in the Atlantic Division, the Maple Leafs rank fifth in terms of Corsi For in five-on-five play, a strong indicator of potential success down the road. If Frederik Andersen can pull it together, Toronto could very well be a bubble team in the playoff race.
Vancouver Canucks
Plus: Ryan Miller has been terrific, posting a .939 save percentage for the Canucks, good for eighth among all goalies.
Minus: Vancouver is having trouble putting the puck in the net, averaging only 1.78 goals per game. Major free-agent acquisition Loui Eriksson has yet to record his first for his new club and is becoming the poster boy for the offensive struggles.
The take: The shine is quickly disappearing off Vancouver's 4-0 start, and Canucks fans might want to start getting familiar with the name Nolan Patrick.
Winnipeg Jets
Plus: Patrik Laine is drawing the lion's share of the attention, but Nikolaj Ehlers, Kyle Connor, Joel Armia, and Josh Morrissey are proving the Jets are being fueled by a host of impressive young talent.
Minus: The Jacob Trouba situation continues to hang over Winnipeg, leaving a gaping hole on the blue line. The Jets are being patient and not forcing a move, but Trouba's return, or an infusion of assets in his stead, is desperately needed.
The take: The Jets are hanging in there in the midst of hockey's toughest division, and a home-and-home series with the Capitals this week will be a good measuring stick.
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