Happy Hockey Halloween!
Happy Hockey Halloween from The Puck Bulletin! In this week’s edition of The Puck Bulletin, we’ll decide who is the spookiest NHL team and look at our usual Weekly Roundup and Player Spotlight.
The Spookiest NHL Team
Who is the spookiest NHL team? This question can seem a bit strange, but since this edition of The Puck Bulletin was released on Halloween, it seems fitting. When thinking of some spooky, Halloween-esque NHL teams, a couple quick thoughts come to mind… The New Jersey Devils are indeed a spooky team, and the Philadelphia Flyers sport the orange and nlack, the unofficial (or official?) colors of Halloween. Lastly, Buoy the Troll, the Seattle Kraken’s new mascot, looks like something you would see in a nightmare, so with that being said we’ll include the Kraken in contention for the spookiest NHL team. Let us know what you think in the poll below!
The Weekly Roundup
Atlantic:
Boston Bruins (16 pts | 8-1-0)
LW: W 3-1 DAL, W 5-1 DET, W 4-0 CBJ
11/1 @ PIT, 11/3 @ NYR, 11/5 @ TOR
Brad Marchand is back in the lineup, and the Bruins are looking even better.
Florida Panthers (11 pts | 5-3-1)
LW: L 2-4 CHI, L 3-4 PHI, W 5-3 OTT
11/1 @ ARI, 11/3 @ SJ, 11/5 @ LAK, 11/6 @ ANA
This western road trip should give us some more insight into this Florida team.
Buffalo Sabres (10 pts | 5-3-0)
LW: L 1-5 SEA, L 2-3 MTL, W 4-3 CHI
10/31 vs. DET, 11/2 vs. PIT, 11/4 CAR, 11/5 @ TBL
The Sabres bounced back from a couple hiccups with a win against Chicago.
Detroit Red Wings (10 pts | 4-2-2)
LW: L 2-6 NJD, L 1-5 BOS, W 2-1 MIN
10/31 @ BUF, 11/3 vs. WSH, 11/5 vs. NYI, 11/6 @ NYR
Lucas Raymond snapped his goal-less drought to lead the Red Wings to their only win this week.
Tampa Bay Lightning (10 pts | 5-4-0)
LW: L 2-4 LAK, W 4-2 ANA, W 4-3 SJS
11/1 vs. OTT, 11/3 vs. CAR, 11/5 vs. BUF
Tampa returns from a western road trip with some questions that still need to be ansewered.
Montreal Canadiens (10 pts | 5-4-0)
LW: L 1-3 MIN, W 3-2 BUF, W 7-4 STL
11/1 @ MIN, 11/3 @ WPG, 11/5 vs. VGK
A Christan Dvorak hat trick lead the Haabs in a high-scoring win over the Blues this week.
Toronto Maple Leafs (10 pts | 4-4-2)
LW: L 1-3 VGK, OTL 3-4 SJS, L 2-4 LAK, OTL 3-4 ANA
11/2 vs. PHI, 11/5 vs. BOS, 11/6 @ CAR
Jake Muzzin was moved to LTIR, and Toronto had a tough week going 0-2-2 out west
Ottawa Senators (8 pts |4-4-0)
LW: W 4-2 DAL, L 2-4 MIN, L 3-5 FLA
11/1 @ TBL, 11/3 vs. VGK, 11/5 vs. PHI
The Sens are at the bottom of this competitive Atlantic, but I don’t see that being permanent.
Metropolitan:
New Jersey Devils (12 pts | 6-3-0)
LW: L 3-6 WSH, W 6-2 DET, W 1-0 COL, W 7-1 CBJ
11/1 @ VAN, 11/3 @ EDM, 11/5 @ CGY
New Jersey is rolling and finds themselves in the top of the Metropolitan, allowing a league-low 21.67 SOG per game.
New York Rangers (12 pts | 5-3-2)
LW: L/SO 2-3 COL, L 0-3 NYI, W 6-3 DAL, W 3-2 ARI
11/1 vs. PHI, 11/3 vs. BOS, 11/6 vs. DET
I’m looking forward to seeing how this Rangers team does against Boston this upcoming week.
Philadelphia Flyers (11 pts | 5-2-1)
LW: W 4-3 FLA, OTL 3-4 CAR
11/1 @ NYR, 11/2 @ TOR, 11/5 @ OTT
Philly magic still seems to be running strong for the Flyers, though I’m not yet convinced they can keep it up.
Carolina Hurricanes (11 pts | 5-2-1)
LW: W 3-2 VAN, L 2-6 NYI, W 4-3 PHI
10/31 vs. WSH, 11/3 @ TBL, 11/4 vs. BUF, 11/6 vs. TOR
A disappointing return home with a surprise blowout loss to the Islanders seemed to be the highlight of this week for the Canes.
New York Islanders (10 pts | 5-4-0)
LW: W 3-0 NYR, W 6-2 CAR, W 5-4 COL
11/1 @ CHI, 11/3 @ STL, 11/5 @ DET
The Islanders looked like one of the best teams in hockey this past week.
Washington Capitals (10 pts | 5-4-0)
LW: W 6-3 NJD, L 0-2 DAL, W 3-0 NSH
10/31 @ CAR, 11/1 vs. VGK, 11/3 @ DET, 11/5 vs. ARI
Ovi is inching closer to Gordie Howe on the all-time NHL goal list.
Pittsburgh Penguins (9 pts | 4-4-1)
LW: L 3-6 EDM, L 1-4 CGY, L 1-5 VAN, L 1-3 SEA
11/1 vs. BOS, 11/2 @ BUF, 11/5 vs. SEA
The Penguins went from looking like one of the best teams in hockey, to looking like one of the worst teams in hockey this past week.
Columbus Blue Jackets (6 pts | 3-7-0)
LW: L 3-6 ARI, L 0-4 BOS, L 1-7 NJD
11/4 @ COL, 11/5 vs. COL (NHL Global Series)
The struggling Blue Jackets head to Finland for the NHL Global Series.
Central:
Dallas Stars (11 pts | 5-3-1)
LW: L 2-4 OTT, L 1-3 BOS, W 2-0 WSH, L 3-6 NYR
11/1 vs. LAK, 11/3 @ ARI, 11/5 @ EDM
The Stars narrowly lead the wide-open looking Central.
Winnipeg Jets (10 pts | 5-3-1)
LW: W 4-0 STL, W 6-4 LAK, W 3-2 ARI, OTL 1-2 VGK
11/3 vs. MTL, 11/5 vs. CHI
Winnipeg continues to play every game close.
Chicago Blackhawks (10 pts | 4-3-2)
LW: W 4-2 FLA, L 5-6 EDM, OTL 3-4 BUF, L/SO 3-4 MIN
11/1 vs. NYI, 11/3 vs. LAK, 11/5 @ WPG
The Blackhawks are without a doubt my surprise team of the month of October, looking like they can beat anyone on any given night as of now.
Colorado Avalanche (9 pts | 4-4-1)
LW: W 3-2 NYR, L 0-1 NJD, L 4-5 NYI
11/4 vs. CBJ, 11/5 @ CBJ (NHL Global Series)
The Av’s gave up 5 unanswered to the Islanders and head to the NHL Global Series with a sour taste in their mouths.
Minnesota Wild (9 pts | 4-4-1)
LW: W 3-1 MTL, W 4-2 OTT, L 1-2 DET, W 4-3 CHI
11/1 vs. MTL, 11/3 vs. SEA
The Wild look like their getting back on the wagon. Luckily, nobody in the Central has left without them.
Nashville Predators (7 pts | 3-5-1)
LW: W 6-2 STL, L 0-3 WSH
11/1 @ EDM, 11/3 @ CGY, 11/5 @ VAN
Nashville heads out west looking to get their game going.
St. Louis Blues (6 pts | 3-4-0)
LW: L 0-4 WPG, L 1-3 EDM, L 2-6 NSH, L 4-7 MTL
10/31 vs. LAK, 11/3 vs. NYI
The Blues were the last undefeated team in the NHL before losing 4 straight.
Arizona Coyotes (5 pts | 2-5-1)
LW: W 6-3 CBJ, OTL 2-3 WPG, L 2-3 NYR
11/1 vs. FLA, 11/3 vs. DAL, 11/5 @ WSH
Mullet Arena is open, and the Coyotes treating their fans to some good hockey this week.
Pacific:
Vegas Golden Knights (16 pts | 8-2-0)
LW: W 3-1 TOR, W 4-2 SJS, W 4-0 ANA, W 2-1 WPG
11/1 @ WSH, 11/3 @ OTT, 11/5 @ MTL
The Golden Knights are looking strong, but their schedule has been on the weaker side.
Edmonton Oilers (12 pts | 6-3-0)
LW: W 6-3 PIT, W 3-1 STL, W 6-5 CHI, W 3-2 CGY
11/1 vs. NSH, 11/3 vs. NJD, 11/5 vs. DAL
The Oilers capped off a great week with a win in the Battle of Alberta.
Calgary Flames (10 pts | 5-2-0)
LW: W 4-1 PIT, L 2-3 EDM
11/1 vs. SEA, 11/3 vs. NSH, 11/5 vs. NJD
Like many others, I still can’t tell if this Flames team is better than last year’s.
Seattle Kraken (10 pts | 4-4-2)
LW: W 5-1 BUF, L 4-5 VAN, W 3-1 PIT
11/1 @ CGY, 11/3 @ MIN, 11/5 @ PIT
The Kraken have had an interesting month showing they can beat anyone in the league.
Los Angeles Kings (10 pts | 5-5-0)
LW: W 4-2 TBL, L 4-6 WPG, W 4-2 TOR
10/31 @ STL, 11/1 @ DAL, 11/3 @ CHI, 11/5 vs. FLA
The Kings have been looking solid and probably deserved to go 3-0 this past week.
Vancouver Canucks (6 pts | 2-5-2)
LW: L 2-3 CAR, W 5-4 SEA, W 5-1 PIT
11/1 vs. NJD, 11/3 vs. ANA, 11/5 vs. NSH
I was very happy to see the Canucks get in the win-column this week, as well as trade for defenseman Ethan Bear.
San Jose Sharks (6 pts | 3-8-0)
LW: L 2-4 VGK, W 4-3 TOR, L 3-4 TBL
11/1 vs. ANA, 11/3 vs. FLA, 11/5 vs. ANA
Thought they finished the week 1-2, the Sharks looked formidable in all three games.
Anaheim Ducks (5 pts | 2-6-1)
LW: L 2-4 TBL, L 0-4 VGK, W 4-3 TOR
11/1 @ SJS, 11/3 @ VAN, 11/5 @ SJS
The young Ducks ended the month with a nice comeback OT win over the struggling Maple Leafs.
Player Spotlight
Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers
This week’s player spotlight is on Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling. The 26-year-old Swede has helped lead the Panthers blue line this October with fellow Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad on LTIR. In the month of October, Forsling has tallied 6pts (2g, 4a), finished the month +6, and averaged 23:56 of TOI per game.
Though he was drafted in the 5th round, 126th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 2014, Forsling began has NHL career and spent his first three seasons in the league playing for the Chicago Blackhawks. In each of these first few seasons, Forsling spent a considerable amount of time playing in the AHL, including the 2019-2020 season where he spent the entire season playing for the Charlotte Checkers, who were at the time the Carolina Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate. Eventually, Forsling was claimed off waivers by the Florida Panthers before the 2020-2021 NHL season and signed a 3-year, $8M contract ($2.67 AAV) with the Panthers before the 2021-2022 season. Asserting himself as a mainstay on a Stanley Cup contending team, Forsling appears to be poised for a breakout season after an exciting October. Though Forsling’s role may be slightly diminished when Ekblad returns to the Panthers lineup, I think Forsling has demonstrated that he can rise to the occasion when needed, and I look forward to following along with the Swede’s season.