Mid-November Madness!
Another week of the 2022-2023 NHL season is in the books! In this week’s edition of The Puck Bulletin, we’ll analyze some interesting data and take a look at our usual Weekly Roundup and Player Spotlight.
5v5 Expected Goals For Data
I came across this interesting graphic today, and thought it provided some additional context to how this season has played out so far:
My main takeaway from this data is that the New Jersey Devils are legit and have not just been getting lucky. Looking at the opposite side of the data supports the idea that teams like the Islanders, Red Wings, and Flyers cannot be expected to continue their winning ways if they are in the bottom quarter of the league at 5v5 play. However, regardless of what the data supports we all know that the beautiful game of hockey and its outcomes cannot be easily explained by data. What do you think of advanced analytics? Let us know in the poll below!
The Weekly Roundup
Atlantic:
Boston Bruins (28 pts | 14-2-0)
LW: W 3-1 STL, W 3-1 CGY, W 3-1 BUF, W 5-2 VAN
11/17 vs. PHI, 11/19 vs. CHI
The Bruins continue to roll and now have Charlie McAvoy back in the lineup.
Toronto Maple Leafs (18 pts | 8-5-3)
LW: OTL 3-4 VGK, L 2-4 PIT, W 3-2 VAN
11/15 @ PIT, 11/17 vs. NJD, 11/19 vs. BUF
The Leafs had an up-and-down week.
Tampa Bay Lightning (17 pts | 8-6-1)
LW: L 2-3 EDM, L 1-5 WSH, W 6-3 WSH
11/15 vs. DAL, 11/17 vs. CGY, 11/19 @ NSH
Tampa Bay continues their inconsistency.
Florida Panthers (17 pts | 8-6-1)
LW: W 3-0 FLA, L 2-4 EDM
11/15 vs. WSH, 11/17 vs. DAL, 11/19 vs. CGY, 11/20 @ CBJ
The Panthers put on a clinic against Carolina but faltered against the Oilers.
Detroit Red Wings (17 pts | 7-5-3)
LW: L/SO 2-3 MTL, L 2-8 NYR, L 3-4 LAK
11/15 @ ANA, 11/17 @ SJS, 11/19 @ CBJ
Detroit appears to be sputtering a bit.
Montreal Canadiens (17 pts | 8-6-1)
LW: W 3-2 DET, W 5-2 VAN, W 5-4 PIT
11/15 vs. NJD, 11/17 @ CBJ, 11/19 vs. PHI
The Haabs strung together a great week.
Buffalo Sabres (14 pts | 7-8-0)
LW: L 1-4 ARI, L 4-7 VGK, L 1-3 BOS
11/15 vs. VAN, 11/16 @ OTT, 11/19 @ TOR
The Sabres are on a five-game losing streak.
Ottawa Senators (11 pts | 5-8-1)
LW: L 4-6 VAN, OTL 3-4 NJD, W 4-1 PHI
11/14 vs. NYI, 11/16 vs. BUF, 11/19 vs. NJD
The Sens continue to carry up the bottom of the Atlantic.
Metropolitan:
New Jersey Devils (24 pts | 12-3-0)
LW: W 3-2 CHY, W 4-3 OTT, W 4-2 ARI
11/15 @ MTL, 11/17 @ TOR, 11/19 @ OTT
The Devils have almost unbelievably strung together a nine-game winning streak.
New York Islanders (20 pts | 10-6-0)
LW: W 4-3 CGY, W 4-3 NYR, L 0-2 ARI, W 4-3 CBJ
11/14 @ OTT, 11/17 @ NSH, 11/19 @ DAL
The Islanders continue to find ways to win games.
Carolina Hurricanes (19 pts | 9-5-1)
LW: L 0-3 FLA, W 7-2 EDM, L 1-4 COL
11/14 @ CHI, 11/17 vs. COL, 11/19 @ MIN
The Canes look to rebound against the Avs this week.
New York Rangers (19 pts | 8-6-3)
LW: L 3-4 NYI, W 8-2 DET, L 1-2 NSH, W 4-1 ARI
11/17 @ SEA, 11/19 @ SJS
The Rangers played some .500 hockey this week before heading out west.
Philadelphia Flyers (16 pts | 7-6-2)
LW: W 5-1 STL, L 2-5 CBJ, L 1-4 OTT, L 1-5 DAL
11/15 @ CBJ, 11/17 @ BOS, 11/19 @ MTL
The Flyers seem to have finally hit a rough patch.
Washington Capitals (16 pts | 7-7-2)
LW: W 5-4 EDM, L 1-4 PIT, W 5-1 TBL, L 3-6 TBL
11/15 @ FLA, 11/17 @ STL, 11/19 vs. COL
The Caps continue to hang in the Metro standing despite their injury woes.
Pittsburgh Penguins (15 pts | 6-6-3)
LW: W 4-1 WSH, W 4-2 TOR, OTL 4-5 MTL
11/15 vs. TOR, 11/17 @ MIN, 11/19 @ WPG, 11/20 @ CHI
The Penguins seem to be dialing back into their game.
Columbus Blue Jackets (9 pts | 4-9-1)
LW: W 5-2 PHI, OTL 3-4 NYI
11/15 vs. PHI, 11/17 vs. MTL, 11/19 vs. DET, 11/20 vs. FLA
Zach Warenski is out the rest of the season with a separated shoulder and torn labrum.
Central:
Winnipeg Jets (19 pts | 9-4-1)
LW: W 5-1 DAL, L 2-3 CGY, W 3-2 SEA
11/17 vs. ANA, 11/19 vs. PIT
Winnipeg completed a dramatic comeback in Seattle to end the week on top of the Central.
Dallas Stars (19 pts | 9-5-1)
LW: L 1-5 WPG, L 4-5 SJS, W 5-1 PHI
11/15 @ TBL, 11/17 @ FLA, 11/19 vs. NYI
The Stars went a surprising 1-2 this week.
Colorado Avalanche (17 pts | 8-4-1)
LW: W 5-3 NSH, W 4-1 CAR
11/14 vs. STL, 11/17 @ CAR, 11/19 @ WSH
The Avs are starting to roll.
Minnesota Wild (16 pts | 7-6-2)
LW: L 0-1 LAK, W 4-1 ANA, W 1-0 SEA, L/SO 2-3 SJS
11/15 @ NSH, 11/17 vs. PIT, 11/19 vs. CAR
The Wild have tightened up defensively.
Chicago Blackhawks (15 pts | 6-5-3)
LW: OTL 1-2 LAK, W 3-2 ANA
11/14 vs. CAR, 11/16 vs. STL, 11/19 @ BOS, 11/20 vs. PIT
The Blackhawks are still battling hard in the Central.
Arizona Coyotes (13 pts | 6-8-1)
LW: W 4-1 BUF, W 2-0 NYI, L 2-4 NJD, L 1-4 NYR
11/17 @ VGK
The Coyotes are still surprisingly playing above expectations.
Nashville Predators (13 pts | 6-8-1)
LW: L 1-5 SEA, L 3-5 COL, W 2-1 NYR
11/15 vs. MIN, 11/17 vs. NYI, 11/19 vs. TBL
A 2-1 win against the Rangers helped salvage what was still a mostly disappointing week for the Preds.
St. Louis Blues (10 pts | 5-8-0)
LW: L 1-3 BOS, L 1-5 PHI, W 5-3 SJS, W 3-2 VGK
11/14 @ COL, 11/16 @ CHI, 11/17 vs. WSH, 11/19 vs. ANA
The Blues look like they could be turning the corner into some better hockey.
Pacific:
Vegas Golden Knights (26 pts | 13-3-0)
LW: W 4-3 TOR, W 7-4 BUF, L 2-3 STL
11/15 vs. SJS, 11/17 vs. ARI, 11/19 @ EDM
The Golden Knights are buzzing despite a small hiccup against the Blues.
Los Angeles Kings (21 pts | 10-6-1)
LW: W 1-0 MIN, W 2-1 CHI, W 4-3 DET
11/14 @ CGY, 11/16 @ EDM, 11/18 @ VAN, 11/19 @ SEA
The Kings had a great week to climb up the Pacific standings.
Seattle Kraken (19 pts | 8-5-3)
LW: W 5-1 NSH, L 0-1 MIN, OTL 2-3 WPG
11/17 vs. NYR, 11/19 vs. LAK
The Kraken look like a solid playoff team at this point.
Edmonton Oilers (18 pts | 9-7-0)
LW: L 4-5 WSH, W 3-2 TBL, L 2-7 CAR, W 4-2 FLA
11/16 vs. LAK, 11/19 vs. VGK
Evander Kane is out 3-4 months after suffering a scary wrist injury.
Calgary Flames (14 pts | 6-6-2)
LW: OTL 3-4 NYI, L 2-3 NJD, L 1-3 BOS, W 3-2 WPG
11/14 vs. LAK, 11/17 @ TBL, 11/19 @ FLA
Calgary played four tough games this past week going 1-2-1.
San Jose Sharks (13 pts | 5-9-3)
LW: L 3-5 STL, W 5-4 DAL, W 3-2 MIN
11/15 @ VGK, 11/17 vs. DET, 11/19 vs. NYR
The Sharks are finding some ways to win some games.
Vancouver Canucks (11 pts | 4-9-3)
LW: W 6-4 OTT, L 2-5 MTL, L 2-3 TOR, L 2-5 BOS
11/15 @ BUF, 11/18 vs. LAK
The Canucks continue to sputter. Can they turn the ship around similar to last year?
Anaheim Ducks (9 pts | 4-10-1)
LW: L 1-4 MIN, L 2-3 CHI
11/15 vs. DET, 11/17 @ WPG, 11/19 @ STL
Anaheim’s struggles continue and have yet to win a game in regulation.
Player Spotlight
Brock Nelson, New York Islanders
This week’s player spotlight is on New York Islanders center Brock Nelson. The 31-year-old leads the Islanders with 17 pts (8g, 9a) through the first 16 games of the season.
Nelson is a native of Warroad, Minnesota and comes from a family of hockey royalty. Nelson’s uncle, Dave Christian, is best known for being a member of the 1980 United States Miracle on Ice hockey team. Additionally, Nelson’s grandfather, Bill Christian, and great-uncle, Roger Christain, founded Christain Brothers, a company which created hockey sticks in Warroad, Minnesota. I also had to note that both Bill and Roger were on the 1960 United States gold medal team… talk about a hockey family.
Brock has been a mainstay on Long Island since he came into the league in 2013 and is coming off a career-high 59pt (37g, 22a) season in 2021-2022. He’s on pace for another career-high season in points and looks fully capable of leading the Islanders back to the playoffs after a brief hiatus last season. Take some time watch an Islanders game. I guarantee you will notice Nelson.