3 Surprising Teams in the NHL

Toronto Maple Leafs (from MapleLeafs.com, edited heavily by myself). FAIR USE.

Now that an exhilarating postseason of Major League Baseball has concluded, I can turn my attention to my first love -- the National Hockey League. Despite the fact that most teams are a little more than just 1/9th into their season, there are five teams that are standing out right now as surprises. Whether they keep up their early momentum into a Stanley Cup Playoff berth remains seen (I think these three teams will), but considering where that position these teams are coming from, it's still a remarkable start.

I'll start with the Toronto Maple Leafs, whom at long last, may finally be gelling under the Burke-Wilson Era. The Leafs have a special place in my heart as they were the first hockey team I truly followed when I started watching the NHL around 10 years ago. Phil Kessel enters November as the league's leading scorer in goals and total points. Joffrey Lupul and Mikhail Gravboski have also been instrumental in Toronto's top five offensive attack. Captain Dion Phaneuf is off to a strong start manning the blueline (which he credits his defensive partner Carl Gunarsson), and if he keeps this up he'll definitely shed his "overrated" image. My concern is the goaltending -- James Reimer is currently injured and Jonas Gustavsson is consistently inconsistent. However, what will be key for the Leafs besides a healthy James Reimer will be improving its special teams play -- while the Leafs are running in the middle of the pack in terms in their power play, they are putrid in their penalty killing which is near the cellar of the NHL.

LOOK FOR: Reimer to go back to being the starter once he gets healthy. The Leafs are not going anywhere with Gustavsson in goal.

Youth is in full bloom in Edmonton, and the Oilers are beginning November in a three way tie at the top of the Western Conference standings because of it. Rookie Ryan-Nugent-Hopkins is already making his case as the early leader in the Calder Memorial Trophy race by being the first player since The Great One himself to record 11 points in his first 11 NHL games. Second year players Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall have contributed to strong play on the offensive side of the puck. However, the glaring story of the revival in the Canadian prarie is 38-year-old veteran Nikolai Khabibulin, who is leading the league in goals-against-average and save percentage.  Khabibulin has formed a very good tandem with Devan Dubnyk in the early going, forming quite a two headed monster behind the pipes. Edmonton will make the playoffs -- but I expect Vancouver to wake up and win the Northwest Division.

LOOK FOR: Dubnyk to get more starts than what would be the norm for a back up goalie.

Finally, its the curious case of the Ottawa Senators, after losing five of their first six games, the Sens didn't lose another game in the month of October, rattling off six straight wins. Jason Spezza is among the league leaders in scoring. Winger Milan Michalek is leading the team in goals scored while workhorse defenseman Erik Karlsson has racked up 12 assists. I hope Daniel Alfredsson gets healthy because the team needs him and, as one of my favorite players to follow over the years, hope that he rebounds after last year. The Senators have been proving they win the close games, with five of their last six wins being only by one goal, including two by shootout. That is a testament to the play of Craig Anderson, who settled down now that after allowing 16 goals in his first three starts (losing two of them), he's allowed just 15 in his last five starts (all wins).   However, despite the six game winning streak to close out October, the Senators still have glaring issues on the penalty kill (they ended the month 29th in the NHL).

LOOK FOR: As the Senators somewhat settle down defensively, look for their penalty kill percentage improve.

An honorable mention go out to the Colorado Avalanche, which is having a youth revival of its own.