Penton: Jets shock NHL with blazing start
By Bruce Penton
The National Hockey League is one month into its 2024-25 season this week and a number of interesting story lines have bubbled to the surface. Time for some analysis:
— The juggernaut Winnipeg Jets? Really? The Jets under first-year coach Scott Arniel were the last team to lose in regulation, running off eight consecutive victories before being stopped at home 6-4 by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Jets, who bounced back with wins in their next two games, are getting their usual spectacular goaltending from last year’s Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck, offence from the usual sources (Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Nicolaj Ehlers and Josh Morrissey) but secondary scoring from less than expected players (Nino Niederreiter, Vladislav Namestnikov, Cole Perfetti). Arniel said he’s not happy with his team’s five-on-five scoring and that being too dependent on power play goals and tight penalty killing could be problematic down the road.
— A tale of two Alberta teams: Calgary Flames, from which little was expected, scooted off to a fast start while the Edmonton Oilers, lauded in many quarters as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, found themselves stumbling out of the gate. The Flames, losers of only four of their first 11, are getting solid goaltending from Dan Vladar and Dustin Wolf while the Oilers were planning for surviving superstar Connor McDavid’s ankle injury, which was to keep him sidelined for up to three weeks.
— Reminder of Bobby Orr? Defenceman Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche spent a good chunk of the first month in first place in the scoring race, leading some observers to reminisce about Bobby Orr winning the Art Ross trophy twice (1969-70; 1974-75). Makar figured in 50 per cent of Colorado’s first 38 goals through Halloween and with the likes of Nathan McKinnon and Mikko Rantanen spearheading a deadly power play, there’s no reason to think Makar’s point production will tail off significantly.
— Canadian goaltending woes: The Four Nations Cup will be staged in February and while Canada and the U.S. will be co-favourites over Sweden and Finland, the most frequent question about the Canadian team is ‘who plays goal?’ Recent NHL stats show the best Canadian netminder is Oilers’ backup Calvin Pickard, who is 11th. Jordan Binnington of St. Louis, Sam Montembeault of Montreal, Adin Hill of Vegas, Stu Skinner of Edmonton and Connor Ingram of Utah will be others considered. Oh, for the glory days of Carey Price, Roberto Luongo and Marc-Andre Fleury in their prime.
— Biggest disappointments? A tie between Nashville Predators and Boston Bruins. The Predators, who in the off-season acquired established snipers Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, proceeded to win only four of their first 11 games, averaging fewer than three goals a game. Marchessault had two goals in 11 games while Stamkos, a 556-goal man for his career, managed only two in the Preds’ first month. Boston, meanwhile, struggled to win only five games in 12 starts to open the season.
RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “Last season, the NY Giants played the Jets and managed just seven total yards passing in the game. My Grade 7 dance saw more progress made on passes.”
Headline at fark.com: “Kyle McCord threw three touchdown passes to Pitt in the first half last night. Too bad he was playing for Syracuse.”
Spotted on X (formerly Twitter): “It’s been announced that Yankee superstar Aaron Judge will be in Times Square this New Year’s Eve to help drop the ball.”
RJ Currie again: “Many Canadians have been hit with paraskevidekatriaphobia: fear of Friday the 13th. A more common ailment in Canada is parkasevidekatriaphobia — fear of winter coats.”
Comedy writer Brad Dickson of Omaha: “I just had my first trick or treater. The kid was facing the wrong direction, seemed totally confused, his shirt was inside out, he's shouting ‘I hate Nebraska!’ I said, ‘Who are you supposed to be?’ The kid goes, ‘A Big Ten football referee.’”
Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe.com: “Meanwhile, NY Yankees, especially in Game 5 of the World Series, bring to mind a very old joke. What do the NY Yankees and Michael Jackson have in common? They both wore gloves on one hand for no discernible reason.”
Another one from Hough: “For baseball fans who don't like the Yankees or the Dodgers, suppose there's something to be said for a World Series that is ‘nasty, brutal and short.’”
Jack Finarelli on his sportscurmudgeon.com site, after Colts QB Anthony Richardson went to the sideline for one play because he was ‘tired’: “Hell, the beer vendors walking up and down the stadium steps could cry ‘tired’ as easily as an NFL QB.”
Headline at the onion.com, ridiculing a Fox Sports baseball announcer: “MLB Adds Clock To Speed Up Joe Davis’ Commentary”
Headline at fark.com: “Got $2 million to burn? Why not blow it all on an ‘Owner’s Experience’ package for the Mike Tyson-Logan Paul fight? On second thought, setting $2 million on fire is probably a smarter choice.”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca