The NHL season started up this week and the debut of the new divisional format has put some new teams in new places, as the Detroit Red Wings and the Columbus Blue Jackets are now in the East and to start the season the Toronto Maple Leafs are jot and in first place in the Atlantic Division.
The Maple Leafs have already played two games before some teams even opened their season and due to that, the team has two wins in a row over the Montreal Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers and they are now in first place with four points. The team has scored seven goals in two games while allowing just four against them and the team will next play on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators at home for their first game in Toronto.
Dave Bolland scored two goals for the team after he was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks and the team appears to be picking up where it left off from last season, as they made the playoffs for the first time in years. The season is still young, but the team already ranks sixth in goals scored per game and third in goals against and the play of goalies James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier has been solid over the first two games.
The Maple Leafs have four points early and are two up on the Red Sings, who are 1-0-0 this season after winning against Buffalo, who are in the bottom of the Atlantic with Montreal after they also lost to Toronto. The Metro division has not had anyone win yet, although the Capitals and Flyers each lost their first games to start at the bottom of the standings.
The Jets moved to the West to accommodate travel from Winnipeg and they started off with a win, putting them tied with the Avalanche and the Blackhawks, who also opened with wins. No one in the Pacific has played and won yet, while the Oilers and the Ducks are both in the bottom of the Pacific after losing their openers.
The schedule on Thursday includes a number of games, including the Bruins and Lightning, Devils and Penguins, Flames and Caps, Kings and Wild, Predators and Blues, Panthers and Stars as well as the Rangers and Coyotes and the Canucks and Sharks.
