A month into this NHL season, and every team still has a shot at the playoffs. Some teams have made it harder on themselves by falling to the bottom of their divisions after the first few weeks, yet others have started out hot and continue to play strong. On paper, two teams should probably be in the opposite positions: the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins.
In the offseason, the Rangers dove headfirst into free agency, picking up key acquisitions of Scott Gomez, from the New Jersey Devils, and Chris Drury from the Buffalo Sabres. Both played huge roles - not only in the scoring department, but also in leadership - for their respective teams. Adding these two players, along with ageless veterans Brendan Shanahan and Jaromir Jagr, the Rangers put themselves in the running for a chance at the Stanley Cup this year.
However, despite this solid nucleus of skilled veterans and their re-signed goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers have underachieved in October. They have started slowly with a 4-6-1 record, trailing 11 of the 14 other teams in the Eastern Conference with only nine points.
For what seemed to be such a high-powered offensive team with their four All-Stars, the Rangers are struggling to get the puck in the net this season.
Their goaltending has been superb, with Lundqvist posting two shutouts - however, one came in a losing effort thanks to a shootout loss - and a 1.82 goals-against average in all 11 games. And although the Rangers rank third in killing penalties this season with a kill rate of 88.9 percent, they still lack goal scoring.
Based on these numbers alone, one can speculate that if the Rangers keep up their defense and goaltending, the wins will come further down the road. Playing in New York can take a lot, and this October might just have been an adjustment period for the newcomers. With all that talent, the Rangers are likely to make a move to the top of the standings soon.
A few hundred miles north, the Bruins are playing better than anyone could have expected. The Bruins have underachieved for years, and after last year's showing, their organization decided it was time for a change. They began by hiring defensive-minded coach Claude Julien. His new approach has brought to life a Bruins' team that has been sleeping for years.
With a mix of long tenured players such as veterans PJ Axelsson and Glen Murray and flashy youngsters Phil Kessel and Patrice Bergeron, the Bruins are holding their own in the tough Northeast Division with a 6-4-0 record for 12 points.
However, recently the injury bug has bitten Boston. Growing star Bergeron was plastered into the boards this weekend, leaving the ice on a stretcher and suffering a concussion and broken nose. Newly acquired goalie Manny Fernandez also is suffering from a left knee strain, meaning the brunt of the goaltending work will fall on Tim Thomas, who has played phenomenally this season.
If the Bruins want to continue to be competitive this year, a quick recovery from Bergeron is necessary. Maybe they can feed off the other Boston teams and go on a nice little run themselves.
Only time will tell whether or not the Rangers and Bruins have what it takes this season. As October turns to November, each team will face tough tests throughout the long season.
After a four-day hiatus, the Bruins return to the ice tonight, taking on the Sabres in a 7 p.m. contest at the TD Banknorth Garden. To the south, the Rangers face off with the 5-6-0 Washington Capitals.
