NHL scores 2016: The Central Division is still the surprising mess of the early season

The Central Division is a mess — a cacophony of franchises struggling to find their identities or some semblance of consistency through three weeks without a trace of either.

On paper, the Central is the toughest division in hockey. In practice, it’s proved to be exactly that over the last three years.

And it still could be! We’re not even a month into the season yet. But for the moment, the Central is a jumbled wreck.

Let’s count the ways, shall we?

All of these things might sort themselves out in the coming months. But it’s hard to believe that half of the NHL’s supposed mightiest division rests at the bottom of the Western Conference standings as November begins.

Columbus Blue Jackets 3, Dallas Stars 2 (OT)

Ottawa Senators 2, Carolina Hurricanes 1 (OT)

Tampa Bay Lightning 6, New York Islanders 1

New York Rangers 5, St. Louis Blues 0

Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Edmonton Oilers 2 (OT)

Boston Bruins 2, Florida Panthers 1

Buffalo Sabres 2, Minnesota Wild 1

Washington Capitals 3, Winnipeg Jets 2

Chicago Blackhawks 5, Calgary Flames 1

Nashville Predators 5, Colorado Avalanche 1

Anaheim Ducks 4, Los Angeles Kings 0

Arizona Coyotes 3, San Jose Sharks 2

1. The Oilers might be overworking Connor McDavid

When we spotted the Leafs and Oilers game on the schedule, we rubbed our hands together in glee. Auston Matthews vs. Connor McDavid! And when it went to overtime, we had the same reaction.

And yet that enthusiasm lasted all of five seconds as Nazem Kadri burst into the Oilers’ zone past McDavid and ended the game before we could even register what happened. That Kadri beat the fastest skater in the game in a brief sprint was not lost on anyone. The Leafs’ coach had an interesting theory.

McDavid was on the ice for a whopping 22:46. Those are defenseman numbers, but the only Oiler with more time on ice was defenseman Oscar Klefbom. The simple fact is McDavid’s production did not match his usage — according to Corsica Hockey, McDavid had the worst possession night of any Oiler not named Milan Lucic, Jordan Eberle, Kris Russell, or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that they were among the leading Oilers in ice time.

Was McDavid too exhausted to keep track of Kadri on the winning goal? Who knows. He’ll never admit it. But one thing’s clear: Double-shifting was a pointless strategy for the Oilers on Tuesday.

2A. Dallas is living its own Groundhog Day hell right now

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2B. At least one Ohio sports team mounted a comeback win in extras!

On Saturday, the Stars dominated possession and shot attempts in Minnesota. It wasn’t really even that close.

They lost 5-0.

On Tuesday, the Stars dominated possession and shot attempts in Columbus. It wasn’t really even that close.

They lost 3-2 in overtime.

Oh, and half of their forward groups are already out for the season with injuries.

FUN TIMES IN DALLAS TODAY

3. Freddy Andersen should stay in his own net

We will not rest until goalies are barred from leaving their nets. It’s for their own good. Think of the children.

Calvin de Haan made a fatal mistake that lit a fire under the Tampa Bay Lightning and essentially ended his team’s chances early. And it came in the first minutes of the night.

Worst of all, it was because of a fairly clean hit.

Take a look at when de Haan touches the puck and when he launches his shoulder into Jonathan Drouin’s head.

Was it a hit to the head? Sure. Could he have avoided it? Possibly. But the intent to hit Drouin was secondary to gaining possession of the puck; I’ll give him a pass there.

But the Lightning didn’t. With Drouin out of the game, Tampa Bay proceeded to pick the Islanders apart, piece by piece, until the 6-1 rout was over and “Fire Cappy!” chants rained down on the Islanders coach from the Barclays rafters. It was an ugly free fall sparked by de Haan’s hit.

King Hank, First of His Name, King of the Bronx was at it again in a 5-0 shutout over the Blues at Madison Square Garden. And with that savory win came a side dish of delicious history.