6 NHL playoff hopefuls that have uncharacteristically struggled to start the 2017-18 season

The NHL has found itself with yet another topsy-turvy start to a new hockey season. It usually takes a month or so for teams to figure themselves out, but we’ve seen some real surprises so far this year.

Some struggles we predicted but didn’t quite foresee the damage, like with the Arizona Coyotes. Other teams that we believed would struggle — see the Vegas Golden Knights — have actually become real heartwarming stories to open up the new season.

Yet, with all the predictions of doom and gloom, we don’t always predict the struggles of NHL playoff hopefuls. This season has seen more than a few talented teams stumble out of the starting block, and ones with real postseason aspirations.

Below, we take a look at the six biggest playoff teams that have had a hard time finding footing to open the new NHL season. Can these teams turn it around in time for the postseason? Only time will tell.

Pittsburgh Penguins
Record: 9-7-3, 21 points
Standing: First wild card in the Eastern Conference

What’s gone wrong: While the Penguins are in a playoff spot as of Monday, they do not look like the team that won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. The Penguins have lost a few key faces in Marc-Andre Fleury, Matt Cullen, Nick Bonino, and Chris Kunitz, but their core of stars has not performed up to its usual standards.

Sidney Crosby, through no fault of his own, has 13 points in 19 games with a career-low 8.3 shooting percentage. Matt Murray in net has been having a difficult time of his own, with an uncharacteristic .906 save percentage through 15 games played. The Penguins’ goaltending on the whole, which has included Antti Niemi (who has since left the team), Tristan Jarry, and Casey DeSmith in a rotating backup role, has yet to find stability.

Thanks to defensive holes and goaltending woes, the Penguins sit at 30th in the NHL with 67 goals allowed on the season. Not great for a team looking to three-peat.

What’s gone right: Despite the shortcomings, the Penguins are still in a playoff spot, though it’s looking rough after starting the month of November having lost four of their last six games. Phil Kessel leads the team with 22 points, and the return of Kris Letang has at least helped patch some of the holes on defense.

Edmonton Oilers
Record: 6-9-2, 14 points
Standing: Seventh in the Pacific Division

What’s gone wrong: Even with Connor McDavid, the Oilers have had trouble scoring this season. Only McDavid (19), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (12), Leon Draisaitl (12), Patrick Maroon (10), and Milan Lucic (10) have double-digit points on the team, and their 2.2 GF/60 in all situations is last in the NHL.

The Oilers are also shooting at a league-worst average of 6.3 this season, with explanations ranging from bad luck to a lack of offensive depth. While McDavid is an incredible hockey player, he can only do so much to elevate his teammates night in and night out.

Goaltender Cam Talbot has also looked human for the Oilers, with a .912 save percentage through 15 games so far this year. Talbot was a workhorse for the Oilers in their magical playoff run last year, and they’ll need him to be better if they want to get back into the postseason this year.

What’s gone right: Talbot has been more average than terrible, and he’s averaging a .925 save percentage over his last five games. As the numbers balance out, the offense will likely come for Edmonton. Whether it will be too late to save their playoff hopes is hard to say, however.

Anaheim Ducks
Record: 7-7-3, 17 points
Standing: Sixth in the Pacific Division

What’s gone wrong: Injuries have turned a usually stout Ducks team into a shell of its former self. Long-term ailments to Cam Fowler, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, and Patrick Eaves — the latter in the case of a rare immune system disorder — have stripped Anaheim of some much-needed depth.

As a result, they too have had difficulty producing offensively. Only Rickard Rakell (14), Andrew Cogliano (11), and Corey Perry (10) have put together double-digit seasons so far. While the Ducks’ depth has produced more than their Pacific Division rivals, injuries have instead made 27-year-old journeyman Derek Grant their top-line center.

The team’s center depth without Getzlaf and Kesler has suffered, as Chris Wagner, Antoine Vermette, and Kalle Kossila have rounded out the team’s centers.

What’s gone right: Goaltending hasn’t been too much of an issue so far, as John Gibson, Ryan Miller, and Reto Berra have combined for a .921 save percentage this year. Now, if only the team could score just a bit more to bring themselves out of middling territory.

Chicago Blackhawks
Record: 8-8-2, 18 points
Standing: Fifth in the Central Division

What’s gone wrong: Things just haven’t seemed to click for the Blackhawks this year. Lines on both the offensive and defensive sides have been in the blender as Chicago has had more than a fair number of new faces debut with the team this season.

Offense has come in fits and starts this year, as while Alex DeBrincat (11) and Patrick Kane (17) have carried the offense in points, the clutch goals the Blackhawks used to score just haven’t been there. While the Blackhawks put up five goals on the New Jersey Devils on Sunday night, they also allowed their opponent to score four straight in a 7-5 loss.

While the early season scoring droughts are nothing new to the team, a defense of Gustav Forsling, Connor Murphy, and Jan Rutta alongside stalwarts Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith have had growing pains.

What’s gone right: Corey Crawford has been outstanding with a .932 save percentage in net through 15 games. While Sunday was an outlier, Crawford has been keeping the Blackhawks afloat in average underlying numbers.

Minnesota Wild
Record: 7-7-2, 16 points
Standing: Seventh in the Central Division

What’s gone wrong: Two key long-term injuries to Zach Parise and Charlie Coyle have hampered the Wild on offense. No player on the team has yet to crest double digits in goals, while Jason Zucker (14), Eric Staal (12), and Jared Spurgeon (10) lead the team in points.

The Wild have also not gotten significant contributions from their young forwards like Joel Eriksson Ek or from their veteran pickups in Matt Cullen, Marcus Foligno, and Tyler Ennis. Thanks to this offensive drop off, the Wild are in the bottom half of the NHL in terms of goals-for with 46 in 16 games.

What’s gone right: Goaltender Devan Dubnyk has been able to salvage games for Minnesota when he can, as the 31-year-old has a .920 save percentage in 13 games played.

Boston Bruins
Record: 6-6-4, 16 points
Standing: Sixth in the Atlantic Division

What’s gone wrong: Two big depth pieces for the Bruins in David Backes and David Krejci are injured, causing a who’s who of talent to fill Boston’s middle six. While the Bruins were going to be top-heavy coming into the season, the recent absence of Brad Marchand due to injury has also not helped matters.

Boston’s stars have performed admirably, but the team’s depth has become a real issue as the Bruins have scored just five goals in their most recent three games. Netminder Tuukka Rask has also been uncharacteristically slow to start the year, as he’s put up a .901 save percentage in 11 games played. The Bruins’ starter is on pace for one of his worst seasons as a Bruin ever.

What’s gone right: David Pastrnak leads the team with 17 points, as his top line of Marchand and Patrice Bergeron are continuing to be the guiding light of the Bruins’ offense. Backup Anton Khudobin has also done well in relief of Rask, with a .923 save percentage in six games played.