Which NHL Teams’ Fast Starts Are Legitimate?

Alex Chauvancy evaluates whether early-season NHL surges are sustainable, arguing that strong starts by the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New Jersey Devils, and Utah Mammoth appear legitimate based on five-on-five underlying metrics. The 9-2-1 Bruins boast a 55.4 percent expected goals share under head coach Marco Sturm, while New Jersey leads the league at 61.1 percent after trading for goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

Conversely, the writer expresses skepticism regarding the Toronto Maple Leafs and Seattle Kraken, citing defensive vulnerabilities and poor underlying shares below 48 percent. While Utah and New Jersey face netminding questions, Chauvancy believes their high-end chance generation positions them well for playoff contention alongside Boston and Ottawa.