| | One week down, 36 to go. Well, 37 if the Stanley Cup Finals go the distance. After seven days, what have we learned? Columbus and Minnesota stink. Really stink. The unofficial over-under on their combined wins stands at 25. I'm taking the under.
|  | | Columbus goalie Ron Tugnutt has faced his share of shots in the young NHL season. |
After blowing a stunning 3-0 first period lead to visiting Chicago en route to a 5-3 loss in their opener, the Blue Jax did the impossible in their second game -- they made the very-average L.A. Kings look like serious Cup material. Columbus' defense turned the game into a Sunday morning scrimmage by repeatedly turning the puck over to Kings' snipers Luc Robitaille and Ziggy Palffy. Those two probably can't wait to get back to Columbus for their Halloween Night tilt.
As if the ugly 7-1 loss wasn't bad enough for Columbus coach Dave King, he was hit in the face by an errant puck. In true hockey tradition, King took a few stitches and returned to the bench. At least the coach is tough.
Things aren't any better in Minnesota. The Wild -- who should be named the Mild -- scored just five goals in its first three games. Jacques Lemaire's boys did eke out a 3-3 tie against the John LeClair-less Flyers in the Wild's home opener. Goalie Manny Fernandez, Lemaire's nephew, preserved the tie with 36 saves. Thank goodness for good goaltending. Minny's first real chance for a victory comes on Oct. 18, when the Lightning come to St. Paul. Get your satellite dish hooked up for that one. Checking Columbus' schedule, the Jax might not win until Dec. 2, when Atlanta comes to Ohio. By the way -- I know you're wondering -- the Wild and Blue Jackets engage in a home-and-home series in January. The clubs meet a third and final time on April 6 in Minnesota. At that point, the fledgling franchises will be playing for ping-pong balls in the league's draft lottery. Well, I suppose they already are.
Here are some other early observations:
Who made Montreal's opening-week schedule? Miroslav Satan? The Habs dropped the puck in New Jersey as the defending Cup champs raised their banner. The revved-up Devs hammered Les Canadiens, 8-4. The next night, the weary Habs helped open Toronto's home schedule. A hyped-up Curtis Joseph blanked the Canadiens, 2-0. After winning their own home opener against Edmonton, 5-2, Montreal flew to New York to face the Rangers. Not much going on at Madison Square Garden, other than Mark Messier's first game back in a Ranger uniform. A raucous crowd. A rested Ranger team. Well, you can figure out the rest. Luckily, the Habs get a few days off before hosting the equally-troubled Blackhawks on Saturday.
Patrick Roy will catch Terry Sawchuk in his chase for the league's all-time win record -- or die trying. He entered the season just three wins behind Sawchuk (447 victories) and Avs coach Bob Hartley said he would start Roy in every game until he secures the mark. After a pair of season-opening ties, Roy could tie the mark Saturday on home ice against...the Blue Jackets. Heck, Sawchuk could beat the Jax, and he died in 1969.
Despite an ongoing contract dispute with restricted free agent Anson Carter, injuries to G Byron Dafoe (hamstring) and D Paul Coffey (shoulder), and a mysterious off-ice injury to backup goalie John Grahame, the Bruins have jumped out to a 2-0-1 start, heading into a five-game western swing. C Jason Allison, healthy for the first time in more than a year, has led the charge with two goals and five assists. Also, F Brian Rolston, acquired from Colorado in the Ray Bourque deal, has been a pleasant surprise. Rolston always has been a great skater, but he never displayed the hands to convert his many chances. If he can add some offense, the Bourque trade will be a lot easier for B's fans to stomach.
E.J. Hradek writes puck for ESPN The Magazine.
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