This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
The Canadiens snapped another streak their last time out, a 6-2 win over the Flames on Friday to get back in the win column. Their season is only 12 games in, but the Habs already have a comfortable lead on the rest of the Atlantic division, but how much does their historic start mean for the rest of their season?
Taking a look at some of the other best starts in NHL history, the answer is: not much. The two teams to win their first 10 games of the season, the 1993-94 Maple Leafs and 2006-07 Sabres, were both sent packing before the Stanley Cup Final, while the 1994-95 Penguins (12-0-1 start) lost in the second round and the 2013-14 Sharks (8-0-1) blew a 3-0 lead to the eventual champion Kings in a first-round exit. Only the 2012-13 Blackhawks, who didn't lose in regulation until their 25th game, ended up making it out of their conference, let alone win the Cup.
So while it's hard to count them out because they've been too good in the early going, it's worth remembering teams that win October aren't always the ones still standing at the end.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check our Projected Goalies Page.
Sharks (Martin Jones) at Avalanche (Semyon Varlamov), 3:00 PM
Lightning (Ben Bishop) at Hurricanes (Cam Ward), 5:00 PM
Jets (Michael Hutchinson) at Canadiens (
The Canadiens snapped another streak their last time out, a 6-2 win over the Flames on Friday to get back in the win column. Their season is only 12 games in, but the Habs already have a comfortable lead on the rest of the Atlantic division, but how much does their historic start mean for the rest of their season?
Taking a look at some of the other best starts in NHL history, the answer is: not much. The two teams to win their first 10 games of the season, the 1993-94 Maple Leafs and 2006-07 Sabres, were both sent packing before the Stanley Cup Final, while the 1994-95 Penguins (12-0-1 start) lost in the second round and the 2013-14 Sharks (8-0-1) blew a 3-0 lead to the eventual champion Kings in a first-round exit. Only the 2012-13 Blackhawks, who didn't lose in regulation until their 25th game, ended up making it out of their conference, let alone win the Cup.
So while it's hard to count them out because they've been too good in the early going, it's worth remembering teams that win October aren't always the ones still standing at the end.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check our Projected Goalies Page.
Sharks (Martin Jones) at Avalanche (Semyon Varlamov), 3:00 PM
Lightning (Ben Bishop) at Hurricanes (Cam Ward), 5:00 PM
Jets (Michael Hutchinson) at Canadiens (Carey Price), 7:00 PM
Sabres (Chad Johnson) at Islanders (Thomas Greiss), 7:30 PM
Predators (Pekka Rinne) at Ducks (Frederik Andersen), 8:00 PM
Injury News For Teams Playing Sunday
San Jose Sharks
Logan Couture, C (foot) – On injured reserve
Raffi Torres, LW (suspension) – Serving 41 game suspension
Colorado Avalanche
Jesse Winchester, LW (concussion) – On injured reserve
Tampa Bay Lightning
Jonathan Drouin, C (lower body) – Missed last two games
Mattias Ohlund, D (knee) – On injured reserve
Cedric Paquette, C (ankle) – Missed last three games
Andrei Vasilevskiy, G (neck) – Rehabbing with AHL Syracuse
Carolina Hurricanes
Elias Lindholm, RW (lower body) – Doubtful Sunday
Joakim Nordstrom, C (lower body) – Returned to practice Saturday
James Wisniewski, D (torn ACL) – Out for season
Winnipeg Jets
Grant Clitsome, D (back) – Out for season
Montreal Canadiens
Michael Bournival, C (concussion) – No timetable
Zack Kassian, RW (suspension) – Serving indefinite suspension
Buffalo Sabres
Zach Bogosian, D (lower body) – Skated Thursday, but no timetable
Tyler Ennis, LW (lower body) – Missed last two games
Evander Kane, LW (MCL) – Out four-to-six weeks
Robin Lehner, G (Ankle) – Has not played since first game
Cody McCormick, C (illness) – No timetable
New York Islanders
Eric Boulton, LW (lower body) – On injured reserve
Thomas Hickey, D (lower body) – Out at least a month
John Tavares, C (illness) – Late scratch Saturday, considered day-to-day
Nashville Predators
Nothing of note
Anaheim Ducks
Simon Despres, D (upper body) – On injured reserve
Ryan Getzlaf, C (appendectomy) – Could return Sunday
Kenton Helgesen, LW (foot) – On injured reserve
Josh Manson, D (upper body) – On injured reserve
Nate Thompson, C (shoulder) – Without a timetable
Hot
Mikko Koivu, C, MIN – His eight-game point streak came to an end Saturday, but Koivu has still been on the score sheet in all but two games this season. His standout game in that span came in Friday's win when he dished out three assists and continues to gel with linemates Nino Niederreiter and Jason Zucker.
Derick Brassard, C, NYR – Benefitting from a Mats Zuccarello hat trick, Brassard more than doubled his season assist total Friday by dishing out a trio of helpers. He added a goal in both of the two games before that, giving him five points and a plus-4 rating in the past three contests.
Cold
Marian Gaborik, LW, LA – Gaborik has been a 50-point player since 2011-12, but even by those diminished standards, the winger is off to a slow start. He has just two points all season and hasn't been that aggressive in the past few games, as he has 11 shots in the previous five contests and a minus-2 rating.
Teuvo Teravainen, LW, CHI – His playoff run last season as a 20-year-old may have increased expectations in the early going too much, but he looked ready to continue that roll after an opening day goal. Teravainen's production has gone missing lately, as he's been held off the score sheet in the past four and hasn't registered more than a single shot in any of those games.
Recommended Pickup
Oscar Lindberg, C, NYR – The rookie did most of his damage in the early going, picking up four goals in the first three games, but Lindberg has still been a solid contributor since then. He's skating in a bottom-six role, but he's collected seven points through 11 games and has at least one point in all four games that he's recorded more than one shot, so the 24-year-old has been productive when attacking the net. Lindberg also sports a plus-6 rating, furthering his value.
