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Toronto Maple Leafs and the NHL: Week 1 News In Review

By James Tanner

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 17: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins takes the opening faceoff against Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 17, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 17: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins takes the opening faceoff against Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 17, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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The first week of the NHL season has come and gone with the Toronto Maple Leafs starting the season with a wins vs Ottawa and Washington.

Unfortunately, the Toronto Maple Leafs did lose to Montreal to start the season.

The loss to Montreal wasn’t Matt Murray’s fault, as two goals were just impossible to stop, and another two were the fault of the team in front of him.

Still, it wasn’t the way he wanted to start the season, and things only got worse from there, as yesterday while working in practice he blew out his groin and will now take the least surprising trip to the Injured Reserve, maybe in NHL history, and at least since Joffrey Lupul retired.

What ese is happening around the NHL?

Toronto Maple Leafs and the Rest of the NHL

Sidney Crosby is somehow now 35 years old.  When Mario Lemieux was 35, he played 43 games, had 35 goals, and 76 points.  He likely would have won the scoring title if he didn’t begin his season around Christmas time.  (stats naturalstattrick.com).

This year, Crosby is currently leading the NHL with 6 points in two games.

All hail the greatest player to ever live.

If Crosby had been born in time to play in the 80s, I have no doubt that he’d be considered superior to Wayne “Are Your Kids Hooked on Gambling Yet?” Gretzky, Gordie Howe or anyone else.

But if you need a sample size  reminder, Craig Anderson, the NHL’s oldest player and current Buffalo Sabres Sacrifice to the Gods , is so far the NHL”s best goalie.

Damn, and I thought it was gonna be Matt Murray.

The NHL still lists plus/ minus on their leaderboards, which is kind of cute.

Current best team in the NHL is the Golden Knights, who are 3-0.

Only two teams have played four times, and only the Sharks have four losses.

There remains  11 teams that are undefeated.  Including the Jets, who have only played once. We’ll be keeping an eye on them all year, because if they fail, I want their goalie.

Your 0-2 Devils lead the NHL in puck-possession, so expect them to be a playoff team.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have the best puck-possession numbers of any team that has played three games and hasn’t faced San Jose twice.

Next. Leafs Top 10 Prospects. dark

The Penguins and Devils have both so far been expected to score over 70% of the goals , so watch out for those potentially excellent teams.

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