Not even one week into the season and we're already blown away by Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid and Patrik Laine. Way too early to identify real trends, but it won't stop us from ranking every single team from top to bottom. So get ready.
1. (last week: 1) Pittsburgh Penguins, 2-0-0
The Penguins are perfect to start the season without Sidney Crosby in the lineup. What a start for Marc-Andre Fleury, who has stopped 73 of 77 shots in winning two in a row while Matt Murray recovers from a broken thumb.
2. (12) St. Louis Blues, 3-0-0
The Blues have looked good. They got a little nicked up in their win Saturday against the New York Rangers, so that's worth watching, but so far so good for a St. Louis team that has had significant turnover the past two seasons.
3. (2) San Jose Sharks, 2-0-0
The Sharks have started out as they finished last season, on a high note, with two wins in which they allowed just three goals. Their victory over the Blue Jackets on Saturday starts a five-game road trip for a team that a year ago was the league's best away from home.
4. (4) Tampa Bay Lightning, 2-0-0
The Lightning have fallen behind in each of their first two games, but their depth has saved them in both cases. They are setting the tone early for a team many like to win the Atlantic.
5. (9) Florida Panthers, 2-0-0
Speaking of winning the Atlantic, Roberto Luongo starts the season with back-to-back wins and the defending division champs are undefeated without Jonathan Huberdeau and Nick Bjugstad, who are both out long term.
6. (26) Ottawa Senators, 2-0-0
Hey, let's give the Senators some due as they open with two wins. The good news is the offense has been there with nine goals. Allowing seven over the same time period isn't a recipe for long-term success, though.
7. (3) Washington Capitals, 1-0-1
The Capitals bounced back after their shootout loss to the Penguins on banner night in Pittsburgh with a win over the New York Islanders in their home opener. Daniel Winnik had both goals as Caps' depth reveals itself early.
8. (30) Vancouver Canucks, 2-0-0
The Canucks sneaked in an opening-night win over the Flames, in spite of an own-goal by Loui Eriksson, then roared back after being down three against the Hurricanes. Nice start for a team most picked to be a bottom-feeder.
9. (29) Toronto Maple Leafs, 1-0-1
Speaking of giving credit where it's due. The Leafs gave away an extra point in OT loss to start season in Ottawa, but bounced back to win handily against Boston on Saturday. And, oh yeah, Auston Matthews is pretty good.
10. (8) Montreal Canadiens, 1-0-1
Still no Carey Price as the Canadiens, in front of Al Montoya, start the season 1-0-1, including a shootout loss to Ottawa on Saturday.
11. (19) Philadelphia Flyers, 1-0-1
The Flyers have looked good in two road games, taking three of four points after losing in OT to Arizona on Saturday to follow up an opening-night win in Los Angeles. They are getting production from up and down the lineup, including three points from rookie Travis Konecny.
12. (23) Edmonton Oilers, 2-1-0
Impressive start for Connor McDavid, with six points in twin wins over the Flames to start, but a disappointing lopsided loss Sunday at home to the Sabres highlights ongoing goaltending and defensive issues for the Oil.
13. (7) Nashville Predators, 1-1-0
The P.K. Subban era in Nashville is off to a rollicking start, although they dropped the second of back-to-back efforts against the Chicago Blackhawks with Pekka Rinne taking the night off Saturday. Subban has done a little bit of everything, including producing a goal and an assist.
14. (6) Dallas Stars, 1-1-0
The Stars are very Stars-like to start, scoring nine times in two games but giving up eight -- which in large part explains their record.
15. (17) Arizona Coyotes, 1-0-0
Youthful Yotes looked good in an entertaining win over the Flyers in their home opener. But it was veteran Mike Smith in goal who helped secure the victory.
16. (27) Colorado Avalanche, 1-0-0
Good on the Avalanche, who did not lose in the preseason, for staying on task while edging the Stars 6-5 to give rookie head coach Jared Bednar his first NHL head-coaching win.
17. (15) New York Rangers, 1-1-0
The Mika Zibanejad deal is already paying dividends, as the former Ottawa Senator has four points in two games.
18. (5) Chicago Blackhawks, 1-2-0
The Blackhawks avoided going 0-3 to start the season with a win Saturday over the Predators as Richard Panik collected his first NHL hat trick against backup Marek Mazanec.
19. (13) Minnesota Wild, 1-1-0
The Wild get their first win for new coach Bruce Boudreau, over the Winnipeg Jets, after a disappointing loss against the Blues to open the season.
20. (22) Winnipeg Jets, 1-1-0
The Jets could not build on a come-from-behind win over the Hurricanes in their opener as they fall to the Wild. Nice start for rookie-of-the-year candidate and No. 2 draft pick Patrik Laine, who has a pair of important points in two games.
21. (24) Buffalo Sabres, 1-1-0
The Sabres, buckled by injuries to top-six forwards Jack Eichel and Evander Kane, show nice backbone by whipping the Oilers on Sunday.
22. (14) Carolina Hurricanes, 0-0-2
Good news is the Canes have points in two road games to start the season. Bad news is they blew leads in both, including a 3-0 lead in Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Canucks. Not good for a team that's hoping to be in the playoff race.
23. (18) Boston Bruins, 1-1-0
Disappointing follow-up to a nice come-from-behind win over the Blue Jackets to start the season as the Bruins were handled easily by the Maple Leafs on Saturday. No Patrice Bergeron is troubling, and Tuukka Rask couldn't go either against the young Leafs, although Bergeron should be close to returning.
24. (21) New York Islanders, 1-2-0
Modified lineup comes up with its first win of the season in overtime Sunday against the Ducks. Still lots of questions dogging the Isles early in the going.
25. (20) New Jersey Devils, 0-1-1
The Devils have scored just three goals in two games. Even with Taylor Hall in the lineup, their scoring problems persist with the offensively challenged Devils.
26. (10) Anaheim Ducks, 0-2-1
The Ducks begin the coach Randy Carlyle era (Part II) with three straight losses, although they get the loser's point for coming back and forcing overtime against the Islanders on Sunday. Took the Ducks a long time a year ago to get rolling, so history might be repeating itself.
27. (11) Calgary Flames, 0-2-1
Lots of folks loved the Flames to challenge in the Pacific. So far, defense and goaltending look uncomfortably like last season.
28. (16) Los Angeles Kings, 0-2-0
This could be the start of a very long season for the Kings, especially if injured goalie Jonathan Quick ends up requiring surgery. Regardless, things off to a rocky start for a team many liked to return to Cup contender status.
29. (25) Detroit Red Wings, 0-2-0
The Wings looked good early against the Lightning in their opener, but fell apart and have allowed twice as many goals (10) as they've managed to score (5) in twin losses to start the season.
30. (28) Columbus Blue Jackets, 0-2-0
The Blue Jackets blew early lead against the Bruins in their first outing and have not looked good in dropping their first two. If there was a team desperate to not stumble out of the gate -- again -- it's Columbus.