The defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights have picked up where they left off, the Boston Bruins are figuring out their game after an early playoff exit last spring and the Colorado Avalanche are winning while not yet playing their best hockey.
All three are undefeated to start the NHL season, making some history in the process. It's the first time the league has had three teams open a season with at least six wins in a row.
Vegas, which already has the best start for a reigning champ with seven consecutive victories, is the closest to tying the record for the longest winning streak to start a season: 10, by the 1993-94 Toronto Maple Leafs and 2006-07 Buffalo Sabres.
The Golden Knights scored twice in the final eight minutes of regulation Tuesday, rallying from down 2-1 to beat Philadelphia.
“We’ve got talent, for one,” coach Bruce Cassidy said, when asked about the undefeated start. “We have different guys that can help you win. That’s probably the simplest answer. We’ve got a lot of good players that can hurt you offensively.”
So do the Bruins, even after the retirements of top centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. After beating Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks in Chicago to improve to 6-0-0, coach Jim Montgomery said he was starting to see the team's identity build.
"You’re starting to see us become a heavy, grinding team, which I think is what we’re going to have to be,” Montgomery said after the Bruins won their first six games for the second time in franchise history and first since 1937-38.
For the Avalanche, not so fast. Sure, they've won their first six after beating the New York Islanders 7-4 Tuesday, but they're not happy about how they're playing even though they set an NHL record with their 15th straight road win.
“We are fortunate to be 6-0,” coach Jared Bednar said. "The guys realize that. We are still trying to improve.”
One area that doesn't need improving is in net, where Alexandar Georgiev has a league-best six wins with a 1.98 goals-against average and .930 save percentage. Colorado went into the season as the favorite to win the Stanley Cup, and Georgiev's play is a good early indicator of those chances.
AP Sports Writers Vin A. Cherwoo, Jay Cohen and Mark Anderson contributed.
© Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.