from Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News,

So we're just over a week into the season and because it's only October, there's no need for any massive overreactions. Logic dicates that's true. But the season's first month is nonetheless a time to start drawing some conclusions and watching for trends....

The Golden Knights are in trouble. They were a wonderful story, both in what they did for their community in its darkest hour and how they enthralled the hockey world on the ice all the way to Game 5 of the Cup final. But they had several years of good fortune mesh at once and it doesn't look like that's going to repeat.

Marc-Andre Fleury played to a Vezina level in goal last year (2.24/.927). He entered the weekend at 3.95 and .846. James Neal left for Calgary and Max Pacioretty has been a middling replacement so far. Paul Stastny could be out a month with a knee problem after colliding with Jack Eichel late in Monday's game here. Nate Schmidt, the go-to guy on defense, is out 20 games due to a PED suspension....

Hard to explain the Flyers. They win their opener at Vegas, 5-2, then give up 13 goals in their next two games -- including an 8-2 loss in the home opener to San Jose that was their worst in the season's first home game since a 7-0 loss to Los Angeles in 1971. They still have very iffy goaltending and now have injuries piling up to the likes of James van Riemsdyk (5-6 weeks) and Nolan Patrick (7-10 days).

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