from Mark Zwolinski of the Toronto Star,

The National Hockey League is almost through its first month and already there are plenty of surprises. Here is a look at five of them:

Best player

The Dallas Stars’ Jamie Benn entered Wednesday with the NHL lead in points (15) and goals (eight), picking up from last season where he won his first Art Ross Trophy as the league’s top scorer. What’s key, though, is his leadership: Benn elevated his off-season training program, working out in Dallas and bringing most of Stars with him. Even players who have been in the NHL longer than Benn (who is entering his seventh season) followed his training program, and look up to him as the team’s leader.

Capital gains

Montreal may have forged a franchise-record winning streak to open the season — and set an NHL record for regulation wins at the start of the year — but the team to beat in the East is Washington. The Capitals, with Alex Ovechkin back on track as a top-three player in the game, entered Wednesday first in goals per game, second on the power play, and first in shots allowed per game. All are championship level stats if Washington can maintain them. In addition, defenceman John Carlson has attracted attention as unsung elite blueliner, and maybe one of the most underrated players in the conference.

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