from Shayna Goldman of The Athletic,

When results split from expectations, however, there’s something to talk about.

So that’s exactly what we’re going to do by looking at a few teams with high hopes this year who have fallen flat to kick off the season.

Minnesota Wild

Before the season started, we were asking if the Wild could compete with the Avalanche in the spring as the measuring stick for a successful year. Obviously, a 6-3 loss to Colorado on Monday confirms that they can’t right now. But their start is bigger than that one game. Minnesota’s 0-3-0 after falling to the Rangers, Kings, and Avalanche. Maybe they’ll be able to find their first win against Vancouver since one team actually has to win that game. But the Wild need more than just the Canucks to combust for that to happen (as likely as it may be)....

Tampa Bay Lightning

Do you know what the Canucks, Lightning, and Devils all have in common? Each one lost to the Flyers (!) in regulation (!!) to contribute to Philadelphia’s surprising start.

So far this season, Tampa Bay has just one win to their record — a 5-2 victory over the Blue Jackets. Two losses have come against presumed contenders for the year in the Penguins and the Rangers, and one of course to the Flyers after blowing a 2-0 lead.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils did manage to get their first win Tuesday, and that likely alleviates them of some pressure and temporarily cools the head coach’s seat. The team finally got two good periods of goaltending and backed up Blackwood with strong play to come back from an early deficit. But it was also against a weak Ducks team in the second half of a back-to-back game.

It’s only going to get more challenging from here for the Devils. Expectations are climbing after another offseason of adjustments to put this team in a better position to succeed.

Vancouver Canucks

To open the season, the Canucks have:

• Taken a 3-0 lead over Edmonton, but lost 6-3
• Gone up 2-0 on the Flyers, but lost 3-2
• Pulled ahead of the Capitals 4-2, but lost 6-4
• Led Columbus 2-0, pulled back ahead 3-2 after the Blue Jackets evened the score, but lost in overtime 4-3.

more ($$) on each team...