from Travis Yost of TSN,

Does the National Hockey League have its own version of the core four?

No, not the Toronto version. I’m talking about four divisional leaders — the Boston Bruins in the Atlantic, the New York Rangers in the Metro, the Colorado Avalanche in the Central, and the Vegas Golden Knights out West — who have emerged as pace setters in October.

I think it’s notable each team was able to create some daylight within their division in the opening weeks of October. The NHL is a league, for better or worse, with tremendous parity and, as a result, volatility. And yet these four teams haven’t just played extraordinarily well early, they’re also four teams priced inside of the top 10 as Stanley Cup favourites from the pre-season.

This isn’t to say there haven’t been other impressive teams around the league. The Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and Vancouver Canucks have also looked great early. But the current divisional leaders are not just winning game after game, they’re running up some gaudy goal differentials in the process.

So, why have these four teams burst to the forefront of their divisions? Let’s take a look at how they won October, and what that may mean going forward.'

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