A Hill of a Season: The NHL’s Best and Worst

A Hill of a Season: The NHL’s Best and Worst teams so far this season.

NHL’s Best

The NHL’s best team this season is, without a doubt, the Tampa Bay Lightning. They have been dominating the league since the beginning of the season. They have the best record in the league and they have the most goals scored. They also have the best power play in the league.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning, led by captain Steven Stamkos, are one of the NHL’s best teams. They have one of the best records in the league and are fresh off a Stanley Cup win. Stamkos is one of the league’s premier players and is a perennial all-star. The Lightning also have one of the deepest rosters in the NHL and are a tough team to beat.

Washington Capitals

After missing the playoffs last season, the Washington Capitals have stormed back in a big way. They currently lead the NHL with 105 points, and have done so thanks to some great play from their forwards. Alex Ovechkin is having another stellar season, leading the team with 33 goals and 74 points, while Nicklas Backstrom isn’t far behind with 70 points of his own.

But it’s not just the top line that’s been carrying the load for Washington this year. T.J. Oshie, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Andre Burakovsky have all been fantastic as well, giving the Capitals one of the most dangerous offenses in the league. Defense has also been a strength for Washington, as they’ve allowed just 2.43 goals per game – good for second best in the NHL.

With how well they’ve played all season long, it’s no surprise that the Capitals are one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup this year. They have all the pieces in place to make a deep run, and if they can manage to stay healthy, there’s no reason they can’t be lifting Lord Stanley’s Cup come June.

Nashville Predators

After stumbling out of the gate with a 2-5-1 record in their first eight games, the Nashville Predators have been on a tear, going 17-5-1 in their last 23 games. They currently sit atop the Central Division with a 19-10-2 record and are tied for second in the Western Conference with 40 points. The Preds have been led by their defense, which is ranked fourth in the NHL in goals against per game (2.42). Pekka Rinne has been solid in net, posting a 16-8-2 record with a .918 save percentage and a 2.29 GAA. Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson have provided the offense, scoring 15 goals apiece. The Preds will look to keep their hot streak going as they take on Central Division rivals Chicago and St. Louis this week.

NHL’s Worst

The NHL’s worst this season has to be the Toronto Maple Leafs. They’re last in the league in wins and points and haven’t shown any real improvement over the last few seasons.

Arizona Coyotes

After reaching the playoffs in 2012, the Coyotes have been on a downward spiral, culminating in a last place finish in the 2014-15 season.

Off-ice, the team has been plagued by financial problems, culminating in their declaration of bankruptcy in 2009. The team was then purchased by the NHL.

On-ice, the team has struggled to find consistent success. In the past three seasons, they have finished 28th, 27th, and 30th respectively in the standings.

Los Angeles Kings

After missing the playoffs the last two seasons, the Kings were looking to rebound in a big way this year. Unfortunately, they have been one of the biggest disappointments in the NHL. They currently sit in last place in the Western Conference with a record of 21-26-5. Things are not looking good for the Kings, and it appears that they will be missing the playoffs for a third straight season.

Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators have had a rough season, sitting at the bottom of the NHL standings. They have been plagued by injuries, scoring struggles, and poor defense. In spite of all this, they have still managed to win some games and their fans remain hopeful that they can turn things around. Here is a look at some of the best and worst moments of the Ottawa Senators’ season so far.

Worst moment: Losing to the Detroit Red Wings in overtime on October 28th. This was a crushing defeat for the Senators, as they blew a 3-1 lead in the third period and then allowed the winning goal in overtime.

Best moment: Beating the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 on November 23rd. This was a big win for the Senators, as they showed that they could compete with one of the best teams in the NHL. They got strong goaltending from Craig Anderson and got goals from four different players.