It seems like every week we're talking about the explosive start to the 2015-2016 season in the Eastern Conference. Well, it shows zero signs of slowing down. Here's a look back in the East.
WHO'S LOOKING GOOD
Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens: He is the best hockey player in the world right now. Sure, he's getting plenty of help from his teammates, but the Canadiens wouldn't be 9-0-0 without their goaltender. Montreal is off to its best start in the organization's 98-year NHL history, thanks in part to Price's 49-save performance en route to a 5-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night at Bell Centre. That performance is the best by a Montreal netminder on home ice in 25 seasons.
Price has started seven of Montreal's nine games this season and has a 7-0-0 record, including a 1.29 goals-against average and a .961 save percentage. He also has two shutouts. According to Elias, Price is the third goalie in franchise history to start the season with seven consecutive victories, joining Charlie Hodge (8-0-0, 1960-61) and Wayne Thomas (7-0-0, 1972-73).
Montreal Canadiens Yes, there's more to the Canadiens than just Price. Montreal leads the league with 35 goals scored and has allowed the fewest with 12. The Habs are one win shy of tying an NHL record for 10 consecutive victories to start the season. The Buffalo Sabres (2006-07) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (1993-94) started 10-0-0. On Friday, the Canadiens defeated the Sabres 7-2, while Montreal's Andrei Markov recorded a five-point game with one goal and four assists. With that performance, Markov reached the 500-point plateau to become the third defenseman in franchise history to reach that milestone, joining Larry Robinson and Guy Lapointe. Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty has seven goals and four assists for 11 points in nine games.
Jaromir Jagr, Florida Panthers: This guy found the fountain of youth in South Florida. Maybe playing with a group of talented young players has helped, too, but the future Hall of Famer is showing zero signs of slowing down. The veteran forward has six goals and four assists in eight games. He helped the Panthers to a 6-2 win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday with one goal and one assist. The goal was the 728th of his career, moving Jagr within three goals of tying Marcel Dionne for fourth place in league history.
Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers: The captain had a big week. First, he posted the game-winning goal in overtime to lead the Flyers to a 5-4 victory over the Boston Bruins. He followed that with a spectacular shootout goal to help Philly to a 3-2 victory over Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers.
Oscar Lindberg, New York Rangers: For all the talk about Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel, Lindberg has also been one of the most successful rookies in the league this season. On Sunday, he scored a goal to help the Rangers to a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames. It was his fifth goal of the season. He has recorded a point in six of the Rangers' 10 games so far, and New York is 4-0-0 when Lindberg has scored a goal.
Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning: Tampa's goaltender has started eight of the team's nine games this season. He made 33 saves to help the Lightning to a 4-3 overtime win over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. It was Bishop's 100th career win. Overall, Tampa is 5-2-2 in the first nine games.
WHO'S LOOKING BAD
Columbus Blue Jackets: After starting the season 0-8-0 and firing coach Todd Richards, the Blue Jackets finally picked up their first win with a 4-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night. It was John Tortorella's first win since taking over as head coach.
Carolina Hurricanes: The team's current road trip has not gone well. Overall, Carolina is 2-6-0 in eight games this season, but the Canes are 2-3-0 on their current seven-game road trip. Carolina has scored only four goals in the past four games.
INJURY UPDATE
Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers: This is a huge loss for the Panthers. The 20-year-old forward suffered a broken hand when he was hit by a puck during Thursday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks and will be sidelined indefinitely. The talented centerman has three goals and three assists in seven games this season.
Michal Neuvirth, Philadelphia Flyers: After posting a 2-0-0 record, a 1.55 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage, the Flyers' backup goaltender suffered an upper-body injury against the Bruins last week and has been placed on injured reserve. Teammates Sean Couturier and Michael Raffl are also listed as day-to-day with upper-body injuries. Raffl passed out on the bench during Saturday's 3-2 shootout victory over the Rangers and needed medical attention. Afterward, Flyers GM Ron Hextall said Raffl was fine but it was unclear if he'll be available for Tuesday's game against the Sabres.
Evander Kane, Buffalo Sabres: On Saturday, the Sabres forward left the game with a left leg injury against the New Jersey Devils and did not return. He has one goal and two assists in eight games this season.
EICHEL WATCH
Sabres rookie Jack Eichel notched his third goal of the season during a 4-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. Eichel scored a power-play goal with 45 seconds remaining in regulation.