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If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around, does it make a sound?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a hypothetical answer or any reasoning to that question in this article, as this writer does not like dabbling in philosophy.
Frankly, the question doesn’t have anything to do with hockey and it doesn’t even make a whole lot of sense in this column.
So why did I start this article this way?
I don’t want to reveal all of my journalistic secrets, but while searching for a way to hook people into reading an article about the contenders and pretenders in the NHL at this point in the season, I came up flat.
Nearing the 10-game mark of the season, it is time for underperforming teams to wake up or fall into the cellar of the NHL standings, while teams that have played great hockey so far need to figure out how to maintain their momentum as they push for a playoff berth.
Lucky for readers, I was watching Dave Chappelle while pondering this column, and due to this, teams that are doing things right to this point are keeping it real, while teams that need a wake up call are trippin’.
Anyway, it’s time to look at the top three teams that are “keeping it real” in the NHL at this point.
1. Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh and Washington are interchangeable at the No. 1 spot in the “keeping it real” section, but the Penguins take the top spot in theory because they have picked up the most points in the NHL and have done so without superstar Sidney Crosby. In addition, Evgeni Malkin has missed seven of the last eight games due to knee pain.
The Pens are 7-2-2 and have the second-best goal differential in the league at plus-11, as they have netted 33 goals — tops in the NHL — and allowed 22.
Pittsburgh hasn’t had Crosby or Malkin, yet they lead the NHL in goals scored — something doesn’t seem right about that.
Twenty-four-year-old James Neal is breaking out for the Pens and has tallied eight goals, while Jordan Staal is developing into a team leader during the absence of two of the biggest names in hockey.
If Pittsburgh is playing this well without Malkin and Crosby, who each plan to return this season, imagine how lethal their offense will be with the two back later.
2. Washington Capitals
The Caps are the only team in the league with a better goal differential than the Penguins at plus-16, as they have scored 30 goals and allowed 14.
Washington is undefeated with seven wins and have been tough to beat at home, picking up five wins in D.C. in five attempts. If Washington had played a few more games on the road, they might be the No. 1 team “keeping it real,” but for now they rest at No. 2.
The Capitals are winning games in team fashion, as eight players have acquired five or more points. The addition of Tomas Vokoun is proving to be a great off-season pickup for a team that is traditionally plagued by goaltender issues, as Vokoun is 6-0 with a 1.88 goals against average and a .944 save percentage.
Expect Washington to keep it real all season with a deep bench and the addition of strong goaltending.
3. The Dallas Stars
What? The Stars are “keeping it real?”
The Stars are usually the epitome of when “real” goes wrong, and it seems odd that a team from Texas other than the Dallas Mavericks or the Texas Rangers is playing well, as the Stars are 7-2-2.
Hockey purists know Jamie Benn, Mike Ribeiro, Steve Ott and Loui Eriksson, but in case none of those names ring a bell — which wouldn’t shock anyone — Sheldon Souray and Michael Ryder ought to jolt a few memories.
Every NHL fan knows of Dallas’ leading scorer, Benn, but in case someone has not heard of the 22-year-old Canadian left wing, look him and his eight points up.
The Stars may not be atop the leaderboard after 82 games, but for now they are a threat to any team they face.
As for the teams that aren’t “keeping it real,” well, they’re straight trippin’. Here are three teams that need to wake up and regain their swagger.
1. Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus has already fallen.
Sitting at a lowly 1-7-1 with three points on the season, the Blue Jackets are in desperate need of a wake-up call.
The Blue Jackets have a minus-9 goal differential as they have allowed 31 goals — tied for second worst in the league — and have scored 21 times.
2. Montreal Canadiens
It is painful for this writer to talk about his favorite team like this, but Montreal earned their spot on the list of teams that are tripping up like fools.
The Habs are 1-5-2 for a whopping four points and have given up eight more goals than they have scored, having found the back of the net 18 times and allowing 26 goals into their own net.
Montreal is plagued by injuries to their top offensive and defensive players and goalie Carey Price is playing so-so at best. The Canadiens can turn it around if they can get healthy and Price wakes up, but for now they are tripping up.
3. Boston Bruins
The Bruins earned a spot on the tripping list for two reasons: They are the defending champs and are 2-4-0 at home to this point and are playing with no sense of urgency.
Also, it sets up perfectly after Montreal made the list at No. 2 and the two teams face off against each other tonight at the Garden.
Boston is 3-5-0 for six points and their goal differential is even as they have scored and allowed 19 goals this season. Worrisome for the Bruins is the fact that they do not seem to have the same team resolve they carried last season, and they are losing at home — something that must be corrected.
With a key match-up against a heated rival that they made an epic comeback against in the playoffs last year, the Bruins have a chance to take a solid step off the tripping-up list tonight and must do so.
