The most obvious unexpected occurrence in the NHL this year would have to be the Buffalo Sabres and their astonishing 10 and 0 start. I use the word astonishing, because I really had a hard time coming up with how to describe their amazing jump off to the start of this season. Ten wins and no losses, ties a NHL record for most consecutive wins to begin a season. That in itself warrants attention, but it’s the Sabres we are talking about here, and it’s been a long time since anyone has used the words NHL record and Buffalo Sabres in the same sentence. Maybe some years of recording futility records, but not one of recording winning records for a long time.

The Sabres seem to have retooled very well for the “new” NHL. As a perfect start would indicate, they are moving through the early part of the schedule in great shape and many hockey observers feel that this is no “flash on the ice,” this team may be for real. They are really fast, not just plain fast, but “quick fast” meaning they are winning the short races to the puck that has been creating turnovers for them. Their defence is very mobile and extremely adept at getting the puck quickly out of their own end. (Sporty’s Hockey theory #75 reads, “if the puck is not in your end of the ice very much, you get scored on less.”) If you look at the forward line combinations, you get the feeling that it’s an interchangeable group, and not heavily leaning towards their super stars for success on the ice. Throw in Ryan Miller as a goaltender and you have a great mix of players who are so far enjoying a great start.

Another unexpected occurrence in the NHL this year would have to be the major collapse of the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers got off to a 1-6-1 start, their worst start to a season in 17 years. The crash absorbed coach Ken Hitchcock who was fired, and Bobby Clark who resigned after admitting that he just did not have the interest any more. He said that for the last few years he has been delegating more and more of his authority and finally realized that he wasn’t monitoring the results closely enough and the team suffered as a result. New Coach John Stevens and interim General Manager Paul Holmgren have a huge task ahead of them as they attempt to bring this proud franchise back on track.

We could add that the Wayne Gretzky led Phoenix Coyotes at 3/8 is a disappointment, and I think it’s time some one in the organization realized that excellence on the ice doesn’t necessarily equate to excellence behind the bench. When the Coyotes were the Winnipeg Jets, Gretzky used to regularly dismantle them while he was an Oiler by taking them apart with his on ice wizardry, it’s time for him to dismantle this team again. They look disinterested for the most part. If no changes are forthcoming (yeah, I know it’s early and 11 games makes not a season) it could be a long dry spell on the desert!