Battle for the top
Record: 14-6-4
Points: 32
Oh, I can hear it now. “But, we beat the Nashville Predators last night.” I applaud you, but this is a season-long assessment. The Avs have won five straight. Their goalie play is not hurting them. Semyon Varlamov is holding his own against the league. His .928 SV% is the best of his career. Last year, he finished with a GSAA of 11.99. So far, he has a 9.37 rating this year. Not bad. Could he repeat his 2013-14 season, when he was Vezina Finalist? Maybe, If he does, the Avs will make a strong push for a Stanley Cup appearance.
Record: 17-7-1
Points: 35
As of right now, the Predators stay atop our rankings. Sure, call it a “homer” move, but look at the evidence. The roster is missing three crucial players and still staying afloat. And, then, there is Pekka Rinne. After winning the Vezina Trophy last season, the 36-year-old Rinne is showing no signs of slowing. Check the 5v5 stats:
SV%: .954 (1st)
MDSV%: .946 (1st)
HDSV%: .863 (7th)
GSAA: 10.3 (2nd)
The Nashville Predators do rely on Rinne and Juuse Saros quite a bit. With a depleted roster, it has only been worse. Still, Rinne is the best goalie in the Western Conference.
And, in the NHL.