Canes Free-falling; Avalanche Cruising

Various Observations of the Week

• Carolina Hurricanes: Before their win Sunday against Minnesota the Canes had lost 14 in a row. Cam Ward being hurt is no excuse for the losses because he played in most of those games. No one expected Carolina to be world beaters this year but on the flip side I doubt anybody expected that they would be in last place in the East 19 games into the season. There is too much talent and experience in that lineup to be looking up in the standings at everyone else (yes that even means lowly Toronto is ahead of Carolina).

• Memo to hockey fans in Denver: your team is on top if it’s Division and second in the Western Conference, START GOING TO THE GAMES. I know the fanbase exists because they have been one of the best supported teams in the NHL since their arrival in Colorado in 1996.
• Fans in San Jose are saying “here we go again” as the Sharks are off to a great start as the put one of the best teams in the league on the ice night after night. The good news for Sharks fans is that this year is their chances of going deep into the playoffs are very good, the bad news is that statement has been true each of the last 2 years as well and hasn’t worked out for San Jose as of yet.
• Despite everything going on with the Coyotes organization their team is actually pretty good sitting in that eighth playoff spot in the West. So to hockey fans in Phoenix if you’re looking to get an escape from all of the drama surrounding your team, just go to a game.

• Anze Kopitar is a beast.