{"id":3589,"date":"2016-11-24T11:04:03","date_gmt":"2016-11-24T16:04:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=3589"},"modified":"2016-11-24T18:08:36","modified_gmt":"2016-11-24T23:08:36","slug":"nhls-atlantic-division-quarter-mark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2016\/11\/24\/nhls-atlantic-division-quarter-mark\/","title":{"rendered":"The NHL’s Atlantic Division at the Quarter Mark"},"content":{"rendered":"

With most<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>NHL<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>teams about to hit the 20-game mark, it\u2019s time for some reflection and a review of how all 30 of the league\u2019s clubs have fared thus far one quarter of the way through the 2016-17 season.<\/em><\/p>\n

Check out the previous parts covering the <\/em>Metropolitan<\/a><\/em>, <\/em>Pacific<\/a><\/em>, and <\/em>Central<\/a><\/em> divisions. <\/em><\/p>\n

The NHL\u2019s Atlantic Division at the Quarter Mark<\/h2>\n

Montreal Canadiens: 14-4-2, 30 points, first in the Atlantic<\/h3>\n

The Montreal Canadiens<\/strong> seem to be trying to start a tradition of hot starts, and so far so good. In 20 games, they sit at the top of the league with 30 points. Carey Price<\/a><\/strong> seems to have forgotten that he was injured for the better part of a year, and looks to be right back in the shape that gave him enough trophies to fill a cabinet.<\/p>\n

Newcomer Shea Weber<\/a><\/strong>, someone many were unhappy to see acquired because of the loss of fan-favorite P.K. Subban<\/a><\/strong>, has fit in perfectly to start the season. He has 17 points and is on pace to smash his career best of 56. There are question marks about the sustainability of this pace though. Currently he scores on 15.4% of his shots which is almost double his career shooting percentage of 8.3.<\/p>\n

Another addition that has worked out well for the Habs is Alexander Radulov<\/a><\/strong>. His 17 points in 18 games, combined with what seems to be a true breakout season for Alex Galchenyuk<\/a>,<\/strong> has made Montreal look like a team that, might be more than just their goalie.\u00a0That’s one big difference between the team this year and last year.<\/p>\n

Not everything is sunshine and rainbows in Montreal. Their possession stats has them ranked a very modest 14th a with Fenwick-for percentage\u00a0of 50.14. This could suggest that the Canadiens, are once again, relying too much on Price and his performances. Signs of this may already be sneaking in as four\u00a0of their six\u00a0loses for the season have come in their last five games. However, they did out-shoot their opponent in three of those recent losses.<\/p>\n

For now though there is much to be excited about in eastern Canada.<\/p>\n