Through the first month-plus of the season, the NHL has given fans a more entertaining product in the form of increased scoring.
This season, goal scoring is at its highest since the 2005-06 season, with games averaging 6.04 goals per game. That's exactly a half-goal more per game than last season. If the league keeps up its torrid scoring pace, it will result in an uptick of 635 more goals across the NHL:
There are a number of possible explanations for the increased number of pucks beating goaltenders, but the most glaring is an increase in penalties; power plays are at their highest since 2010-11. Not only do more penalty calls result in power-play goals, it also gives offensive players more room to work at even strength, with defenders playing a cleaner game to try to avoid infractions.
Who has benefited the most from this uptick in scoring? Will those numbers sustain? Let's have a look.
Tampa Bay's and Philadelphia's top lines
The two lines that have played the most minutes together this season have also been the most successful. The Lightning's top combination of Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos and Vladislav Namestnikov and the Flyers' first line of Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier and Jakub Voracek have each played more than 200 minutes together.
As a collection, Philadelphia's super-skilled forwards have produced 17 goals. According to Corsica Hockey, that is good for the No. 1 scoring rate among lines with more than 100 minutes together, at 4.81 goals per 60 minutes. They have also racked up 37 shots on goal per 60 minutes, and allowed only seven goals against.
It comes as no surprise that Voracek, a gifted setup man, has 11 even-strength assists (tied for third in the NHL), but Couturier's goal-scoring outburst was not expected. The 25-year-old center has nine even-strength goals already this season, just five short of his career high. Known as a defensive-minded center, Couturier is making the most of his increased opportunities, playing a career-high 20:45 per game.
Tampa Bay's three stars have managed 15 goals for (4.14 per 60) and nine against. Opposing teams are having trouble staying within the rules when attempting to slow down the Kucherov-Stamkos-Namestnikov line, as the trio has drawn 19 penalties.
Stamkos has long been known as one of the league's premier pure goal scorers, but he's transitioned into a playmaker at even strength this season, picking up an NHL-best 15 assists. Kucherov has used his blazing-fast release to blow the puck by opposing goaltenders 13 times at 5-on-5 -- tops in the league.
Will either set of scorers keep up their pace? It's possible, but still unlikely. Both sets of scorers have an on-ice shooting percentage above 12 percent. The league's highest shooting percentage line last season with at least 500 minutes played together was 11.9 percent.
Other great early-season lines:
St. Louis Blues
Line: Vladimir Tarasenko-Brayden Schenn-Jaden Schwartz
Key stats: 136 minutes, 59.6 Corsi for percentage, outscoring opponents 10-2
Florida Panthers
Line: Evgenii Dadonov-Aleksander Barkov-Jonathan Huberdeau
Key stats: 185 minutes together, 4.21 goals per 60 minutes, 38 shots per 60
Winnipeg Jets
Line: Blake Wheeler-Mark Scheifele-Kyle Connor
Key stats: 136 minutes, 3.94 goals per 60 minutes
The New Jersey Devils' rebuild
These aren't your older brother's New Jersey Devils. The team once famous for trapping opponents into oblivion has now opened up their play and scored the third-most goals in the NHL. After drafting Nico Hischier No. 1 overall this past summer, the Devils were supposed to be one or two years from being a legitimate contender. Instead, a high-flying power play and more man-advantage chances has helped New Jersey jump to the top of the Metropolitan Division. Led by rookie Will Butcher's eight power-play assists, the Devils have scored on 25.0 percent of their power-play opportunities, the fourth-best mark in the NHL.
At even strength, they are just as dangerous, producing the second-most goals per 60 minutes in the league. Star winger Taylor Hall's second season in New Jersey has been much more productive than his first, as he's racked up 13 even-strength points while Hischier has 10 thus far. Though there are still weaknesses on the roster, the Devils are getting help from up and down the lineup, as sophomore Miles Wood has four even-strength goals and journeyman Brian Gibbons has six.
Fans in New Jersey haven't seen this type of entertainment in a while. The Devils were last in the playoffs when they lost in the Stanley Cup Final in 2011-12. And if the power plays keep coming -- and they keep converting when they do -- this team appears to be on their way back.
The rejuvenated Los Angeles Kings
One of the most unexpected developments of the early season is the Kings' offensive attack. They currently sit 10th in the NHL in 5-on-5 goals per 60, up from 26th last season. It appeared the Stanley Cup contention window had closed on Los Angeles, but new coach John Stevens has unlocked their scoring potential despite an injury to star center Jeff Carter. Forward Dustin Brown is back to his old scoring ways -- and then some. He's posted 17 points in 17 games, 10 of which have come at even strength, a stunning turnaround considering his highest scoring total since 2011-12 was 36 points.
It doesn't hurt that superstar center Anze Kopitar has found the scoring touch from his younger days, producing 21 points in 17 games, or that the Kings may have found a gem in young Adrian Kempe, the 29th overall pick in 2014 who has seven goals this season.
It's possible that another effect of changing circumstances will be that more gifted goalies rise to the top. Jonathan Quick hasn't managed a save percentage above .920 since 2011-12, but is currently sporting the league's best mark at .933. However, Quick's even-strength save percentage of .929 isn't much different than his career .925 mark, but he's holding onto a .947 shorthanded save percentage. That number is bound to drift south soon.
Expansion history
If someone tells you they knew the Vegas Golden Knights would rank in the top five in scoring in the NHL, they are lying. In all situations, the NHL's newest team has produced 3.5 goals per 60 minutes, which trails only Tampa Bay, Toronto and Ottawa.
The Golden Knights' rise has been fueled by depth scoring. Thirteen players have at least seven points; some of them are proven veterans like David Perron (14 points) and James Neal (13 points), and others are getting their first shot like journeyman Brad Hunt or rookie winger Alex Tuch, who each have seven points.
It's hard to believe the Golden Knights can keep scoring at this rate. They have the sixth-highest 5-on-5 shooting percentage and the fourth-highest power-play shooting percentage. Without superstars like Stamkos or Kucherov, they will have a difficult time keeping everyone hot at the same time. Nevertheless, the Golden Knights have been fun for their new fans and are setting themselves up to be in the playoff hunt.
Skilled rookies
The league's uptick in scoring has led to a number of smooth transitions into the NHL for young players. There are already 11 rookies with double-digit point totals this season. At the top of the list is Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller, who was the seventh overall pick in 2017. Keller has 11 goals in 19 games at age 19, giving Arizona fans reason to believe that eventually their patience will pay off with the Coyotes' rebuild.
Here are some of the other top rookie producers:
Brock Boeser, F, Vancouver Canucks
Stat line: 14 games, five goals, nine assists
Mathew Barzal, F, New York Islanders
Stat line: 17 games, three goals, 11 assists
Nico Hischier, F, New Jersey Devils
Stat line: 17 games, three goals, 11 assists
Alexander Kerfoot, F, Colorado Avalanche
Stat line: 16 games, seven goals, six assists
Jesper Bratt, F, New Jersey Devils
Stat line: 17 games, five goals, eight assists
Will Butcher, D, New Jersey Devils
Stat line: 17 games, 13 assists
Mikhail Sergachev, D, Tampa Bay Lightning
Stat line: 18 games, four goals, eight assists