Some thoughts on the 06-07 NHL season so far:
* Speed is essential. The teams with the highest point totals so far (Buffalo and Atlanta in the Eastern Conference and Minnesota, San Jose, Anaheim and Dallas) all have plenty of it. It's an ingredient (along with great goaltending) that put Carolina and Edmonton in spring's Stanley Cup Finals.
* Discipline is essential because the refs appear even more resolute in their willingness to call penalties. And capitalizing on the power play goes hand-in-hand with that. Four of the aforementioned teams (Dallas is the exception) have top-10 power plays.
Change of scenery can do a player good. In Ottawa, talented wingers Martin Havlat and Bryan Smolinski were complimentary parts. In Chicago, they're in starring roles and playing like it. Havlat leads the NHL with 13 points and Smolinski is a point-per-game player for the Hawks, who are tied for the Central Division lead going into Saturday's games.
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