Impressions at the 30-game mark:
They’re tied for third in save percentage with the Rangers. It is tough to complain too much about 20 wins in 30 games. Even beyond the points, they are top five in expected goals percentage, top 10 in goal differential, their power play is much better than last year and looks much more balanced with more shooting threats.
The big four have played well — Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Nylander. There are plenty of bright spots elsewhere, whether it is a Bunting or Kase — who has really filled the Kasperi Kapanen hole from last season — or if it is a Wayne Simmonds bouncing back at the age 33, or their young defensemen in Sandin and Liljegren.