Fansided

Revisiting FanSided NHL’s 2019-20 season predictions at the 1st quarter pole

By Mary Clarke

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 21: Brock Nelson #29 of the New York Islanders celebrates his third period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Barclays Center on November 21, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 21: Brock Nelson #29 of the New York Islanders celebrates his third period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Barclays Center on November 21, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Pacific Divison

(Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)
(Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images) /
 FanSided NHL’s preseason prediction  Pacific Division standings  Points
 Vegas Golden Knights  Edmonton Oilers*  35
 Calgary Flames  Arizona Coyotes*  31
 San Jose Sharks  Vancouver Canucks*  28
 Arizona Coyotes  Vegas Golden Knights*  26
 Vancouver Canucks  San Jose Sharks  25
 Edmonton Oilers  Calgary Flames  25
 Anaheim Ducks  Anaheim Ducks  23
 Los Angeles Kings  Los Angeles Kings  19

* Indicates playoff position

The good news about the Pacific Division is that we got the bottom two teams correct in our predictions. The Kings have nine wins in 23 games played and their 60 goals-for on the year is fourth-worst in the NHL. Anaheim has faired a bit better, but the goaltending of John Gibson can only hold them up for so long.

The rest of the division, however, we were incredibly wrong about so far in the 2019-20 season. Our three top picks — the Golden Knights, the Flames and the Sharks — have been varying degrees of poor to mediocre this year.

San Jose and Calgary are the two biggest disappointments in the Pacific this season. The Sharks have had a much better November, winning eight of their last 11 games this month, but lost five-straight at the end of October that dug them a hole they’re just starting to climb out of. Calgary, on the other hand is 3-6-1 in their last 10 games as their offensive stars have gone cold at the worst possible time.

Vegas has been average so far this year, a far cry from their dominant first two seasons in the league. The Golden Knights — and San Jose and Calgary — are still in the hunt, but the early returns have been lackluster.

On the other hand, the Coyotes, Canucks and Oilers have all risen above expectations as the Pacific’s best teams. Edmonton has been thriving off the historic paces of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in the early goings. The Canucks are getting production from their core of young players, a hopeful sign for Vancouver’s future. And not to be outdone, the Coyotes this season are getting top-notch goaltending, as their 54 goals-against are second best in the league at the quarter mark.

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