Five NHLers bouncing back after slow starts in 2022-23

Mike McKenna
Mike McKenna(MikeMcKenna56)
Five NHLers bouncing back after slow starts in 2022-23
Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Now that we’re a month and a half into the season, we finally have a sizeable sample size to work with this NHL season.

It’s easy to get roped into the hysteria of slow starts by notable NHLers, and there was no shortage of that this year. But in these five cases, slow starts can be deceiving:

Ryan O’Reilly, C (St. Louis Blues)

Eight games into the 2022-23 season, St. Louis Blues captain Ryan O’Reilly described his own play as ‘absolutely horrible.’ He had one goal to his credit and zero assists. But most concerning was O’Reilly’s defensive play. He was minus-11.

O’Reilly has flipped the script. He hasn’t had a minus game since Nov. 3. And in the Blues last five outings, O’Reilly has six points. He’s scored three times. And the Blues have won six games in a row.

It takes a confident player to score the goal shown above. O’Reilly is working with muscle memory, knowing exactly where the net is. To go forehand-backhand under the bar with what’s essentially a no-look shot is wildly impressive.

Another critical component: line chemistry. O’Reilly is playing alongside Brandon Saad and Josh Leivo. The Blues – and especially O’Reilly – missed Saad early this season when he missed time due to injury.

Leivo, a veteran of 223 NHL games, spent all of the 2021-22 season in the AHL with the Calder Cup-winning Chicago Wolves. He was named playoff MVP. Leivo has carried that momentum into this year’s campaign and looked great playing on the right side next to O’Reilly.

Alex Pietrangelo, D (Vegas Golden Knights)

The more Alex Pietrangelo shoots, the better. Or at least that’s what the numbers show. Pietrangelo has two goals and five assists since Nov. 10. He’s had 19 shots on net in the Vegas Golden Knights’ past five games – a significant uptick over the first 14 games.

It’s not just offensively that Pietrangelo’s worth is showing for the Golden Knights. He’s logging minutes in every situation and averaging over 23 minutes of ice time. That’s two more than anyone else on the Golden Knights.

There were times early on where Pietrangelo looked out of sync. But he’s done an excellent job adjusting to head coach Bruce Cassidy’s system. And it helps that the play of his defensive partner, Alec Martinez, has also picked up. Pietrangelo has firmly cemented himself as Vegas’ top blueliner. And he’s a big reason why the Golden Knights are leading the Pacific Division.

Martin Jones, G (Seattle Kraken)

The NHL awarded Martin Jones the third star of the week for winning his past two starts. It was an odd pick, considering Jones allowed two goals in each appearance. Yes, he played great during the games, but usually it takes several superlative performances to garner a star of the week.

To me, it was more of a cumulative award given how well Jones has played this season. He’s made seven straight starts for the Kraken and given Seattle consistency in goal – something the team was desperately in need of last year. Jones has a .916 save percentage in 15 games. But in his past five appearances, Jones has stopped .933 percent of shots faced.

I think Jones made a great decision signing with Philadelphia last season. It allowed him to work with Flyers goaltending coach Kim Dillabaugh for the second time in his career. The two first crossed paths in the Los Angeles Kings organization before Jones became a full-time NHL goaltender. 

His numbers during the 2021-22 season may not be eye-catching, but Jones got his career back on track. He regained some of the technical elements to his game that had gone missing. Now the Kraken are reaping the benefits of Jones’ reboot.

Boone Jenner, C (Columbus Blue Jackets)

No team in the NHL has been hit by the injury bug harder than Columbus. Yet since Nov. 10, captain Boone Jenner has managed to lead the Blue Jackets to a 4-1-1 record. And he’s done so by example.

For Jenner, it all comes down to good habits. There are so many teachable things in the clip above. From his initial stick positioning to how he battles for loose pucks, young players can learn from watching the 29-year old from Dorchester, Ontario. Jenner is a hound on loose pucks and he goes to the cage hard – with his stick blade available.

Jenner has found the back of the net seven times in November – good for second in the NHL during the month. He’s riding a four-game point streak and has kept Columbus afloat in the Atlantic Division.

Sidney Crosby, C (Pittsburgh Penguins)

During the week ending Nov. 20, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby put up 11 points in four games and was named the NHL’s first star. Nothing new for the Pittsburgh captain. But his team desperately needed it.

The Penguins had lost seven games straight before beating the Washington Capitals on Nov. 9. During the losing streak, Crosby had just four points. Pittsburgh looked lost. And for whatever reason, Crosby couldn’t find the back of the net despite plenty of shots on goal.

I don’t think Crosby had to do anything different to regain his mojo. He consistently generated scoring chances when things weren’t going well for the Penguins. But sometimes a team needs a jolt from its leader.

Crosby has points in seven of his last eight games. And he’s now tied for fourth overall among NHL point leaders. The three-time Stanley Cup champion has helped the Penguins climb back into the Stanley Cup playoff hunt in the Metropolitan Division.

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