It s also worth noting that the team has played the vast majority of its games without top forward Sean Couturier, the reigning Selke winner who suffered a rib injury in the second game of the season.
He s getting closer to returning (more on that in a minute) and some other players could soon shake off some rust from extensive time away from hockey. Carter Hart hasn t been at his best, and the team s one offseason acquisition, Erik Gustafson, hasn t come close to playing at the level many expected. There are special teams issues and injury concerns. Sure, you can take a glass-half-empty approach, but Vigneault still has his team tied for the best record in the division. That certainly sounds like a good thing.