theScore's new series "The Noise" will be published every Monday, and kick off each week with a quick look at teams or players making headlines, good or bad.
What more can be said about the New York Rangers?
With five goals in all four games played this past week, the Blueshirts have now won eight of nine, and opened up a goal differential that's 15 points better than the next closest Eastern Conference team.
The Blackhawks and Capitals have been similarly dominant of late, winning six and five games in a row, respectively. But for the sake of variety, we'll highlight three other teams making headlines, though in the absence of unwavering authority.
Pittsburgh Penguins
So Sidney Crosby's made a world of difference, huh?
In his six games since being cleared from his preseason concussion, Crosby's scored eight goals, matching Artem Anisimov and Patrik Laine for the NHL lead - only those two hit eight in more than double the amount of games. His scoring touch through six is so ridiculous (and incredibly unsustainable) that if he keeps this pace (he can't), he would hit a triple-digit goal total and obliterate Wayne Gretzky's single-season record despite sitting out the first six games.
This dominance is thanks, in part, to this club being able to reinvent itself again. Carl Hagelin, who helped ignite Phil Kessel last season, is having a similarly incendiary effect on the top line with Crosby and Patric Hornqvist.
Pittsburgh's secured 11 of a possible 12 points since Crosby's return, its most recent win being a 5-0 drubbing of the San Jose Sharks in Saturday's Stanley Cup Final rematch.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs offered a few take-home messages this week.
First, Frederik Andersen's found his zen - that, or streamable television service. The netminder that was the reason the Maple Leafs were losing throughout the first two weeks, dug in and keyed three straight wins this week. He made 109 stops on 115 shots, including 42 in his best performance with the Maple Leafs in a win versus the Buffalo Sabres.
We also learned Nazem Kadri can be a good, if not a dominant shutdown center, when stimulated. Rising to the challenge matching with the game's most dominant player, an incentivized Kadri made Connor McDavid's first visit to his hometown a miserable one. He was rewarded for the exasperation he caused, scoring two goals including the overtime winner.
And third, a win over Vancouver isn't enough to suggest this team can vie for a postseason spot. But as they picked up the smell of blood in that 6-3 win Saturday, they became a different team, looking confident, resolute, unified.
Columbus Blue Jackets
There's still reason to dismiss the Blue Jackets. Without their 10-0 demolition of the Canadiens, this team has simply traded goals with the opposition through the first month. And for that reason, they project to remain outside the playoff bracket.
But with their partially inflated plus-11 goal differential, which by the way only the Rangers can top in the East, as well as some problematic underlying data, there's reason to be excited about the Jackets.
Columbus hasn't just survived their brutal 10-game schedule to start, but has quietly racked up the points against heavyweight opponents. Check this out: Against the Blackhawks, Stars (twice), Kings, Sharks, Ducks, Canadiens, and Blues in their last eight games, the Blue Jackets have racked up 12 points and lost only once in regulation.
They own a top-10 points percentage league-wide, and are only middling in the standings because they've played fewer games than any other team.
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