Week 2 of the 2026 NHL season is finished. Teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning are starting to show some of their elite play, and the Hurricanes are picking up steam, winning four in a row. While teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and Calgary Flames have struggled early on.
MORE: Colorado Avalanche match feat not seen since Wayne Gretzky’s Kings
Stock Up: Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel (38), forward Nikita Kucherov (86), and others react to losing to the Montreal Canadiens in game seven of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
The Lightning are showing their dominance after their 5-1 loss. Three wins in a row for this club, and Nikita Kucherov is showing his dominance once again. He is an elite playmaker, and this team is very talented. John Carlson so far has been a good signing.
The power play for this team hasn’t even heated up yet, too. Once that does, they will be even more dangerous. Brandon Hagel continues to be an underrated player for this group, as he has 8 points this season. He picked up a hat trick in their contest against the Islanders recently.
Stock Down: Chicago Blackhawks
Nov 5, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard (98) smiles during a stop in play against the Vancouver Canucks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
A team missing Connor Bedard is facing significant offensive challenges, and it’s evident. Patrick Kane alone cannot uplift this team. Their lack of coordination is apparent, impacting their overall performance.
The power play has struggled to find its rhythm early in the season, and their penalty-killing efforts are currently below average. Additionally, the team needs to improve on new ways to score goals. A young group, but they need to find ways to get the puck in the back of the net.
Stock Up: Carolina Hurricanes
Jun 14, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) raises the the Stanley Cup after the win against the Vegas Golden Knights in game six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
The Carolina Hurricanes are executing their game plan effectively, showcasing an impressive offensive surge. Their power play is operating at a solid rate, while the penalty kill has also been a strong trait. This roster remains consistent with last year’s squad and is experiencing early success once more.
Stock Down: Calgary Flames
Oct 3, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Calgary Flames forward Matt Coronato (27) follows the flying puck against the Vancouver Canucks in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
The Flames are still searching for their first win this season, and they will need to lean heavily on their young talent to turn things around. If these players fail to step up, the team risks falling further behind in the standings as this lackluster performance persists. Their defense has been a significant concern, having conceded 11 goals over the past two games, highlighting the urgent need for improvement.
Teams like Carolina and Tampa Bay are showing how good they are with their ability to get off to strong starts. The Flames and Blackhawks, two young organizations, are still searching for ways to get goals for their team. No Connor Bedard hurts them, and the Flames are solely relying on young talent to try to be a competitive squad.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —