All right, time for some projections. What follows is basically projecting how many points, goals for and goals against teams are on pace for this season, and how those totals compare to 2007-08.

For example, the Sharks are currrently on pace for 27 more points than they had last season, and the Senators are on pace for 26 fewer. The Sharks are on pace to score an incredible 75 more goals than last season, and the Senators are on pace for 67 fewer. And in goals against, the Wild and Kings are on pace to allow 51 fewer goals, while the Stars and Marty Turco are on pace to allow 90 more.

Some good indications there as to why some teams are either doing well or struggling to this point:

What's impressive is just how much better San Jose has been so far this season than over their 108-point pace last time around. Boston, the Rangers, Minnesota, Washington and Detroit are the other teams on pace for a boost.

How's this for a head scratcher: The Panthers are on pace to finish 13 points behind their non-playoff finish of last season.

It's nice to see teams like Columbus and St. Louis making some progress, but they give a lot of that up in the goals against department, where they've been far worse to this point. Other clubs like Atlanta, Chicago and Vancouver are quietly scoring more, too.

On the negative side of things, even with goal scoring up this season, there are seven teams on pace for 20 or more goals fewer than in 2007-08: Minnesota, Buffalo, Colorado, Los Angeles, Carolina, Tampa Bay and Ottawa. Four of those teams have had a coaching change and that can often mean changing the way an offence plays.

So that's why Minnesota's been so good this season. The Kings, too, have been much tougher to play against despite what they've done to their blueline (and Erik Ersberg has played well), and already stingy Boston has tightened up on goals against.

We've certainly heard a lot about Dallas and Anaheim allowing more goals this season, but Detroit's been a completely different team in this department this season. That may change if Ty Conklin gets more of a chance in the crease, as he's outplayed Chris Osgood to this point.

Calgary, Nashville and Columbus have also had some real issues in goal, which is why the high numbers are coming up here.

In terms of projected goal differential, Boston is the runaway leader so far, followed by San Jose, Chicago, Vancouver and Minnesota. Pulling up the rear are Dallas, Colorado, Calgary, Nashville, Ottawa and Florida.

It's still early, so expect a lot of these trends to change.