Wild Lead a Pack of Clubs Getting Better by the Week

Five teams have been carrying more of the play over their last ten games than they did across their full schedule, and a fan watching would have seen it: more good looks at one end, fewer at the other.

Minnesota is the clearest case. The Wild already owned the better chances most nights, and lately they have pushed that further. Their share of expected goals (how much the chances at both ends were worth) climbed to 60.6% from 58% on the season. The standings agree: 9-3-3, first in the Central.

New Jersey sits right alongside them, controlling the quality of chances almost as thoroughly.

Montréal has backed a 9-3-2 start with better play underneath it, and Washington has edged from roughly even into the plus side.

The hidden one is Nashville. At 5-4-5 the Predators look stuck in neutral, yet they have been out-chancing opponents lately after trailing on the season. Their record has not caught up to how they are playing.