October 21, 2009
Nine Ex-Collegians Off to Fast NHL Starts

• Rene Bourque (Wisconsin): Bourque is the leading scorer (11 points) for Calgary, the NHL's highest-scoring team. The Flames are tied with surprising Colorado for the Western Conference lead.

• Ty Conklin (New Hampshire): The well-traveled Conklin—St. Louis is his sixth NHL stop—has been effective as starter Chris Mason's backup. In three games this season, the Alaska native is 2-0-0 with a 1.71 goals against average and a .940 save percentage.

• Alex Goligoski (Minnesota): The Pittsburgh Penguin is tied for second in the league in plus-minus rating at +7 and he's got seven points to boot. His offensive production could increase now that veteran Sergei Gonchar is sidelined with a broken wrist.

• Mike Knuble and Brendan Morrison (Michigan): Added by Washington for their solid two-way games and veteran influence, the ex-Wolverines have been solid offensively for the already explosive Caps. Both Knuble and Morrison have seven points in eight games.

• Matt Moulson (Cornell): An adept complement to John tavares, Moulson leads the New York Islanders in goals with four in six games. He's nearly matched the previous career total of six goals he scored in 29 games over two seasons with the Los Angeles Kings.

• Dustin Penner (Maine): Penner has been under the microscope in Edmonton since signing with the Oilers as a restricted free agent in 2007. Nine games into the season, he's got four goals and nine points.

• Rich Peverley (St. Lawrence): Peverley, who never really found a home in the Nashville organization, averaged nearly a point a game for Atlanta after the team claimed him off waivers in January. Through six games this season, he's got four goals and eight points.

• Jon Quick (Massachusetts): His numbers aren't lights out (5-3-0/2.88/.900), but Quick has emerged as the no. 1 goalie for a promising Los Angeles Kings team setting its sights on its first playoff appearance since 2002.