Last remaining undefeated team debated by NHL.com writers

For the first time in NHL history four teams have each started the season with a winning streak of at least five games.
The Carolina Hurricanes and St. Louis Blues each won Monday to improve to 5-0-0 and the Florida Panthers are 6-0-0 after a victory Monday. The Edmonton Oilers, who are 5-0-0, host the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; TNT, SN360, SN1, TVAS).
We asked eight NHL.com writers which team will be the last remaining undefeated team this season. Each of the four teams received at least one vote of confidence.
Here is the case for each team (listed alphabetically):

Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes are 5-0-0 for the second time in their history, matching the start of the 2019-20 team. There's depth at center with Sebastian Aho, Vincent Trocheck, Jordan Staal and Derek Stepan. The defense, led by Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce and Ethan Bear, is allowing an NHL-low 1.60 goals-against per game. Frederik Andersen, who agreed to a two-year contract July 28, became the first goalie in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history to win each of his first five games with the team when he made 24 saves in a 4-1 win against the Maple Leafs on Monday. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer
The Hurricanes have scored 22 goals and allowed an NHL-low eight for an impressive plus-14 goal differential. If Carolina can get past the always formidable Boston Bruins on Thursday, they have home dates against the Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes before playing the Blackhawks in Chicago on Nov. 3. The Blackhawks (0-5-1) and Coyotes (0-5-1) are without a victory in 12 combined games this season. There is a realistic chance Carolina starts 9-0-0. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer
I'm with the Mikes here. We've watched coach Rod Brind'Amour seize this team and mold it in his image to become one of the best coaches in the NHL. What I've found interesting is that even as Brind'Amour has watched the Hurricanes jump out to this early success, they haven't stood pat. They've made changes, shuffling forward lines to generate more offense. This is a team that has its sights set on success in the Stanley Cup Playoffs by making it out of the first two rounds and back to the Eastern Conference Final, where it was swept by the Bruins in 2019. The Hurricanes have big dreams and are starting to see how good they can be. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers are undefeated in part because of captain Connor McDavid, who leads the NHL with 13 points (six goals, seven assists) and forward Leon Draisaitl, who is third with 11 points (four goals, seven assists). That was to be expected. But another key element has been forward Zach Hyman, who signed a seven-year contract July 28, and his five goals are second on the Oilers behind McDavid. Mikko Koskinen (2.03 goals-against average, .943 save percentage) and Mike Smith (3.08, .920) have provided solid goaltending. Edmonton hosts the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. -- Dave Stubbs, columnist

Florida Panthers

The Panthers have scored first in five of their six games. Goalies Sergei Bobrovsky (4-0-0, 1.99 GAA, .942 save percentage) and Spencer Knight (2-0-0, 2.01 GAA, .923 save percentage) have been good. That first loss is going to come at some point, but I think the Panthers could get more wins before it happens. It won't be easy this week. They play the Bruins twice with a visit to the Detroit Red Wings between those games. I think the Panthers remain undefeated until the weekend. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer
The Panthers have looked impressive with wins against the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning (who eliminated Florida in six games in the best-of-7 Stanley Cup First Round in May) and 2021-22 playoff contenders in the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Colorado Avalanche and Flyers. Florida has the best goaltending among all the undefeated teams. Sam Bennett and Anthony Duclair lead the Panthers with four goals each, and captain Aleksander Barkov (six points; two goals, four assists) has been a force after signing an eight-year contract extension Oct. 8. -- William Douglas, staff writer

St. Louis Blues

The Blues are my pick here because of their dominance so far and favorable upcoming schedule. They have outscored opponents 25-11 and lead the NHL with an average of 5.00 goals per game. St. Louis has goals from 12 different players, led by six from David Perron, who scored a hat trick in a 7-3 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday that began a stretch of four consecutive home games. Goalie Jordan Binnington has a 2.75 GAA and .919 save percentage. The Blues play the Avalanche on Thursday and the Blackhawks on Saturday to complete their homestand. St. Louis defeated Colorado 5-3 on Oct. 16 and Chicago still is looking for its first win. The Blues have a chance to be 7-0-0 before heading on a four-game road trip that begins at the Kings on Nov. 3. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer
St. Louis has two home games this week, against Avalanche and Blackhawks. The toughest opponent is the Avalanche, who have not found their best game. The Blues are playing at peak efficiency with their combination of offense, defense, special teams and goaltending. Their power play is 6-for-16 (37.5 percent) and their penalty kill is 15-for-16 (93.8 percent). St. Louis is playing like it has something to prove. There were question marks about the Blues going into the season. Are they still a legit Stanley Cup contender after winning it in 2019? Can they get out of the middle of the pack in the Central Division? They have a lot more to prove, but a 7-0-0 start certainly is realistic and that should open a lot of eyes across the NHL. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer