NHL pluses and minuses: Teemu Selanne still loved by Winnipeg

Times columnist Helene Elliott rates the pluses and minuses in the NHL from the past week.

Pluses

+ Fans in Winnipeg came out to greet Teemu Selanne when the Ducks arrived at their hotel at 1:30 a.m. Sunday and gave him a standing ovation when the Jets showed a tribute video during Sunday’s game. It was the last regular-season visit by Selanne, who began his career there by scoring 76 goals as a Jets rookie in the 1992-93 season.

+ Start planning the Stanley Cup parade in Toronto. Maybe not, but the Maple Leafs are 3-0-0 thanks in part to big contributions from two newcomers. Former Kings goaltender Jonathan Bernier won Game 2 as a starter and won Game 3 in relief of James Reimer, and forward Mason Raymond, who came to camp on a tryout and signed as a free agent, has two goals and four points.

+ St. Louis Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak took the franchise lead in shutouts last Saturday with 17, one more than Hall of Famer Glenn Hall. The Blues (2-0) have outscored Nashville and Florida by a combined 11-2.

Minuses

- Judging by their first three games, the Buffalo Sabres are in for a long season. They’re 0-3 and have scored only two goals, none in 13 power-play opportunities. Goalie Ryan Miller, though sure to be traded before season’s end, is playing hard. He has a 1.53 goals-against average and .963 save percentage.

- Yes, it’s early, but goaltending and defense are likely to be problems again for the talent-laden Edmonton Oilers. Goalie Devan Dubnyk struggled as the designated starter in the first two games and the team’s effort for new Coach Dallas Eakins has been inconsistent. They have no more excuses after getting so many prime draft picks.

- The league’s competition committee recommended banning use of the spin-o-rama move during shootouts and the Board of Governors agreed, but the executive committee of the NHL Players’ Assn. wisely refused to go along. If you have to have shootouts, why eliminate a crowd-pleasing move? The league will keep a close eye to be sure the puck doesn’t stop and shooters don’t interfere with goalies, which is fine.

helene.elliott@latimes.com