Jumping to early conclusions is an NHL tradition as much as playoff beards and overtime goals.

Here are five overreactions in the first week of the season mixed in with some reality.

1. Golden Knights are falling back to earth

Reality: Better times are ahead. No one expects the Golden Knights to replicate last season's magical run to the Stanley Cup Final, but they are a sharper team than they have been in the first three games (1-2-0). They have scored five goals and allowed 10. This a Stanley Cup contender trying to find its rhythm after adding new pieces in the offseason (Paul Stastny and Max Pacioretty) and managing without top defenseman Nate Schmidt, who is sidelined by a 20-game suspension for a banned substance. Another truth: Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury's save percentage isn't going to stay at .841.

2. Ducks goalie John Gibson cannot sustain this level of play

Reality: Maybe he can. He's 25, and entering the prime of his career. When he was a teenager, scouts said he had the potential to be one of league's best. Since he entered the NHL, he owns a .924 save percentage. His save percentage has improved every season. Gibson, who has given up four goals on 95 shots, is a game-changer. He has the ability to keep the Ducks competitive even when they are overrun by injuries, like they are today.

3. Maple Leafs might be able to win it all on the strength ofoffense

Reality: No they can't. As bullish as we are on the Maple Leafs, they still must address their defensive shortcomings. Even with John Tavares in town and Auston Matthews playing like an MVP, the Maple Leafs are not going to average five goals per game all season. The test for first-year general manager Kyle Dubas will be to find a dependable 20-minute, defense-first blueliner to stabilize the back end. The 3-1-0 Maple Leafs are giving up 4.3 goals per game. You don't win Stanley Cups with defense like that.

4. Hurricanes are finally going to make the playoffs again

Reality: Way, way too early. What we know for sure is that this is an exciting and spirited group. Their skill on defense ranks among the best. Younger stars Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov are fueling considerable hope up front. General manager Don Waddell's offseason moves (acquiring Micheal Ferland, Jordan Martinook and Dougie Hamilton) have given the team a spark. The Hurricanes' post-game celebration of slamming into the plexiglass seems to signify the franchise's renewed energy. But it is still going to come down to goaltending for the Hurricanes, who are 3-0-1 and have given up 11 goals. Peter Mrazek's ability to be a No. 1 is questionable, while Scott Darling, who is injured, stumbled with his chance last year. Journeyman Curtis McElhinney is probably not a long-term solution.

5. Elias Pettersson will make Canucks forget about the Sedin twins

Reality: Too strong. But Pettersson will be a superstar. Maybe he already is one. Pettersson, the fifth pick in the 2017 draft, was the regular-season leading scorer and playoff MVP in the Swedish League last season. While registering six points in his first three NHL games, he has shown himself to be a dynamic, crowd-pleasing presence. Vancouver fans will love him as much as they loved the Sedins.