Weekly NHL Power Rankings: February 1st, 2010
The Washington Capitals take top spot on the strength of their 10-game winning streak.
The Leafs, Flames and Ducks were busy on Sunday, with a total of 10 players changing teams. Expect more of the same in the 12 days leading up to the Olympic trade freeze.
Once the NHL’s worst club, the Hurricanes have won three straight, but will need more than that to climb out of the “Bottom Three” of Carolina, Edmonton and Toronto.
This week’s biggest jumps: Dallas, Florida and Atlanta
This week’s biggest slumps: New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders
1. Washington Capitals (+1 spot)
Record: 37-12-6
Last Week: 3-0-0
Games This Week: (@ BOS, @ NYR, vs. ATL, vs. PIT)
The Caps have won 10 straight, and have only lost one game since Ovi was named Captain. They have a 23-point lead over the 2nd place Florida Panthers in the Southeast Division.
2. San Jose Sharks (-1 spot)
Record: 36-10-9
Last Week: 1-0-1
Games This Week: (vs. DET, @ STL, @ NSH)
The Sharks continue to roll, and haven’t lost a game in regulation since January 9th vs. Detroit. Patrick Marleau looks determined to win the Rocket Richard Trophy, and now has 37 goals on the year.
3. Chicago Blackhawks (-1 spot)
Record: 37-14-4
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (vs. STL, vs. PHX, @ STL)
The Blackhawks had a chance at the number one spot by beating the Sharks this week, but lost to the lowly Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.
4. Vancouver Canucks (+1 spot)
Record: 34-18-2
Last Week: 3-0-0
Games This Week: (@ MTL, @ OTT, @ BOS)
The Canucks started their 14-game road trip with a come from behind win over the Leafs on Hockey Day in Canada. Alexandre Burrows had 22 points in the month of January, including 15 goals — the most in the NHL.
5. New Jersey Devils (-1 spot)
Record: 35-17-2
Last Week: 1-2-1
Games This Week: (@ TOR, vs. TOR, @ NYR)
After an impressive first half, Nicklas Bergfors has only recorded 1 assist and is a minus-4 in the month of January. The Devils will be the first to get a taste of the new-look Leafs on Tuesday.
6. Buffalo Sabres (no movement)
Record: 32-14-7
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (@ PIT, vs. OTT, vs. CAR, @ CBJ)
The Sabres are now looking over their shoulders at the Ottawa Senators, who have won 9 straight and are only 5 points behind Buffalo for the Northwest division lead. Buffalo has an edge with three games in hand.
7. Phoenix Coyotes (+2 spots)
Record: 33-18-5
Last Week: 4-0-0
Games This Week: (@ NSH, @ CHI, @ DAL)
‘Yotes leading scorer Scottie Upshall is out indefinitely with a torn ACL in his right knee. Upshall had a career-high 18 goals in 49 games.
8. Pittsburgh Penguins (no movement)
Record: 34-21-1
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. BUF, @ MTL, vs. WAS)
Jordan Staal just became the youngest player in NHL history to reach 300 games. Quite impressive when you consider Staal has already won a Stanley Cup and appeared in two Cup Finals.
9. Ottawa Senators (+1 spot)
Record: 31-21-4
Last Week: 3-0-0
Games This Week: (@ BUF, vs. VAN, @ TOR)
The Sens have now won a franchise record nine games in a row, but will be without Nick Foligno for 6-8 weeks after breaking his leg on a blocked shot vs. the Canadiens.
10. Colorado Avalanche (-3 spots)
Record: 30-18-6
Last Week: 0-3-0
Games This Week: (vs. CBJ, @ NSH, vs. EDM)
Sophomore forward Chris Stewart is tied with rookie Matt Duchene for the team league in goals with 17. Despite having one of the most inexperienced forward cores in the NHL, the Avs continue to hold on to a playoff spot.
MIDDLE 10
11. Los Angeles Kings (+1 spot)
Record: 33-19-3
Last Week: 4-0-0
Games This Week: (vs. NYR, vs. ANA, vs. DET)
The Kings are one of many NHL teams streaking right now, having won six straight. LA sits 3rd in the Pacific division, a full 12 points behind the division leading Sharks, but are securely in a playoff position.
12. Nashville Predators (-1 spot)
Record: 30-21-3
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (vs. PHX, vs. COL, vs. SJS)
The Predators snapped a five game losing streak by beating the Thrashers on Saturday night. Jason Arnott scored the winner in the third period. The Preds are now 20-3-1 when scoring first.
13. Minnesota Wild (+3 spots)
Record: 27-24-4
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (@ DAL, vs. EDM, vs. PHI)
Havlat is heating up with 8 points in his last 7 games, more of what the Wild were looking for when they signed him to a 6-year, $30 million deal.
14. Philadelphia Flyers (-1 spot)
Record: 27-23-3
Last Week: 1-1-0
Games This Week: (@ CGY, @ EDM, @ MIN)
The Flyers have squeaked into a playoff position under head coach Peter Laviolette. They will need to be consistent to stay alive – there are eight teams in the Eastern Conference within one point of each other, and all are capable of grabbing a playoff spot.
15. Detroit Red Wings (-1 spot)
Record: 26-19-10
Last Week: 1-1-2
Games This Week: (@ SJS, @ ANA, @ LAK)
The Red Wings refuse to fall out of the playoff picture, and are tied for the 8th and final playoff spot with the struggling Calgary Flames. If the Wings are unsuccessful in their attempts, it will be the first time since the 1989-90 season they have missed the playoffs.
16. Anaheim Ducks (-1 spot)
Record: 25-23-7
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (@ FLA, vs. DET, @ LAK)
The Ducks had a busy weekend, signing goaltender Jonas Hiller to a contract extension on Sunday, and dealing J.S. Giguere to the Toronto Maple Leafs for LW Jason Blake and goaltender Vesa Toskala. Hiller will make $18 million over a four year deal.
17. Dallas Stars (+5 spots)
Record: 24-20-11
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. MON, @ CBJ, vs. PHX)
Former Stars coach Dave Tippett returned to Dallas with his new team, the Phoenix Coyotes, and beat the Stars 4-2. Tippett’s .617 winning percentage is the highest for a Dallas coach and he is second in wins with 271.
18. Florida Panthers (+5 spots)
Record: 24-22-9
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. ANA, vs. CGY, @ ATL)
David Booth returned from the IR this week, recording an assist in his first game since October 24th. This is a welcome addition for the Panthers, who will be without Nathan Horton until after the Olympic break.
19. Atlanta Thrashers (+5 spots)
Record: 24-22-8
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. TB, @ WAS, vs. FLA)
Ilya Kovalchuk is not letting the trade speculation affect his on ice performance. He has recorded 11 points in his last 10 games, including two game winners.
20. Calgary Flames (-1 spot)
Record: 27-20-8
Last Week: 1-1-2
Games This Week: (vs. CAR, vs. PHI, @ MIN, @ COL)
Matt Stajan enters the Calgary Flames lineup as their second leading scorer, and Niklas Hagman sits second in goals. The Flames will also see Jamal Mayers and Ian White make their Flames debut Monday night vs. Philadelphia.
BOTTOM 10
21. Boston Bruins (-1 spot)
Record: 23-21-9
Last Week: 0-1-1
Games This Week: (vs. WSH, vs. MON, vs. VAN, @ MON)
The Eastern Conference playoff race is tight – the Bruins sit just two points out of a playoff spot, but are just 1 point ahead of the 13th place New York Islanders.
22. Montreal Canadiens (-4 spots)
Record: 25-25-6
Last Week: 0-2-1
Games This Week: (vs. VAN, @ BOS, vs. PIT, vs. BOS)
Montreal’s playoff hopes took a hit when Mike Cammalleri took a nasty spill into the boards Saturday night in a collision with Anton Volchenkov. He is scheduled for an MRI Monday, but is expected to be out for the season.
23. New York Rangers (-6 spots)
Record: 25-24-7
Last Week: 1-3-0
Games This Week: (@ LAK, vs. WSH, vs. NJD)
The Rangers recently told Ales Kotalik to stay home in anticipation of an impending trade. It looks like the Rangers are about to pull the trigger on a deal that would see Ales Kotalik and Chris Higgins go to the Calgary Flames for Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust.
24. New York Islanders (-3 spots)
Record: 23-25-8
Last Week: 0-4-0
Games This Week: (@ TB, vs. CAR)
John Tavares is in the first goal-scoring slump of his career. The first-overall draft pick has just 1 goal in his last 17 games.
25. St. Louis Blues (+1 spot)
Record: 24-22-9
Last Week: 2-1-1
Games This Week: (@ CHI, vs. SJS, vs. CHI)
In the third period of Saturday night’s game vs. the Predators, Keith Tkachuk became just the fourth player in NHL history to record 2,200 penalty minutes and 1,000 points.
26. Columbus Blue Jackets (+1 spot)
Record: 22-26-9
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (@ COL, vs. DAL, vs. BUF)
Surely everyone in Columbus expected to improve on last season’s 8th place finish, but the Jackets are instead faced with the possibility of a bottom-5 finish and another lottery pick.
27. Tampa Bay Lightning (-2 spots)
Record: 22-21-11
Last Week: 1-1-1
Games This Week: (@ ATL, vs. NYI, vs. CGY)
A change in ownership is imminent in Tampa, as The Hockey News is indicating the NHL is negotiating the sale of the Lightning. If prospective buyer Jeffrey Vinik is successful in purchasing the team, he is expected to try and dump salary, so expect the Vinny Lecavalier rumours to start circulating once again.
28. Carolina Hurricanes (no movement)
Record: 19-28-7
Last Week: 3-0-0
Games This Week: (@ EDM, @ CGY, @ BUF, @ NYI)
The ‘Canes have now won 4 straight, and have jumped into a tie with the Toronto Maple Leafs for last-place in the Eastern Conference. Things may change once they sell off a few valuable deadline assets, however.
29. Toronto Maple Leafs (no movement)
Record: 17-28-11
Last Week: 0-2-1
Games This Week: (vs. NJD, @ NJD, vs. OTT)
Brian Burke shook the hockey world on Sunday by acquiring Dion Phaneuf, Fredrik Sjostrom, Keith Aulie, and J.S. Giguere and trading away Niklas Hagman, Matt Stajan, Ian White, Jamal Mayers, Jason Blake, and Vesa Toskala. As Ron Wilson said, “We are now looking forwards instead of looking back.”
30. Edmonton Oilers (no movement)
Record: 16-31-6
Last Week: 0-3-0
Games This Week: (vs. CAR, vs. PHI, @ MIN, @ COL)
The Oilers have now lost 13 games in a row, one away from the longest losing streak in the history of the franchise. Defenceman Sheldon Souray broke his hand in a fight against Jarome Iginla on Saturday night, which diminishes his chances of being dealt at the deadline.
DK16 on Mon, 1st Feb 2010 5:24 pm
The Kings 11th and the Canucks 4th? You are a moron.
hopelessbudfan on Mon, 1st Feb 2010 9:45 pm
it's not a list of the standings, it's power rankings.