Weekly NHL Power Rankings: February 8th, 2010
Click here to check out last week’s rankings.
The Washington Capitals retain the top spot this week thanks to their incredible 14-game winning streak.
Will the Kovalchuk trade vault the Devils to the top of the rankings later in the season?
While the Sens’ streak finally comes to an end, the Kings keep on rolling with 9 straight wins.
This week’s biggest jumps: Tampa Bay Lightning, Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings
This week’s biggest slumps: Florida Panthers, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres
1. Washington Capitals (no movement)
Record: 41-12-6
Last Week: 4-0-0
Games This Week: (@ MTL, @ OTT, @ STL)
The Caps’ amazing run continued after their thrilling 5-4 win over the Pens on Sunday. During their 14 game streak, Washington has scored an average of 4.85 goals-per-game, and Alex Ovechkin has 30 points (15 G, 15 A).
2. San Jose Sharks (no movement)
Record: 38-11-9
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (@ TOR, @ CLB, @ DET, @ BUF)
As good as San Jose has been this year, it’s hard to believe that at this point in the season last year they had a better record (41-8-9) than their current record (38-11-9). Evgeni Nabokov is on pace to record his 3rd straight 40+ win season.
3. Chicago Blackhawks (no movement)
Record: 38-15-5
Last Week: 1-1-1
Games This Week: (vs. DAL, vs. ATL, @ CLB)
Centreman Dave Bolland returned from the IR and has been slotted on a line with Marian Hossa and Andrew Ladd.
4. New Jersey Devils (+1 spot)
Record: 36-19-2
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (@ PHI, vs. PHI, vs. NSH, @ CAR)
As the winners of the Ilya Kovalchuk Lottery, the Devils have received one of the best players in the world, who undeniably makes them one of the leading contenders to take home the cup in June.
5. Phoenix Coyotes (+2 spots)
Record: 35-19-5
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. EDM, @ MIN, @ COL, vs. DAL)
Barring a reprisal of last year’s second-half meltdown, the Coyotes are all but assured a spot in the postseason. Their strength will come from their back-end as D Keith Yandle and G Ilya Bryzgalov are having career years.
6. Los Angeles Kings (+5 spots)
Record: 36-19-3
Last Week: 3-0-0
Games This Week: (@ ANA, vs. EDM, vs. COL)
Currently on a 9-game win streak, the Kings are on pace for one of their best seasons in franchise history. Goalie Jon Quick (34 Wins) is also on the verge of breaking the team record for wins in a season currently held by Mario Lessard, who had 35 wins in the 1980-1981 season.
7. Vancouver Canucks (-3 spots)
Record: 35-20-2
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (@ TAM, @ FLA, @ CLB, @ MIN)
Time will tell how much the Canucks’ mammoth 14-game road trip will affect them this season. Roberto Luongo (2.32 GAA, .920 SV%) is hitting his stride just in time for the Olympics, where Canada will count on him and Martin Brodeur to anchor the county’s quest for Gold.
8. Ottawa Senators (+1 spot)
Record: 33-22-4
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. CGY, vs. WSH, @ DET, @ NYI)
The Sens’ 11 game win streak was snapped by the Leafs on Saturday, but thanks to the Sabres’ poor play of late, Ottawa has moved to within 1 point of the Northeast Division lead.
9. Pittsburgh Penguins (-1 spot)
Record: 35-22-2
Last Week: 1-1-1
Games This Week: (vs. NYI, vs. NYR, vs. NSH)
The Pens remain winless against Washington this season after Sunday’s 5-4 loss. Evgeni Malkin has scored well below his pace of a season ago. Through 51 GP: 2008-2009 – 75 PTS, 2009-2010 – 59 PTS.
10. Colorado Avalanche (no movement)
Record: 32-19-6
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. STL, vs. ATL, vs. PHX, @ LAK)
Despite the Avs’ success this season, Paul Stastny, Peter Budaj and Ruslan Salei will be the team’s only exports to the 2010 Olympic Games. Colorado sits comfortably in a playoff spot alongside perennial contenders who have several players going to the Olympic Games: San Jose (8), Vancouver (7), Chicago (6).
MIDDLE 10
11. Buffalo Sabres (-5 spots)
Record: 32-18-7
Last Week: 0-4-0
Games This Week: (vs. BOS, @ CAR, vs. SJS)
The Sabres’ recent four-game slide has been the only blemish on an otherwise terrific season thus far. Thomas Vanek has seemed to have lost his goal scoring touch (17 G) and is unlikely to reach the 30-goal plateau that he’s acheived the past three seasons.
12. Nashville Predators (no movement)
Record: 31-22-4
Last Week: 1-1-1
Games This Week: (@ NYI, @ NYR, @ NJD, @ PIT)
Cody Franson will miss several weeks with a broken rib, but the Preds’ problems lie in their offensive ineptitude. Their leading scorer, Patric Hornqvist, only has 36 points, which is good for 89th in the league.
13. Calgary Flames (+7 spots)
Record: 29-21-9
Last Week: 2-1-1
Games This Week: (@ OTT, vs. DAL, vs. ANA)
Olli Jokinen was the next Flame to be shipped out after Phaneuf was traded earlier in the week to the Leafs. Calgary is hoping Chris Higgins and Ales Kotalik can find their legs and contribute.
14. Dallas Stars (+3 spots)
Record: 26-21-11
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (@ CHI, @ CGY, @ PHX)
Mark Fistric is a positive anomaly for the Dallas Stars. While most of the Stars’ key players are mired in a poor plus/minus rating (Richards [-11], Ott [-13], Niskanen [-7]), Fistric sits leaps and bounds above his teammates with a plus-15 rating.
15. Minnesota Wild (-2 spots)
Record: 29-25-4
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. PHX, vs. ATL, vs. VAN)
The Wild currently have almost the same record they did at this point last year. However, that may not be a good omen, as they missed the playoffs last season, which most likely will be the case again this year.
16. Anaheim Ducks (no movement)
Record: 27-24-7
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. LAK, vs. EDM, @ CGY, @ EDM)
The Post-Giguere days in Anaheim have had their ups and downs; Jonas Hiller played great in games against Florida and Detroit, but then allowed 6 goals on 31 shots and against the Kings later in the week.
17. Detroit Red Wings (-2 spots)
Record: 27-21-10
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (@ STL, vs. SJS, vs. OTT)
After pre-season predictions of a run at the Calder Trophy, expectations may have been a little too high for speedy winger Ville Leino, as the Wings shipped him to Philly for Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and a 5th round pick.
18. Tampa Bay Lightning (+9 spots)
Record: 25-21-11
Last Week: 3-0-0
Games This Week: (vs. VAN, vs. BOS, @ NYI, @ NYR)
Tampa Bay has three less wins than Philadelphia but nevertheless sit ahead of them in the standings, due to extra time losses.
19. Philadelphia Flyers (-5 spots)
Record: 28-25-3
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (vs. NJD, @ NJD, vs. MTL, @ MTL)
With the talent on Philadelphia’s team, many predicted they would be contending for the President’s Trophy right now (…including us), rather than fighting for a playoff spot.
20. Montreal Canadiens (+2 spots)
Record: 28-26-6
Last Week: 3-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. WSH, @ PHI, vs. PHI)
Carey Price seems to be the odd goalie out in Montreal, as Jaroslav Halak has taken the bulk of the starts recently. Price can command some decent return, especially in time for a stretch tun to the playoffs.
BOTTOM 10
21. New York Rangers (+2 spots)
Record: 26-26-7
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (vs. NSH, @ PIT, vs. TAM)
The Rangers and Olli “Baby Face” Jokinen seem to be a good fit thus far, as the Rangers beat the Devils and lost narrowly to the streaking Caps and Kings after their trade with the Flames.
22. Boston Bruins (-1 spot)
Record: 24-22-11
Last Week: 1-1-2
Games This Week: (@ BUF, @ TAM, @ FLA)
The Bruins finally ended the grueling 10-game winless streak with a 3-0 win over the Habs on Sunday. Tim Thomas has been mentioned more and more in trade talks as the deadline approaches, not even one year after signing a 4-year extension for 20 million dollars.
23. Atlanta Thrashers (-4 spots)
Record: 25-24-8
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (@ COL, @ MIN, @ CHI)
The Thrashers got an immediate return on their trade with the Devils; Newly acquired Niclas Bergfors scored the game-winning goal in Atlanta’s 4-2 win over the Panthers.
24. Columbus Blue Jackets (+2 spots)
Record: 24-27-9
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. SJS, vs. VAN, vs. CHI)
Columbus has turned around its play, enough to keep them hanging around the playoff mix for the time being. While many are speculating they will be sellers at the deadline, GM Scott Howson has been adamant that he will not trade coveted forward R.J. Umberger.
25. St. Louis Blues (no movement)
Record: 25-24-9
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (@ COL, vs. DET, vs. TOR, vs. WSH)
After scoring 43 and 33 goals respectively in the past two seasons, Brad Boyes has scored just 10 this year.
26. Florida Panthers (-8 spots)
Record: 24-25-9
Last Week: 0-3-0
Games This Week: (@ CAR, vs. VAN, vs. BOS)
Florida has been a model of mediocrity the past few seasons, hovering around the .500 mark or falling just short of the playoffs. This season has been no different, but David Booth hopes to help his team into a playoff position after returning from injury.
27. Toronto Maple Leafs (+2 spots)
Record: 18-29-11
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. SJS, @ STL)
J.S. Giguere became the first goalie in Maple Leafs history to record a shutout in his first two games as a Leaf, after blanking the Sens 5-0. It was a bittersweet victory for the Leafs, as just 24 hours earlier it was discovered that Brian Burke’s son Brendan had been involved in a fatal car accident.
28. Carolina Hurricanes (no movement)
Record: 21-30-7
Last Week: 2-2-0
Games This Week: (vs. FLA, vs. BUF, vs. NJD)
Eric Staal had a tough night against the Flames this week, giving Canadians yet another iconic image a bloodied warrior.
29. New York Islanders (-5 spots)
Record: 23-27-8
Last Week: 0-2-0
Games This Week: (vs. NSH, @ PIT, vs. TAM, vs. OTT)
The Isles have been worse with Rick DiPietro back in the mix. They may need more time to adjust, but his numbers have not been outstanding (2-5-0, 2.60 GAA, .900 SV%)
30. Edmonton Oilers (no movement)
Record: 18-33-6
Last Week: 2-2-0
Games This Week: (@ PHX, @ DAL, @ LAK, vs. ANA)
It is almost a foregone conclusion that the Oilers will be in the Lottery of the NHL Draft in June. Several key injuries mixed with a lack of cohesion most nights is a recipe for failure.
