Weekly NHL Power Rankings: January 18th 2010

Click here to check out last week’s rankings.

The Blackhawks continue to solidify themselves as the best team in the league with a dominant 3-0-0 week.

There is a cold front blowing through Calgary, as the Flames plummet out of our Top-10 after a lackluster week.

The High-Risers of the Week: New York Islanders, Washington Capitals, Nashville Predators, Colorado Avalanche

The Free-Falls of the Week: Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens

TOP 10

1. Chicago Blackhawks (+1 spot)
Record: 34-11-4
Last Week: 3-0-0
Games This Week: (@ OTT, @ CGY, @ VAN)
A league-best 21-5-1 at home this season, the Hawks will look to translate that stellar play to the road, as they play their next six away from the United Center.

2. San Jose Sharks (-1 spot)
Record: 31-10-8
Last Week: 3-0-1
Games This Week: (vs. CGY, @ LAK, vs. ANA, vs. BUF)
Special Teams have been a key for the Sharks this year — 6th in the league on the Powerplay (20%) and 2nd in Penalty Kill (87%).

3. Washington Capitals (+3 spots)
Record: 30-12-6
Last Week: 3-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. DET, @ PIT, vs. PHX)
Alex Ovechkin reached the 30-goal plateau this week and is now on pace to score 56 goals this season despite missing 8 games earlier in the year due to injury. His points-per-game average is tops in the league.

4. New Jersey Devils (-1 spot)
Record: 32-13-1
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (@ NYI, vs. FLA, vs. MTL, @ NYI)
The Devils have feasted on Northeast division opponents this season, going 8-1-0 with their lone loss coming against the Buffalo Sabres.

5. Buffalo Sabres (-1 spot)
Record: 29-11-6
Last Week: 1-0-1
Games This Week: (@ PHX, @ ANA, @ LAK, @ SJS)
With 46 games played so far this year, Tim Connolly has avoided his chronic injury woes (knock on wood). Connolly hasn’t played more than 48 games in a season since 2005-2006.

6. Nashville Predators (+3 spots)
Record: 29-16-3
Last Week: 3-0-0
Games This Week: (vs. TOR, @ PHX, @ COL)
The Preds have a terrific 1a/1b goalie system that has been producing so far. Both Pekka Rinne (28 GP) and Dan Ellis (20 GP) have proven that they are legitimate starters in this league — It is believed GM David Poile will retain only one of his stud netminders, Rinne having the inside track.

7. Colorado Avalanche (+3 spots)
Record: 27-15-6
Last Week: 2-0-0
Games This Week: (vs. EDM, vs. NSH, vs. DAL)
The Avs currently sit two points above the Canucks in the competitive Northwest Division. If they maintain this position till the end of the year, they will earn their first division win since 2002-2003.

8. Vancouver Canucks (-1 spot)
Record: 28-18-2
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (@ EDM, vs. DAL, vs. CHI)
Vancouver endured a wild and controversial week, punctuated by the ground-breaking allegations by Alexandre Burrows on the conduct of Stephane Auger during the Canucks’ 4-3 loss to the Preds.

9. Pittsburgh Penguins (-1 spot)
Record: 30-19-1
Last Week: 2-2-0
Games This Week: (vs. NYI, vs. WSH, @ PHI)
Sidney Crosby is having his most prolific goal-scoring season as an NHLer, already scoring 30 goals and on pace to score 50 for the first time in his career. Crosby has never broken the 40-goal plateau, having scored a career-high 39 in his rookie season.

10. Phoenix Coyotes (+1 spot)
Record: 28-16-5
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. BUF, vs. NSH, @ WSH)
The upstart Yotes will have a litmus test of sorts this week, with games against 3 of the NHL’s top 6 teams: the Sabres, Preds, and Caps.



MIDDLE 10

11. Calgary Flames (-6 spots)
Record: 26-17-6
Last Week: 0-3-1
Games This Week: (@ ANA, vs. CHI)
Calgary has lost their division lead and now are in danger of losing a playoff spot, as the Wings are only 2 points behind them. Rene Bourque has kept up his scoring pace at almost a point a game clip (38 PTS in 42 GP).

12. Los Angeles Kings (+1 spot)
Record: 27-18-3
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. SJS, vs. BUF, @ DET)
21-year-old Wayne Simmonds has enjoyed a tremendous sophomore season so far, recording 26 points and a + 16 while also getting first line duty in the absence of Justin Williams.

13. Detroit Red Wings (-1 spot)
Record: 24-16-8
Last Week: 1-1-2
Games This Week: (@ WSH, @ MIN, vs. LAK)
As we stated in a previous edition of the Power Rankings, the Wings’ propensity to get shutout this season has been so common (7 times in 48 games) that it has now equaled the amount of times they’ve been shut out in the past 3 years (7 times in 246 games).

14. Boston Bruins (no movement)
Record: 23-16-8
Last Week: 1-1-1
Games This Week: (vs. OTT, vs. CLB, vs. OTT, @ CAR)
The Bruins can’t wait long enough for Olympian Patrice Bergeron to return from injury. They’ve lost 4 of their last 5 and are in sore need of scoring punch.

15. Ottawa Senators (+3 spots)
Record: 24-21-4
Last Week: 2-2-0
Games This Week: (@ BOS, vs. CHI, vs. STL, @ BOS)
Playing without three of their top players certainly took a toll on the Sens, but they have survived and seem to be back in form after getting Daniel Alfredsson back from injury.

16. Philadelphia Flyers (-1 spot)
Record: 23-21-3
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (vs. CLB, vs. NYR, vs. CAR, vs. PIT)
On paper the Flyers have all the makings of a successful team: great PP, decent PK, and they are the only non-playoff team to have a plus goal differential. If these trends continue, Philly should be playing post-season hockey.

17. Minnesota Wild (+3 spots)
Record: 24-22-3
Last Week: 2-2-0
Games This Week: (@ DAL, vs. DET, vs. CLB)
Guillaume Latendresse has fit in perfectly with the Wild, recording 19 points in 24 games since the trade from Montreal, including a hat trick last week in a losing effort versus Phoenix.

18. New York Rangers (-1 spot)
Record: 23-19-7
Last Week: 1-2-1
Games This Week: (vs. TAM, @ PHI, @ MTL)
The Rangers shellacked the Canadiens 6-2 on Sunday, including (predictably) three points from Maid Marian. However, for once it was another Ranger — Ryan Callahan — whose four points led the way offensively for the Blueshirts.

19. New York Islanders (+4 spots)
Record: 21-19-8
Last Week: 2-0-0
Games This Week: (vs. NJD, @ PIT, vs. FLA, vs. NJD)
Last year at this point in the season, the Isles had all but 30 points. In one short year their play has improved markedly and they hold the 8th spot in the East.

20. Atlanta Thrashers (+2 spots)
Record: 21-19-7
Last Week: 2-0-1
Games This Week: (@ FLA, vs. TOR, vs. CAR, @ TAM)
Atlanta went 21 games where they did not record a regulation win (they won some games in OT but still…) until they beat Ottawa 6-1 this month. Kovalchuk continues to produce while trade deadline day approaches.



BOTTOM 10

21. Dallas Stars (-5 spots)
Record: 20-17-11
Last Week: 1-3-0
Games This Week: (vs. MIN, @ VAN, @ EDM, @ COL)
In the standings the Stars look pretty good with 51 points thus far and a chance at the playoffs. In reality, they’ve only won 20 of 48 games. Management will almost certainly let Marty Turco walk via free agency.

22. Montreal Canadiens (-3 spots)
Record: 23-23-4
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (vs. STL, @ NJD, @ NYR)
Jaroslav Halak continues to display his skill by outplaying Carey Price in Montreal, but a two goalie system is still firmly in place… until a trade at least.

23. St. Louis Blues (+2 spots)
Record: 21-19-7
Last Week: 2-0-0
Games This Week: (@ CBJ, @ MTL, @ OTT, vs. ANA)
A four-game win streak has kept playoff aspirations alive in St. Louis, but offensive production must improve if the Blues expect to go anywhere — Brad Boyes leads the team with only 31 points in 48 games.

24. Anaheim Ducks (-3 spots)
Record: 22-20-7
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. BUF, @ SJS, @ STL)
The Ducks remain playoff outsiders and still seek to find their identity this season after going through several winning and losing spurts. Losing Teemu Selanne to a fractured jaw won’t help their cause.

25. Florida Panthers (+2 spots)
Record: 20-20-8
Last Week: 2-0-1
Games This Week: (vs. ATL, @ NJD, @ NYI, vs. TOR)
Florida has been keeping pace and sit only 2 points out of 8th place in the East. Most of their success can be attributed to the phenomenal play of Tomas Vokoun.

26. Tampa Bay Lightning (-2 spots)
Record: 18-19-10
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (@ CAR, @ NYR, vs. TOR, vs. ATL)
The Lightning made a major lineup shuffle in attempt to find some chemistry that could lead to more consistent play. The new lines may need more time to mesh as they lost two games to the Panthers last week.

27. Columbus Blue Jackets (-1 spot)
Record: 18-23-9
Last Week: 0-3-0
Games This Week: (vs. STL, @ PHI, @ BOS, @ MIN)
None of the Blue Jackets top 3 lines have a + player this season. R.J. Umberger has been the worst at a -15, but his 32 points have been a good distractor thus far.

28. Toronto Maple Leafs (no movement)
Record: 16-24-9
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (@ NAS, @ ATL, @ TAM, @ FLA)
The league’s worst PK continues to get worse. Now at an atrocious 68.6%, the Leafs are a full 7% behind the second worst PK in Edmonton and historically have the 3rd worst PK of all-time. Only the 79-80 and 82-83 Kings had worse penalty killing.

29. Carolina Hurricanes (+1 spot)
Record: 14-26-7
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (vs. TAM, @ ATL, @ PHI, vs. BOS)
The unthinkable has happened: the Canes have actually moved out of the cellar of our Power Rankings. With their decent play of late, they have avoided labels of having an “Absolutely Terrible” season to having just a “Really Bad” season.

30. Edmonton Oilers (-1 spot)
Record: 16-26-5
Last Week: 0-3-0
Games This Week: (@ COL, vs. VAN, vs. DAL)
The “Fall for Hall” continues as the Oilers have slumped to within 2 points of last place overall in the NHL thanks to their current 7-game losing streak. The Oil will look to get back in the win column against the Avs this week.

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