Weekly NHL Power Rankings: November 23rd 2009
Click here to see last week’s rankings.
The Chicago Blackhawks continue to dominate their opponents, and after two consecutive perfect weeks they take the number 1 spot.
The Blue Jackets sneak into the Top 10 this week after 2 regulation wins and a shootout loss.
The once-mighty Avalanche have slowed down considerably and may be out of a playoff spot soon.
Biggest jumps of the week: Florida, Nashville, Ottawa
Biggest free-falls of the week: Atlanta, New York Islanders, New York Rangers
TOP 10
1. Chicago Blackhawks (+2 spots)
Record: 15-5-2
Last Week: 3-0-0
Games This Week: (@ SJS, @ ANA, @ LAK)
The Blackhawks are currently on a 7 game winning streak, including a 7-1 victory over Calgary. 40-goal man Marian Hossa is expected to make his return to the lineup on Wednesday vs. San Jose. How much better can the Hawks get?
2. San Jose Sharks (no movement)
Record: 16-5-4
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. CHI, @ EDM, @ VAN)
Joe Thornton earned his 600th assist this week, and San Jose’s top line of Thornton, Heatley and Marleau looks absolutely deadly. Just wait until these three take to the ice together as Team Canada’s second line.
3. New Jersey Devils (-2 spots)
Record: 14-6-1
Last Week: 0-2-1
Games This Week: (vs. OTT, @ BOS, vs. NYI)
At this point last week, the Devils were unbeaten on the road. That streak ended this week with 2 regulation losses and a shootout loss all while away from home.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (+1 spot)
Record: 15-8-0
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (@ FLA, vs. MON, @ NYI, vs. NYR)
The Penguins somehow find a way to win with 5 of their top 6 defenceman on the injured reserve for most of the week. They got a boost on the weekend with the return of Sergei Gonchar.
5. Calgary Flames (no movement) (-1 spot)
Record: 13-6-2
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (@ ANA, vs. PHX, @ DET, @CLB)
Jarome Iginla is on pace for a career high in goals, as he carries the Calgary Flames on his back.
6. Washington Capitals (no movement)
Record: 13-5-5
Last Week: 1-1-1
Games This Week: (@ OTT, vs. BUF, @ MON)
Ovechkin doesn’t look like his usual self, and the Caps lose Semin to a wrist injury. The Caps finished off a mediocre week with a shootout loss to the league-worst Toronto Maple Leafs.
7. Colorado Avalanche (no movement)
Record: 13-7-3
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (vs. PHI, vs. NAS, @ MIN, vs. MIN)
It looks like the honeymoon is over in Colorado, as the Avs have lost 5 of their last 6 games, and are barely hanging on to the Northwest Division lead.
8. Philadelphia Flyers (+1 spots)
Record: 12-7-1
Last Week: 2-2-0
Games This Week: (@ COL, @ NYI, vs. BUF, @ ATL)
The Flyers continue to play well with a healthy amount of young prospects inserted into their lineup. With 4 games this week against teams that are either below them in the standings or appear to be losing ground, look for the Flyers to move up in the Atlantic division.
9. Columbus Blue Jackets (+3 spots)
Record: 12-6-3
Last Week: 2-0-1
Games This Week: (@ NYR, @ MTL, @ OTT, vs. CAL)
The Jackets did well this week, and now sit 9th in points in the entire league. Steve Mason has yet to record a shutout this season after winning the Calder Trophy with 10 in 2008-09.
10. Detroit Red Wings (no movement)
Record: 11-6-4
Last Week: 1-1-1
Games This Week: (@ NAS, vs. ATL, vs. CAL, @ STL)
An average week for the Red Wings, and an average week for Henrik Zetterberg. Coincidence?
MIDDLE 10
11. Tampa Bay Lightning (+4 spots)
Record: 9-5-7
Last Week: 2-1-1
Games This Week: (vs. TOR, vs. NYR, @ DAL)
Steven Stamkos is looking more and more like a lock for Team Canada every game. Check out his highlight reel goal from Thursday night vs. Anaheim.
12. Dallas Stars (+4 spots)
Record: 10-6-6
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. CAR, vs. STL, @ PHX, vs. TBL)
A strong week for the Stars as they beat two solid teams in the Red Wings and Devils. 7.8 million dollar man Brad Richards is putting up points at a furious rate, banking 4 assists against New Jersey on Saturday night.
13. Phoenix Coyotes (+4 spots)
Record: 13-9-1
Last Week: 2-1-1
Games This Week: (@ EDM, @ CAL, vs. DAL, @ ANA)
Dave Tippett is settling into his role as head coach very nicely, leading the ‘Yotes to 10th overall in the NHL.
14. Ottawa Senators (+6 spots)
Record: 11-6-3
Last Week: 3-0-0
Games This Week: (vs. WAS, @ NJD, vs. CBJ, @ BOS)
The Sens have a perfect week, beating the Leafs, Penguins and Sabres. Pascal Leclaire looks like the goalie Ottawa traded for, playing in all three wins last week.
15. Nashville Predators (+7 spots)
Record: 12-8-1
Last Week: 3-0-0
Games This Week: (vs. DET, @ COL, vs. STL, vs. FLA)
The Preds extend their winning streak to 5 games, even taking down the San Jose Sharks this week. Pekka Rinne has played every game of this current win streak, and has a .937 save percentage over the span.
16. Florida Panthers (+8 spots)
Record: 10-9-2
Last Week: 3-0-1
Games This Week: (vs. PIT, vs. NYR, vs. TOR, @ NAS)
A very impressive week for the Panthers, who are now unbeaten in regulation in their last six games. Tomas Vokoun is doing his part with a .935 save percentage last week.
17. Los Angeles Kings (-3 spots)
Record: 13-9-2
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (@ EDM, @ VAN, vs. CHI)
The Kings learned this week that they will be without Ryan Smyth until early December. Anze Kopitar continues to lead the league in points, but let’s see if he can keep up his pace without Smyth.
18. Buffalo Sabres (-9 spots)
Record: 12-6-2
Last Week: 0-2-1
Games This Week: (@ WAS, @ PHI, vs. CAR)
The Sabres lost all three of their games last week, including a 6-2 shellacking by the Florida Panthers. Ryan Miller looked human, giving up 7 goals and a .853 save percentage.
19. Montreal Canadiens (+6 spots)
Record: 11-11-1
Last Week: 2-0-1
Games This Week: (vs. CBJ, @ PIT, @ WAS)
The Canadiens stay at .500 this week with wins over Carolina and Washington. Brian Gionta is out indefinitely with a broken foot, but Montreal seems to be managing without their top line Right Winger.
20. Boston Bruins (+1 spots)
Record: 10-8-4
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (@ STL, @ MIN, vs. NJD, vs. OTT)
The Bruins got Milan Lucic back this week, and he takes an unfamiliar spot on the third line. Boston still doesn’t look like the team they did last year, but their record is slowly starting to improve.
BOTTOM 10
21. St. Louis Blues (+6 spots)
Record: 8-8-4
Last Week: 2-0-0
Games This Week: (vs. BOS, @ DAL, @ NAS, vs. DET)
Back-to-back wins against the Coyotes and Islanders help the Blues move up the rankings this week. David Perron’s beautiful goal the other night made the win that much sweeter.
22. Atlanta Thrashers (-11 spots)
Record: 10-7-3
Last Week: 0-1-2
Games This Week: (@ DET, @ CAR, vs. PHI)
After moving up 12 spots in last week’s rankings, the Thrashers failed to win this week. Despite only recording one assist, Rich Peverley sits 16th in league scoring, ahead of Ilya Kovalchuk.
23. New York Rangers (-9 spots)
Record: 11-10-1
Last Week: 0-2-0
Games This Week: (vs. CBJ, @ FLA, @ TBL, @ PIT)
An ugly week for the Rangers, losing to the Capitals and Panthers in regulation. With 4 games this week, let’s hope this isn’t the start of a losing streak.
24. New York Islanders (-10 spots)
Record: 8-8-7
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (@ TOR, vs. PHI, vs. PIT, @ NJD)
The Islanders can’t win when John Tavares is quiet, and 0 points and -2 is pretty quiet.
25. Vancouver Canucks (-3 spots)
Record: 12-11-0
Last Week: 1-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. LAK, vs. EDM)
The return of Daniel Sedin wasn’t enough to vault the Canucks to a win, as they lost a snoozer to the Blackhawks 1-0 on Sunday night.
26. Edmonton Oilers (-1 spots)
Record: 9-11-3
Last Week: 1-1-1
Games This Week: (vs. PHX, vs. LAK, vs. SJS, @ VAN)
A Western road trip has the Oilers hoping they can turn their abysmal 2-7-2 road record around.
27. Anaheim Ducks (no movement)
Record: 7-11-3
Last Week: 1-2-0
Games This Week: (vs. CAL, vs. CAR, vs. CHI, vs. PHX)
Is Randy Carlyle’s job on the line yet? The talented Ducks can’t seem to play with any consistency, and a legitimate goaltending controversy is brewing in Anaheim.
28. Carolina Hurricanes (+2 spots)
Record: 5-12-5
Last Week: 2-0-1
Games This Week: (@ DAL, @ ANA, vs. ATL, @ BUF)
Carolina ends their 14-game losing streak and escapes the week without a regulation loss, beating Montreal, Toronto and Tampa Bay in the process.
29. Minnesota Wild (-1 spots)
Record: 8-12-2
Last Week: 1-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. BOS, vs. COL, @ COL)
Todd Richards’ new offensive system has the Wild 23rd in the league with 53 goals for.
30. Toronto Maple Leafs (-1 spot)
Record: 4-11-6
Last Week: 1-1-1
Games This Week: (vs. NYI, @ TBL, @ FLA)
Panicked fans in Toronto were treated to a shootout win over the Capitals on Saturday night. With their next three games against mediocre opponents, the Leafs have a chance to string together some victories.
Be sure to check back every Monday morning for the Power Rankings.
