Weekly NHL Power Rankings: November 30th 2009
You can check out last week’s power rankings here.
The Predators have climbed 15 spots in two weeks, and find themselves among the elite this week in the top-10.
A nearly perfect week for the Anaheim Ducks gives us an indication that Carlyle’s team isn’t yet ready to quit on their playoff aspirations. Another piece or two and the Ducks could be a very dangerous team.
A great deal of movement amongst the bottom-20 teams this week, as hot teams have gone cold, and average teams have picked it up.
TOP 10
1. Chicago Blackhawks (no movement)
Record: 16-6-3
Last Week: 1-1-1
Games This Week: (vs. CBJ, vs. NSH, @ PIT)
Perhaps the team sighed a bit too heavily with Marian Hossa’s return, as the Hawks went 1-1-1 last week, having their 8-game winning streak snapped in the process.
2. San Jose Sharks (no movement)
Record: 18-6-4
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. OTT, vs. STL, vs. CGY)
I guess you don’t need secondary scoring when your first line is on pace to score a combined 294 points.
3. New Jersey Devils (no movement)
Record: 17-6-1
Last Week: 3-0-0
Games This Week: (vs. VAN, vs. TB, vs. DET)
Pleasant surprise David Clarkson has been sidelined for 4-6 weeks, but the Devils will manage, especially since Patrick Elias has taken no time to heat up since his season debut, with 10 points in 10 games.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (no movement)
Record: 18-9-0
Last Week: 3-1-0
Games This Week: (@ NYR, vs. COL, vs. CHI)
Whether or not Malkin’s presence has been the catalyst, Sidney Crosby is once again scoring at an elite pace, highlighted by a 5-point hat trick effort vs. the Rangers. It happened to be hat night.
5. Calgary Flames (no movement)
Record: 16-6-3
Last Week: 3-0-1
Games This Week: (@ NSH, @ PHX, @SJS)
Jarome Iginla is on pace for 52 goals, and he’s our early pick for the Hart Trophy.
6. Washington Capitals (no movement)
Record: 15-5-6
Last Week: 2-0-1
Games This Week: (@ CAR, vs. FLA, @ PHI)
The East-leading Caps are getting solid goaltending from Simeon Varlamov, who is quietly at the head of the pack for Calder consideration (10-1-2, .919, 2.39).
7. Nashville Predators (+8 spots)
Record: 15-9-1
Last Week: 3-1-0
Games This Week: (vs. CGY, @ MIN, @ CHI, vs. MIN)
The Preds are hot, winning three more games last week — and they’re doing it by committee offensively. Goaltending isn’t hurting them either, as Pekka Rinne looks poised to win a spot on Team Finland.
8. Tampa Bay Lightning (+3 spots)
Record: 10-6-8
Last Week: 1-1-1
Games This Week: (vs. COL, @ BOS, @, NJD, vs. NYI)
Defenseman Kurtis Foster is being utilized on the powerplay and the fourth line after being a healthy scratch earlier in the year.
9. Colorado Avalanche (-2 spots)
Record: 14-8-5
Last Week: 1-1-2
Games This Week: (@ TB, @ FLA, @ PIT, @ CBJ)
Now holding their playoff spot by a mere four points, it appears the slumping Avs will be more concerned with making the playoffs before aspirations of winning the Northwest division come back into focus.
10. Philadelphia Flyers (-2 spots)
Record: 12-10-1
Last Week: 1-3-0
Games This Week: (vs. VAN, vs. WSH)
Philly has 1 win in their last 6, and currently sit 9 points back of the Atlantic division lead.
MIDDLE 10
11. Dallas Stars (+1 spot)
Record: 12-7-7
Last Week: 2-1-1
Games This Week: (@ DET, vs. ANA, vs. EDM)
Another solid week for Dallas who are sitting seventh in the West thanks largely to Marty Turco’s resurgence.
12. Ottawa Senators (+2 spots)
Record: 13-7-4
Last Week: 2-1-1
Games This Week: (@ SJS, @ LA, @ PHX)
To the surprise of many, the Senators are neck and neck (and neck) with Boston and Buffalo for the Northeast division lead. Mike Fisher is outperforming Jason Spezza, and his numbers back that up, as Fisher has scored 21 points in 22 games.
13. Boston Bruins (+7 spots)
Record: 13-8-5
Last Week: 3-0-1
Games This Week: (vs. TBL, @ MTL, vs. TOR)
The Bruins were back in full health last week until Milan Lucic suffered another injury (ankle) which will keep him out for another four weeks. On the bright side, the once battered Bruins find themselves competing for the Northeast division lead with Marc Savard now back in the fold.
14. Atlanta Thrashers (+8 spots)
Record: 13-7-3
Last Week: 3-0-0
Games This Week: (@ DET, @ CAR, vs. PHI)
The theme of Atlanta’s season thus far must be ‘pleasant surprises’, as Rich Peverly continues to find the scoresheet with 26 points to lead the team, while Tobias Enstrom is among the league leaders in defenseman scoring. Oh, forgot to mention Buffalo castoff Maxim Afinogenov, who has 24 points in 23 games.
15. Columbus Blue Jackets (-6 spots)
Record: 12-9-4
Last Week: 0-3-1
Games This Week: (vs. STL, @ CHI, vs. TOR, vs. COL)
Despite a relatively good team standing, Steve Mason’s sophomore slump continues, with a goals against over three and save percentage under .900.
16. Buffalo Sabres (+2 spots)
Record: 14-7-2
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (@ TOR, vs. MTL, vs. NYR)
The Sabres have successfully integrated rookie defensemen Chris Butler and Tyler Myers into the lineup with winning results.
17. Los Angeles Kings (no movement)
Record: 15-10-2
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (@ ANA, vs. OTT, vs. STL)
The Kings took down the surging Chicago Blackhawks, who until that point were winners of 8 straight.
18. Detroit Red Wings (-8 spots)
Record: 12-9-4
Last Week: 1-3-0
Games This Week: (vs. DAL, vs. EDM, @ NJD)
The Wings were shut out in back-to-back home games last week. Without several key players (Filppula, Franzen, Kronwall), the Wings are missing the depth factor and have subsequently fallen to the middle of the pack.
19. Phoenix Coyotes (-6 spots)
Record: 15-11-1
Last Week: 2-2-0
Games This Week: (vs. CGY, vs. OTT)
How is this team winning games? Lauri Korpikoski and Jim Vandermeer each had a two-goal game in Coyotes victories last week, which illustrates how much the offense has been spread around this year in the desert.
20. Anaheim Ducks (+7 spots)
Record: 10-11-4
Last Week: 3-0-1
Games This Week: (vs. LA, @ DAL, @ MIN, vs. OTT)
Finally, the Ducks have a week that reflects their talent, going undefeated in four games, including a 3-0 dismantling of the mighty Blackhawks, as J.S. Giguere picked up the shutout.
BOTTOM 10
21. Vancouver Canucks (+5 spots)
Record: 14-12-0
Last Week: 2-1-0
Games This Week: (@ NJD, @ PHI, @ CAR)
Henrik must have swapped skates with Daniel, as the playmaking twin is on pace for 44 goals which is double his career high, while Daniel is on pace for 8 goals.
22. St. Louis Blues (no movement)
Record: 10-9-5
Last Week: 2-1-1
Games This Week: (@ CBJ, @ SJS, @ LA)
While the Blues remain afloat in the Western conference, Erik Johnson’s team-leading 17 points is very problematic, considering how many talented forwards the Blues have.
23. New York Rangers (+1 spot)
Record: 13-12-1
Last Week: 2-2-0
Games This Week: (vs. PIT, @ BUF, vs. NYR)
A .500 week for the Blueshirts, which will be best remembered for surrendering a hat trick to Sid the Kid in an 8-3 loss.
24. Montreal Canadiens (-5 spots)
Record: 12-12-2
Last Week: 1-1-1
Games This Week: (vs. TOR, @ BUF, vs. BOS)
Tomas Plekanec is once again scoring close to a point per game, and will likely be one of the most hotly pursued centres if he hits the free agent market in July 2010.
25. New York Islanders (no movement)
Record: 10-10-7
Last Week: 2-2-0
Games This Week: (@ ATL, @ TBL)
The Isles would have been 1-3 last week if not for Dwayne Roloson’s heroic 61 save effort vs. the Maple Leafs which allowed the Islanders to come away victorious.
26. Florida Panthers (-8 spots)
Record: 10-11-4
Last Week: 0-2-2
Games This Week: (@ ATL, vs. COL, @ WSH, vs. ATL )
Nathan Horton is producing regularly after a very slow start, but the Cats need more contributions from Michael Frolik, who has just 12 points in 25 games.
27. Minnesota Wild (+2 spots)
Record: 10-12-3
Last Week: 2-0-1
Games This Week: (@ LA, @ ANA, vs. LA)
Martin Havlat’s recent hamstring injury has been met with indifference from fans, as the Wild’s major summer addition has produced only 8 points in 19 games and is a minus-14.
28. Toronto Maple Leafs (+2 spots)
Record: 6-11-7
Last Week: 2-0-1
Games This Week: (vs. BUF, @ MTL, @ CBJ, @ BOS)
The Leafs scored 13 goals in 3 contests last week, thanks to Niklas Hagman and Phil Kessel, who are now on pace for 46 and 47 goals respectively.
29. Edmonton Oilers (-2 spots)
Record: 10-13-4
Last Week: 1-2-1
Games This Week: (@ DET, @ DAL)
With the news of Ales Hemsky’s impending season-ending surgery, the Oilers’ hope for a playoff spot just took a major hit.
30. Carolina Hurricanes (-2 spots)
Record: 5-16-5
Last Week: 0-4-0
Games This Week: (vs. WSH, @ VAN)
After going 3-0-1 two weeks ago, Carolina is back in the basement thanks to four straight losses. The Canes now trail the Maple Leafs by four points and are still without #1 netminder Cam Ward.
Be sure to check back every monday for the Power Rankings.
Steve on Mon, 30th Nov 2009 6:26 pm
love me some power rankings!