Weekly NHL Power Rankings: Olympic Break Edition
As the three quarter mark of the NHL season hits, we arrive at the highly-anticipated Olympic Games.
As far as elite teams go, the Sharks, Hawks and Capitals have established themselves as the league’s top trio to this point.
The Flyers and Bruins have polished off four-win weeks to find themselves back in the Eastern Conference playoff mix, while the Ducks, Hurricanes, Senators and Blues enjoyed three-win weeks.
It once seemed impossible for the Sabres to surrender the Northwest Division lead, but the Sens have stolen the throne. Of the league’s six divisions, only the Southeast and Central are safely secured.
1. Washington Capitals (no movement)
Record: 41-13-8
Last Week: 0-1-2
The league-best Capitals averaged 4.3 goals for in three games last week, going winless. Alexander Ovechkin sits atop the league with 89 points in 54 games at the Olympic break.
2. Chicago Blackhawks (+1 spot)
Record: 41-15-5
Last Week: 3-0-0
Despite winning both games since trading Cam Barker, the Blackhawks were forced to shed a talented defenseman for cap management purposes.
3. San Jose Sharks (-1 spot)
Record: 40-13-9
Last Week: 2-2-0
Team Canada will depend on San Jose’s number one line for offense in Vancouver, along with five other Sharks Olympians. Heading towards what could be a lengthy playoff run, the Sharks’ top dogs could probably have used the Olympic break to rest but they won’t get that opportunity.
4. New Jersey Devils (no movement)
Record: 37-21-3
Last Week: 1-2-1
Still with only one goal in his stint as a Devil, Kovalchuk has 3 points in his last two games, but the team is just 2-3-1 since adding the Russian superstar.
5. Ottawa Senators (+3 spots)
Record: 36-23-4
Last Week: 3-1-0
A glance at the Northeast Division standings about a month ago and you’d have thought it would take a massive winning streak for any team to catch the Sabres. Well, that’s exactly what it took, as the surging Sens officially surpassed Buffalo on Sunday.
6. Phoenix Coyotes (-1 spot)
Record: 37-21-5
Last Week: 2-2-0
Put your money on Dave Tippett for the Jack Adams trophy, as the Coyotes remain in the upper-third of the Western Conference.
7. Los Angeles Kings (-1 spot)
Record: 37-20-4
Last Week: 1-1-1
Perhaps Drew Doughty was chosen for Team Canada as the seventh defenseman, but he may work his way into a prominent role. Doughty’s 45 points and plus-17 rating, along with his team’s success, put him in contention for the Norris Trophy.
8. Vancouver Canucks (-1 spot)
Record: 37-22-2
Last Week: 2-2-0
Roberto Luongo didn’t strengthen his chance to start for Team Canada with his recent performance — he was chased by Minnesota in a 6-2 defeat.
9. Pittsburgh Penguins (no movement)
Record: 36-22-4
Last Week: 1-0-2
The title of “playmaker” is slowly losing its association with Sidney Crosby, who enters the Olympic break tied with Ovechkin for the league lead in goals with 42.
10. Colorado Avalanche (no movement)
Record: 35-20-6
Last Week: 3-1-0
With 20 goals and 22 assists from Matt Duchene at the Olympic break, the Calder Trophy talk has now shifted from Myers and Tavares to the former Brampton Battalion standout.
MIDDLE 10
11. Buffalo Sabres (no movement)
Record: 33-18-2
Last Week: 1-0-2
Only one victory in seven February games has Sabre fans worrying. Have they finally taken notice that most of the team’s top forwards are scoring below normal levels?
12. Philadelphia Flyers (+7 spots)
Record: 32-25-3
Last Week: 4-0-0
Five goals for Jeff Carter in a four-win week for the Flyers; was his play noticeably elevated because of Olympic injury replacement hopes?
13. Nashville Predators (-1 spot)
Record: 33-23-5
Last Week: 2-1-1
Dan Ellis’ save percentage and goals against average are considerably better than Pekka Rinne’s, but Rinne’s win/loss record is the superior of the two.
14. Anaheim Ducks (+2 spots)
Record: 30-25-7
Last Week: 3-1-0
Now two points removed from 8th in the West, the Ducks will keep their fingers crossed for Ryan Getzlaf to stay healthy. He propelled the Ducks to a 7-3 win over Edmonton on Sunday to confirm his health and will likely play for Team Canada.
15. Detroit Red Wings (+2 spots)
Record: 28-21-12
Last Week: 1-0-2
The Wings sure are happy to have their trusty Mule back in the lineup. Now mostly healthy, there is plenty of time to make a playoff push, as Detroit is currently one point removed from 8th.
16. Dallas Stars (-2 spots)
Record: 28-21-12
Last Week: 2-0-1
Forget how the team is playing, just watch this ridiculous goal by Mike Ribeiro.
17. Calgary Flames (-4 spots)
Record: 30-23-9
Last Week: 1-2-0
With 55 games already under his belt this year, Miikka Kiprusoff heads to Vancouver as the starter for Team Finland.
18. Boston Bruins (+4 spots)
Record: 27-22-11
Last Week: 3-0-0
With 10 fewer starts than Tim Thomas, Tuukka Rask has 14 wins to Thomas’ 13. Rask backstopped the B’s to all four of their consecutive wins this past week and his emergence continues to fuel Tim Thomas trade speculation.
19. Minnesota Wild (-4 spots)
Record: 30-27-4
Last Week: 1-2-0
Bravo to the Wild for adding Cam Barker from the Blackhawks, as he becomes the perfect compliment to Brent Burns and adds a much-needed offensive presence to the blueline. Barker scored in his Minnesota debut during a 6-2 defeat of the Canucks.
20. Montreal Canadiens (no movement)
Record: 29-28-6
Last Week: 1-2-0
Sellers love Pierre Gautier while buyers hate him for the very same reason — Giving up a 2nd rounder for Dominic Moore sets the deadline rental precedent abnormally high for role players.
BOTTOM 10
21. Tampa Bay Lightning (-3 spots)
Record: 26-24-11
Last Week: 1-3-0
As far as Canadians go, only Patrick Marleau and Sidney Crosby have better goal totals than Steven Stamkos this season.
22. St. Louis Blues (+3 spots)
Record: 28-25-9
Last Week: 3-1-0
Three straight wins have the Blues close to the playoffs, but they still ought to sell Tkachuk and Kariya at the deadline.
23. New York Rangers (-2 spots)
Record: 28-27-7
Last Week: 2-1-0
Marian Gaborik was cut on his thigh by the skate of Henrik Lundqvist, forcing him to miss Sunday’s game versus Tampa. The injury comes at the worst time for the Slovakian National Team, who will rely heavily on Gaborik in a difficult pool that also includes Russia and the Czech Republic.
24. Atlanta Thrashers (-1 spot)
Record: 26-24-10
Last Week: 1-0-2
Despite moving two former franchise cornerstones, the Thrashers remain in the thick of it for a playoff spot, only two points removed from 8th.
25. Carolina Hurricanes (+3 spots)
Record: 24-30-7
Last Week: 3-0-0
The Hurricanes sold off Matt Cullen to the Sens, giving them three 2nd round picks for the 2010 draft, with another expected in return for Ray Whitney.
26. Columbus Blue Jackets (-2 spots)
Record: 25-28-10
Last Week: 1-1-1
For a while there it looked like Steve Mason was the next Jim Carey. Back-to-back shutouts versus the Sabres and Sharks should help put an end to those comparisons for now.
27. New York Islanders (+2 spots)
Record: 25-29-8
Last Week: 2-2-0
One of Martin Biron or Dwayne Roloson will be dealt prior to March 3rd. Roloson is having the better statistical season, but Biron’s expiring contract makes him the likely target.
28. Florida Panthers (-2 spots)
Record: 24-27-10
Last Week: 0-2-1
Any speculation is fair speculation regarding the Florida Panthers and potential roster shuffling, as team owners actually posted this letter to the fans as a precursor to some major moves. Although, all they’ve done so far is rob Montreal of a 2nd round pick for Dominic Moore.
29. Toronto Maple Leafs (-2 spots)
Record: 19-31-11
Last Week: 1-2-0
After recalling OHLer Nazem Kadri on an emergency basis for Monday’s game versus the Sharks, Kadri returned to junior and scored 7 points in his next two games. Speaking of badly needing a capable #1 centre, the Leafs are believed to be pursuing Stephen Weiss after proclamations of an impending roster dismantling in Florida.
30. Edmonton Oilers (no movement)
Record: 19-36-6
Last Week: 1-3-0
We offer some hope to fans of the Edmonton Oilers. It won’t be this way for long.
