Where do teams stand in the NHL?
Another two weeks of NHL action is in the books – there has been a shakeup in the top 12 in the Power Rankings. One team welcomed back their All-World goaltender and has seen a bump up to top spot while another team lost their keeper for an extended period of time – that team took a major hit in the Rankings.
NHL Lines & Matchup Insight
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So where does your favorite team sit? Let’s break it down in the bi-weekly edition of Dave B’’s NHL Power Rankings.
1. Nashville Predators 35-12-6 (Two Weeks Ago: 2) – The Predators regain top spot this week largely because they weathered a pretty big storm and got their best player Pekka Rinne back from injury. They have won four of their last five games, sit on top of the standings again and once again look like one of the most well-balanced team in the game.
2. Anaheim Ducks 34-13-7 (Two Weeks Ago: 1) – The Ducks slip one spot this week largely because they have looked OK – not great the last two weeks. Still, the Ducks are my pick to win the President’s Trophy – a tremendously tenanted team up front with a scorching Frederik Andersen in goal.
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3. Tampa Bay Lightning 34-16-5 (Two Weeks Ago: 3) – The Lightning have gone 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and are clinging to the Atlantic Division lead with Montreal and Detroit on their heels. The Lightning still have the best offense in the game and have scored 11 more goals than second best St. Louis.
4. St. Louis Blues 34-15-4 (Two Weeks Ago: 6) – The Blues are a bit of a tough team to figure out – they enter the week having lost two straight games – hardly worthy of a top 5 spot in the Rankings – right? Wrong – they are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games overall and they have the second best goal differential in the game. The team has lost just five times in regulation at home this year and has the second best offense in the game – a POWERFUL as there is in the NHL right now.
5. Detroit Red Wings 31-12-9 (Two Weeks Ago: 8) – the Wings are 9-1-0 in their last 10 games overall and now sit in sixth in the NHL Overall standings. With names like Zetterberg and Datsyuk leading the way and Tatar and Nyqvist providing support the Wings look like contenders.
6. Montreal Canadiens 34-15-3 (Two Weeks Ago: 7) – The Habs completed the improbable season sweep of the Bruins on Sunday and have won two straight games heading into the week – a nice bounce back after losing to Buffalo and Arizona last week. We will excuse the brutal losses and focus more on Montreal’s league best 117 goals against.
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7. Chicago Blackhawks 33-18-2 (Two Weeks Ago: 9) – The Hawks went an OK 4-3-0 on a seven game road trip with an impressive 4-2 win against the Blues to cap it off but now have the honor of playing eight straight games at home. The offense has gone cold – Sharp, Toews and Hossa have been silent. I don’t expect that to continue and expect the Hawks to continue to rise in the Rankings.
8. Pittsburgh Penguins 30-15-8 (Two Weeks Ago: 10) – The Penguins have sputtered – 4-4-2 in their last 10 games but with some other top 10 teams struggling they rise two spots. The Pens got Evgeni Malkin back from injury last week which certainly helps. But something seems to be missing on this team – doesn’t it?
9. New York Islanders 34-18-1 (Two Weeks Ago: 4) – The Islanders have finally experienced a drop-off the last two weeks – they are 5-5-0 in their last 10 games overall. The loss of Kyle Okposo really looms large.
10. Washington Capitals 28-16-10 (Two Weeks Ago: 11) – the Capitals looked awful at this time last week but wins over the Kings and Ducks the past seven days has things looking up again in DC. They are just 4-4-2 in their last 10 games but they way they bounced back from an ugly slump showed me that there is indeed some character on this team.
11. New York Rangers 30-16-5 (Two Weeks Ago: 5) – The Rangers lost Henrik Lundqvist for three weeks – possible longer – not good! Can Cam Talbot carry this team? We’ll see!
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12. Boston Bruins 28-18-7 (Two Weeks Ago: 12) – The Bruins have gone 6-3-1 in their last 10 games but enter the week off a humbling home loss to the Canadiens. Still the Bruins are a dangerous team as we head down the stretch – they are deep, they are talented and they all have something to prove after a rather pedestrian first two thirds of the season.
13. San Jose Sharks 28-19-7 (Two Weeks Ago: 15)
14. Minnesota Wild 25-20-6 (Two Weeks Ago: 26)
15. Vancouver Canucks 29-19-3 (Two Weeks Ago: 16)
16. Los Angeles Kings 22-18-12 (Two Weeks Ago: 18)
17. Calgary Flames 29-21-3 (Two Weeks Ago: 14)
18. Winnipeg Jets 27-18-10 (Two Weeks Ago: 13)
19. Dallas Stars 24-21-8 (Two Weeks Ago: 19)
20. Florida Panthers 23-17-11 (Two Weeks Ago: 21)
21. Colorado Avalanche 22-21-11 (Two Weeks Ago: 17)
22. Philadelphia Flyers 23-22-8 (Two Weeks Ago: 24)
23. Carolina Hurricanes 19-26-7 (Two Weeks Ago: 23)
24. New Jersey Devils 21-23-9 (Two Weeks Ago: 22)
25. Columbus Blue Jackets 23-25-3 (Two Weeks Ago: 27)
26. Ottawa Senators 20-22-9 (Two Weeks Ago: 20)
27. Toronto Maple 23-27-4 (Two Weeks Ago: 25)
28. Arizona Coyotes 19-27-7 (Two Weeks Ago: 28)
29. Edmonton Oilers 14-3–9 (Two Weeks Ago: 29)
30. Buffalo Sabres 16-35-3 (Two Weeks Ago: 30)
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