NHL Power Rankings: February 17th, 2011: Vol. 8
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NHL Power Ratings
Comebacks are the main theme in these week’s NHL power rankings. A few teams that seemed down for the count are making surprising surges up the standings.
(Previous rankings in brackets)
1. (1) Vancouver Canucks (37-12-9): How good are the Canucks? You could make a case that all three Hart Trophy nominees could come from this team: Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler.
2. (2) Philadelphia Flyers (38-14-5): In the elite class with Vancouver for sure but the Flyers still have needs to address. Kris Versteeg only strengthened them where they were already strong. Look for them to ship out a forward for defense and/or goaltending help.
3. (5) Detroit Red Wings (34-16-6): Could get passed by hard-charging teams like Phoenix but the Wings’ hold on their own division seems pretty safe.
4. (22) Phoenix Coyotes (30-19-9): Five straight wins. What is it with hockey players responding to players-only meetings? Atta boy, Shane Doan.
5. (13) Los Angeles Kings (32-22-3): Here they come. The Kings are 8-0-2 over their last 10 and this hot streak shouldn’t stop any time soon.
6. (4) San Jose Sharks (31-21-6): is it possible that Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley entered the bizarro world and are saving their best for the playoffs for a change?
7. (3) Tampa Bay Lightning (34-17-6): The Lightning look safe to make the playoffs but it’s still hard to trust them to make a deep run when aging Dwayne Roloson is so inconsistent in goal.
8. (15) New Jersey Devils (23-30-4): Yep. I went there. This is what power rankings are for. Has there been a better team than New Jersey over the last six weeks? Jacques Lemaire has rediscovered Ilya Kovalchuk.
9. (10) Calgary Flames (30-22-8): Are they making themselves into buyers? Is Olli Jokinen actually staying put at a trade deadline?
10. (7) Pittsburgh Penguins (36-19-4): It’s a validating feeling for the rest of Pittsburgh’s roster to hold the fort so well without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
11. (8) Anaheim Ducks (32-22-4): Jonas Hiller returns for one game – a shutout – and it’s back on the shelf. Wednesday’s 7-6 barn burner with Washington suggests the Ducks miss their Swiss puckstopper a little bit.
12. (6) Boston Bruins (31-19-7): Tim Thomas seems shaky of late. Time to give Tuukka Rask some more minutes? 
13. (14) Nashville Predators (30-19-8): Pekka Rinne suddenly looks like another goalie who could steal a playoff series a-la Ryan Miller or Jonas Hiller.
14. (9) Washington Capitals (30-18-10): Alex Ovechkin is starting to flash his old, spectacular self. Still plenty of time for him to go on a tear.
15. (11) Montreal Canadiens (31-20-7): Could a possible Alex Kovalev reunion be just what the Habs need to make the playoffs? That’s the rumor.
16. (16) Buffalo Sabres (27-23-6): Suddenly, Buffalo’s underachieving snipers aren’t underachieving. Thomas Vanek and especially Drew Stafford are lighting the lamp like crazy.
17. (23) Toronto Maple Leafs (25-27-6): 6-2-1 over their last nine games and playing with serious grit. Do you believe?
18. (12) Dallas Stars (31-21-6): Their season is going from success story to nightmare in a hurry. Just 2-7-1 over their last 10 and Brad Richards is out indefinitely with a possible concussion.
19. (21) Chicago Blackhawks (29-22-6): Joel Quenneville’s hospital scare almost feels like an omen. Maybe it just isn’t Chicago’s year.
20. (18) Minnesota Wild (30-22-5): Hanging around as they always seem to do but they could use some extra scoring punch. Will they shop before the deadline?
21. (20) New York Rangers (30-24-4)
22. (17) Carolina Hurricanes (27-23-8)
23. (29) New York Islanders (21-29-7)
24. (19) Columbus Blue Jackets (28-23-6)
25. (24) St. Louis Blues (25-21-9)
26. (27) Florida Panthers (24-25-7)
27. (25) Atlanta Thrashers (25-23-10)
28. (28) Edmonton Oilers (17-32-8)
29. (26) Colorado Avalanche (25-26-7)
30. (30) Ottawa Senators (18-30-9)
