Dave B’s NHL Power Rankings – April 1
Well, for the first time this year, we have a brand new #1. If this wasn’t a bi-weekly column, we may have had one last week. But the Penguins have emerged – their climb to the top has come at a steep price however. There is no timetable of when Sidney Crosby will return to action after getting hit in the face with a slapshot against the Islanders.
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Outside of #1, the top dogs have shown signs of cracking – will they maintain their elite status this week?
So, without further adieu, here is Dave B’s bi-weekly edition of the NHL Power Rankings. Things may change drastically after this week – the trade deadline comes this week and teams are bound to get better/worse by mid-week.
1. Pittsburgh Penguins (28-8-0) Two Weeks Ago: 3
The win streak sits at 15 games but the Pens lost Sidney Crosby indefinitely after he got hit in the face with a slap shot – ouch! The Pens added two Olympic Gold Medalists last week – Jarome Iginla and Brenden Morrow so they should be OK. This team has been getting it done with injuries and a surprisingly good defense all year long – no reason to think differently going forward!
2. Montreal Canadiens (22-7-5) Two Weeks Ago: 4
The Habs are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and are not falling off. They beat Boston last week and look like they are going to win every time they step onto the ice. Imagine – the Habs were picked to miss the playoffs this year and finish near the bottom of the NHL standings!
3. Chicago Blackhawks (26-5-3) Two Weeks Ago: 1
A lot of people have been jumping off the band wagon lately but a 7-1 road win Sunday against Detroit should open a few eyes back up! They are just 5-5-0 in their last 10 games but are still second overall in the NHL and they should get Patrick Sharp and Marion Hossa back from injury this week.
4. Minnesota Wild (21-11-2) Two Weeks Ago: 7
The Wild have gone 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and are the hottest team in the West at the moment. Everything is going right for the Wild – they have finally reached top 5 in the Rankings after a sketchy start to the season.
5. Boston Bruins (22-8-4) Two Weeks Ago: 5
The Bruins are having some issues scoring at the moment – 2 or fewer goals in seven of their last eight games and are 5-5-1 in their last 11 games overall. They lost out on some of the players traded already but still have a few days to add to their team. It should be interesting to say the least.
6. Anaheim Ducks (23-7-5) Two Weeks Ago: 2
The Ducks have lost five of six games and are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games. They have beaten Chicago twice in the last two weeks but have been awful otherwise. #6 may be a tad generous until you realize they are still #3 overall in the NHL.
7. Vancouver Canucks (19-10-6) Two Weeks Ago: 11
The Canucks had their six game win streak come to an abrupt end with a 4-0 loss at Edmonton Saturday. They haven’t been the offensive team we have come to know and the power play is a miserable 2-for56 lately but Vancouver is still top 10 in the NHL overall standings.
8. Toronto Maple Leafs (20-12-4) Two Weeks Ago: 13
The Leafs have won three straight games including wins over Boston and Ottawa. Like it or not the Leafs are playoff bound after a 5-0-3 stretch. The trade deadline should make them a better team – should!
9. Ottawa Senators (19-10-6) Two Weeks Ago: 8
I don’t get it! The Senators just keep getting it done – 6-2-2 in their last 10 games, although they got schooled by Toronto on Saturday night. They have a huge road trip coming up – we’ll see where they lay at this time in two weeks!
10. Los Angeles Kings (20-12-3) Two Weeks Ago: 9
The Kings have gone 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and have forgotten about the two game streak in which they failed to score. They went 3-0-1 in their last four overall and are putting it all together at the right time.
11. San Jose Sharks (17-11-6) Two Weeks Ago: 16
The Sharks are back and re-discovering the form that they had early in the season. They have won four straight including two against Anaheim to close the gap in the Pacific. The trade deadline could make or break this team – stay tuned!
12. Detroit Red Wings (19-13-5) Two Weeks Ago: 12
The Wings have been inconsistent all year long and are off a humiliating 7-1 loss at home versus Chicago. Injuries are starting to affect this team but it is difficult to take the best franchise in hockey out of the top 15. [ad-4437448]
13. St. Louis Blues (17-14-2) Two Weeks Ago: 6
The Blues are as streaky a team as there is in the NHL at the moment –very difficult to figure out. Last week saw them get beat by Edmonton and St. Louis- not exactly where this team wants to be at this point of the season.
14. New Jersey Devils (15-11-9) Two Weeks Ago: 15
The Devils have looked better since the return of Martin Brodeur and they do currently occupy a playoff spot but they have to start beating teams like Florida and Tampa or risk falling out of the top 8 in the East. They will be without Ilya Kovalchuk for a while longer – tread water time!
15. Columbus Blue Jackets (15-14-7) Two Weeks Ago: 25
The Blue Jackets in the top 15? You gotta be kidding! But on the heels of a 5-2-3 streak Columbus finds itself in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race – unreal! Sergei Bobrovsky has been sensational this year and has given the Jackets a chance to win night in and night out.
16. Winnipeg Jets (18-16-2) Two Weeks Ago: 14
17. Edmonton Oilers (14-13-7) Two Weeks Ago: 22
18. New York Islanders (16-16-3) Two Weeks Ago: 18
19. Carolina Hurricanes (16-15-2) Two Weeks Ago: 10
20. New York Rangers (16-15-3) Two Weeks Ago: 17
21. Washington Capitals (16-17-2) Two Weeks Ago: 26
22. Dallas Stars (16-15-3) Two Weeks Ago: 23
23. Nashville Predators (14-14-7) Two Weeks Ago: 24
24. Phoenix Coyotes (14-15-6) Two Weeks Ago: 19
25. Philadelphia Flyers (15-17-3) Two Weeks Ago: 20
26. Tampa Bay Lightning (15-18-1) Two Weeks Ago: 28
27. Calgary Flames (13-16-4) Two Weeks Ago: 21
28. Buffalo Sabres (13-17-6) Two Weeks Ago: 29
29. Colorado Avalanche (12-18-4) Two Weeks Ago: 27
30. Florida Panthers (11-19-6) Two Weeks Ago: 30
