Dave B’s NHL Power Rankings – December 10, 2013
Two more weeks of NHL action is in the books and as always the weeks have flown by creating a little shakeup in the NHL landscape. The #1 two weeks ago has slid down to #8 while the defending champs have regained top spot. The West reigns supreme again – the top 4 spots all come from the better of the two Conferences.
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Let’s break it all down in Dave B’s bi-weekly edition of the NHL Power Rankings
1. Chicago Blackhawks (Two Weeks Ago: 2)
The Blackhawks have gone 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and lead the league’s overall standings at the moment. They had three one-goal losses in games they should have won but that hasn’t swayed me from keeping them out of top spot. They are still the deepest team in the NHL and when defining Power-they are at the head of the class.
2. Anaheim Ducks (Two Weeks Ago: 3)
The Ducks had a tough schedule this past week with games against LA, Chicago and St. Louis but have gone 5-2-3 in their last 10 and have won two in a row. Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf are both in the top 5 in NHL scoring – no reason to think this team slows down as we approach Christmas.
3. San Jose Sharks (Two Weeks Ago: 4)
The Sharks have lost three straight games and are just 6-4 in their last 10 games overall but they still sit third overall in the NHL standings. The problem with this team – bad finishes. They have an incredible knack of getting out to leads but have a hard time holding them.
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4. LA Kings (Two Weeks Ago: 10)
The Kings won all their games last week against some good competition – the Blues and the Ducks and the lowly Islanders. They have lost just once in regulation in their last 10 games and have climbed to a tie for fourth in the NHL overall standings thanks to the recent run.
5. Boston Bruins (Two Weeks Ago: 6)
Have won two straight games and are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games overall. The highlight last week was a 3-2 hard-fought win over Pittsburgh. Injuries look daunting however – Chris Kelly is gone, Loui Eriksson is out, Dougie Hamilton could miss some time and Shawn Thornton is facing a long suspension after gooning it up against Pittsburgh.
6. Montreal Canadiens (Two Weeks Ago: 12)
The Habs have been the hottest team in the league the last few weeks – a 9-0-1 streak has them tied for sixth in the overall standings – one point behind Boston for top spot in the East. They are healthy and playing terrific hockey in every area of the rink and are the biggest climbers this week.
7. Pittsburgh Penguins (Two Weeks Ago: 8)
The Pens have are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games but it has been quite a ride the last week – from a win over San Jose to the crazy dust-up in Boston that saw Brooks Orpik get mugged and James Neal throw a hit that may get him suspended. They are tied for sixth in the overall standings and have been on fire offensively – no surprise.
8. St. Louis Blues (Two Weeks Ago: 1)
The Blues have stumbled a tad the last couple of weeks – 6-4 in their last 10 games overall. They have lost three of four including to the Sharks, the Kings and the Ducks – Alex Steen has cooled and so has the team.
9. Colorado Avalanche (Two Weeks Ago: 5)
The Avs are just 6-4 in their last 10 games as well but Seymon Varlamov and Jean-Sebastien Guigere continue to provide surprisingly good goaltending for the team. An 8-2 loss to Edmonton wasn’t good last week and neither was a 3-1 loss to Vancouver.
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10. Minnesota Wild (Two Weeks Ago: 7)
The Wild have come back down to earth – 5-4-1 in their last 10 games overall. They did beat Chicago and San Jose last week – impressive but their two week play has them slipping three spots in the Rankings.
11. Vancouver Canucks (Two Weeks Ago: 17)
The Canucks are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games – heating up as we near Christmas. They are currently in a playoff spot but the loss of Alex Burrows and Alex Edler may hurt over the next month or so.
12. Phoenix Coyotes (Two Weeks Ago: 9)
The Coyotes slip in the Rankings thanks to a 3-4-3 stretch. They still sit in twelfth in the overall standings and have two games in hand over many of the teams around them. Phoenix barely holds on to a spot in the Dirty Dozen this week – in danger of slipping out.
13. Detroit Red Wings (Two Weeks Ago: 14)
14. Tampa Bay Lightning (Two Weeks Ago: 13)
15. Dallas Stars (Two Weeks Ago: 18)
16. Toronto Maple Leafs (Two Weeks Ago: 11)
17. Washington Capitals (Two Weeks Ago: 16)
18. Carolina Hurricanes (Two Weeks Ago: 22)
19. Winnipeg Jets (Two Weeks Ago: 24)
20. New York Rangers (Two Weeks Ago: 15)
21. New Jersey Devils (Two Weeks Ago: 21)
22. Philadelphia Flyers (Two Weeks Ago: 20)
23. Columbus Blue Jackets (Two Weeks Ago: 26)
24. Nashville Predators (Two Weeks Ago: 19)
25. Ottawa Senators (Two Weeks Ago: 23)
26. Calgary Flames (Two Weeks Ago: 27)
27. Edmonton Oilers (Two Weeks Ago: 28)
28. Florida Panthers (Two Weeks Ago: 29)
29. New York Islanders (Two Weeks Ago: 25)
30. Buffalo Sabres (Two Weeks Ago: 30)
