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NHL Power Rankings

Nov 7, 2008 – 12:00 PM
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Ted Starkey

Ted Starkey %BloggerTitle%

There are a bunch of scheduling quirks this year in the NHL, and one look at the current league standings shows some wide discrepancies so far this year.

While the Rangers have the second-most points in the league, they also have already played 16 games, with 10 'home' games, nine of those coming at Madison Square Garden (the other one in Prague). On the other hand, the Canadiens have lost just one game so far this season in regulation, yet they sit in second place in the Northeast in part because they've played just 10 games.

The Red Wings have played eight of their first dozen games away from the Joe, but it hasn't slowed them, as they've posted 6-1-1 mark outside of Detroit. Even more out-of-balance are the Southeast-leading Carolina Hurricanes, who have played nine of 13 away from home before they begin a long homestand this weekend. On the other hand, Los Angeles has already played nine home games, but the Kings have netted just eight points out of those games.

Despite the unbalanced schedule, three teams have lifted themselves to the top of AOL's latest power rankings, with them going a combined 5-0 on the week to still be the three early Stanley Cup contenders. Find out where the league stacks up after the jump.

  • 1. Sharks (Last Week: 1)
    The Sharks keep rolling, racking up three more wins this past week and moving 10 games above .500 a month into the season. Equally as impressive is in its latest six-game win streak San Jose has taken at least 30 shots on goal in five of those games, and allowed that total once.
  • 2. Canadiens (Last Week: 2)
    A quiet week in Quebec for the Habs, with just a single result, a win over the Isles that leaves the Canadiens having played just 10 games, fewest in the entire NHL. However, with four games in the next week, three of those coming against Northeast Division foes, things pick up for Montreal.
  • 3. Red Wings (Last Week: 3)
    Another team that had a slow week, the Red Wings win their only game of the week. However, waiting on tap is perhaps the best November matchup, with Marian Hossa welcoming his old Pittsburgh teammates to Motown for a Stanley Cup rematch with the Penguins Tuesday night.
  • 4. Ducks (Last Week: 6)
    Slow start? What slow start? After going winless in their first four games, Anaheim now has recorded points in 10 of its last 11 games to become the only Pacific Division team to remain within striking distance of streaking San Jose just over a month into the new season.
  • 5. Capitals (Last Week: 5)
    After poor road showings in Buffalo and Ottawa, the Caps were facing a loss to Carolina before Alexander Semin, named the NHL's top player for October, scores a pair of goals in the final three minutes to earn a big Southeast Division win - and deny the 'Canes a standings point.
  • 6. Rangers (Last Week: 4)
    After the Rangers suffer their first back-to-back regulation losses of the season at the hands of the Maple Leafs and Islanders, New York gets a big lift from Chris Drury's second career hat trick to frustrate Mike Smith and the Lightning and grab a win at Madison Square Garden.
  • 7. Sabres (Last Week: 8)
    Buffalo snaps its three-game losing skid in fine fashion thanks to the oustanding play of Ryan Miller. The netminder records back-to-back shutouts over Washington and New Jersey as the Sabres outscore their opponents by a touchdown over the week while not allowing a goal.
  • 8. Penguins (Last Week: 11)
    In a week where the team unveiled their tribute to their baby blue past and are bringing back last year's Winter Classic jerseys, the Pens grabbed a pair of wins over the Blues and Oilers - although nearly blowing a 5-0 lead to Edmonton at home.
  • 9. Wild (Last Week: 12)
    Minnesota turns in a solid three-quarters of a four-game road trip, earning wins in Arizona and Denver, with the only blemish being a loss to the surging Sharks in San Jose. Nicklas Backstrom has been solid as well in goal, allowing six goals on 112 shots faced over the trip.
  • 10. Devils (Last Week: 10)
    Normally a 2-1 week will move you up in the power rankings. However, with Martin Brodeur out for an extended period of time thanks to a bicep injury, the Devils' long-term status is up in the air as Lou Lamoriello decides what to do if Kevin Weekes falters in an extended run as top goalie.
  • 11. Flames (Last Week: 7)
    Jarome Iginla turns in an impressive four-point performance against Nashville to take a 7-6 shootout win Thursday. The star's fine effort helps snap Calgary's two-game bump in the road against the Coyotes and Ducks.
  • 12. Hurricanes (Last Week: 13)
    Despite another season of injuries, Carolina has been impressive so far, leading the Southeast despite playing all but three games away from home. However, leaving Washington empty-handed despite enjoying a 2-1 lead in the final three minutes isn't a good sign for the 'Canes.
  • 13. Bruins (Last Week: 15)
    Don't look now, but the Bruins now have earned wins in five of their last six games after their auspicious 2-2-3 start to the campaign. Saturday's tilt against the Sabres could foretell if Boston's in serious contention for the Northeast Division title.
  • 14. Stars (Last Week: 9)
    The Stars have had six days to lick their wounds after a pair of very ugly road losses, as they were outscored 10-3 by the Blackhawks and Bruins. Things won't get much easier this weekend, with a trip to Anaheim and San Jose with the Stars needing points to gain ground in the Pacific.
  • 15. Senators (Last Week: 16)
    Alex Auld is putting together a nice stretch for the Sens, helping Ottawa earn 11 points in six games, and allowing just seven goals over that 5-0-1 span. In eight games this year, Auld has posted a 1.85 GAA and a .936 save percentage to unseat Martin Gerber as No. 1 in Ottawa.
  • 16. Blackhawks (Last Week: 17)
    Chicago reels off a three-game win streak, two of them backstopped by Nikolai Khabibulin. Now, the question in Chicago is if the Hawks really want to trade Khabibulin (2.38 GAA, .919 save percentage) to make Cristobal Huet (2.73 GAA, .910 save percentage) the undisputed No. 1.
  • 17. Flyers (Last Week: 14)
    The Flyers came into the week on a four-game win streak, but a pair of losses to the Oilers and Senators drop the Flyers back below the .500 mark for the year. Of concern as well is Martin Biron's play, as last year's playoff hero has a 3.79 GAA and a save percentage of .874 so far.
  • 18. Canucks (Last Week: 21)
    Roberto Luongo is single-handedly trying to keep Vancouver in the Western playoff race, posting back-to-back shutouts over the Predators and Coyotes. Luongo already has four shutouts on the year in just 13 appearances so far for Vancouver, with three coming in his last five outings.
  • 19. Oilers (Last Week: 20)
    The Oilers hit a bump on their seven-game Eastern road swing, dropping games in Nashville and Pittsburgh. Edmonton wraps up the trip with a pair of games in the New York metro area against the Rangers and Devils before the Oil finally return to Rexall Place Thursday.
  • 20. Predators (Last Week: 22)
    The Preds top the Panthers in a shootout, but then start a six-game Western swing on the wrong note, allowing 11 goals in a pair of losses to the Canucks and Flames with the Avs, Sharks and Ducks looming next.
  • 21. Lightning (Last Week: 23)
    Goaltender Mike Smith is doing his best to keep the 'Ning competitive this year, posting a 2.47 GAA and .930 save percentage so far in nine games for Tampa Bay. However, he certainly can't afford to be suspended for his wild antics against Aaron Voros.
  • 22. Avalanche (Last Week: 18)
    Colorado is certainly proving to be a streaky bunch, as after starting the win with three losses, the Avs put together five straight wins. Now, they're back on the wrong end of a streak, dropping five straight games to fall below the .500 mark, scoring eight goals and allowing 22 in that span.
  • 23. Blues (Last Week: 19)
    St. Louis allows 16 goals against the Penguins, Ducks and Sharks. The Blues will need to perform much better defensively with three games left on a cross-country road trip with stops looming in Los Angeles, Buffalo and Chicago.
  • 24. Coyotes (Last Week: 24)
    Phoenix keeps trading wins and losses, with Phoenix losing to the Wild and Canucks, but earning a win at Calgary. Ilya Bryzgalov is doing his best in net, but despite a solid start statistically to the season in the pipes, he still sports just a 4-5-0 mark as a starter.
  • 25. Blue Jackets (Last Week: 25)
    The Blue Jackets are now enjoying a four-game streak of earning at least a point after dropping four games in a row. Now, Columbus will look to earn some points on home ice with games against Montreal, Calgary and Phoenix.
  • 26. Maple Leafs (Last Week: 27)
    The Leafs follow up a big home win against the Rangers with three straight losses. Toronto drops a home-and-home against the Hurricanes, then dropping a divisional game at Boston with a 5-2 loss to fall back to the .500 mark.
  • 27. Thrashers (Last Week: 29)
    The Thrashers finally stem the tide of a very ugly six-game losing streak, earning back-to-back wins against the Panthers and Islanders. Now, Atlanta hopes that sniper Ilya Kovalchuk can finally catch fire with his two-goal performance against Florida.
  • 28. Islanders (Last Week: 30)
    With Rick DiPietro out for an extended period of time, backup goalie Joey MacDonald has filled in capably, posting some decent numbers despite a very porous team in front of him. Still, New York figures to be fighting for the top pick this season with some of their performances so far.
  • 29. Kings (Last Week: 28)
    Los Angeles snaps a five-game losing skid with a home win against the Panthers, but still, the Staples Center hasn't been kind to the Kings. The team is just 3-5-2 on their ice and just 4-6-2 overall having played just three road games (and just two outside the L.A. area) so far this year.
  • 30. Panthers (Last Week: 26)
    The Panthers are threatening to crash out of playoff contention early this year, with a five-game losing skid against very beatable teams dropping Florida to just 4-7-1 so far this season. Florida can't afford to get too far behind the pack this year with the team mulling its financial future.
Check out last week's rankings here.
Filed under: Sports

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