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Power Rankings: Inauguration Edition

Jan 16, 2009 – 11:58 AM
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Ted Starkey

Ted Starkey %BloggerTitle%

With the true transfer of power taking place in Washington on Tuesday, it's time to check in on the state of the NHL's powerful teams. FanHouse's latest NHL Power Rankings sort the teams looking to make news this spring from the rest who will head home after the regular season.

The power in the NHL right now is squarely in the hands of some of the league's old guard, as four of the top five this week are Original Six clubs. Right on their heels is the team representing the home of American government, as the Caps' stock takes a hit after a brief three-game slide. And as for international relations, two of the top 10 are from north of the border, although three Canadian clubs also take up residence in the bottom third.

Find out which team's on top of the hockey world and which others are looking to stake their claim to power after the jump.
  • 1. Red Wings (Last Week's Rank: 1)
    The Red Wings have grabbed at least one point in each of their last 10 games, going 8-0-2 over that stretch. Detroit also has just one overtime loss in January in eight contests, as well as a pair of shutouts during the month.
  • 2. Bruins (Last Week: 2)
    The Bruins have reeled off four straight wins to follow up on their brief two-game losing streak, and are able to take over the overall points lead in the NHL with a 2-1 win over the Islanders for their 70th point of the season just 44 games into the season.
  • 3. Sharks (Last Week: 3)
    The Sharks finally suffer a regulation loss at the Shark Tank Thursday night, as they drop a 3-2 decision to the Flames to end an impressive 31-game overall win streak. Boston also leapfrogs San Jose for first overall, and Detroit is just a point back for the Western Conference's top seed.
  • 4. Canadiens (Last Week: 5)
    The Habs start off 2009 by winning four of their last five, only losing a showdown with their old rivals from Boston. Now, with Carey Price out with an injury (and possibly out of his All-Star start), Montreal begins a five-game road trip Saturday as the city prepares for the festivities.
  • 5. Blackhawks (Last Week: 6)
    After a brief two-game slide, the Blackhawks get back on the winning track at home with a pair of wins over Nashville and Buffalo, although of concern is defenseman Duncan Keith left the Sabres game with an injury.
  • 6. Capitals (Last Week: 3)
    The Capitals suffer a very rare three-game losing streak with a trio of bad losses to Columbus, Montreal and Edmonton, but Washington gets back on track with an impressive show in Pittsburgh, as Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin showed off their skills in a 6-3 win.
  • 7. Flames (Last Week: 8)
    Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff is fueling the Flames' four-game win streak, as he allows just seven goals in four games, including a pair of victories over the Western Conference's top team and handing the Sharks their first loss at home this year.
  • 8. Devils (Last Week: 11)
    The Devils begin their six-game road trip with a solid start, going 2-1-0 in three games throughout the Golden State before heading back east to face Columbus, the Islanders and Nashville.
  • 9. Flyers (Last Week: 7)
    Mike Richards calls a loss to the lowly Lightning "embarrassing" as the Flyers miss a golden chance to move past the Rangers into first place in the Atlantic Division after losses to the struggling Pens and Bolts this week.
  • 10. Sabres (Last Week: 10)
    The Sabres end a two-game losing streak with a 5-4 shootout win in Dallas to salvage at least two points on their three-game road trip through the Western Conference. They return home with a tenous hold on seventh in the East with a couple of teams lurking behind them.
  • 11. Canucks (Last Week: 9)
    Even Roberto Luongo's return to the Vancouver net can't stop the Canucks' losing streak, as they are 0-for-4 now in a homestand that will end Sunday with the Blue Jackets paying a visit to GM Place.
  • 12. Rangers (Last Week: 13)
    The road seems to be treating the Rangers well, as they grab five of six possible points on their current five-game trip. Next up for New York is an Original Six showdown with Chicago and a nationally televised game against Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon.
  • 13. Hurricanes (Last Week: 12)
    Carolina picks a bad time for its four-game losing streak, as the 'Canes are losing to some very beatable teams. It won't get easier, as they leave Raleigh for a four-game road trip through the northeast holding just a slim one-point lead for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot.
  • 14. Ducks (Last Week: 17)
    The Ducks are still looking for some consistency this season as they will head east for four games before the All-Star break. Right now, Anaheim is involved in a three-way tie for fifth place in the West - but only three points ahead of the ninth-place team.
  • 15. Wild (Last Week: 15)
    After a tough road swing, the Wild return home to notch a pair of wins over the Coyotes and Oilers, to pull within two points of fifth place - although Minnesota's still just one point ahead of ninth-place Columbus.
  • 16. Penguins (Last Week: 14)
    Last year's Eastern Conference champs are simply a mess right now, going just 2-6-0 in January and now falling to just one game above the .500 mark and one point out of the playoff picture. To make matters worse, Sidney Crosby was banged up in a 6-3 loss to Washington.
  • 17. Avalanche (Last Week: 16)
    After dropping two straight on the road, the Avalanche open a critical eight-game homestand in which Colorado will need to pick up some points in order to try and stake a claim on one of the Western Conference's playoff spots in a tightly-contested race.
  • 18. Blue Jackets (Last Week: 20)
    Steve Mason is doing his best to keep the Jackets afloat, notching his fourth shutout in nine games and putting Columbus just a point out of the playoff pack. If only his forwards could give him some more support, the Jackets might earn their first-ever postseason berth.
  • 19. Coyotes (Last Week: 18)
    The impressive part of the Coyotes' season so far is they're able to stay in the tough Western playoff chase despite the swirling rumors surrounding the financial health of the club and the team's long-term future in the desert.
  • 20. Panthers (Last Week: 23)
    After nearly a week off the ice following an 8-4 win over Atlanta, the Panthers will get a chance to pass the Hurricanes for the East's final playoff spot and into second place in the Southeast Division if they can top the Flyers Friday night in Sunrise.
  • 21. Stars (Last Week: 19)
    The Stars haven't been able to get any consistency so far in January, and they will need to string some wins together as they're chasing a bunch of teams to try to claw their way into the playoffs. If they don't, there will be a long offseason in Dallas.
  • 22. Oilers (Last Week: 21)
    Edmonton follows up an impressive performance in Washington with an equally unimpressive dud in Minnesota, putting the Oil squarely in the rear of the pack of teams looking to grab one of the West's final four playoff spots.
  • 23. Predators (Last Week: 22)
    The Predators are still looking for some consistency this season, as Nashville falls below the .500 mark again with a loss to the Canadiens. Nashville gets two more games against Atlanta and New Jersey before taking a long All-Star break vacation.
  • 24. Senators (Last Week: 25)
    The Sens finally get a taste of victory in January, but even after winning back-to-back games over Carolina and Atlanta, Ottawa is pretty much reduced to having to look forward to building for 2009-2010 after being considered one of the East's elite just 12 months ago.
  • 25. Kings (Last Week: 24)
    In an ugly three-game losing streak where were outscored 12-2 in three games - at home - Los Angeles now finds itself seven points out of eighth spot and looking up at 13 Western teams. The Kings will need some wins in a hurry to entertain any playoff aspirations.
  • 26. Maple Leafs (Last Week: 26)
    The Leafs finally end a four-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory in Carolina, although they nearly blow a four-goal lead in the process. However, Toronto's slim playoff hopes certainly are on life support after the skid.
  • 27. Blues (Last Week: 27)
    Unfortunately for hockey fans in the Gateway City, the Blues are pretty much the only Western Conference team without a shot at a playoff spot right now.
  • 28. Lightning (Last Week: 28)
    As disappointing as the Lightning has been this year, the team now has to deal with rumors that the club was almost unable to make payroll. It's been one ugly year in Tampa Bay.
  • 29. Thrashers (Last Week: 29)
    While much was made about the Thrashers naming Ilya Kovalchuk their captain, it's clear that he is one of the valuable pieces Atlanta has if they want to try to improve the team back into being in the playoff conversation.
  • 30. Islanders (Last Week: 30)
    It's hard to believe the news can get any uglier on the Island, as Rick DiPietro is likely out for the season, while the team has scheduled a preseason game in one of the cities vying for a relocating NHL franchise.
Check out the last rankings here.


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