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Written by Blake Benzel   
Monday, March 08, 2010 19:13
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HPT Power rankings (Week 22):



The Olympics are over, the trade deadline has passed, and what we're left with is an NHL that ... looks mostly like the one we remembered. Minus Sidney Crosby's gear.
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1. Washington Capitals (44-13-8): Washington not only got better defensively at the trade deadline, their new forwards are fitting in quite smoothly. With the ongoing rivalry between Eric Belanger and Jason Chimera, however, we can only hope that the trade led to a gloriously awkward locker-room exchange.


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2. Pittsburgh Penguins (40-22-4): The Pens have come out of the Olympic break on fire, scoring 16 goals in four games. Meanwhile, Reebok is offering a "no questions asked" reward for the return of Sidney Crosby's game-winning Olympic stick. No way it could possibly be a trap.




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3. Chicago Blackhawks (43-17-5): While Chicago has struggled since returning from the break, their offense certainly hasn't, scoring 18 goals in four games. While some have accused the ‘Hawks of overconfidence in their loss to the Red Wings on Sunday, our sources have revealed that Joel Quenneville substituted a parking cone for Cristobal Huet prior to the second period of the game.




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4. San Jose Sharks (42-14-9): On one hand, you figure there's no way that the Sharks should have such a hard time scoring their last couple games and you see another first-round collapse on the horizon. On the other hand, you then realize that Evgeni Nabokov is winning games, and all of a sudden their chances look pretty darn good.


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5. Colorado Avalanche (37-22-6): You've got to wonder when people are finally going to give the Avalanche their due. They keep winning games, even though they "shouldn't." That being said ... well ... give ‘em one more week.



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6. Phoenix Coyotes (39-22-5): Phoenix continues to be the little engine that could. They also improved markedly at the trade deadline with the additions of Wojtek Wolski (two goals, assist since the trade from Colorado), Lee Stempniak (goal, assist), Derek Morris (plus-3, assist) and Mathieu Schnieder (who’s coming back from a knee injury).



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7. Vancouver Canucks (40-23-2): Vancouver has been on fire since the Olympic break. Ryan Kesler's strong play has continued and Roberto Luongo, save one minor hiccup against the Blackhawks, is looking like he's ready for a stretch run. Maybe the pre-planned parade route isn't looking so stupid...


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8. Los Angeles Kings (38-22-4): Los Angeles has struggled in their last few games and were somehow tricked into thinking it was 2004 with the additions of Jeff Halpern and Fredrik Modin at the trade deadline. They are, however, off to see the wizard with the tin man and scarecrow, in search of some consistency.



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9. Buffalo Sabres (35-20-9): What more can be said about Ryan Miller? The guy makes the most difficult saves look absolutely effortless. Throw in his penchant for taking pirouettes behind the net after big saves and you've got a surefire winner for next season's Dancing With the Stars.




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10. New Jersey Devils (38-23-3): There's got to be legitimate concern in New Jersey after Martin Brodeur's less-than-inspired Olympic performance and three wins in their last 10 games. Someone might want to remind them that they're not the Nets. That might help.



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11. Detroit Red Wings (31-22-12): It's a very sad day for a team's fans when the biggest trades you make on deadline day are getting some players back from the injured reserve. Unless you're a Detroit Red Wings fan and those players are Johan Franzen, Tomas Holmstrom and Niklas Kronwall. Then you’re happy.


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12. Philadelphia Flyers (34-26-4): Whether or not the Flyers go far this season will depend a lot on which team shows up and when. The team that put up a seven-spot on the Tampa Bay Lightning is scary. The team that allowed seven goals to Florida the next night? Well, the Phillies are starting soon...



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13. Calgary Flames (32-24-9): How do you respond to laying an egg the first game after the Olympic break? How does 10 goals in two games sound? If Matt Stajan continues to click with Rene Bourque and Jarome Iginla, there could be a lot more of that on the horizon.



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14. Ottawa Senators (36-25-5): The schizophrenic Senators are back. After their marvelous run in January, they have lost four of five and surrendered the division lead back to the Sabres. TMZ couldn't be happier with the Sens, though, with Fisherwood still going strong.



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15. Montreal Canadiens (32-29-6): Will they move a goalie? Won't they? The Habs stayed pat at the trade deadline and, so far, platooning looks like it might be a good option for the team as they've won three of four.



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16. Nashville Predators (35-25-5): Keeping impending free-agent defenseman Dan Hamhuis at the trade deadline, and acquiring Dustin Boyd and Denis Grebeshkov, usually aren’t much to crow about. In Nashville, it’s reason to hope for a long playoff run.



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17. Boston Bruins (29-24-11): You posted the best record in the East last season. Now you’re last in the NHL in goals scored, scraping for a playoff spot, and trade for … Dennis Seidenberg and Cody Wild? You can almost hear that long, slow clap coming from TD Garden.



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18. St. Louis Blues (30-26-9): Almost out of nowhere, this team won five straight before losing 7-3 in Colorado on Saturday. It’s time to put last season on repeat: A strong finish, a young nucleus, optimism for the future, but not enough all-around talent to call them contenders.



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19. Anaheim Ducks (30-27-8): Just when the Ducks seemed to be hitting their stride, the Olympic break hit, two new defensemen arrived at the trade deadline, and three straight losses followed. It’s going to take more than the collective will of Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne to make the playoffs now.



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20. Carolina Hurricanes (27-31-7): The ‘Canes recent run of success has been absolutely mystifying. Three straight games this week against Washington, Pittsburgh and Phoenix will reveal their true identity.



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21. New York Rangers (29-28-9): Another season of painful mediocrity, interrupted only by the incomparable Sean Avery:



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22. Dallas Stars (28-24-12): Making his first appearances since April 2009, Kari Lehtonen … looked like he was playing for the first time since April 2009. He gave up two goals to the Blues in a relief apperance Thursday, and six more to the Penguins on Saturday. And this is the guy who’s going to put the Stars over the top?



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23. Tampa Bay Lightning (27-26-11): Twenty-year-old Steven Stamkos reached the 40-goal plateau on Saturday. Even Sidney Crosby didn’t reach that level until the ripe old age of 22. As for his teammates, only four of them have reached double-digits in goal, and the two-headed monster of Antero Niittymaki and Mike Smith can only do so much.



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24. Atlanta Thrashers (28-26-10): An encouraging 6-2 win over the Isles featured goals by the trade-deadline newcomers, Clark MacArthur and Evgeny Artyukhin. Both were kept off the scoreboard in the back-to-back losses that followed. Atlanta is still in the running for the eighth playoff seed.



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25. Florida Panthers (26-28-10): The real reward of the trade deadline for Panthers fans is the chance to see 2007 first-round draft pick Keaton Ellerby join the new-look d-corps. Not as rewarding: The day when the Hurricanes pass your team in the standings.



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26. Minnesota Wild (31-28-5): Upon learning that they would be two points out of the playoff picture in the other conference, the Wild have requested a trade to the East. Xcel Energy Center celebrated its 400th straight sellout on Sunday.



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27. Edmonton Oilers (21-38-6): Back-to-back wins have the Oilers breathing down the neck of … Taylor Hall. Better slow down, boys. There’s a draft pick to be had here.



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28. Columbus Blue Jackets (25-29-11): Fredrik Modin faces his old team, losers of four straight, tonight in Los Angeles. Don’t be surprised if the CBJ’s streak reaches six straight by the time they leave California.



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29. Toronto Maple Leafs (20-33-2): Dion Phaneuf didn’t waste long earning an “A” on his sweater, leading to speculation that a “C” is next. Maybe five years from now he’ll be able to tell the kids he was there when the team stank ... assuming the smell has left the room by then.



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30. New York Islanders (26-31-8): The NHL’s coldest team (just three wins since Jan. 22) decided at the deadline it would rather keep its weird goalie situation for the rest of the season. This is the place where we tell you what to look forward to down the stretch and … yeah.

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Last Updated on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 08:54