NEWS BY DIVISION
- Sizing up the ‘Yotes deadline haul Pacific
- Flames finally lighting the lamp Northwest
- That's the Pitts: Crosby booed by home 'fans' Atlantic
- Thomas gets second chance in net Northeast
- Hurricanes are wheeling, dealing – and contending Southeast
- Central balance of power remains the same Central
COLUMNS
- Picking up the pieces of USA-Canada Justin Bourne
- Beyond the trapezoid: A look at Olympic rules Justin Bourne
- Ah, skill day at the rink Justin Bourne
| Power Rankings: Washington capitalizes on a big week |
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| Features |
| Written by Blake Benzel |
| Monday, January 11, 2010 14:00 |
 HPT Power rankings (Week 15): To be a captain in the NHL, you need to have the neccessary amounts of leadership, confidence, skill and heart. If you're Alex Ovechkin — who became the Capitals' captain this week and led his team to the top of the HPT Power Rankings — it helps to have some improvisational skills. Like this. Can you see Chris Clark initiating a game of pickup hockey on an airport tarmac with just two glances of the eyes?  1. Washington Capitals (27-11-6): In the ongoing game of musical chairs that is our No. 1 team, the Caps are back in the top spot thanks to three straight victories, outscoring their opponents by a total of 17-5. Now if they could only stop that caveman from running into the boards with the Zamboni ...  2. San Jose Sharks (28-10-7): There are three certainties in life. Death, taxes and that the Sharks will be a very, very dangerous regular season hockey team. In other news, Doug Wilson has put forth a motion for the NHL to do away with the playoffs in the interest of fairness.  3. New Jersey Devils (31-11-1): Lighting problems caused the Devils’ game against Tampa Bay to be stopped with 9:12 remaining in the second period. The game was postponed until the following day. However, the Devils’ request for a "do-over" of the first 32:48 was denied.  4. Chicago Blackhawks (31-11-4): The fact that Chicago remains atop the standings despite two poor outings against Minnesota and Anaheim speaks to just how good this team really is. Also, former Blackhawk Jeremy Roenick called Vancouver Canuck prospect Jordan Schroeder to congratulate him on breaking his record of 27 career points in the WJC.  5. Calgary Flames (26-14-5): Despite a victory over the Canucks on Saturday, the Flames were angered that a laser pointer that was being used to distract goalie Miikka Kiprusoff couldn't be found in the crowd. That Kiprusoff didn't falter and stood tall to win the game is further proof that he is a robot sent back in time to save the world.  6. Buffalo Sabres (28-11-5): Buffalo's six-game winning streak was snapped Saturday in a shootout loss to the Avs. Even so, the Sabres have points in nine of their last 10 games. Despite having just two players with 30-plius points, the Sabres have seven players with 10-plus goals.  7. Vancouver Canucks (27-16-2): Alexander Burrows had a disappointing game on Saturday in Vancouver's loss against the Flames. One day removed from notching his second straight hat trick, Burrows had to settle for one assist in 21-plus minutes of ice time.  8. Colorado Avalanche (25-15-6): Words can't describe how surprising the Avs continue to be this season. They broke the Sabres' six-game win streak in an 11-round shootout, they have five players with 10 or more goals, and another rookie — Brandon Yip — has five goals in his first 10 NHL games.  9. Pittsburgh Penguins (28-17-1): In their last four games, the Pens have given up six, scored five, given up seven, then scored four. Meanwhile, Evgeni Malkin is goalless in eight straight games. Those sounds you hear are the sobs and curses of fantasy owners everywhere.  10. Detroit Red Wings (23-15-6): Don't look now, but last season's Stanley Cup runner-ups are creeping back up the standings. They've won two straight and four of five, and now Henrik Zetterberg and Dan Cleary are back from shoulder injuries. And, by the way, Jimmy Howard has 148 saves over his last four games.  11. Phoenix Coyotes (26-15-5): Phoenix has dropped four of its last six games and has given up at least four goals in each of its last three. Thanks to the miracle of overtime, the ‘Yotes still have recorded points in eight of their last 10. Looks like a pretty good team Jim Balsillie lost out on; you can only hope that little BlackBerry gadget works out for him.  12. New York Rangers (22-17-6): Say what you will about the Rangers’ lack of scoring — and you could say a lot — but they've failed to get points in just one of their last 14 games and have clawed their way back into the playoff picture in the East. Ryan Callahan might get a ticker-tape parade down Broadway for joining Marian Gaborik in the double-digit goal-scoring club.  13. Nashville Predators (26-16-3): After a December that saw the Preds go 9-4-2, they've alternated wins and losses in 2010, starting 2-2-0, leaving them just three points ahead of the surging Red Wings. The outlook gets even more bleak when you look at the fact that they play their next three on the road against the Canucks, Ducks and Red Wings.  14. Boston Bruins (22-15-7): After cracking our top 10, the Bruins dropped three of four. In their three losses, they didn't score more than twice. The team signed get-well cards for Patrice Bergeron and Marc Savard, who can’t return soon enough.  15. Philadelphia Flyers (22-19-3): Since being held to just one goal at the Winter Classic in Boston, the Flyers have posted 21 goals in four games, winning three. Ray Emery has also returned from injury, going to the AHL for a conditioning assignment. Michael Leighton is sending out resumés.  16. Los Angeles Kings (25-17-3): The Kings have dropped two straight heading into Monday's game against San Jose. With the current Tip-A-King promotion running — in which fans "tip" players for autographs (all proceeds go to charity) — you wonder if Anze Kopitar will accept tips on how to score a goal.  17. Montreal Canadiens (22-21-4): Montreal has points in seven of its last 10, including Saturday's overtime loss to New Jersey. They also lost forward Andrei Kostitsyn to a knee injury. Twin brother Sergei is nursing an ankle injury, but word is he could be a first-liner once healthy. Ouch.  18. Anaheim Ducks (20-19-7): The Ducks currently own the longest active winning streak in the NHL at four games. Jonas Hiller is the number one goalie again which, considering how well Hiller did in the 2009 playoffs, makes you wonder what took so long.  19. Minnesota Wild (22-20-3): Minnesota rebounded from a four-goal deficit in the third period Saturday to defeat the Blackhawks 6-5 in a shootout. What would happen if the Wild didn't spot their opponent at least two goals every game?  20. Dallas Stars (19-15-11): Dallas has won just once in its last five games. Meanwhile fans are beginning to revolt at the lack of free hockey they have been receiving lately. The Stars have now gone 11 games since their last extra frame of hockey. Previously, they hadn't gone more than five.  21. Ottawa Senators (22-20-4): Since their seven-goal outburst against the Flyers, the Sens have scored just four goals in four games. Maybe they probably should have saved a few of those for a later date.  22. Columbus Blue Jackets (18-20-9): Columbus has won three straight for the first time since mid-November. Prospect Nikita Filatov made sure there weren't TOO many good vibes going through the organization, reportedly insisting on “changes in the organization” before he returns. Ken Hitchcock, we’re looking at you.  23. New York Islanders (19-19-8): What a week for the Isles. They're just two points out of the playoffs, despite having one player (Kyle Okposo) with 30-plus points AND they got franchise goaltender/large contract whipping boy Rick DiPietro back from his latest injury. The countdown to the next groin explosion has begun.  24. Tampa Bay Lightning (17-17-10): Tampa Bay has points in seven of its last ten, including six wins, which could mean that Rick Tocchet's off of the hot seat for now. There is controversy, however, as it is rumored that assistant coach Adam Oates may have been donning his old number on the power play in place of rookie Victor Hedman.  25. Florida Panthers (18-20-7): A 3-0 victory over the Senators have given the Panthers a little relief from what has been a largely underwhelming season. Much of the Panthers' success this season, however, can be attributed to Tomas Vokoun. He’s having a spectacular season that has only gotten better since the team disciplined defenseman Keith Ballard, who now receives an electric shock any time his stick gets near the crease.  26. St. Louis Blues (18-19-7): Congratulations for Davis Payne on getting his first career NHL victory behind the Blues' bench, as the Blues knocked off the Kings 4-3. Somewhere, Andy Murray is thinking "I could have done that."  27. Carolina Hurricanes (13-24-7): The ‘Canes continue their meteoric ascension to the top of the standings, winning their second straight and fourth in six games. Too bad the team is dead set on giving the home crowd nothing to cheer about — 10 of its 13 victories have come at home.  28. Atlanta Thrashers (19-19-6): Atlanta's freefall through the standings continues. They’ve lost four of their five and Ilya Kovalchuk still hasn’t signed his contract extension. A big part of the team's struggles have been in net, with Ondrej Pavelec and Johan Hedberg struggling of late.  29. Toronto Maple Leafs (15-22-9): Toronto has dropped three straight and eight of 10, as sniper Phil Kessel has gone missing in action. The upside for hockey fans is that we can expect a lot more ranting from Ron Wilson.  30. Edmonton Oilers (16-23-5): Edmonton is making its bid in the Taylor Hall sweepstakes, having lost 11 of 12. The team hosted a mid-season mini-camp in order to "get back to basics." Any team that holds a mini-camp in January is in trouble. |
