*Rankings based upon scores and stats through Sunday night
Since my sports writing career started one whole week ago, I’ve learned many things. Most important is that you’re not a legitimate writer unless you have Power Rankings. Naturally, I need to be legit, so here starts week one of ten for “Ashley’s Spectacular Power Rankings.”
Surprisingly, and genuinely unbiased, my number one ranked team this week just happens to also be my favorite team. (I promise, I even use a nerd formula for my rankings, so each team landed where it belongs in accordance with their stats). While there should not have been any reservations to begin with, the NHL’s best team proved themselves a little more by rallying together and trumping the San Jose Sharks last Tuesday night.
1. Chicago Blackhawks
The ‘Hawks stand proud as the only undefeated team in regulation minutes yet this season, 10-0-2. Their star and this week’s NHL First Star, Patrick Kane, leads the team in points, scoring goals in all but one game this season and is on a five-game goal scoring streak.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
While I’m probably one of the only few, I think the Penguins earned their spot in the top 5. Although suffering from a recent string of losses, they have one of the most stacked teams in the NHL and it’s those players that keep them in the top.
3. Detroit Red Wings
On a hot win streak, the Red Wings are making up for their more than shaky beginning this season. It’s not hard to look past their downfalls and injuries when an Olympic coach is leading them into battle.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs
Something that can’t be said about the past is how hard Toronto works, but this season the Leafs are proving they can change. Young roster and all they’ve proven hard work does pay off winning their last three road games, taking out rival Montreal 6-0 Saturday.
5. San Jose Sharks
Just a short week ago the Sharks had it all: fame, glory, and an undefeated record. Then February happened and apparently they forgot how to play hockey. On a pretty severe losing streak, the Sharks really need to refocus for this upcoming six-game road trip.
6. Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim may be ranked number two in the league but luck doesn’t translate over into stats. Even though they still make my top ten, the Ducks are really going to need to start showing some skill outside of their goalie if they want to stay there.
7. Ottawa Senators
The Senators last 10 games have been pretty rough; almost an even win-loss split. Craig Anderson happens to be one of the hottest goalies in the league right now, but with Jason Spezza out indefinitely after another back surgery it’s hard to say how strong the team will remain.
8. Vancouver Canucks
Right behind the Senators, Vancouver is still holding strong because of its two star goaltenders. In the last week alone the Canucks have shown hockey fans what it means to have a deep defense; but with trade talk circulating, will Cory Schneider be able to hold it together if teacher, Roberto Luongo, gets the boot?
9. New Jersey Devils
Though the Devils may be leading the eastern division, they have a lot of skill drills they still need to work on. The Devils land in almost last place for winning face offs and they’re pretty much 50/50 on scoring and allowing goals.
10. Phoenix Coyotes
Per these rankings, the Coyotes at least look like they know what’s going on, but not on the ice. They’ve got to be one of the most inconsistent teams in quite some time, however they did manage to pull out a nice shutout over San Jose on Saturday.
11. Dallas Stars
Dallas has had a rough go of it this season, especially after waiting almost a month after the lockout was over to have their star player winger, Jamie Benn, back on the roster. Luckily, he’s Canadian so I expect him to jump right back into the game and be his normal, high-scoring self.
12. St. Louis Blues
The season, potentially career, ending hip injury of Jamie Langenbrunner was just icing on the crap season cake for the Blues this past week. I wish him all the best with his recovery, but in the meantime the Blues desperately need to get out of this rut before their season is cut short.
13. Boston Bruins
The Bruins this season have started to shape up into the cup winning team of a few years back. Maybe after relieving themselves of dead weight, Tim Thomas, they’ll be able to build up the team a little more with all that extra money and win another cup.
14. Nashville Predators
With their pathetic roster, I’m amazed, nay shocked, at how well the Predators are holding their own. The offense does have some decent puck control time, now if only they could learn how to score some goals! At least the defense can keep them afloat.
15. Philadelphia Flyers
Fans are Flyers fans because it gets passed down as family tradition, not because of their playing or winning ability. Speaking of teams lacking consistency, the Flyers only saving grace right now besides their current win streak, is their normally inconsistent goalie, Ilya Bryzgalov.
16. Buffalo Sabres
Currently the Sabres consist of Austrian left-winger Thomas Vanek. Scoring over half their goals, leading the division in points, goals, and almost in assists, he’s about the only thing keeping the team alive right now. The Sabres did have a few recent wins so hopefully they can glue themselves back together and help the poor Austrian out.
17. Winnipeg Jets
Remaining pretty thoroughly in the bottom third of the league, Winnipeg has been giving up almost 4 goals a game. On the plus side, their two star defenders are back, so maybe the goaltender can finally get some relief.
18. Tampa Bay Lightning
January showed a promising start for the Lightning, leading the league down the road to cup victory, and then February got the best of them as well. It’s probably something about warm states having hockey teams. They may have the leading player in assists right now, but all the penalties and losses trump Martin St. Louis.
19. Montreal Canadians
Since Andrei Markov has one back to being himself, a defenseman, the Habs are hurting for scoring shooters. The last couple painful losses didn’t help either and dropped them pretty far in standings.
20. Minnesota Wild
Although pretty stacked with UW-Badgers, players I’m pretty partial to, they’re just not as fun to watch on the Wild. Maybe it’s because they aren’t adjusted to their new lines yet, but unless they step it up they won’t be climbing up the rankings anytime soon.
21. Florida Panthers
Things are not looking good for the Panthers after the beating they took Saturday by last place Washington. Nothing like an annihilation shutout to point out a teams flaws.
22. NY Islanders
Kyle Okposo isn’t seeing much playing time at the moment after being sat by the coach recently. The team needs something to wake them up after also suffering a winless February thus far. The Islanders can definitely outshoot people, 43-15 against the Sabres Saturday, but they haven’t managed to connect those shots as goals.
23. Carolina Hurricanes
Thankfully goalie, Cam Ward, finally has his game back. Though they still have a losing record, the Hurricanes finally appear to be on the up and up.
24. Washington Capitals
The Capitals are another team that sometimes has more going for them than appears. With Alexander Ovechkin racking up points recently and their big win over the Panthers, the Caps seem to have the wind back in their sails.
25. Edmonton Oilers
Losing slump, or not, the Oilers still know what’s going on. They show up and play hard at every game. They don’t have the most skilled team, which hurts, but they seem to be doing what they can to keep on.
26. NY Rangers
The Rangers are making leaps and bounds of progress all the sudden. With a team as deep as they have, it was unbelievable how poorly they were playing as a whole, but now that players other than their first line have started to score, the Rangers are really starting to evolve.
27. Columbus Blue Jackets
Honestly questionable exactly where the Blue Jackets belong in the rankings, there is no question they belong way at the bottom. Probably one of the worst teams right now in the NHL, they’ve won just a couple games and given up too many. They can’t seem to keep consistent players around that are worth anything, and after Rick Nash asked to be traded everyone knew this year would be no different.
28. Colorado Avalanche
Due to a bizarre scheduling mishap, the Avalanche actually have off Wednesday through Monday, which alone hurts their rankings. Although they took a significant hit from that alone, nothing beyond their crazy good ability to kill penalties seems to be working out right for them. Hopefully once they get some consistent ice time they’ll be back up to par.
29. Los Angeles Kings
These guys did win the Stanley Cup last year, right?! It must have gone more to their heads than expected, because the Kings haven’t managed to pull anything off this season so far. A downward spiral can only last so long, in theory.
30. Calgary Flames
Last, and pretty much least, we come to my last ranked team. People like to say when you’ve got it, you’ve got it; the Flames definitely don’t “got it”. After their star goalie got injured February 5th, the only thing they’ve really got left is their power play ability. Unless you can invoke penalties from the other team, without getting your own, that’s not the most useful skill in the game of hockey.