This is the second week we’re running with the new format for the NHL Classy Power Rankings. This week saw the notable drop from the Philadelphia Flyers, reflected by the firing of coach John Stevens. Big jumps this week include the Phoenix Coyotes, Minnesota Wild and of course, the new number 1 ranked team! Scroll down below to see who knocked off the San Jose Sharks.
NHL Classy Power Rankings – Week 10
30. Carolina Hurricanes (6-17-5, 17 pts; last week: 30)
29. Toronto Maple Leafs (8-13-7, 23 pts; last week: 29)
28. Anaheim Ducks (10-13-6, 26 pts; last week: 25)
27. Philadelphia Flyers (13-12-1, 27 pts; last week: 20)
26. Florida Panthers (11-13-15, 27 pts; last week: 26)
A lowly bottom group, that’s for sure. Though the Leafs have enjoyed better hockey as of late, they are discovering its still not enough. The Philadelphia Flyers, who were ranked in the top 10 earlier this year, hope to get out of their funk with new head coach Peter Laviolette and captain Mike Richards taking a bigger stand in the dressing room. The are too talented to be this mediocre.
25. Montreal Canadiens (13-14-2, 28 pts; last week: 23)
24. Edmonton Oilers (12-13-4, 28 pts; last week: 28)
23. New York Islanders (11-11-7, 29 pts; last week: 22)
22. New York Rangers (14-14-1, 29 pts; last week: 21)
21. Minnesota Wild (13-12-3, 29 pts; last week: 27)
The Minnesota Wild make an impressive jump with improved play as of late. It took awhile, but the team has been on fire winning 5 straight and going 13-3-3 in their last 16 games. The Oilers have picked it up a little, too, despite the loss of Ales Hemsky for the rest of the season. It remains to be seen if it can continue. Lastly, a quick note about the Bruins-Canadiens Centennial game from Friday night; what an outstanding effort from Montreal. The Canadiens played with amazing drive and teamwork, shown perfectly in that 5 on 3 sequence. It was a pleasure to watch, for Habs fans especially. If they played like that every game, they’d be a top contender in the league.
20. St. Louis Blues (12-10-5, 29 pts; last week: 24)
19. Tampa Bay Lightning (11-9-8, 30 pts; last week: 18)
18. Ottawa Senators (14-10-4, 32 pts; last week: 15)
17. Columbus Blue Jackets (13-11-5, 31 pts; last week: 19)
16. Vancouver Canucks (13-11-5, 31 pts; last week: 16
The Senators recent road trip didn’t go as planned losing 3 of 4 games. The St. Louis Blues had impressive wins over the Kings and Sharks which helped push them up to #20 this week. Columbus are still spinning out of control (something tells me Hitchcock’s job security has dipped a bit), while the Canucks stay put at 16.
15. Detroit Red Wings (14-10-5, 33 pts; last week: 17)
14. Dallas Stars (13-8-8, 34 pts; last week: 13)
13. Atlanta Thrashers (15-8-3, 33 pts; last week: 12)
12. Nashville Predators (16-11-2, 34 pts; last week: 7)
11. Buffalo Sabres (16-8-2, 34 pts; last week: 10)
Of this group, I’m very impressed with the Atlanta Thrashers and Nashville Predators. The Thrashers are having a great season and are slowly catching up to the Capitals for the tops in the Southeast. Detroit are starting to put things together too – I wonder if this is a sign of things to come. The Predators are struggling a bit after having a great 7 game run in November, winning only 2 of their last 6 games.
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10. Boston Bruins (15-9-5, 35 pts; last week: 8 )
The big news out of Boston this week was the resigning of center Marc Savard to a long term extension. Savard’s return to the Bruins line up had an immediate impact with a hat trick performance against the Leafs on Saturday. The Boston Bruins have won 3 of their last 4 games and have a few days off before playing the Leafs, Islanders, and Flyers later this week.
9. Colorado Avalanche (16-9-6, 38 pts; last week: 11)
The Colorado Avalanche continue to struggle and ride the great start they got off to. The Avalanche are 3-4-3 in their last 10 games but have a 5 game home stand coming up after a game on Monday in St. Louis. Rookie Matt Duchene capped off a great week by being named the NHL’s 3rd star of last week, while the Avalanche continue to play without star goalie Craig Anderson.
8. Los Angeles Kings (17-10-3, 37 pts; last week: 9)
The Los Angeles Kings are still missing Ryan Smyth, and nowhere is that more evident than with star Anze Kopitar. Kopitar has registered 2 points in his last 5 games, but the team has put together 4 wins in their last 6 games. The Kings have a tough schedule this week against the Flames, Sharks, and Coyotes.
7. Phoenix Coyotes (17-11-1, 35 pts; last week: 14)
The Desert Dogs have been pretty solid lately, going 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. The Phoenix Coyotes have a nice 4 game winning streak going and will look to continue it against the Wild, Kings, and Sharks.
6. Calgary Flames (18-7-3, 39 pts; last week: 6)
An impressive win from the Calgary Flames on Saturday makes them one of the league’s hottest teams with 5 wins in their last 6 games. Brent Sutter has done a good job installing a solid system for the team to follow and its showing great results. This week, the Flames will face-off against the Kings, Thrashers, and Wild.
5. Pittsburgh Penguins (20-9-1, 41 pts; last week: 5)
The Pittsburgh Penguins have won 3 of their last 4 games and look every bit as good as they did last year. Sidney Crosby sat out of Saturday’s game with a minor groin injury but is expected back in the line up any day. The Penguins have a busy stretch coming up and it starts this week against the Hurricanes, Canadiens, and Panthers.
4. Chicago Blackhawks (18-7-3, 39 pts, last week: 2)
The big news surrounding the Chicago Blackhawks is the official resignings of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Duncan Keith to long term extensions. On the ice, the Blackhawks had an impressive overtime victory against the Penguins after a bad 4-1 loss to the Predators. For all the hockey poolies out there, Marian Hossa has 6 points in 6 games and averages around 20 minutes of ice time per game.
3. New Jersey Devils (19-7-1, 39 pts, last week: 3)
The New Jersey Devils are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and continue to play a strong brand of hockey (especially on the road). On the injury front, the Devils are set to welcome back Johnny Oduya this week – a nice boost for their defense. The Devils play the Sabres on Monday night before starting a 5 game home stand against the Hurricanes, Panthers, and Flyers.
2. San Jose Sharks (19-7-5, 43 pts; last week: 1)
Finally, the San Jose Sharks aren’t the top team in the Classy Rankings. The main reason is the losses to the Blues and Flames last week. I thought the Sharks lacked the desperation the Flames had on Saturday and I didn’t like the way the Sharks dropped a game to St. Louis in the dying seconds of the game and then in a shootout. The Sharks are still a terrific team, but shades of doubt are starting to creep in, but I have no thing but great things to say about Joe Thornton.
1. Washington Capitals (18-5-6, 42 pts; last week: 4)
A new number one team in the Classy Power Rankings! And it only took 10 weeks! The biggest reason the Washington Capitals are number one is the fact they’ve been able to win without Alex Ovechkin (injuries, suspension) and Alex Semin (injuries). This week, the Capitals will play the Lightning, Sabres, Hurricanes, and Leafs.
Stay classy, NHL rankings.
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