A blog for ice hockey nuts and particularly fans of the NHL where standings,game scores and other statistics on hockey will be shared.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Power Rankings: Blackhawks are back on top, as Capitals clinch and Penguins cruise
As the regular season enters its final stretch, it's time to get
serious. There's been a lot of moving and shaking within the rankings
over the past couple of weeks, but this time I'm taking a hard look at
which teams are really the best of the best -- and which ones are
spinning around the drain. We have a new No. 1, which shouldn't be a
surprise, as the rest settle into position. It's no longer about winning
streaks or losing skids, but more about consistency and the likelihood
of winning the Stanley Cup.
Thanks
to a five-game winning streak, the red-hot Blackhawks became the first
Western Conference team to lock down a Stanley Cup playoff spot. It's
Chicago's ninth consecutive postseason appearance, and this is the
earliest it has clinched during that run. The Blackhawks are playing
inspirational hockey at the right time and look like a legitimate Cup
contender.
The
Capitals were the first team to clinch a playoff spot this season,
beating the Blackhawks to the punch by a day. Washington has earned 100
points and qualified for the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
Since captain Alex Ovechkin
snapped his 10-game goal drought, he's gone another pair of games
without scoring. Ovi needs to find some consistency before the
postseason.
When the best player in the world is playing up to his title, his team feeds off his energy and commitment. Sidney Crosby became the first player to reach 40 goals this season and is tied with the Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid
for the league lead with 80 points. This is only the second time in his
career that Crosby has scored 40 goals; the Penguins are 7-1-1 in their
past nine games.
The
Blue Jackets reached the 100-point plateau for the first time in
franchise history and also clinched a postseason berth for the third
time. Columbus has the potential to be a dangerous team in the playoffs,
thanks in large part to goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who is 7-0-0 with a 1.14 goals-against average and a .963 save percentage in March. He also leads the league with 39 wins.
Forward Eric Staal
has been important for the Wild both on and off the ice during his
first season in Minnesota. The veteran -- who has found new life with
the Wild and has 24 goals and 30 assists for 54 points in 71 games --
recently played in his 1,000th NHL game.
After
a successful six-game homestand (4-2-0), the Sharks remain atop the
Pacific Division. Next up, they embark on a four-game road trip through
Dallas (two games), Minnesota and Nashville.
Rangers forward Chris Kreider
is on a five-game point streak, with two goals and four assists for six
points during that span. At times he's been New York's best player this
season, and New York needs more performances like that from Kreider if
it's going to make a deep playoff run.
The
hottest team in the league is playing its best hockey at the most
opportune time. The Flames are 13-1-1 in their past 15 games and have
regained sole possession of third place in the Pacific Division. Goalie Brian Elliott has won 11 in a row and has a 1.70 GAA and .942 save percentage during that span.
Back-to-back
losses to the Canadiens should serve as a reminder of what's at stake
for the Senators, who have 11 games remaining in the regular season.
Recent defeats at the hands of the Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning shouldn't sit well either. The Sens will aim to get back in the win column against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
11. (8) Boston Bruins, 38-27-6
While all eyes are on forward Brad Marchand (37 goals) and his attempt to keep pace with Crosby (40) for the league lead, the Bruins' David Pastrnak has been on an offensive tear of late too, with six goals and nine assists for 15 points in his past 11 games.
Forward Rickard Rakell
is getting hot at the right time. He has goals in four consecutive
games and has a total of five points during that span. The 23-year-old
forward has reached the 30-goal plateau this season, which is the kind
of production Anaheim needed from him.
McDavid
is tied with Crosby for the league lead in points, with 80. The Oilers
captain has 25 goals and 55 assists -- but he isn't the only player
pumping in the goals for Edmonton. Leon Draisaitl (24 goals and 39 assists) has surpassed the 60-point mark for the first time in his NHL career.
This
team will be a lot of fun to watch if it makes the postseason. The
Maple Leafs are the first team to have three rookies reach the 50-point
mark in a season since the Jets did so in 1992-93: William Nylander, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have all accomplished the feat this season.
17. (19) Tampa Bay Lightning, 34-28-9
The return of Steven Stamkos
depends on several factors, including his team's ability to stay in the
playoff hunt. The Lightning captain had knee surgery in November and recently returned to the ice for skating sessions.
The schedule's not helping either. Because of Tampa Bay's recent lack
of practice time, Stamkos has not been able to fully test his knee in
game-like situations.
Since arriving at the trade deadline, veteran forward Jarome Iginla
has produced for the Kings. He has three goals and one assist for four
points in eight games as L.A. attempts to stay in playoff contention.
Only 10 games into his NHL career, prospect Josh Ho-Sang has three goals and three assists for six points. Islanders GM Garth Snow was shopping the 21-year-old forward at the deadline, but Ho-Sang has shown his potential to have an impact in Brooklyn.
The Jets' chances of earning a postseason berth are dwindling, but the team has a bright future. Captain Blake Wheeler reached the 500-point plateau over the weekend.
The
Flyers aren't completely out of playoff contention -- and they're
showing some grit down the stretch. Case in point: they tied Sunday's
game in the final minute of regulation before Brayden Schenn scored 38 seconds into overtime for a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Maybe Jaromir Jagr
will keep going until he's 50. The 45-year-old forward played in his
1,700th NHL game on Sunday, becoming the fourth player in history to
reach that mark, joining Gordie Howe (1,767), Mark Messier (1,756) and Ron Francis (1,731).
The
Hurricanes are mathematically still in contention. If they don't earn a
playoff berth, this deep, young team should enjoy many trips to the
postseason in the future.
Maybe
it's time for a coaching change in Buffalo. In spite of their young and
talented roster, the Sabres will miss the postseason. Is head coach Dan
Bylsma's message not getting through to the players? Because his team
has missed out on more than a few chances this season.
There should be a sign on GM Jim Nill's door that reads: Goalie wanted. Statistically, Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi
are two of the worst netminders in the league, which does not bode
well. Nill must figure out the goaltending situation or next season will
feature much of the same in Dallas.
The
Devils' chances of finishing strong don't look promising. After a 1-8-1
stretch in its past 10 games, New Jersey is now the worst team in the
Eastern Conference.
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