The Sabres, Devils and Penguins turned into pumpkins, combing for zero wins and some ugly efforts in the process. Buffalo gets humbled twice at home by beatable opponents, while Martin Brodeur shows he's indeed human with some sub-par outings for the future Hall-of-Famer. Pittsburgh gets injury with insult, losing superstar Sidney Crosby in the third period of their 4-1 loss to Phoenix Thursday.
As for the risers, the Rangers move up with another impressive week, and the Ducks and Flyers also turn in unbeaten weeks after being some of the last teams to register a win on the season.
Check out the latest rankings after the jump.
Latest NHL Photos
LOS ANGELES - OCTOBER 30: Actor Jason Gray-Stanford (L) attends a game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Los Angeles Kings on October 30, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jason Gray-Stanford
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LOS ANGELES - OCTOBER 30: Mike Brown #13 of the Vancouver Canucks and Denis Gauthier #21 of the Los Angeles Kings skate after the puck on October 30, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mike Brown;Denis Gauthier
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LOS ANGELES - OCTOBER 30: The Vancouver Canucks celebrate a victory over the Los Angeles Kings on October 30, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Canucks shut out the Kings 4-0. (Photo by Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES - OCTOBER 30: Taylor Pyatt #9 of the Vancouver Canucks chases down the puck during a game against the Los Angeles Kings on October 30, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Taylor Pyatt
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LOS ANGELES - OCTOBER 30: Peter Harrold #5 of the Los Angeles Kings falls to the ice while teammate Kyle Quincey #27 and Alex Burrows #14 of the Vancouver Canucks look on during their game on October 30, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Peter Harrold;Kyle Quincey;Alex Burrows
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LOS ANGELES - OCTOBER 30: Matt Greene #2 of the Los Angeles Kings skates around the goal with the puck chased by Darcy Hordichuk #24 of the Vancouver Canucks on October 30, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matt Greene;Darcy Hordichuk
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LOS ANGELES - OCTOBER 30: Ryan Johnson #10 of the Vancouver Canucks skates with the puck trailed by Kyle Quincey #27 of the Los Angeles Kings during their game October 30, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ryan Johnson;Kyle Quincey
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LOS ANGELES - OCTOBER 30: Actor Jason Gray-Stanford (L) attends the game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Los Angeles Kings on October 30, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jason Gray-Stanford
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LOS ANGELES - OCTOBER 30: Taylor Pyatt #9 of the Vancouver Canucks celebrates with a teammate during a game against the Los Angeles Kings on October 30, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Taylor Pyatt
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LOS ANGELES - OCTOBER 30: Television host John Walsh attends a game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Los Angeles Kings on October 30, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Walsh
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- 2. Canadiens (Last Week: 1)
The Habs lose their first regulation game of the year to the Ducks, but then outlast the Hurricanes in a shootout and hand Minnesota a rare loss. Montreal's allowed just 20 goals in nine games so far this season and is proving to be a true contender. - 3. Red Wings (Last Week: 2)
Detroit's five-game win streak comes to an end, then they suffer just their second regulation loss at the Shark Tank. However, worrisome for Wings fans is the fact despite their 7-2-2 mark they've already allowed 37 goals, tied for the most porous team in the NHL. - 4. Rangers (Last Week: 8)
New York enjoys a 4-0 week, and are the first NHL team to reach the 10-win mark on the season. Of course, a big part of the Rangers' early success is Henrik Lundqvist's hot start, as the Swede netminder's posted a .928 save percentage and a 1.99 GAA so far this year. - 5. Capitals (Last Week: 9)
The surprising part about the Capitals is that they've done this well with Alex Ovechkin only scoring two goals so far this year. Washington's depth is proving to be much better than in years past, and another talented Russian named Alex is keeping the team chugging along. - 6. Ducks (Last Week: 11)
Anaheim finishes up an East Coast trip with a 4-0 mark, then comes home to beat Detroit in overtime, meaning the Ducks will finish October at .500 or better despite starting out of the gate with no points in their first four games. - 7. Flames (Last Week: 12)
Another Western Conference team on a roll after a poor start to the season, Calgary now has won five straight games. Part of the reason for the turnaround is the Flames tightening up in front of Miikka Kiprusoff, allowing just seven goals in those contests. - 8. Sabres (Last Week: 4)
Buffalo blows a late lead in Denver to drop a game in the shooutout, then returns home to deliver a pair of stinkers at home against Ottawa and Tampa Bay - although not without Adam Mair giving the Senators a little early dose of holiday spirit. - 9. Stars (Last Week: 10)
Dallas now has picked up five points in their last six games, including snatching a last-minute point against the Capitals Saturday thanks to Mike Modano's goal. The Stars then capped off the week by handing Minnesota their first regulation loss of the season Wednesday. - 10. Devils (Last Week: 5)
After a good start to the year, Martin Brodeur has cooled off considerably, allowing 13 goals in three games. Fortunately for the Devils, New Jersey was able to salvage two points during that stretch despite the pair of losses to Philadelphia and a shooutout setback against Toronto. - 11. Penguins (Last Week: 6)
The Penguins' four-game road trip has left some Pens frustrated, as Pittsburgh has lost three straight, and also Sidney Crosby to an injury late in their 4-1 loss to the Coyotes in Phoenix. Pittsburgh hopes to turn things around with three of their next four away from the Igloo. - 12. Wild (Last Week: 7)
Minnesota suffers back-to-back regulation losses for the first time this season, getting beaten by the Stars and Canadiens. Now, the Wild have to navigate a tough four-game road trip that will take them to Arizona, California and British Columbia. - 13. Hurricanes (Last Week: 14)
Cam Ward has a memorable week in net, facing 60 shots (including a last-second penalty shot) in a win over the Islanders, then notching his first shutout of the season with a win at the Blues. Carolina begins November with a long-overdue home game following the six-game road trip. - 14. Flyers (Last Week: 17)
After the Flyers were the last team to pick up a win this season, Philadelphia reels off four straight wins to climb over .500 for the month with a 4-3-3 mark. And, with a 7-0 pounding of Atlanta, the Flyers also are now the East's top-scoring club. - 15. Bruins (Last Week: 16)
Tim Thomas proves to be solid on the Bruins' western road swing, as the goaltender didn't allow a single goal in back-to-back wins over the Oilers and Canucks. However, Thomas proved to be human in Boston's 3-2 loss in Calgary to cal the three-game trip. - 16. Senators (Last Week: 19)
Perhaps the Senators have bottomed out for the season, as Ottawa shows some fight in Buffalo in a 5-2 win, then Ottawa heads down to south Florida and hands a 2-1 loss to the host Panthers to move to 4-5-1 on the campaign. - 17. Blackhawks (Last Week: 13)
Chicago falls to 3-3-3 on the season with a shootout loss to the defending champs at home a regulation setback in Minnesota. Worrisome too is that free-agent signing Cristobal Huet has only posted a 1-2-1 record and an .894 save percentage so far this season. - 18. Avalanche (Last Week: 20)
The Avalanche grab an impressive 2-1 shootout win against the Sabres with a late rally, but then Colorado stumbles in losses to the Flames and Blue Jackets to drop the Avs back to the .500 mark on the year. - 19. Blues (Last Week: 18)
It's blank or be blanked for the Blues this week. After getting shut out by the Kings, St. Louis turns the trick on the Panthers with a shutout of their own - but then get blanked by the 'Canes for a strange week in the Gateway City. - 20. Oilers (Last Week: 15)
Edmonton's losing streak reaches five games, allowing six in Vancouver, then losing a scoreless game in overtime. The Oilers then slide in their first of seven away from Rexall Place, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Predators. - 21. Canucks (Last Week: 24)
Roberto Luongo allows just four goals in three games - although unfortunately one of them came in a 1-0 shutout at the hands of the Bruins. However, Vancouver at the reach .500 on the year so far this season despite some early-season struggles. - 22. Predators (Last Week: 25)
Nashville grabs five of a possible six points on the week, earning home wins against Los Angeles and Edmonton, and just dropping a point in a shootout loss to Washington when Dan Ellis deserved a better fate. - 23. Lightning (Last Week: 27)
Steve Stamkos makes his first NHL tally a memorable one, tipping in a Vincent Lecavalier shot for his first goal in Buffalo. He then adds another as the Lightning climb back to .500 with a win in Buffalo as Tampa Bay shows some life. - 24. Coyotes (Last Week: 22)
The Coyotes, who have been hovering around the .500 mark all season, drop a home game 4-1 to the Flames, then turn around and hang a 4-1 decision on the visiting Penguins for a 1-1 week. Still, Phoenix needs more pop in an offense tied for fewest goals in the league so far. - 25. Blue Jackets (Last Week: 21)
Columbus finally snaps their three-game losing streak (and scoring woes) with a 4-2 win in Denver. In that contest, the Jackets equal their goal total from the previous three losses. - 26. Panthers (Last Week: 26)
The Panthers turn in a pair of ugly losses to the Blues and Senators, lighting the lamp just once to fall under the .500 mark for the month of October. It doesn't help the mood as well as the team is implementing some severe cutbacks with the stumbling economy. - 27. Maple Leafs (Last Week: 28)
Toronto has a good week, winning three of its last four games, and earning points in four of its last five games. Credit Matt Stajan, who notches three goals, including a three-point effort in a shootout win over New Jersey. - 28. Kings (Last Week: 29)
Los Angeles drops three in a row (although they did pick up a point against the Red Wings), and the Kings will need to turn it around on their seven-game homestand to have any chance of staying in the hunt for a playoff spot. - 29. Thrashers (Last Week: 23)
Atlanta seems to have fallen back to Earth, earning an ugly pummeling on national televison, and now are on a five-game losing skid after dropping a game at Madison Square Garden. A broken leg suffered by rookie standout Zach Bogosian certainly won't help matters. - 30. Islanders (Last Week: 30)
The bad news for the Islanders is that Rick DiPietro is hurt again and the team's on a five-game slide - even with turning in a record for shots on goal in a regular-season game against Carolina. The good news? At least those retro uniforms are pretty sharp.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Habs: "but then outlast the Hurricanes in a shootout and hand Minnesota its first regulation loss of the season"
Stars: "The Stars then capped off the week by handing Minnesota their first regulation loss of the season Wednesday"
I think the latter is correct, not the former.