NHL

NHL Power Rankings

Posted Nov 27, 2008 12:00PM By Ted Starkey (RSS feed)

Filed Under: NHL Power Rankings

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With hockey fans across the United States celebrating Thanksgiving, it's time to look back and reflect what teams are thankful for so far almost two months into the 2008-09 campaign in the latest edition of the NHL power rankings..

While some fans are thankful their teams are in the running for the Stanley Cup, others can be thankful for some of the best crop of young talent in the league in years.

So, with a new team on top, here's the breakdown of who stands where in the NHL.

  • 1. Sharks (Last Week: 2)
    With the other pro teams in the Bay Area are really struggling to be in contention for a title in their respective sports, the Sharks look like they may finally be ready to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup this season.
  • 2. Red Wings (Last Week: 1)
    With Michigan's economy one of the hardest hit by the economic downturn and the Big Three automakers facing severe cutbacks, hockey fans in the Wolverine State at least have the Red Wings' strong title defense to take their minds off the troubles.
  • 3. Bruins (Last Week: 4)
    The Bruins' 10-game point streak comes to an end in Buffalo on Wednesday, but Boston can be happy that their local NHL team has rekindled excitement for a Original Six franchise that had fallen behind the other three local pro teams in terms of visibility.
  • 4. Penguins (Last Week: 3)
    The Penguins can be thankful to have potent combination of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on their side, as the pair helped Pittsburgh avoid its second straight loss by erasing a 3-0 deficit on Long Island Wednesday night.
  • 5. Rangers (Last Week: 6)
    Scott Gomez helps the Rangers break out of their mini-slump, as despite a reported stress fracture, the center shows his worth as he returns with a strong performance as New York tops Tampa Bay in a shootout.
  • 6. Blackhawks (Last Week: 7)
    Blackhawks are thankful that the long-suffering Original Six team is now in serious playoff contention, with a talented young core of players that could take this team deep into the playoffs for years to come.
  • 7. Capitals (Last Week: 5)
    Washington can thank its superstar Alexander Ovechkin for helping keep the team going despite having seven players out of the lineups with injuries. The league's defending MVP records a hat trick over the Thrashers to keep the Caps in first in the Southeast Division.
  • 8. Ducks (Last Week: 10)
    The Ducks can be thankful they have two solid netminders in Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Jonas Hiller helping them out, as the pair helps Anaheim make up for an offense that has been struggling to light the lamp this year.
  • 9. Canadiens (Last Week: 8)
    The Canadiens can be happy its fans are really adept at stuffing the ballot box for All-Star voting, meaning the game might have all Montreal skaters opening the game for the Eastern Conference - which would be a first.
  • 10. Wild (Last Week: 9)
    Minnesota can be thankful for grinder Cal Clutterbuck's first two career goals, as he helps the Wild avoid a long losing streak to help beat Washington as the team bides its time until Marian Gaborik can return to the ice.
  • 11. Flames (Last Week: 12)
    The Flames are thankful for Curtis Glencross' performance over the last two games, as his five points (two goals, three assists) helped Calgary earn a win over Los Angeles to climb three games over the .500 mark.
  • 12. Flyers (Last Week: 16)
    Flyers fans are happy the team has finally rediscovered last year's magic and is putting together some wins. Philadelphia has climbed from being two games below .500 on Nov. 10 to now having reeled off six straight wins to be five above the mark heading into Thanksgiving.
  • 13. Devils (Last Week: 15)
    New Jersey is thankful for former AHL starter Scott Clemmensen's performance in relief of the injured Martin Brodeur. The netminder has stepped in to help fuel a five-game win streak to spark life back in the Devils' season.
  • 14. Sabres (Last Week: 11)
    Sabres fans are happy for the the return of the classic Buffalo logo in an updated third jersey, as it apparently is good luck for the team. The fans watch a five-game losing skid comes to an end as the team debuts its new threads in a 3-2 victory over Boston.
  • 15. Canucks (Last Week: 13)
    Vancouver fans can be thankful if Roberto Luongo's injury isn't quite as bad as first feared. The Canucks' playoff hopes only go as far as their excellent netminder can take them after he goes down in a win in Pittsburgh.
  • 16. Hurricanes (Last Week: 14)
    With a sputtering offense that has scored more than two goals in a game just once in its last 11 tries, 'Canes fans can be thankful that some strong Cam Ward performances are keeping this season from taking a very ugly turn in Raleigh.
  • 17. Avalanche (Last Week: 21)
    Colorado fans used to long-term success in the MIle High City can be thankful that this year's edition of the Avalanche at least has hung in there despite some very shaky moments to the season.
  • 18. Oilers (Last Week: 17)
    The Oilers are thankful they get some time off this week to tinker with their struggling play (and in particular, the offense), but they can't earn a win against Los Angeles in their only game of the past week to avoid falling below the .500 mark.
  • 19. Stars (Last Week: 19)
    Stars fans can be happy their team shows some fight against Minnesota after the devastating news that captain Brenden Morrow would miss the rest of the regular season with a torn ACL really piled on a season that has gone south in Big D.
  • 20. Predators (Last Week: 18)
    Nashville can be happy they still have NHL hockey in the city and a team that still remains competitive after a turbulent couple of seasons in the Music City. However, they will be more thankful if the team's murky ownership situation finally settles.
  • 21. Senators (Last Week: 20)
    Fans in Canada's capital are thankful for the solid play of goaltender Alex Auld, who has put up some very good numbers despite the Senators' struggles early this season. Ottawa is still looking to try to recapture the strong play that vanished last New Year's Day.
  • 22. Blue Jackets (Last Week: 23)
    Jackets fans can be happy the team is still hanging around the .500 mark for the year although some thought the team would take a step back from last season. Now, the question is if Columbus can finally reach the playoffs for the first time this season.
  • 23. Blues (Last Week: 25)
    St. Louis is happy the team is playing decent hockey as of late, earning points in five of its last six games to remain in the hunt for a playoff spot. After starting off the season with the rough news one of their top young stars would be out, they have played better than expected.
  • 24. Thrashers (Last Week: 24)
    Atlanta fans are happy that new coach John Anderson has the team playing hard in what could otherwise be a tough rebuilding year for the Thrashers. Even though Atlanta doesn't have the talent of the past few seasons, they at least are putting together strong efforts.
  • 25. Coyotes (Last Week: 22)
    Phoenix is happy for goaltender Mikael Tellqvist's performance against the Blue Jackets, which helps snaps the Coyotes' six-game skid on a tough road trip. Now, the team will get a four-game homestand to help climb back over the .500 mark.
  • 26. Kings (Last Week: 26)
    Another rebuilding team that has worked very hard in the first weeks of the season to remain at the .500 mark, Los Angeles fans hope that this team can turn the corner and start to make a run at the rest of the pack.
  • 27. Islanders (Last Week: 28)
    The Islanders have been playing better as of late, but suffer an ugly pre-Turkey Day defeat as they blow a 3-0 lead over the Penguins on Long Island. Now, their fans will be happy if the red tape holding up the team's future in Uniondale would finally disappear.
  • 28. Panthers (Last Week: 29)
    Florida can be thankful just when it looks like this team might be dropping out of the playoff chase early this season, they can at least get a win to remain on the edge of the Southeast chase.
  • 29. Maple Leafs (Last Week: 27)
    The Leafs fans can be happy the Brian Burke saga finally appears to be coming to an end - although that means it will put the attention back on the current Toronto team that's struggling on ice.
  • 30. Lightning (Last Week: 30)
    Unfortunately for the Lightning fans, the only one who really seems to be thankful around Tampa Bay is Barry Melrose, who's now not a part of the mess that the team just four years removed from a Stanley Cup title now finds itself in.
Check out last week's rankings here.

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