Ranking the teams after two weeks -- and a handful of games -- leads to some bizarre results, especially when, like us, you're ignoring a team's reputation, preseason hype and what happened in the previous season.
In our first power rankings of the season we take a look at the power of small sample sizes and how they can turn this thing upside down. The important thing to keep in mind: It's still very, very early.
- 1. Flames
The Flames are an early season favorite to contend for the Western Conference title, and they're off to a good start at 4-0, including a pair of wins against their rivals in Edmonton ... thanks in large part to Nikolai Khabibulin some last-second magic. - 2. Flyers
After a 3-0 start, the Flyers dropped a barnburner at home against Pittsburgh that ended with the type of insanity you'd expect in a Keystone State meeting: Chaos. Perhaps the best collection of forwards in the league from top-to-bottom. - 3. Rangers
After dropping their season opener in Pittsburgh when the Stanley Cup banner went up, the Rangers have won three in a row, including back-to-back road games in New Jersey and Washington. - 4. Capitals
The line of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Semin is clearly the best in hockey right now, and if they stay together all season they all have a legitimate shot to reach the 100-point plateau. - 5. Penguins
The Penguins are 3-1, but they haven't looked overly impressive in any of the games so far with the exception of their most recent win against Philadelphia. Getting blanked at home against Phoenix and being taken to a shootout by the Islanders drops them a bit. Still, a win is a win is a win. - 6. Thrashers
Hey, after two games the Thrashers are still unbeaten and there might actually be some reasons for optimism in Atlanta. Hats off to Ilya Kovalchuk for scoring career goal No. 300 on Thursday. Seems like he's been around forever but he's still only 26 years old. - 7. Avalanche
Joe Sacco doesn't care about your preseason predictions, and the Avalanche, led by the stellar play of goaltender Craig Anderson, are one of the surprise teams in the opening weeks of the season. - 8. Predators
Great start for Nashville goaltender Dan Ellis, as the 29-year-old has turned aside 60 of 64 shots in net for the Predators. - 9. Blues
The Blues had an impressive start to the season in Stockholm, Sweden, rallying for back-to-back wins against the reigning Western Conference champion Red Wings. If this team avoids the injuries they encountered last year, they look like a dangerous club. - 10. Blue Jackets
They were the first team to really feel the power of the Joe Thornton-Dany Heatley combination on Thursday, but their wins against Minnesota, and their scoring outburst against Roberto Luongo to open the season are enough to help them debut in the top 10. - 11. Coyotes
Hard to imagine a better start for the Coyotes. Knock off a division rival, shutout the defending champs on the road, and, perhaps even better, sell out the home opener in Phoenix. - 12. Kings
Expectations are growing in Los Angeles, and while dropping the season opener to Phoenix hurt, the Kings have rebounded nicely with back-to-back wins against San Jose and Minnesota. They're also averaging an impressive five goals per game. - 14. Senators
Goals have been somewhat hard to come by in the early going for the Senators (seven in three games), but Pascal Leclaire has been strong between the pipes, especially in Ottawa's two wins. - 15. Red Wings
Once again ... don't get used to seeing this team here. The Red Wings picked up their first win against Chicago on Thursday, but a rough start overseas against the Blues -- including two blown leads -- drops them in the rankings. Chris Osgood and Jimmy Howard look like they'll keep the door open for questions about the goaltending for another year ... until April when Osgood once again flips the switch takes his game to another level. - 16. Blackhawks
After returning from their trip across the pond, and loss at Detroit on Thursday, the Blackhawks play eight of their next 10 games at home. - 17. Sabres
One of the many teams that's almost impossible to have a read on at this point, but after two games the Sabres have three of a possible four points. Thomas Vanek scored his first of the season on Thursday with less than four minutes to play to give Buffalo its first win of the season. - 18. Canadiens
Montreal has dropped two in a row, and after four games the Canadiens are tied for the second-worst goal-differential (minus-five) in the league, though, most of that can be attributed to their 7-1 loss at the hands of Vancouver. - 19. Ducks
Anaheim picked up its first win on Thursday with an impressive 6-1 win in Boston thanks to a pair of two-goal performances from Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne. - 20. Oilers
The Oilers are so close to being unbeaten, yet so far away. Nikolai Khabibulin is going to have nightmares about the Calgary Flames, as they've twice beaten him in the closing seconds, both resulting in losses for the Oil. - 21. Panthers
Florida returns to the ice on Friday after not playing since their trip to Finland, and they get quite a welcome back with three games in four nights. Bold prediction that I reserve the right to deny if it doesn't happen: David Booth comes close to 40 goals this season. - 22. Islanders
They have their franchise player, now can they get him a new home? John Tavares scored in his first NHL game against Pittsburgh and he has three points in two games. The Islanders have played hard early on, dropping a pair of overtime games to start the season. - 23. Stars
Like the Islanders, the Stars have come out on the losing end in shootouts to open the season. Unlike the Islanders, the Stars should be able to contend for a playoff spot when all is said and done. - 24. Bruins
It's been a tale of two teams when it comes to the Bruins so far. They've either been blown out at home, or blown out a team on the road. They've been outscored 10-2 at the Garden, and beat the Hurricanes 7-2 at Carolina. Still, this is a strong team, nothing to worry about here. - 25. Devils
The Devils were 0.2 seconds away from an 0-3 start. Travis Zajac's buzzer beater gave the Devils an opportunity to get in the "W" column on Thursday with a shootout win against Tampa Bay. Patrik Elias returning to the lineup will be quite a boost for this group. - 26. Wild
The good news: Minnesota's power play has been stellar in their first three games, going 6-for-13 with the man advantage. The bad news? Minnesota has scored just two goals at even-strength. - 27. Canucks
I picked the Canucks to win the Stanley Cup this season, and darn it, I'm sticking with it. But after four games their performance isn't quite what I expected, especially from franchise netminder Roberto Luongo, who was lifted after giving up four goals on 12 shots in third start of the season. - 28. Hurricanes
After a surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago, the Hurricanes have stumbled out of the gate, scoring just four goals in three games. - 29. Lightning
2008 No. 1 overall pick Steven Stamkos is off to a nice start with two goals and two assists for the Lightning. Unfortunately, outside of Martin St. Louis and Victor Hedman (three assists) nobody else in the lineup is producing much of anything. - 30. Maple Leafs
Vesa Toskala had a couple of rough starts to open the season, and while Jonas Gustavsson has looked impressive, he's currently on IR with a groin injury. Toronto will be a much-improved team this season, I think, and they won't be in the basement for long.
Latest NHL Images
SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 08: Dany Heatley #15 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates his hat trick during an NHL game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at HP Pavilion at San Jose October 8, 2009 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Don Smith/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dany Heatley
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SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 08: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks looks for a pass during an NHL game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at HP Pavilion at San Jose October 8, 2009 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Don Smith/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joe Thornton
NHLI via Getty Images
SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 08: Mathieu Garon #32 of the Columbus Blue Jackets makes a save on Frazer McLaren #68 of the San Jose Sharks during an NHL game at HP Pavilion at San Jose October 8, 2009 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Don Smith/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mathieu Garon;Frazer McLaren
NHLI via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 8: Ryan Smyth #94 and Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrate a goal against the Minnesota Wild on October 8, 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ryan Smyth;Anze Kopitar
NHLI via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 8: Wayne Simmonds #17 of the Los Angeles Kings is checked by Cal Clutterbuck #22 of the Minnesota Wild on October 8, 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Wayne Simmonds;Cal Clutterbuck
NHLI via Getty Images
SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 08: Kristian Huselius # 20 of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ryane Clowe #29 of the San Jose Sharks wait for a face off during an NHL game at HP Pavilion at San Jose October 8, 2009 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Don Smith/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kristian Huselius;Ryane Clowe
NHLI via Getty Images
SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 08: Dany Heatley #15 of the San Jose Sharks skates with the puck up ice during an NHL game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at HP Pavilion at San Jose October 8, 2009 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Don Smith/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dany Heatley
NHLI via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 8: Ryan Smyth #94 of the Los Angeles Kings gives his stick to fans after the game against the Minnesota Wild on October 8, 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ryan Smyth
NHLI via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 8: Marek Zidlicky #3 of the Minnesota Wild checks Peter Harrold #5 of the Los Angeles Kings on October 8, 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Marek Zidlicky;Peter Harrold
NHLI via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 8: Teddy Purcell #54 of the Los Angeles Kings scores a goal against Josh Harding #37 of the Minnesota Wild on October 8, 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Teddy Purcell;Josh Harding
NHLI via Getty Images
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-10-2009 @ 3:14PM
Rapter said...
23. Stars
Like the Islanders, the Stars have come out on the losing end in shootouts to open the season. Unlike the Islanders, the Stars should be able to contend for a playoff spot when all is said and done.
Wow. That is a pretty tasteless, unnecessary comment.
Reply