Power rankings: In or out? …
The playoffs start in five weeks. With the exception of a handful of teams, most everyone in the league still has Stanley Cup hopes dancing in their heads, especially if they're rejuvenated by recent trade-deadline deals or energized due to – gulp – coaching changes.
Just the same, only 16 teams can make the field, so there's a lot to be decided in a short time. This week's power rankings – which appear each Tuesday – takes the temperature of each team and suggests whether they're headed for mid-April games or early summer tee times.
1.New Jersey Devils (42-20-3, Previous: 1) – First it was the Sharks, then the Bruins and now the Devils – the team that has just been crazy good for an extended period. With games in hand, New Jersey knows it has a chance for a top seed in the conference if not the entire league.
2.Detroit Red Wings (43-15-8, Previous: 2) – The Wings are a lock for the playoffs for the 18th straight season, but they still have bigger fish to fry. If Detroit can out-sprint San Jose and hold off all challenges from the East it will become the first team since the 1997 Colorado Avalanche to win the Presidents' Trophy the year following a Cup.
3.Calgary Flames (39-21-6, Previous: 7) – The Flames went from a solid playoff team to an outfit that can compete with anyone in the West after their trade-day acquisitions. High expectations are nothing new for Mike Keenan-coached teams.
4.Philadelphia Flyers (35-19-10, Previous: 8) – The Flyers are the only team within shouting distance to deny the Devils the Atlantic crown, but they shouldn't have a problem sewing up the fourth seed in the East considering their games in hand.
5.San Jose Sharks (42-12-10, Previous: 3) – As poorly as the Sharks have played of late they're still in the driver's seat for the Presidents' Trophy (considering they have games in hand over the Bruins and Red Wings). It shouldn't be surprising, though. They were runners-up in overall points to Detroit last season.
6.Boston Bruins (43-15-9, Previous: 4) – They're in, but they're limping a bit right now – just 4-5-1 in their last 10 games. On the other hand, they had an impressive pace over 40-odd games before the recent downturn.
7.Pittsburgh Penguins (35-26-6, Previous: 11) – So the Pens are 8-1-1 since Dan Bylsma took over, and that's with Sidney Crosby missing half of the games. Guess this team really hated playing for Michel Therrien, eh? Their entry to the playoff party is not guaranteed. It's taken that kind of run just to put the Pens barely on the right side of the line. Now they have to stay there.
8.Vancouver Canucks (34-22-8, Previous: 9) – You never want to take anything for granted in the ultra-competitive West, but the Canucks are on top of the bunching of nine teams, and the fact they have games in hand puts them in good shape.
9.Chicago Blackhawks (36-19-9, Previous: 6) – The Blackhawks are ahead of schedule – meaning, instead of trying to fight and claw their way into the postseason, a playoff berth has been an obvious conclusion for quite a while now.
10.Washington Capitals (40-21-6, Previous: 5) – The Caps are obviously headed for the playoffs and are a probable top-three seed again, but they're not nearly as invincible at home as they were the first two-thirds of the season. Getting their house in order is necessary to ensure a long postseason run.
11.Carolina Hurricanes (35-27-5, Previous: 17) – An 8-2 record in their last 10 games has shot the Hurricanes into a playoff spot, but it's tenuous. The problem with a streak like that is it can be misleading. Consistency is what Carolina has missed all season, so this next little stretch will be telling.
12.Florida Panthers (34-24-8, Previous: 12) – They've produced good results, especially since Jan. 1, but the Panthers can't relax. If Florida insists on trying to win while allowing 40-plus shots a game, the Panthers probably will miss in the end.
13.Columbus Blue Jackets (33-27-6, Previous: 19) – Sure, the Blue Jackets have never been in the playoffs, but their style of play – defense-first, goaltender-driven – is conducive to qualifying. That's how to win games down the stretch. Expect a number of 2-1 and 3-2 final scores.
14.Buffalo Sabres (33-26-7, Previous: 15) – Points are tough to come by this time of year, especially when a team is missing its best player(s). The Sabres are a playoff team with Ryan Miller, but not when he's in the trainer's room.
15.Montreal Canadiens (35-24-7, Previous: 10) – Monday's abrupt change behind the bench suggests there's more wrong than right here. Playoff team? Yeah. Stanley Cup contender? No way.
16.Edmonton Oilers (32-27-6, Previous: 14) – Is it our imagination or are the Oilers teetering the line between eighth and ninth place every year at this time? Well, here they are again. The goaltending has been solid in important games, which is what should put them over the hump.
17.Anaheim Ducks (31-29-6, Previous: 13) – Already a team that looks slow on many nights, it's not like there's a lot of energy discovered late in the season. Despite the recent moves, which will probably be more beneficial in the long term, something suggests Anaheim will finish ninth or worse in the West.
18.Dallas Stars (31-27-8, Previous: 18) – What a roller-coaster ride it's been for the Stars, whose injury list makes you think there's no way this team finishes in the top eight. The recent 3-6-1 slide fits in with their entire season. Dallas might be a dangerous first-round opponent, but the hardest part for the Stars will be getting there.
19.Nashville Predators (33-29-4, Previous: 21) – Nashville's ability to make a fifth straight postseason appearance might be more about what Dallas, Minnesota and Anaheim do than what the Preds accomplish down the stretch. If the Preds hang on, their postseason streak would be the franchise's biggest surprise.
20.Minnesota Wild (31-28-5, Previous: 16) – Jacques Lemaire is the only reason the Wild are even this close to the playoffs. The wily coach is getting more out of this team than imaginable, but it's not going to be enough without somebody stepping up big time down the stretch.
21.Los Angeles Kings (28-28-9, Previous: 24) – OK, exactly how are the Kings only three points out of a playoff spot in the West? We're not saying they can't do it, but, well, they won't. And it won't be so much their fault – there are too many veteran teams to chase down when 12 of the final 16 games are on the road.
22.New York Rangers (34-24-8, Previous: 22) – The Rangers made their big move behind the bench and they're still sitting on the fence, playing well one game and poorly the next. Missing the playoffs will not go over well on Broadway.
23.Ottawa Senators (25-29-10, Previous: 25) – The window has closed. The Senators did not strike when they had the chance, and now it's time to rebuild. It's amazing how quickly it all has fallen apart.
24.St. Louis Blues (29-28-8, Previous: 20) – It's been an impressive showing to stay close to the pack, but the Blues are not headed to the playoffs. And now the tough part begins. They're last year's Phoenix Coyotes. The expectation is they'll improve enough again next season to get it. But it's not that easy. Just ask the 'Yotes.
25.Phoenix Coyotes (28-33-5, Previous: 26) – The Coyotes learned this season just how tough it is to earn those last 8-10 points to become a playoff team. In many eyes, they have regressed. But in actuality, Phoenix introduced more youth to the lineup and they look like players who will make the Coyotes better.
26.Toronto Maple Leafs (26-27-13, Previous: 23) – As much as the Leafs have been surprisingly competitive and entertaining, this roster will look much different next season with Brian Burke now in charge.
27.Atlanta Thrashers (25-35-6, Previous: 27) – Why should anyone think fortunes will change here without a change at the top?
28.New York Islanders (22-37-7, Previous: 29) – Good-bye Long Island, hello Kansas City.
29.Colorado Avalanche (29-36-1, Previous: 30) – After this disappointing, yet predictably difficult, season, look for big changes in the Mile High city.
30.Tampa Bay Lightning (21-32-13, Previous: 28) – How could they all have duped us into thinking this would be a good team? Not even close. And it'll be a while before that changes.
