NHL Eastern Conference Power Rankings: Week 1

Carolina, Tampa, and Washington came out of the gates strong, making a case that the Southeast Conference is ready to bounce back after a weak year last year.

Derek Stepan's hat trick in Buffalo was impressive and Nathan Horton is scoring 1.5 goals per game. Maybe he's made up for years of underachieving in Florida.

Tim Thomas may be ready to take his starting spot this year. His shutout in Prague certainly helps his case.

There was an unpleasant moment early in the season when the young Thrashers saw one of their men collapse early against Washington.

1. Carolina Hurricanes

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OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 14: Cam Ward #30 of the Carolina Hurricanes makes a pad save down low against the Ottawa Senators during a game at Scotiabank Place on October 14, 2010 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)

Record: 2-1-0 (4 pts)

The 'Canes went overlooked during the preseason, but gave fans reason to believe that they won't be repeating their horrendous start to the 2009 season.

Ward has looked solid in net and the team should feel confident coming off a two-game sweep in Helsinki.

2. Toronto Maple Leafs

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TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 07: Clarke MacArthur #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates up the ice during a regular season NHL game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Air Canada Centre October 7, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Gett

Record: 3-0-0 (6 pts)

Nobody can make the playoffs in October, but teams certainly can eliminate themselves early in the season.

The Leafs are well aware of that and, using their wins over three potential playoff teams this week as evidence, have shown they inching closer to becoming a playoff team this year.

Their win over the Penguins, who will be expected to contend this year, in Pittsburgh should give the team confidence that they can compete with the best going forward.

3. Tampa Bay Lightning

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MONTREAL, CANADA - OCTOBER 13: Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning stick handles the puck past Benoit Pouliot #57 of the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on October 13, 2010 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Lightning

Record: 3-0-0 (6 pts)

Steven Stamkos continues to be the most productive player on the team, but everyone seems to be getting in on the act.

Vincent Lecavalier looks like he's ready to return to form and veterans Martin St. Louis and Ryan Malone also contributed this week. Simon Gagne, however, has yet to show up on the scoreboard.

4. Philadelphia Flyers

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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 14: Sergei Bobrovsky #35 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates in warmups prior to a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Wells Fargo Center on October 14, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Image

Record: 2-1-1 (5 pts)

Rookie goaltender Sergei Babrovsky showed promise in two starts against St. Louis and Colorado. If he continues to play well, he may become the starter in Philadelphia.

The Philly have looked on-par with their opponents this week, all of whom could be in the playoffs this year, which should be a good sign for the Flyer faithful.

5. Washington Capitals

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 08: Brooks Laich #21 of the Washington Capitals against the Atlanta Thrashers at Philips Arena on October 8, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Record: 3-1-0 (6 pts)

Losing a divisional game in Atlanta cannot go overlooked, but the Capitals more than made up with it with their big 7-2 win against New Jersey.

Things seem to be clicking for many players on the Caps' roster, especially for Brooks Laich, who notched a shorty against the Devils.

6. New York Rangers

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UNIONDALE, NY - OCTOBER 11: Derek Stepan #21 of the New York Rangers skates against the New York Islanders the Nassau Coliseum on October 11, 2010 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Record: 1-1-0 (2 pts)

Derek Stepan became the first Blueshirt to ever record a hat trick as a rookie against Buffalo.

The Rangers struggled against the Islanders, but should be ecstatic about what they've seen from Stepan so far.

7. Boston Bruins

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MONTREAL- SEPTEMBER 22: Nathan Horton #18 of the Boston Bruins skates during an NHL pre-season game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on September 22, 2010 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Bruins defeated the Canadiens 4-2. (Photo by Ri

Record: 1-1-0 (2 pts)

Horton has scored three goals in two games. Good start for a player that has underachieved most of his career.

Tukka Rask was lit up by Phoenix in Prague, but Tim Thomas recorded a shutout. If this continues there may be a goaltender battle in Boston.

8. Montreal Canadiens

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MONTREAL, CANADA - OCTOBER 13: Josh Gorges #26 of the Montreal Canadiens body checks Simon Gagne #12 of the Tampa Bay Lightning into team mate Carey Price #31 during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on October 13, 2010 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The L

Record: 1-1-1 (3 pts)

After a rough preseason, Price has looked sharp in his first three games.

The Canadiens should be happy about their win in Pittsburgh. They play four different playoff teams in their next five games. Their play next week will be a good barometer of where they are at early this season.

9. Ottawa Senators

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OTTAWA, CANADA - OCTOBER 08: Tyler Myers #57 of the Buffalo Sabres knocks Mike Fisher #12 of the Ottawa Senators to the ice during a game at Scotiabank Place on October 8, 2010 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)

Record: 1-2-1 (3 pts)

The Sens started out rough, but were able to get a win over Carolina and took Washington to OT.

Ottawa/Toronto will always be under the microscope, and in round one they got TKO'd by the Leafs.

10. Atlanta Thrashers

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 08: Evander Kane #9 of the Atlanta Thrashers against the Washington Capitals at Philips Arena on October 8, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Record: 1-2-0 (2 pts)

Scary moment in their contest against Washington when young goalie Ondrej Pavelec collapsed only minutes into the game.

A win over the Capitals in their first game was a good start, but big losses in Tampa and LA also came early. This could be an up-and-down season for the young Thrash.

11. New York Islanders

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UNIONDALE, NY - OCTOBER 09: Trainer Garrett Timms walks John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders off the ice after his injury in the game against the Dallas Stars at the Nassau Coliseum on October 9, 2010 in Uniondale, New York. The Stars defeated the I

Record: 1-1-1 (3 pts)

Rick DiPietro is back and showed signs of promise, despite giving up eight goals in the two games he's played.

The Islanders had a solid win over the Rangers, but should be concerned if injuries to young stars like John Tavares become more common.

12. Pittsburgh Penguins

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PITTSBURGH - OCTOBER 9: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins makes a diving save against the Montreal Canadiens at Consol Energy Center on October 9, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Record: 1-3-0 (2 pts)

Marc-Andre Fleury has given up ten goals in his first three games, including four to the Leafs in Pittsburgh.

On the upside Paul Martin (4pt) looks like he's fitting in with his new team.

13. Florida Panthers

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - OCTOBER 11: Goalie Tomas Vokoun #29 of the Florida Panthers skates off the ice after the pre-game warm up prior to NHL action against the Vancouver Canucks on October 11, 2010 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (P

Record: 1-2-0 (2 pts)

Tomas Vokoun's shutout of the Calgary Flames on Thursday placed an exclamation point upon his play through the first three games.

However the team around him, which is in serious rebuild mode, will have to step it up if they Cats want to go anywhere this year.

14. Buffalo Sabres

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BUFFALO, NY - OCTOBER 09: Brando Dubinsky #17 of the New York Rangers skates in front of Ryan Miller #30 of the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena on October 9, 2010 in Buffalo, New York. New York won 6-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Buffalo cannot sit back and assume that Ryan Miller is going to win every game for them.

The Sabres were rolled by rookie Derek Stepan and the Rangers, 6-3, and could not muster a goal against New Jersey.

15. New Jersey Devils

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UNIONDALE, NY - OCTOBER 02: Ilya Kovalchuk #17 of the New Jersey Devils skates against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on October 2, 2010 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Devils 2-1. (Photo by Bruce Benn

Record: 1-2-1 (3 pts)

The Devils need to step their play up or they will be hearing about Ilya Kovalchuk's contract all season.

The team was humiliated in Washington and had limited offensive production in their only win against Buffalo.