NHL Western Conference Power Rankings: Week 1

The Central Division is going to be tough this year.

Nashville has made an immediate statement by winning three straight, including two division games.

Jaroslav Halak and Kari Lehtonen look like they are fitting in well with their new teams.

Phoenix, Anaheim and Vancouver are leaning on their goaltending far too much. If both want to get back to the playoffs, they'll have to see more offensive production.

The Ducks are in for a rough season. Jonas Hiller is going see a lot of rubber over the course of this season.

1. Nashville Predators

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NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 14: Right wing Steve Sullivan #26 of the Nashville Predators congratulates teammate Anders Lindback #39 after defeating the St. Louis Blues on October 14, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

Record: 3-0-0

The Predators have started their season well.

A win over lowly Anaheim can be overlooked, but two big statements were made by Nashville against division rivals Chicago and St. Louis.

Anders Lindback, another late-rounder to emerge as the netminder in Tennessee, got the win in both divisional contests.

2. Dallas Stars

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DALLAS - OCTOBER 14: Goaltender Kari Lehtonen #32 of the Dallas Stars makes a save in front of Tomas Holmstrom #96 of the Detroit Red Wings at American Airlines Center on October 14, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Record: 3-0-0 (6 pts)

Kari Lehtonen and the Dallas Stars crushed Mike Modano and his Red Wings in the longtime Stars' homecoming.

The Stars are undefeated and getting production from many players on their roster. If they keep it up, the Pacific Division is going to be very tough this year.

3. St. Louis Blues

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ST. LOUIS - SEPTEMBER 30: Jaroslav Halak #41 of the St. Louis Blues makes a save against the Chicago Blackhawks during a pre-season game at the Scottrade Center on September 30, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Record: 2-1-0 (4 pts)

Jaroslav Halak has looked solid since joining the Blues in the offseason. He gave up only two goals in his first two games and kept the team in the game against the surging Predators.

The Central Division looks strong this year. Two contests against Chicago to bookend the week will be a great barometer to see where this team is at.

4. Colorado Avalanche

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DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 7: John-Michael Liles #4 and Matt Duchene #9 of the Colorado Avalanche close in on Marty Turco #30 of the Chicago Blackhawks as a shot by Paul Stastny (not pictured) trickles past Turco in overtime during both team's season openers at

Record: 2-1-0 (4 pts)

The young Avalanche emerged with two victories against three tough opponents this week: Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit.

Despite indication in the preseason that last year was a fluke, the Avs have shown that there is no reason to panic in Colorado.

5. Detroit Red Wings

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DALLAS - OCTOBER 14: Center Mike Modano #90 of the Detroit Red Wings waves to the crowd after being acknowledged on the big screen during play against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on October 14, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Ma

Record: 2-1-1 (5 pts)

Howard shut out the lowly Ducks. In a win over Chicago and a OTL against Colorado, the Red Wings looked ready to compete with anyone.

However, the team was lit up in Mike Modano's return to Dallas. The Stars may be a surprise contender this year, but odds are the Wings just laid an egg against a mediocre team.

6. Edmonton Oilers

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EDMONTON, CANADA - OCTOBER 1: Raitis Ivanans #41 of the Calgary Flames and Nikolai Khabibulin #35 of the Edmonton Oilers skates against the Calgary Flames on October 1, 2010 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Dale MacMillan/Getty Imag

Record: 2-1-0 (4 pts)

Nikolai Khabibulin recorded a shutout against Calgary, but the team's penalty kill was putrid against the offensively-anemic Minnesota Wild.

Wins over the Flames and Panthers are nice, but neither team is supposed to do much this season.

7. Los Angeles Kings

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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 12: Ryan Smyth #94 of the Los Angeles Kings skates off the ice after scoring a goal against the Atlanta Thrashers during their game at Staples Center on October 12, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Ima

Record: 2-1-0 (4 pts)

Veteran Ryan Smyth lit the lamp twice against Atlanta, but the team sputtered in Calgary against a team that is not expected to do much this year.

The Kings are looking to get back to the playoffs this year and a win over Vancouver north of the border is an early indication that LA is ready to do just that.

8. Chicago Blackhawks

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BUFFALO, NY - OCTOBER 11: Ryan Miller #30 of the Buffalo Sabres makes a sliding save on Marian Hossa #81 of the Chicago Blackhawks at HSBC Arena on October 11, 2010 in Buffalo, New York. Chicago won 4-3. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Record: 1-2-1 (3 pts)

Chicago drew a tough schedule to start the season. The Avs, Wings, Sabres and Preds are all potential playoff teams and ending the week with three points is nothing to sneeze at.

The Central Division is tough this year and the 'Hawks will have to be on top of their game in order to defend their title.

9. San Jose Sharks

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ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 22: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks warms up against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on September 22, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Record: 1-1-0 (2 pts)

Four-for-14 on the power play will not cut it for the Sharks.

Not much is expected from Columbus this season, and San Jose kept an undisciplined team in the game by not taking advantage of the extra man.

On the plus side, newly-anointed captain Joe Thornton has found his scoring touch and should be in for a big season.

10. Vancouver Canucks

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ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 13: Roberto Luongo #1 of the Vancouver Canucks tends the net against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on October 13, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Record: 1-1-1 (3 pts)

Roberto Luongo was solid in his first two starts against LA and Florida, but got lit up by the pitiful Ducks in Anaheim.

He's going to need some help if the 'Nucks are going to be a serious contender this year.

11. Columbus Blue Jackets

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NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 23: Steve Mason #1 of the Columbus Blue Jackets looks on against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on March 23, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Blue Jackets 6-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Record: 1-1-0 (2 pts)

It's going to be along year if the Blue Jackets are as undisciplined as they were in Stockholm, but Chris Mason looks like he's returned to form and splitting two games with San Jose is a good sign.

12. Phoenix Coyotes

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GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 23: Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov #30 of the Phoenix Coyotes in action during the preseason NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings at Jobing.com Arena on September 23, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Kings 2-1 in

Record: 1-1-0 (2 pts)

The Coyotes surprised everyone by blowing out Boston in Prague. Then they were shutout.

Phoenix was the darling of the league last season, but it is exposed now and cannot rely on Ilya Bryzgalov to win every game.

13. Minnesota Wild

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ST PAUL, MN - OCTOBER 14: Mikko Koivu #9 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates with teammates on the bench a goal scored by Matt Cullen #7 in the third period during their game against the Edmonton Oilers on October 14, 2010 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, M

Record: 1-1-1 (3 pts)

The Wild only got a point in Finland, but lit up Edmonton's penalty kill, going 4-for-6 behind two Koivu tallies.

Minnesota has three division games coming up next week. They will give the team a sense of the competition in the shaky Northwest this season.

14. Calgary Flames

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CALGARY, CANADA - OCTOBER 10: Jarome Iginla #12 of the Calgary Flames during the pregame skate before playing the Los Angeles Kings in NHL action on October 10, 2010 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Mike Ridewood/Getty

Record: 1-2-0 (2 pts)

This team is aging and looks like it ready to take a nosedive this year.

Certainly a 3-1 win over LA is impressive, but the team was unable to score a goal against two rebuilding teams—Edmonton and Florida—and easily could have lost their contest against the Kings if Miika Kiprusoff hadn't saved 96 percent of the shots firing him that night.

15. Anaheim Ducks

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ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 13: Jonas Hiller #1 of the Anaheim Ducks takes the ice against the Vancouver Canucks at Honda Center on October 13, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Record: 1-3-0 (2 pts)

The Ducks are lucky to have two points after four games. They have been out-shot 184-104, their worst coming against St. Louis when Jonas Hiller faced a fusillade of rubber (51 shots) in a 5-1 blowout.

The team managed only two goals and gave up 13 in their first three contests and were lucky to come out victorious against the reeling Canucks.