NHL Power Rankings: Stamkos Leads Tampa's Potent Offense
The Central Division remains the NHL's toughest division. Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville and Detroit show no indication of slowing down.
The Kings' Justin Williams looks like he's returned to form. He leads his team in points and goals scored.
Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos should enter the discussion as one of the league's finest young players. His 19 points top both Sid the Kid and Ovie.
Phil Kessel got harassed in Toronto. Jury is still out on who got the better end of that trade.
Andrew Raycroft shut out Buffalo in his first start of the season.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
1 of 30
Record: 7-2-1 (15 pts)
Tampa Bay may want to play some defense eventually; they give up about three goals a game, but are first in the league in scoring and are solid on special teams.
Steven Stamkos has started where he left off last year. His 19 points lead the league and the third-year pivot needs one more goal to tie league leader Patrick Sharp, who has 10.
2. Los Angeles Kings
2 of 30
Record: 8-3-0 (11 pts)
Who would have thought that the offensively-savvy Kings would be among the NHL's Top Five in goals against (third) and penalty kill percentage (fifth).
Another surprise: Justin Williams has given early indication that he's returned to his 2006 form when he had 33 goals and 67 points for the 'Canes. He leads his team in both goals and points.
3. Chicago Blackhawks
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Record: 7-5-1 (15 pts)
Chicago has been lethal on the powerplay (they've converted a quarter of their chances), and Patrick Sharp has stepped his game up—he leads the league with 10 goals.
A loss to Edmonton in the Windy City was pretty embarrassing, but the team has a chance to redeem itself next Monday when they face the Rangers on the NHL Network (7:00 ET).
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4. St. Louis Blues
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Record: 6-1-2 (14 pts)
St. Louis' special teams have been brutal, but solid defense (the team lets in 1.8 goals per game) has kept the Blues in contention in the league's toughest division.
A win over the Preds in Tennessee was huge for the Preds. The team currently sits is second in the Central Division.
5. Detroit Red Wings
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Record: 6-2-1 (13 pts)
The Wings lost their Round 1 rematch with the 'Yotes 4-2 in Detroit but made a big statement this week with a win over Nashville at home.
Three road games next will test the Wings, who need to keep accumulating points in order to keep pace with their young and talented division.
6. Montreal Canadiens
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Record: 7-3-1 (15 pts)
The Canadiens' rock-solid defense has helped the Habs jump to the top of the Northeast Division, even after Boston's hot start.
The Islanders started the season out well but was swept in a home-and-home with Montreal. Unfortunately, the team followed that performance with a 3-1 loss to lowly Florida at the Bell Centre.
7. Philadelphia Flyers
7 of 30
Record: 6-4-1 (13 pts)
The Flyers have won three straight, including two convincing wins over the Sabres and Islanders. The third victory came against Pittsburgh in their building.
On Thursday, Philly travels to Madison Square Garden to take on the hated Blueshirts, completing the New York cycle.
8. Washington Capitals
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Record: 7-4-0 (14 pts)
The Lightning are currently the talk of the Southeast Division, but the Caps aren't going anywhere soon.
Washington rolled Carolina (3-0) and Calgary (7-2) on the road. Ovie has been solid; he has three goals in his last two games, but he is currently the second best player in his division.
9. Boston Bruins
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Record: 6-2-0 (12 pts)
The B's are among the NHL's Top Ten in all four major categories: goals per game (10th), goals against (first), power play percentage (ninth), and penalty kill (first).
Nathan Horton has been a pleasant surprise since arriving from Florida, and Tim Thomas has really stepped his game up. He leads the league in GAA and save percentage.
10. Nashville Predators
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Record: 5-2-3 (13 pts)
Nashville took a step backwards this week. They were handed their first two regulation losses by two division rivals—St. Louis and Detroit.
Four straight games away from Tennessee will test the mettle of the reeling Preds.
11. Colorado Avalanche
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Record: 6-4-1 (13 pts)
Colorado can score second in NHL), but, like Tampa, should consider playing some defense. Their young team gives up 3.5 tallies a game (29th) and is being lit up on the penalty kill (28th).
The team has netted 11 pucks in its last two games but will be tested by the defensively-solid Canucks next week.
12. Pittsburgh Penguins
12 of 30
Record: 6-5-1 (13 pts)
Pittsburgh dropped three straight before blanking the 'Canes in Raleigh last week.
The schedule does not favor the Pens. They have three straight road games and then have to face Boston and Tampa in Pittsburgh in their next five games.
13. Dallas Stars
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Record: 6-4-0 (12 pts)
A league-worst penalty kill and sorry power-play led me to believe that the Stars will eventually relinquish their place as the second place team in the Pacific to the Sharks sooner than later.
Last week, the team dropped two straight division games to Anaheim and Los Angeles at the American Airlines Center before Andrew Raycroft shut out the Sabres in his first start of the season.
14. Atlanta Thrashers
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Record: 5-4-2 (12 pts)
Like Tampa Bay and Colorado, two other young teams, the Thrashers like to score (fifth in goals per game), but need to focus on defense (29th in goals against) in order to accumulate wins.
Andrew Ladd is thriving in Atlanta. The former Blackhawk leads his team in points, assists and plus-minus.
15. San Jose Sharks
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Record: 5-3-1 (11 pts)
Jumbo Joe Thornton is thriving with the C on his chest. He leads the team in goals (five), assists (10) and points (15).
His team has rallied behind him. With the league's best power play (31.8%), the Sharks should score their way into contention sooner than later.
16. Columbus Blue Jackets
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Record: 6-4-0 (12 pts)
The talk of the Central Division prowess has been focused on the other four teams, but Columbus is still hanging in there.
Wins over Chicago and Philly were impressive, but the team struggled to best Edmonton; they won in a shootout and were routed by Colorado 5-1 at the Pepsi Center.
17. Calgary Flames
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Record: 6-5-0 (12 pts)
Calgary came out of the gates strong but have given up 17 goals in their last three games and need to get back on track before departing for a major road trip starting with a contest in St. Paul, MN next Friday.
The Flames have to keep the rubber away from Mikka Kiprusoff if they expect to get a grip on their division anytime soon.
18. Vancouver Canucks
18 of 30
Record: 4-3-2 (10 pts)
The Canucks flexed some muscle in their division when they defeated Colorado in overtime.
They'll have a chance to do it again in Edmonton and Denver this week. Should they emerge victorious from those contests, they'll have a legitimate chance to contend with the Avs for their division.
19. New York Rangers
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Record: 5-4-1 (11 pts)
The Blueshirts were lit up by Atlanta and Carolina, in New York, before blanking Toronto on Saturday.
This team needs to get on track in a hurry. They play Chicago and Philly next week before facing New Jersey on Friday.
20. Toronto Maple Leafs
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Record: 5-4-1 (11 pts)
The Leafs have not scored in two straight contests and effectively snuffed the early fire they had created by starting the season with four straight wins.
Kessel was harassed in Boston, and the team soon will be in Toronto if they don't turn it around soon.
21. Minnesota Wild
21 of 30
Record: 4-4-2 (10 pts)
The Wild have the NHL's second-most effective powerplay (30.2%), but, as expected, the team cannot score with even strength.
The team has two critical home games against San Jose and Calgary before departing for a four-game road trip.
22. Carolina Hurricanes
22 of 30
Record: 5-5-0 (10 pts)
The 'Canes were able tot get a win in New York, but the victory was bookended by two shutouts delivered by Washington and Pittsburgh.
The momentum the team generated early in the season is slowly evaporating in the Raleigh sun.
23. New York Islanders
23 of 30
Record: 4-5-2 (10 pts)
The Islanders started out strong but have dropped four straight.
After being routed by the Flyers 6-1 on Saturday, New York must face Carolina and Ottawa on the road before their rematch with Philly on the Island on Saturday.
24. Florida Panthers
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Record: 4-5-0 (8 pts)
The Cats rank in the Top 10 in goals against and penalty kill but are not able to score enough to win regularly.
A 3-1 win in Montreal on Saturday was impressive. The team needs to use that momentum next week when they face division rivals in all three of their contests.
25. Edmonton Oilers
25 of 30
Record: 3-4-2 (8 pts)
A 7-4 win in Chicago was impressive, and the Oilers are scoring 3.1 goals per game—good enough for sixth in the league.
They'll have to be more responsible in their own end, however, in order to climb out of the Northwest Division cellar.
26. Phoenix Coyotes
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Record: 3-4-3 (9 pts)
The 'Yotes have dropped four of the their last five, although their sole win did come against the Wings in Detroit.
Tampa blanked them on Saturday, and the team must face Nashville, Dallas, Pittsburgh, Detroit and Chicago in their next five contests.
27. Ottawa Senators
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Record: 4-6-1 (9 pts)
Ottawa did pick up wins against Phoenix and Florida, but little is expected from either club this year.
In games against contenders, Montreal and Boston, the team was shut out.
28. Buffalo Sabres
28 of 30
Record: 3-7-2 (8 pts)
The Sabres have dropped three straight away from Buffalo.
They'll be happy to return home only to find out that they have to play Boston and Montreal in their next two contests.
29. Anaheim Ducks
29 of 30
Record: 4-7-1 (9 pts)
Teemu Selanne and Ryan Getzlaf continue to produce, but the team's offense is nowhere near where it has to be to carry their porous defense.
The Ducks were routed 5-2 in San Jose on Saturday and must face Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh and Nashville at the Pond before getting another crack at their NorCal rivals.
30. New Jersey Devils
30 of 30
Record: 3-8-1 (7 pts)
The Devils are, to be honest, brutal.
In their last six contests, their only win has come against lowly Anaheim.
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