1. San Jose Sharks
Last Week: 3-0-0
San Jose’s been the hottest team in the NHL for the last month, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. The previous two years, they’ve gotten red-hot in March to clinch a playoff spot. This year, though, their hot streak will likely give them a division title and the two seed in the west. Ron Wilson finally has a Shark team that could bring home Lord Stanley.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
Last Week: 2-1-0
The Penguins have become unstoppable at home. They’ve scored seven goals in three of the four games, all against formidable opponents (Buffalo, Philadelphia, New Jersey). This team is for real, and I could definitely see Sidney Crosby shaking Gary Bettman’s hand next to the Cup in June.
3. Anaheim Ducks
Last Week: 2-1-0
Anaheim put together a solid road trip this week. On the road trip, though, the Ducks only averaged 15 shots per game. If that continues, they surely won’t defend their title. Jonas Hiller came up huge on back-to-back nights after Giguere’s injury in warm-ups in San Jose. He survived the Shark attack, but couldn’t get enough offensive support. Then, Saturday night in Phoenix, he stood on his head for most of the game in their 2-1 win.
4. Montreal Canadiens
Last Week: 2-0-1
The city of Montreal has got to be on Cloud Nine right now with their Habs. Saku Koivu’s shootout winner Saturday night was one of the better moments this season, as it propelled the Canadiens to a season sweep of Boston. They’ll be battling it out with the Pens for the top spot in the east. They currently hold a five point lead over Ottawa in the Northeast Division. They play in Montreal this Tuesday, and if the Habs win, it should put the last nail in the coffin for the division title.
5. Detroit Red Wings
Last Week: 2-0-0
It seems to me that Detroit will again win the Presidents’ Trophy, their second in the last three years. They have the easiest schedule remaining, and they’ve been on a roll in March. It looks like Dominik Hasek will beat out Osgood to be the goalie in the playoffs.
6. New York Rangers
Last Week: 2-0-1
If you minus they’re two mysterious losses in Florida, the Rangers have picked up a point in each game since February 9. They pulled out two big wins over Pittsburgh and New Jersey to keep their division title hopes alive. We’ll see what this team is really about when they play Pittsburgh back-to-back this weekend.
7. New Jersey Devils
Last Week: 0-2-1
The Devils have hit a bump in the road by losing all three games this week. They lost at home to their NY Metro rivals, and then traveled to Pittsburgh to get their butts whopped 7-1 by Malkin and company. Tuesday’s home game against the Penguins will be huge.
8. Calgary Flames
Last Week: 2-1-0
The Flames won two crucial games this week over Colorado and Minnesota. Every game played in the Northwest Division the rest of the way is vital. The Flames still have to play the Canucks three times. In those three games, you’ll find out who’ll be battling Minnesota at the end for the division.
9. Carolina Hurricanes
Last Week: 2-0-0
Carolina has all but locked up the division, barring a collapse in their final six games. They get to play Tampa Bay twice and Atlanta at home. If they can beat Washington on Tuesday, that’ll give the ‘Canes a seven point cushion atop the division. You’ve got to wonder, though, if Cam Ward is getting overplayed. He’s started 14 straight games, including two back-to-back swings. That should be a concern in Carolina.
10. Ottawa Senators
Last Week: 1-1-0
This is the wrong time of year for Ottawa to be having goaltending issues. Once you think Martin Gerber is turning it around, he’ll have a terrible game. The Sens’ inconsistency will result in an early exit come playoff time.
11. Vancouver Canucks
Last Week: 2-1-0
Roberto Luongo had a solid week for Vancouver, and has the Canucks sitting in seventh place in the west. They have three big road games this week against Calgary, Colorado, and Minnesota. Their playoff hopes are looking good as they have a game in hand on Colorado and Nashville.
12. Philadelphia Flyers
Last Week: 3-0-0
Philly seems to be getting things turn around, as they sit in seventh place in the east with 86 points. The do or die stretch awaits the Flyers, as they have road dates with their Atlantic foes until the final weekend of the season. This will decide their fate, and maybe John Stevens’ fate, too.
13. Minnesota Wild
Last Week: 2-1-1
I like Minnesota’s chances to win the division, as four of their last six games will be played at home. The Wild will need that home-ice advantage to make a playoff run. Niklas Backstrom is coming into his own, giving up just five goals in his last four starts.
14. Washington Capitals
Last Week: 2-1-0
Huet and Kolzig are making a good combo in net as the Caps are pursuing a playoff berth. Alexander Ovechkin reached the 60 goal plateau with ease, and Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin are looking like his partners in crime for the future. Friday’s dramatic win in Atlanta is the game that will carry the Caps to the postseason.
15. Buffalo Sabres
Last Week: 1-1-0
This is the hardest team to figure out in the league. They blast the Lightning 7-4 earlier this week, then look like a totally different team against Toronto, losing 4-1. If they were just more consistent, the Sabres could be looking at their third consecutive playoff berth. Now, if they drop a home-and-home to Ottawa this week, they’ll be scrambling for their playoff lives.
16. Florida Panthers
Last Week: 1-0-1
Florida has closed within three points of eighth place by winning eight of nine in March. Tomas Vokoun is getting into the zone he was in during Nashville’s first playoff season. The Panthers can’t afford a two-game losing streak in their playoff pursuit. If they can somehow sneak into the playoffs, I believe Jacques Martin will save his job.
17. Dallas Stars
Last Week: 0-2-0
Dallas took a hit in this week’s rankings. Since Brad Richards’ unforgettable debut with the team, the Stars are 1-7-0. Marty Turco’s kind of fallen apart without a reliable backup, and the offense has been non-existent. Their playoff chances are looking pretty bleak at the moment.
18. Colorado Avalanche
Last Week: 0-3-0
The Avs have lost four in a row since their hot stretch in early March. The offense hasn’t been there when they need it. The perfect way to stop their cold spell is to pick up victories over Calgary and Vancouver at home this week. If they can’t win either of those, they may fall out of the playoff picture.
19. Edmonton Oilers
Last Week: 2-1-0
It would be a true miracle if the Oilers were able to make the playoffs, and here’s why:
1. Horcoff, Souray, Torres, and Moreau (captain) are on Injured Reserve and likely won’t return this season.
2. Rookies (Gagner and Cogliano) have the Oilers through this final stretch of the season.
Props to Craig MacTavish and company for making the best of all the injuries they’ve suffered. If Edmonton creeps into postseason play, MacTavish should be considered for the Jack Adams Trophy.
20. Boston Bruins
Last Week: 0-1-1
Boston has really hit a wall in the month of March. They are 3-5-4, and are holding onto a playoff spot by a thread. Luckily for the Bruins, the NHL hands out a point for OT losses. They have 10 such losses, which is the difference in them being in playoff contention.
21. Nashville Predators
Last Week: 1-2-0
It’s fair to say that the Preds saved their season with Saturday’s shootout win. Had they lost that game, Nashville would’ve gone into their final six games with a seven game losing streak at home. Dan Ellis came up big, and now the Preds have their confidence back after a sluggish week. Their remaining schedule is in their favor compared to Colorado and Edmonton.
22. Toronto Maple Leafs
Last Week: 3-0-0
Toronto’s doing almost all they can in an effort to make the playoffs. But, here’s the devil’s advocate: What if they miss the playoffs?? Leafs fans will be crying foul that they didn’t keep losing to be in the Steve Stamkos sweepstakes. Sweeping Boston this week may be the Leafs’ only way of sneaking in.
23. Chicago Blackhawks
Last Week: 2-0-1
I’ve been doubting these guys constantly, and they keep responding with wins. This team is very pesky and talented. Playoffs are not out of the question, but they’ll likely need to win out to have any hope. But whether they make the playoffs or not, they’ll challenge Detroit for the division next year.
24. Columbus Blue Jackets
Last Week: 1-2-0
Although the Oilers are virtually out of the playoff picture, they’re looking like a team that could compete next year. Rookies Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano led Edmonton to two overtime wins this week.
25. Phoenix Coyotes
Last Week: 0-3-1
You gotta give credit where credit is due, and Wayne Gretzky deserves some. His Coyotes weren’t expected to get out of the cellar this season. But the acquisitions of Ilya Bryzgalov and Radim Vrbata helped Phoenix make a valiant push for the postseason in February. Reality is catching up to them, but ‘Yotes Nation is thrilled about all the young talent that the desert possesses. They’ll be a contender next year, no doubt.
26. Los Angeles Kings
Last Week: 2-1-0
I think next year’s goaltending situation should go a little like this: Jonathan Bernier!! Let the kid play. The future of this franchise relies on him and Kopitar. You see what Carey Price is doing in Montreal as a rookie. Let Bernier play and get experience under his belt. With how tough the west is, and how the bright the future is in that conference, and can’t see LA making the playoffs in the next five to ten years unless something drastic happens.
27. New York Islanders
Last Week: 1-2-0
New York’s other team is making scoring look like a tough task. They snapped a six-game losing streak by winning in New Jersey for the third time this season. At least their giving future stud Kyle Okposo a taste of the big leagues before next year.
28. Tampa Bay Lightning
Last Week: 0-3-0
This week was all about third period lapses for the Bolts. They gave up 10 goals in the final period in their three games this week. That’s just not going to cut it in this league. Karri Ramo and Mike Smith will make a nice 1-2 combo next year between the pipes. I believe this year was a fluke on the Bay, and the Lightning will return to the playoffs soon.
29. St. Louis Blues
Last Week: 1-1-1
The only thing that I have to say about the Blues is that the NHL gave them the shaft by scheduling nine straight road games in March. That should never happen again in this league. I feel for ya Blues fans…
30. Atlanta Thrashers
Last Week: 0-3-0
GM Don Waddell needs to go out and rebuild the defensive unit. Alexei Zhitnik, Niclas Havelid, Ken Klee, and Steve McCarthy are all below average veterans who should never sniff the top defensive line. And you’ve got to wonder if Kari Lehtonen will ever live up to the hype. He’s been nothing but a sieve this year, with some of that lying on the defense… but still!
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