Beware the Ducks, Devils when postseason begins

Note: All rankings, records and statistics are through Sunday.

NHL Power Rankings Rank LW Team 1 1 Detroit Red Wings (54-15-8) They've clinched home ice throughout the playoffs, but that doesn't make a difference to the Red Wings, who have lost just once away from Joe Louis since Jan. 10 (14-1-1). In addition to a current nine-game road winning streak, Detroit earned its 29th victory away from home on Saturday to tie the league record set by the Devils in 1998-99. Last Week: 3-0-0 2 2 Ottawa Senators (50-19-8) Aside from Dany Heatley, who is on the cusp of his first 100-point season, the Senators are in a funk. After Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Sabres, Ottawa has lost three straight for the first time all season. Equally amazing was that on Wednesday, the Sens lost for the first time in 54 games when scoring four or more goals, ending the third longest streak in league history. Last Week: 1-2-1 3 3 Dallas Stars (51-22-5) With their 51st victory, which also gave them a seventh Pacific Division title in nine seasons, the Stars matched their franchise record set in 1998-99 -- the season Dallas won its only Stanley Cup. While the Stars could be in the midst of another Cup-winning campaign, they'll need Mike Modano, Jason Arnott and Sergei Zubov to carry their stellar play into the postseason. Last Week: 2-1-1 4 4 Carolina Hurricanes (51-21-6) Talk about returning with a bang. Josef Vasicek had two goals and two assists Monday in his first game since injuring his knee on Nov. 11. It took the 25-year-old center just 15 minutes of ice time to rack up his first four-point game of his five-year NHL career. If Erik Cole doesn't round into shape for the playoffs, look for coach Peter Laviolette to lean heavily on Vasicek. Last Week: 3-1-0 5 5 Buffalo Sabres (48-24-6) The 48 victories and 102 points are the most the Sabres have managed since the 1983-84 season, when they had 48 wins and 103 points. It's been a rough two-week stretch, but it appears Buffalo has gotten back on track, while making Lindy Ruff just the 31st NHL coach to win 300 games and the 16th to do so with the same team. Last Week: 3-1-0 6 7 New York Rangers (44-22-12) Jaromir Jagr can now relax -- at least until the playoffs begin. The superstar winger, who should run away with this season's Hart Trophy, potted his 53rd goal Saturday night to eclipse Adam Graves' club record of 52 set in 1993-94. Next on the checklist for the 35-year-old: guide the Rangers to an Atlantic Division title. Last Week: 3-1-0 7 6 Nashville Predators (45-25-8) That hissing noise you hear is the air coming out of the Predators' playoff balloon. That's because Tomas Vokoun, who won 36 of Nashville's first 41 games, will miss the postseason with pelvic thrombophlebitis (blood clots). "Let's not kid ourselves," Scott Walker said. "He's probably the Number 1 reason we are where we are." No pressure, Chris Mason. Last Week: 2-2-0 8 8 Calgary Flames (44-24-10) One huge reason the Flames are in position to win the Northwest Division has been the play of Dion Phaneuf, who scored his 19th goal Wednesday to break the Calgary team record for rookie defensemen set by Gary Suter in 1985-86. The goal also put the 20-year-old into a tie with Reed Larson and Phil Housley for the third highest total by a first-year blueliner. Last Week: 2-0-2 9 10 Anaheim Mighty Ducks (41-24-12) Here's when you know things are going your way: Earlier in the season the Ducks tried to send Chris Kunitz to their minor league affiliate, but the Thrashers grabbed him off waivers. After two games in Atlanta, Kunitz was again waived, giving Anaheim the opportunity to reclaim the 26-year-old winger. Good thing, too, since Kunitz has been a spark plug with 18 goals and 35 points. Last Week: 2-1-0 10 9 Philadelphia Flyers (42-24-11) The hex is finally over. Philadelphia won in Buffalo on Friday, giving the Flyers their first win in that city since April 8, 2001 (0-6-1). If the teams stay in their current positions, they would meet in the first round of the playoffs with the Sabres holding home ice advantage. That would make for one of the more interesting first-round matchups. Last Week: 1-1-1

Read on for teams 11-20 ...