Note: All statistics are through Sunday. BIGGEST CLIMB: Pittsburgh (12 to 8)
BIGGEST FALL: Montreal (10 to 15)
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After a sluggish 6-7-1 January, the Sabres -- winners in four of their last five -- appear to once again be firing on all cylinders. "I think we're regaining a little bite, a little attitude, a little bit of the physical tone that I thought was missing," coach Lindy Ruff said. Of course, Buffalo then lost two key members in its next game: Paul Gaustad (sliced tendon; out for rest of season) and Jaroslav Spacek (broken hand; indefinitely).
Last Week: 3-0-0
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On Saturday, they saw their franchise-record, eight-game home winning streak snapped ... by the lowly Kings. That was only half the story. Nashville's third-ranked penalty-kill unit, which had killed 30 of 31 man-advantages over the last seven games, allowed L.A. to score two PP goals on seven attempts. Another red flag is the power play: just 5-for-36 in the past six. With that said, I still don't see the Preds entering the playoffs any lower than a No. 4 seed.
Last Week: 1-2-0
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It was bound to happen. The Wings' streak of 175 consecutive regular-season games without being shut out ended on Thursday with a 1-0 loss to the Blues. "A blind dog finds a bone once in a while," said coach Mike Babcock. The streak was the longest in the NHL since the Rangers went 236 games without being whitewashed. One streak the boys in Hockeytown still have going: 12 wins in a row at home.
Last Week: 3-1-0
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No matter where they're seeded in the playoffs, the Devils will be more than a handful. Why? Martin Brodeur, who on Thursday earned his 10th shutout of the season. It was the fourth time in his career that he hit double-digit SOs in a season, tying Terry Sawchuk's NHL record. And if the Devils get some goals from Scott Gomez, they'll be double trouble. It should be interesting to see how they do this week against Montreal and Pittsburgh.
Last Week: 2-1-0
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Let the "fun" begin. And by fun, I mean a seven-game, 13-day trek with stops in three time zones. But it could turn be a blast if Jonathan Cheechoo stays hot. The 26-year-old had four goals in back-to-back games last week before San Jose went on a six-day break. Will he still have the touch? "I think it carries over," Cheechoo told the Mercury News. More good news: Evgeni Nabokov practiced last week for the first time since injuring his groin Feb. 1.
Last Week: 1-1-0
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There are some missing ingredients in this recipe. Not only have the Ducks gone 3-6-1 in their past 10 games, the third-ranked PP is firing blanks -- 0-for-16 in the past four. The offense, in general, has been nearly invisible -- just 22 goals (seven of them in Tuesday's win over the Sharks) in 10 games. Two players who need to wake from their slumber are Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, who have combined for just three points in the past eight games.
Last Week: 1-2-0
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Maybe the Stars were listening to me last week when I suggested they add some firepower. But Ladislav Nagy? How about someone who can consistently light the lamp? This team still needs a sniper, so maybe they're not done dealing. The bigger concern may be between the pipes, where No. 1 Marty Turco has been pulled in consecutive games for just the second time in his six-year career.
Last Week: 3-0-0
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We all know about Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but I agree with my colleague Darren Eliot, who says the big reason the Pens are surging toward the top is netminder Marc-Andre Fleury. The 22-year-old (27-12-7 this season) has won eight of his past nine starts. As if teams needed another reason to fear this young, talented squad.
Last Week: 3-0-0
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All they needed in Tuesday night's 5-2 win over the Oilers were the Sedin twins. Daniel scored a career-high three goals and added two assists. Henrik had four helpers. And with their win over Atlanta on Saturday, the Canucks climbed into a three-way tie with the Flames and Wild for first in the Northwest. It looks like this division won't be decided until the final day of the season.
Last Week: 2-1-0
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They've dropped two straight and are just 1-4-1 in their past six games. The biggest reason for the slide? Look no further than the last-ranked PK, which has allowed eight goals in the past four. Kari Lehtonen, meanwhile, started 15 straight -- 6-7-2 in that span -- before getting a rest on Sunday. Sorry to further dampen your spirits, Thrashers fans, but look at the next five games: at Calgary, at Ottawa, at Carolina, then Tampa Bay and Carolina.
Last Week: 1-2-1
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Read on for teams 11-20 ...  |
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