Note: All statistics are through Sunday. BIGGEST CLIMB: Toronto (17 to 14), St. Louis (26 to 23)
BIGGEST FALL: Atlanta (10 to 13), Minnesota (13 to 16)
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The hits keep coming. Two weeks ago, the Sabres lost Paul Gaustad (sliced tendon; out for season) and Jaroslav Spacek (broken hand; indefinitely). Last week: Maxim Afinogenov (broken wrist; 6 weeks), Jiri Novotny (sprained ankle; indefinitely) and Ales Kotalik (knee; 4-6 weeks). Just like last season, Buffalo is being blasted by the injury bug at the most inopportune time.
Last Week: 1-0-1
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They needed only one player in Saturday's 4-1 win over Phoenix: Henrik Zetterberg, who had his first career hat trick -- with all scores coming on the power play. "I don't think I played a great game," he said. "The puck just bounced my way. I really can't remember how I scored the first goal." The big night helped the 26-year-old reach 30 goals for the second straight season. Detroit, meanwhile, has just two regulation losses since Jan. 20.
Last Week: 2-1-0
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What's going on in the Music City? With Saturday's loss to the Wild, the Preds dropped their second straight and sixth in 11 games since the All-Star break -- dropping into second in the Central, behind Detroit. "There's no such thing as panic time," Steve Sullivan said. Making the loss even more painful was that the Wild scored two power-play goals on Nashville's third-ranked PK. Think Saturday's game against Detroit will be interesting?
Last Week: 1-2-0
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Montreal can't wait 'til Martin Brodeur finally retires. Why? Since 1993, the Habs have beaten the future Hall of Famer once in 24 regular-season games in New Jersey (1-19-4), including a current streak of eight losses. Brodeur also won all three home playoff games against the Habs in 1997. "Right now we just have their number," Scott Gomez said.
Last Week: 2-1-0
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The high-powered offense has been inconsistent over the past two weeks and J-S Giguere has allowed 11 goals in his past four starts. But Teemu Selanne has been getting it done all season. The Finnish Flash scored his 301st goal for Anaheim -- breaking Paul Kariya's team mark. The score was the 36th of the season for the 36-year-old and 17th in his last 21 games.
Last Week: 2-1-1
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This is more like what Stars fans are expecting. The squad is 9-3-1 in its past 13 games, including a 6-1-1 run at home. Making things better, it looks like Marty Turco has gotten back on track after being yanked in back-to-back games. Despite flu-like symptoms, the veteran netminder came up big in a 5-2 win over the Sharks on Sunday. But this week won't be a walk in the park: at Minnesota, vs. Anaheim, vs. Vancouver.
Last Week: 1-1-0
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Since Jonathan Cheechoo scored in the second period of Tuesday's game, the Sharks have been outscored 16-2 while dropping three straight in regulation for just the second time in the Joe Thornton Era. In fact, the Sharks had gone 190:22 without a goal before Mark Bell scored on Sunday. This week won't be a huge test (Washington, Chicago, Calgary), but look at what Feb. 26-March 4 offers: Anaheim, Nashville, Anaheim, Dallas. Ouch.
Last Week: 1-3-0
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Before Monday's loss to the Islanders, the Pens had gained at least a point in 16 straight games, going 14-0-2 -- their longest run since their NHL-record 17 in 1992-93. Equally surprising: they've gone on this roll with Sidney Crosby scoring just one goal in 10 games. The biggest key has been 20-year-old rookie Evgeni Malkin: 10 goals and 26 points in the last 17.
Last Week: 3-0-0
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They've won four straight and are 10-2-3 in their last 15 games. Even blueliners are getting into the act. With his OT winner on Wednesday, Sami Salo joined Scott Niedermayer (four in 2001-02) and Joni Pitkanen (three in 2005-06) as the only NHL defensemen to score three or more OT goals in one season since the 5:00 period was introduced in 1983-84. But let's not kid anyone: the Canucks go only as far as Roberto Luongo carries them.
Last Week: 3-0-0
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Making a rare start in place of suspended goalie Ray Emery, Martin Gerber got his first shutout in 21 games this season. It was his seventh career blanking and first in 51 regular-season games since Jan. 7, 2006, when he stopped 30 shots in Carolina's 3-0 win over the Isles. Despite Gerber's solid play, Ottawa will be happy to get Emery back between the pipes Thursday when it battles the Northeast-leading Sabres.
Last Week: 2-0-0
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Read on for teams 11-20 ...  |
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