Note: All statistics are through Sunday. BIGGEST CLIMB: Tampa Bay (12 to 9), N.Y. Islanders (18 to 15)
BIGGEST FALL: Pittsburgh (8 to 11), Atlanta (13 to 16), Toronto (14 to 17)
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You might have seen the Sabres and Senators got in a little tussle Thursday night -- 100 penalty minutes, three ejections and both goalies dropping the gloves. It's a good thing a couple of players aren't exactly keen observers; The Keg restaurant in Ottawa might have needed the local police department had Sabres tough guy Andrew Peters and the Senators' Chris Neil realized they were eating in the same restaurant Friday night.
Last Week: 2-1-0
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If you want to endear yourself to teammates, score the game-winner against the Dead, er, Red Wings. New face Peter Forsberg scored in OT to give Nashville a huge 4-3 win over Detroit and push the team back into first in the Central. "It couldn't be better," Forsberg said. "We beat Detroit at home, a team we are battling for first place." But it's not all roses for the Preds, who have seen their fourth-ranked PK unit allow six goals in three games.
Last Week: 3-0-1
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You know things are going your way when your backup netminder, making his first start since Dec. 14 and second of the season, comes up big. Scott Clemmensen made 23 saves Sunday to earn his first victory since March 24, 2006, and help the Devils avert their first losing streak since dropping three straight from Dec. 12-16. That means Marty Brodeur got the first 38 wins for New Jersey, the most consecutive wins for a goalie to start a season in NHL history.
Last Week: 3-1-0
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The Wings dropped two spots in the Power Rankings, but not because of poor play. In fact, they have just two regulation losses since Jan. 20. One reason Detroit is neck and neck with the Predators in the Central is the play of Henrik Zetterberg. The 26-year-old winger, on pace for a career-high 89 points, has 11 goals and 21 points in his last 10 games. He also has the game-winning goal in six of Detroit's last eight wins and leads the NHL with 10 game-winners.
Last Week: 1-0-2
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I'll start with the good: Andy McDonald had two goals and an assist Sunday to help the Ducks avoid a four-game season sweep by the last-place Avalanche. But if this team is going to go deep into the playoffs, it needs to do something about the penalties. Anaheim is the most penalized team in the league, averaging 17.8 penalty minutes. We'll see what this team is made of this week with two games against the Sharks and one versus the Preds.
Last Week: 1-1-1
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The Stars are playing sound hockey (12-3-2 in their last 17 games). And they're doing it with a two-headed attack between the pipes, as rookie Mike Smith has started three of the last eight. "We've talked since training camp about wanting to go down the stretch with two [goalies] ready to play," said coach Dave Tippett. "We'll need both of them." Also helping matters is Jere Lehtinen's scoring surge -- 14 goals in the last 25 games.
Last Week: 2-0-1
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The Sharks are one of two teams (Anaheim the other) in the top 10 in both PK (8th) and PP (1st). Despite that fact, this team hasn't been consistent (5-6 in February), while the top-ranked power play has gone 4-for-25 in the past six games. Making matters worse is the solid play of the Stars, who have caught San Jose for second in the Pacific. And here comes Judgment Week: two games against the Ducks and one apiece with the Predators and Stars.
Last Week: 2-1-0
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If the Canucks want to tilt the odds in their favor, just make sure both Sedin brothers (Henrik and Daniel) register a point; they are 110-35-17 in such instances. Another remarkable statistic is the fact Roberto Luongo has earned 35 of the Canucks' 36 victories -- three shy of the single-season club record set by Kirk McLean in 1991-92. I'm probably in the majority when I say the Canucks were wise to trade for this guy.
Last Week: 2-0-1
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The Lightning haven't dropped consecutive games since Dec. 26-28 and are 17-4-1 in the last 22 games. It's been the three-headed attack of Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis and Vinny Lecavalier leading the way. In the past five games, the trio has combined for nine goals and 24 points including three goals and seven points in Sunday's win over the Penguins. Another reason this team has surged to the top of the Southeast is the sixth-ranked PP, which has registered a goal in eight straight.
Last Week: 3-1-0
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Daniel Alfedsson made a bit of history Tuesday with his 20th goal of the season. The winger has reached the plateau in nine of his 11 seasons with the Senators. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the only active players with more 20-goal seasons for their current teams are Joe Sakic (17 seasons for Nordiques/Avs), Mike Modano (14 for Stars) and Mats Sundin (12 for Leafs). The Sens, meanwhile, have been helped by five PP scores in their last two games.
Last Week: 2-0-1
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Read on for teams 11-20 ...  |
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