BIGGEST CLIMB: New Jersey (16 to 6)
BIGGEST FALL: N.Y. Rangers (3 to 11)
Note: All statistics and records are through Sunday.
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It's not like the mighty Wings needed any help. But it looks as though that's exactly what is happening. After reeling for the first six weeks of the season, Dom Hasek has righted his ship with three straight wins -- including his 77th career shutout -- while stopping 49 of 52 shots over the span. "I believe I can continue to play like this," he said.
Last Week: 3-0-0
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Finally, the Senators managed to end their longest losing streak since an 11-game slide during the 1995-96 season. And it didn't come easy. They fought and clawed their way to a 5-4 win over the less-than-stellar Panthers. Ottawa's 4-2 victory against the then-surging Stars in Dallas was a little truer to form.
Last Week: 2-0-1
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What's more impressive: the fact they haven't lost two consecutive games since Oct. 28 and Nov. 1? Or that they have managed to go 11-2-3 since suffering injuries to key blueliners Kevin Bieksa and Sami Salo? It's good to see Markus Naslund, now the franchise's career scoring leader, getting his game together.
Last Week: 2-0-1
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12 |
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If you're a Coyotes fan, sorry, you may want to skip this. The Sharks are 4-0 against Phoenix, with three wins being Evgeni Nabokov shutouts. The 'Yotes scored the first goal of the series only to have San Jose score the next 16. If the Sharks could figure out how to win at home, against anybody, they'd be golden.
Last Week: 3-1-0
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On Friday, veteran Doug Weight scored his first goal of the season to give the Blues a 4-3 win over the Oilers -- moving St. Louis to 9-2-1 in its past 12 games. To make things sweeter, Weight played in Edmonton for the better part of eight seasons. He scored again two nights later.
Last Week: 1-2-0
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16 |
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They have been on a steady ascent in the Power Rankings. Just four weeks ago, they were keeping the No. 26 spot warm. But this isn't the same team that stumbled out of the gate with a 4-6-1 mark in October. It always helps when you run off the franchise's third-best winning streak (nine games). "We had something special going," Patrik Elias said.
Last Week: 2-1-0
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I may have them a bit high, considering they haven't won consecutive games since Nov. 10 and 12. Another troubling sign is that they have scored more than three goals just once since Nov. 21. It gets tough this week with games against Pittsburgh, Montreal, Carolina and New Jersey. No cupcakes in that group.
Last Week: 1-1-0
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6 |
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Matt Cullen should be an early fave for Comeback Player of the Year. After struggling last season with the Rangers (41 points in 80 games), the 31-year-old has 30 points and is on pace for a career-high 79. His superb play is one reason the 'Canes are the only team to have four players with at least 30 points (Cullen, Cory Stillman (34), Rod Brind'Amour (32) and Ray Whitney (30)).
Last Week: 2-2-0
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Since securing the No. 1 job in 2002-03, Marty Turco has started 67 or more games in three consecutive seasons. He's now on pace for 56. That could go a long way to having a healthy and rested Turco for the playoffs -- if the Stars make it. Now about those Turco for Marty St. Louis rumors?
Last Week: 1-2-0
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Sure, they went 0-for-4 on the power play to run their man-advatange slide to 1-for-24 over the past six games. But Saturday's win over the Jackets was their second ever -- and first since Jan. 18, 2002 -- in the Buckeye State. "It's been a long time," coach Jacques Lemaire said. "That's why it's nice. We don't win here too often."
Last Week: 1-2-0
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Read on for teams 11-20 ...
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