Now that all teams have passed the midway point of the season, I figured it was time to submit my early predictions for the playoffs. And yes, there will be some surprises, so make sure to fire off those E-mails.
Also, there won't be any Power Rankings for the week of Jan. 29 because of the All-Star Game. (I'll be there for both days, sitting among the fans in the 300s).
BIGGEST CLIMB: Philadelphia (10 to 2)
BIGGEST FALL: Vancouver (5 to 11), Minnesota (6 to 12)
Note: All statistics and records are through Sunday.
Have issues with my Power Rankings or want to pat me on the back? Send me an E-mail
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One of two teams (Dallas the other) in the top 10 in both penalty kill (9th) and power play (3rd). To say Detroit has no weaknesses is a huge understatement. There doesn't appear to be a team in the West right now that can challenge this beast. Of course, I don't have to remind Wings fans that their team has won 45-plus games in each of the past seven seasons only to take one Cup. And that, folks, is why the NHL playoffs are amazing!
Last Week: 2-1-0 Early Prediction: 1st in West
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There may not be a hotter team in the East. The Flyers have won seven of their last eight and have just one regulation loss in 13 (10-1-2). Having Simon Gagne back in the lineup has been a huge boost. He's had points in six straight after missing nearly two months with dizziness. With the top-ranked PP unit, Philly will prove to be a tough match for any team. That 6-1 laugher over the Senators on Sunday was very impressive.
Last Week: 3-0-0 Early Prediction: 4th in East
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Let's be honest: it would be tough for any team to continue playing at a top-tier level without its two leading scorers. Daniel Alfredsson (hip) is day-to-day and Dany Heatley (shoulder) is expected to miss several more weeks. With those two out, it's up to guys like Patrick Eaves and Dean McAmmond to pick up the slack. The Sens have a golden opportunity to get back on a roll this week with games against the Panthers and Lightning.
Last Week: 1-3-0 Early Prediction: 1st in East
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OK, Evgeni Malkin, Colby Armstrong and Ryan Whitney. This is your chance to emerge and be a bigger force with Sidney Crosby out indefinitely. "Right now, since we lost our leader and our captain, I'm going to try my best and raise my game," said Malkin, who has three goals and an assist in two games without Sid the Kid. Make sure you plop down in front of the TV for Thursday's Atlantic showdown against the surging Flyers.
Last Week: 2-1-0 Early Prediction: 5th in East
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This will be one team no one will want to face in the playoffs -- unless you're the Islanders, who have yet to lose to them this season in five games. But the Devils still have to be concerned about their 28th-ranked PP, which has gone 0-for-15 in the past four games. Jamie Langenbrunner and Dainius Zubrus have combined for just two power-play goals. If the offensively-challenged Devils face a team with good goaltending in the first round, it could get very interesting.
Last Week: 1-2-0 Early Prediction: 2nd in East
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They have solid goaltending, the 2nd-ranked PK, decent forward depth and are awesome on the road (16-4-3). What they don't have: a good PP (16th) or home-ice advantage (9-11-4). Maybe they'd be better served by playing their way down to a lower playoff seed so they get more games away from the Shark Tank. You think San Jose is licking its chops over that eight-game road trip at the end of February?
Last Week: 0-3-0 Early Prediction: 2nd in West
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Though enigmatic for much of the season, they will only be a threat in the playoffs if Sergei Zubov is healthy. But even if that's the case, Dallas fans are used to postseason disappointment since hoisting the Cup in '99. I'm not going to go as far as call them postseason chokers, but it's getting close. There's little question they will make the playoffs, but if they want to get out of the first round, they need to add another scoring threat (Marian Hossa?).
Last Week: 3-1-0 Early Prediction: 6th in West
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If New Jersey is the team in the East no one wants to face in the playoffs, the Ducks are that squad out West. They have been a different beast since the additions of Scott Niedermayer and Doug Weight -- going 12-3-2. Another player who has helped turn things around is Todd Bertuzzi. The veteran forward has points in six of the past seven games. It'll be interesting to see just how testy Wednesday's game against the Wings gets.
Last Week: 3-1-0 Early Prediction: 4th in West
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They've stumbled a tad over the past two weeks, but I still say they win the Northwest. I know what you non-Flames fans are thinking. You're right. To this point, Calgary's had mediocre special teams, average goaltending and spotty secondary scoring. The biggest reason I'm sticking with them to win the Northwest: Miikka Kiprusoff. He may be 24-15-8 with a 2.80 GAA and .899 save percentage, but Kipper has a knack of coming through when it matters most. I also feel there's a good chance Alex Tanguay will be dealt before the Feb. 26 deadline.
Last Week: 2-1-0 Early Prediction: 3rd in West
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Two aspects concern me about this team: play at home and Cristobal Huet. Not only are the Habs just 8-8-5 at the Bell Centre, they have just two home regulation victories since Dec. 1 (Lightning and Leafs). Of Huet's 15 wins this season, only three have come against playoff-caliber teams. On the positive side, Tomas Plekanec already has 16 goals -- just four off his career high set last season.
Last Week: 2-1-0 Early Prediction: 6th in East
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Read on for teams 11-20 ...
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