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Storm brewing

Hurricanes leap into top 10; Avalanche tumbles

Posted: Tuesday March 25, 2008 3:57PM; Updated: Friday March 28, 2008 6:38PM
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BIGGEST CLIMB: Carolina (14 to 9)
BIGGEST FALL: Colorado (8 to 15)

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

NHL Power Rankings
Rank LW Team
1 1
San Jose Sharks (45-21-9)
Do you know when they last lost in regulation? Try Feb. 20, a span of 15 games. And in Friday's showdown with the rival Ducks, they had a franchise-best 43-13 shot advantage en route to a 2-1 win. But if there's one thing to nitpick, it's the offense: more than three goals in a game just three times since Feb. 12 (20 games). It's a good thing Evgeni Nabokov has been all-world all season.
Last Week: 3-0-0
2 3 Ho hum, just another 50-win season, their third straight. Mike Babcock is now the first coach in NHL history to win 50 in each of his first three seasons with a team. But where does this year's version rank? "More depth, faster, harder, the will to win," he told the Detroit Free-Press. "Yeah, best team I've ever coached." But Babcock and the Wings will be judged by their postseason success.
Last Week: 3-0-0
3 2
Anaheim Ducks (43-26-8)
You'd think they be cooked before the puck dropped without suspended Chris Pronger, starting goalie J-S Giguere and leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf. Enter Jonas Hiller, who turned away 30 shots to lead them to a 2-1 win. That's what makes the Ducks so dangerous; on any night, someone can step to the forefront and steal the show.
Last Week: 2-1-0
4 6 The Bruins have been a big help in getting the Habs back in the playoffs. Montreal won all eight games against Boston this season and extended its win streak against the B's to 11 -- the Habs' longest against them in their 84-year rivalry. I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but I continue to be impressed with the season Alexei Kovalev has put together (33 goals, 77 points).
Last Week: 2-0-1
5 7 At home, they're 6-0-2 in their last eight, 10-1-3 in 14 and 16-2-3 in 21. One of the biggest reasons: Evgeni Malkin, who on Saturday became the 12th Pen to ever reach 100 points in a season. They'll probably need a few more points from him if they hope to hold off the Devils for the Atlantic title.
Last Week: 2-1-0
6 5 Devils fans won't want to hear this, but I'm still not completely convinced this team has enough (namely offense) to win the Cup. Since an overtime loss in Carolina on Feb. 26, New Jersey has won only five of its last 12 games, while scoring a single goal in three consecutive games. "Whenever you don't score goals, it's going to put more pressure on you defensively," Andy Greene told the Star-Ledger. Indeed.
Last Week: 0-2-1
7 4
Dallas Stars (42-29-5)
Oh, what a difference three weeks can make. After winning four straight to close out February atop the Pacific, they've lost a season-high four in a row and eight of their last nine to trail the Sharks by 10 points. "I think confidence is an attitude you have," Brenden Morrow told the Dallas Morning News. "We've had it at times, but right now we don't."
Last Week:0-2-0
8 9
New York Rangers (39-26-10)
Believe it or not, they may be hoping for a first-round playoff matchup with the Devils. New York is 6-0 against them this season, holding them to a total of five goals. The teams clash twice more. On the good fortune front, it looks like leading scorer Scott Gomez may only miss a game or two after bruising -- not breaking -- his ribs in Friday's game.
Last Week: 2-0-1
9 14 The schedule-makers gave them a nice season-ending gift: none of their remaining six games are against current playoff squads. Another nice surprise is the way this team has played since losing captain Rod Brind'Amour to a season-ending knee injury: 13-3-1 over that span with Eric Staal leading the way with eight goals and 26 points.
Last Week: 2-0-0
10 11
Minnesota Wild (40-27-9)
At this point of the season, coaches only give big minutes to players they trust. Benoit Pouliot has obviously made an impression with Jacques Lemaire, who is giving the 21-year-old important ice time down the stretch. In just his ninth NHL game, Pouliot played a solid game against the Canucks in just under 10 minutes. The next night, he notched his first two goals in more than 13 minutes.
Last Week: 2-1-1

Read on for teams 11-20 ...

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