BIGGEST CLIMB: Min. (10 to 7), Phi. (14-11), Col. (15-12), Was. (19-16), Edm. (23-20)
BIGGEST FALL: Vancouver (13 to 18) 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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They can afford to rest some of their studs (Evgeni Nabokov, to name one) now that they've wrapped up their third Pacific crown and first since 2003-04. But one guy who probably doesn't want to take any time off right now is Joe Thornton, who has eight goals in the last five games -- giving him 28 for the season, his highest total in a half-decade.
Last Week: 3-0-1
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Can you name their hottest player? One could make an argument for Pavel Datsyuk or Henrik Zetterberg, but I'm going with Johan Franzen. In addition to a five-game goal streak and points in 12 of the last 13, Franzen broke one of Gordie Howe's records Sunday with his sixth game-winner of the month. Yep, month. The offense has been there all season from a handful of guys, but I'm interested to see what the goaltending situation will be like in the playoffs.
Last Week: 2-0-1
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They're just a point away from clinching their first Atlantic title in 10 years, and have won five of their last seven(Monday's game included). They've done the bulk of that with Marc-Andre Fleury in net. Since returning from a badly sprained ankle at the end of February, the 23-year-old backstop has been nearly perfect (9-1 in 10 starts, allowing a total of 13 goals). Let's see if he can carry that over to the "real" season.
Last Week: 3-1-0
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Ryan Getzlaf and J-S Giguere both returned to the lineup on Sunday -- a big win over the Stars. Now a third key player is close to getting back into the game: Ryan Carter, out since Feb. 20 with a broken wrist, could skate this week and may be available for one or both of Anaheim's final two games. Carter's gritty play and willingness to level the hard check will prove invaluable in the playoffs.
Last Week: 2-1-0
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Why was Friday's win at Buffalo significant? It was their 24th road victory -- fourth most in franchise history and most since their 27 in 1977-78. Road success, an unflappable goalie in Carey Price, contributions from all lines and possibly the quickest skaters in the league, the Habs will be a tough out. But if they secure the conference's top spot, they'll have to do it without captain Saku Koivu, out for at least three games and possibly more with a foot injury.
Last Week: 2-1-0
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They are definitely stumbling down the stretch. Before Friday's win over the Flyers -- their 12th straight home win over Philly -- they'd gone winless in five straight, their longest slide since a six-game skid in Nov. 2000. Also, before Friday's victory, Jersey had managed just five goals in its five previous games combined. Scoring has been an issue all season (26th, with 192 goals), which could mean a first-round exit.
Last Week: 1-2-0
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They're finding their game at the perfect time. Niklas Backstrom, who is 9-14 since taking over the starting job full time on Feb. 27, has been turning it up down the stretch. The 30-year-old set a franchise record on Friday with his 31st win. Another club mark went down Sunday when sniper Marian Gaborik secured his 80th point of the season. Minny could be a scary first-round opponent.
Last Week: 3-1-0
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The mojo right now in Big D is missing, They've won just two of 11 for March. "The best way to get our confidence back is winning," Marty Turco said. It appears that the club is dealing with some serious chemisty issues while trying to find the right line combinations. On the positive side, Mike Modano reached the 20-goal plateau for the 16th time in 18 NHL seasons.
Last Week: 1-0-2
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They're fighting for a high playoff seed, and now they have to deal with some Jaromir Jagr fallout. The veteran winger, who'll be an unrestricted free agent, has been talking to Omsk (Russia), for whom for he played during the lockout. "I have a pretty good idea what I'm going to do next year and I've known for three or four weeks, but I'm not going to say anything," he told the New York Post.
Last Week: 1-1-1
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Eric Staal isn't the only on e producing (30 points) since Rod Brind'Amour went down. Trevor Letowski has chipped in 10 during that span. Not bad considering he had eight in 61 games last season. The race for the Southeast title, meanwhile, basically comes down to Tuesday's winner-take-all battle between the 'Canes and Capitals.
Last Week: 1-1-1
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Read on for teams 11-20 ... 
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