| 1 |  |
Last Week: 1 |
The Sabres handed them their first home loss since Oct. 23 on Saturday, 4-2, but Boston still leads the league in goals-against thanks to Manny Fernandez's impressive December (six wins, 1.64 GAA, .945 save percentage). The deal that sent Petr Kalus to Minnesota for the disgruntled stopper is looking better by the day. Last week: 2-1 |
| |
| 2 |  |
Last Week: 5 |
Anyone else want to test them? Twice they've been challenged and both times the champs laid the smack down. Sweeping last week's home-and-home with the Hawks and stretching their Central lead to eight points was as much a statement as the 6-0 beating they laid on the Sharks on Dec. 18. San Jose better keep an eye on the rearview mirror. Last week: 3-0 |
| |
| 3 |  |
Last Week: 3 |
Making it through the 2008 portion of the sked without a regulation home loss provided them with cushion in the standings, but they seem to have lost that patina of invincibility of late. Still, as far as slumps go, 6-1-3 is a rough patch most teams would be willing to fight through. Last week: 2-0-1 |
| |
| 4 |  |
Last Week: 4 |
Their 26 wins are second-most in the conference, their unbeaten streak stands at six, and they've yet to ice their ideal 20-man roster this season or define a true No. 1 stopper. Oh, and All-Star non-starter Alex Ovechkin has assumed the league lead after scoring 10 goals in his past nine games. Scary? You bet. Last week: 3-0 |
| |
| 5 |  |
Last Week: 6 |
Even if Martin Brodeur hadn't been sidelined, it's hard to imagine the NHL not inviting Hart candidate Zach Parise to the All-Star Game. With 22 goals in 38 games, he ranks among the league's top snipers and is on pace to break Brian Gionta's franchise record of 48. Last week: 3-1 |
| |
| 6 |  |
Last Week: 9 |
Is any superstar doing less to live up to his reputation than Dion Phaneuf? While the Flames are holding serve in the Northwest thanks to a 7-1-2 run, the blueliner appears to be wilting under the burden of his league-leading workload (27:41). Where are the confidence, consistent physical play and goal-scoring touch that made him a Norris finalist? Last week: 3-1 |
| |
| 7 |  |
Last Week: 8 |
A coach who constantly juggles lines is like nails on the chalkboard to most fans, but Guy Carbonneau's tinkering is paying dividends. The coach uncorked some offensive magic after slotting the Kostitsyn brothers alongside Robert Lang. Of course, his job would be easier if Bob Gainey hadn't passed on Mark Streit and his league-leading 32 points from the blueline. Last week: 3-1 |
| |
| 8 |  |
Last Week: 7 |
Rookie defender Luca Sbisa playing the wing on the first line? Why not! Even with an ad-hoc lineup, the Flyers are finding ways to win, but the road's not getting any easier. Antero Niittymaki is the latest victim, out for up to two weeks, joining Simon Gagne, Claude Giroux and Daniel Briere among the well-paid limping. Last week: 2-0-1 |
| |
| 9 |  |
Last Week: 2 |
They ended the week on a happy note by dousing the Flames, but two lopsided losses to the Wings offered a harsh reminder that the young Hawks have a long way to go before they're ready to knock off the defending champions. Last week: 1-2 |
| |
| 10 |  |
Last Week: 11 |
Kings fans might consider the deal that sent Jason LaBarbera to Vancouver for a seventh-rounder as sweet revenge for the Dan Cloutier trade, but Labs has looked solid in three starts for the Canucks, stopping 99 of 105 shots and helping them take four of six points. Last week: 1-1-2 |
| |
| 11 |  |
Last Week: 10 |
Their sloppy defensive play and .500 record in December finally caught up to them as their season-long grip on the Atlantic lead was loosened by the Flyers. With Tom Renney under fire, it won't be long before the name of Team Canada coach Pat Quinn starts earning currency as a potential savior. Last week: 1-1 |
| |
| 12 |  |
Last Week: 13 |
Bobby Ryan didn't join them until Nov. 15, but he's closing the gap in the rookie-scoring and Calder races. The burgeoning power forward has 21 points in 22 games and has become a fixture on the top-10 rated power play. Last week: 1-1-1 |
| |
| 13 |  |
Last Week: 15 |
How can they salvage the second half? It would help if they stopped playing like doormats at HSBC Arena. Buffalo has the worst home record of any team currently in a playoff spot. Two spots of good news for the faithful: Tim Connolly is expected back this week ... and Max Afinogenov is out indefinitely. Last week: 2-1 |
| |
| 14 |  |
Last Week: 14 |
While Craig Anderson and Tomas Vokoun struggle through their roughest patch of the season, the Panthers got a good look at their future: Jacob Markstrom was the standout netminder at the World Juniors, leading the tournament with a 1.25 GAA and .954 save pct for silver-medallist Sweden. Last week: 1-2-1 |
| |
| 15 |  |
Last Week: 18 |
Cam Ward earned the league's third star of the week honors after going 3-0 with a 1.33 GAA and .944 save percentage. Sure, his victims were all cupcakes, but if the Canes are going to get back into the playoffs after a two-year absence, they need to fatten up on the likes of Atlanta, Tampa and St. Louis. Last week: 3-0 |
| |
| 16 |  |
Last Week: 12 |
Sickened by Tony Romo's "the sun will come up tomorrow" response to the elimination of his Dallas Cowboys last week, I'll take Sidney Crosby's take-charge style every time. With his freefalling Pens getting shellacked by the Panthers, Sid rag-dolled Brett MacLean late in Saturday's 6-1 loss. We'll see if it fires up the listless troops. Last week: 0-3 |
| |
| 17 |  |
Last Week: 19 |
No team has fewer 10-goal scorers than their pair (Shane Doan and Olli Jokinen), so it's no surprise that their power play is in such a funk. Phoenix has scored just three goals in 40 attempts over their last 10 games and the penalty kill isn't faring much better. Last week: 2-1 |
| |
| 18 |  |
Last Week: 16 |
Tony Granato promised the Avs would be better after they were crushed 6-1 by Columbus. His charges took their leader's words to heart, exploding for zero goals in a 2-0 loss to Minnesota. That right. There's a solid reminder that "better" is a relative term. Last week: 1-3 |
| |
| 19 |  |
Last Week: 23 |
Steve Mason stopped 71 straight shots, tying the freshman record held by Glenn Hall, on his way to Rookie of the Month honors for December. Mason has allowed two or fewer goals in 10 of his last 12 starts. Along with the surging Rick Nash (2-7-9 in four games), he's keeping the surprising Jackets in the playoff hunt. Last week: 3-1 |
| |
| 20 |  |
Last Week: 17 |
It looks like Craig MacTavish finally hit on a line combination to bust Sam Gagner, Robert Nilsson and Erik Cole out of their season-long slumps. The trio was dynamite against the hated Stars on Saturday, showing passion, jump and creativity in a 4-1 win. Gagner now has one goal and six points in his last five games after scoring eights points in his first 30. Last week: 1-2 |
| |
| 21 |  |
Last Week: 22 |
Mike Modano and Brad Richards may be the marquee names, but their true MVP is Loui Eriksson. The winger, who should earn the team's lone spot on the Western All-Star squad, has emerged as a legit sniper. He has a nasty shot, but earned his team-leading 20 goals by consistently going hard to the net. Last week: 2-2 |
| |
| 22 |  |
Last Week: 21 |
Is Jonathan Quick the answer to Kings fans' prayers? The 22-year-old was spectacular in making 31 saves -- including one on a Scott Hartnell penalty shot -- to lead L.A. to a 2-1 win over the Flyers on Saturday. In five starts since getting lit up by the Wings on Dec. 20, Quick has a 0.79 GAA and has stopped 128 of 133 shots. Last week: 1-1 |
| |
| 23 |  |
Last Week: 24 |
All those who advocated trading Marian Gaborik early in the season (ahem) are free to play the "I told you so" card. The brittle winger is out another 10-14 weeks, taking him off the trade table. GM Doug Risebrough can now focus his bitterness on impending UFA Nicklas Backstrom, who'll demand something in the $6-7 million range. Last week: 2-1-1 |
| |
| 24 |  |
Last Week: 25 |
Hope in Leafland? Depends on your perspective. The Buds continue to do just enough to screw up next summer's draft position, whacking "inferior" teams like Atlanta and Ottawa while gearing up for the impending return of Luke Schenn. Lost for a month to a knee injury, the rookie has arguably been the team's best defender. Last week: 2-1 |
| |
| 25 |  |
Last Week: 20 |
The toothless Preds are on the path to playoff extinction after dropping four straight. Blame the punchless offense, which scored more than two goals just twice in the last 11 games. And don't look for help on the horizon. Although Steve Sullivan hopes to return Saturday, management has disavowed the possibility of trades. Last week: 0-3 |
| |
| 26 |  |
Last Week: 26 |
That Nov. deal with the Leafs looks more favorable every day. After a slow start, center Alex Steen has nine points in his last 11 games. He tied a career-high with three against the Jackets on Saturday. Carlo Colaiacovo's numbers aren't as impressive, but he's helping solidify a sketchy blueline. Last week: 1-2 |
| |
| 27 |  |
Last Week: 27 |
The shape of things to come? Rick Tocchet slashed about four minutes off the usual ice time of Vinnie Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Vaclav Prospal on Sunday and the big guns lived up to their paychecks in a win over Atlanta. Credit also to the defense, which held opponents to 30 shots or fewer in five of their last six. Last week: 1-2-1 |
| |
| 28 |  |
Last Week: 28 |
The possibility of reuniting dynamic Team Sweden defensive stars Erik Karlsson (Ottawa's '08 first-rounder) and Victor Hedman makes every game a must-lose. No surprise that they disappointed last week, snatching three points on the road and decreasing their chances of landing the puck-moving blueliner they so desperately need. Last week: 1-1-1 |
| |
| 29 |  |
Last Week: 29 |
Have they reached the tipping point? "Our give-a-crap level is zero. I've got to question whether anyone in that room cares right now. It's a joke," coach John Anderson groused after Sunday's loss to Tampa. You have to think that changes -- on or off the ice -- are on the horizon after a public gutting like that. Last week: 1-2-1 |
| |
| 30 |  |
Last Week: 30 |
Sean Bergenheim joined Bill Guerin in an exclusive club on New Year's Eve when he became just the second Isle to score a game-winning goal in December. New York closed out a pitiful 2-10-2 month with a 4-2 win over the sliding Panthers before starting the New Year off in a familiar fashion ... with a pair of losses. Last week: 1-3 |
PRINT
EMAIL
RSS
SHARE
.
