| 1 |  |
Last Week: 2 |
That OT loss to the Flyers wasn't as damaging as the loss of Michael Ryder, sidelined indefinitely by a facial fracture. Linemates David Krejci and Blake Wheeler looked worse for his absence on Saturday. Those youngsters have been key to Boston's success. If they continue to struggle, the B's could sag. Last week: 2-0-1 |
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| 2 |  |
Last Week: 7 |
Friday the 13th might be bad luck for Columbus. Ty Conklin led the Wings to wins over his former teams, Edmonton and Pittsburgh, on Saturday and Sunday. A win over the Jackets would pay back three former employers in the span of a week and give him a season sweep. He beat Buffalo in January. Last week: 4-0 |
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| 3 |  |
Last Week: 3 |
You can't give a conference leader too much grief for a swoon in early February, but three straight losses suggest a team that's a bit complacent at the moment. They took points out of the last two contests, but will need to generate more premium scoring chances if they hope to break out of this skid. Last week: 0-0-2 |
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| 4 |  |
Last Week: 4 |
It looks like the loss of Brent Johnson for six-to-eight weeks will force them to ride Jose Theodore hard down the stretch. Simeon Varlamov is hurt (again . . . is he using Kari Lehtonen's trainer?) and Michael Neuvirth is untested. Fortunately, their lead in the Southeast is secure enough to withstand Theo's inconsistencies. Last week: 2-1 |
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| 5 |  |
Last Week: 1 |
So much for defending their top ranking last week. They were dominated at home by the Caps and Kings, outscored 8-3 in a sour coda on their eight-game win streak. Tilts this week against the Rangers and Bruins should reveal whether it was a little hiccup or if the blueline needs reinforcements for the playoff push. Last week: 1-2 |
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| 6 |  |
Last Week: 6 |
The Canucks lit them up for seven goals on Saturday, but the Hawks probably wouldn't mind running into another Canadian-based team in their long-awaited return to the postseason. They were 11-0 against clubs from north of the 49th parallel before that loss. Last week: 2-1 |
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| 7 |  |
Last Week: 8 |
After a blistering pace to start 2009, they were gunning for fourth (and home ice) in the Eastern playoffs. Now they'll be tested just to stay in the race after losing Paul Gaustad and Thomas Vanek for extended periods. Vanek's 3-4 week absence removes a big weapon from the lineup, and ends his hope for a 50-goal season. Last week: 2-1-1 |
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| 8 |  |
Last Week: 9 |
If only Antero Niittymaki could play the Thrashers every night. Sure, most players would love to fatten their stats on these bottom feeders, but he flat out owns Atlanta: 13-0 career after Sunday's victory; he's one of two active goalies with a perfect mark of at least 10 wins against another franchise. Last week: 2-1 |
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| 9 |  |
Last Week: 5 |
Sure my eyes are getting bad, but didn't they look like one of the league's best at this time last week? Reeling after four straight losses, they need to get the offense back on track, and all eyes are locked on Jarome Iginla. Last year's 50-goal man has just two in his last 15 games. Last week: 0-4 |
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| 10 |  |
Last Week: 10 |
So, who else ya got down on the farm? One night after a listless effort against the very beatable Pens, the Jackets called on minor leaguer Dan Lacosta to man the pipes. The fourth-stringer allowed just two goals in his first start to lead them to an improbable OT win over the conference-leading Sharks. Last week: 1-2 |
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| 11 |  |
Last Week: 11 |
If Pete DeBoer isn't getting enough Jack Adams buzz, it won't be for lack of effort from this corner. Prior to the season, he said he wanted more offense from the blueline and he's getting it. The Panthers lead the NHL with 37 goals from the back end, a clear result of the coach's demand for more a more aggressive approach. Last week: 2-1 |
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| 12 |  |
Last Week: 14 |
Home wasn't particularly welcoming early in the season, but they've warmed up to the place: 12-2-1 at the AAC since December. With eight of their next 10 there, they're in position to set themselves up for home ice in the first round simply by remaining inhospitable to visitors. Last week: 2-1 |
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| 13 |  |
Last Week: 15 |
Niklas Backstrom keeps piling up wins . . . and pricing himself out of their future. His new bargaining chip? After turning aside all four tries Sunday, the impending UFA is now 4-0 in the shootout and has yet to allow a goal on 12 attempts. Nice turnaround after allowing 27 on 53 in his first two seasons. Last week: 2-1 |
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| 14 |  |
Last Week: 13 |
The offense has stopped paddling last week, but don't point fingers at Corey Perry. In 13 games since a four-game suspension on Jan. 11, the feisty winger has 10 goals. Three have been game-winners, including one Saturday against the Flames. Last week: 2-2 |
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| 15 |  |
Last Week: 12 |
Okay, so the word is Stephen Valiquette had the flu while the Stars picked him apart for 10 goals on Friday. We can cut him some slack, but what's the excuse for the rest of the team? How did that defense let the Stars get into prime scoring position time and again? Just the latest in a series of embarrassing efforts from the Blueshirts. Last week: 0-1-1 |
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| 16 |  |
Last Week: 17 |
There's only one way for a team to haul itself out of 10th place if it hopes to grab a playoff berth: go on a roll. Easier said than done for the Pens, who haven't strung as many as three wins together since early November. The effort's been there of late, but consistent results continue to elude them. Last week: 2-2 |
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| 17 |  |
Last Week: 18 |
Soooooo . . . Rod Brind'Amour is sidelined. The Canes respond with two of their better efforts, beating San Jose in OT and waxing Phoenix with their best offensive output (seven goals) and widest margin of victory (five) all season. Coincidence? Or the product of a faster, hungrier lineup? The next week should be telling. Last week: 2-1 |
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| 18 |  |
Last Week: 16 |
They've lost seven of nine overall and five straight away from home. It's not a reach to suggest the six-game road swing that begins Tuesday could determine their playoff fate. Carey Price needs to find his game. The Leafs exposed his quick drop and slow glove hand four times in a 5-2 win on Saturday. Last week: 1-2 |
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| 19 |  |
Last Week: 21 |
After busting out of an eight-game skid with a win over Carolina that coach Alain Vigneault called "cathartic," they ran their streak to two with a loosey-goosey triumph over the high-flying Hawks. Something to build on, to be sure, but they may want to keep an eye on that penalty kill. They've coughed up 12 goals in their last 31 times shorthanded. Last week: 2-0 |
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| 20 |  |
Last Week: 22 |
They pulled within three points of eighth spot in the West with impressive road wins over the Sens, Caps and Devils. Jonathan Quick was full value as the league's First Star for the week, stopping 95 of 100 shots, including 20 in the third period alone to preserve a 5-4 win in Washington. Last week: 3-0 |
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| 21 |  |
Last Week: 25 |
Laugh all you want at the offense (seriously, take a minute), but you've got to appreciate the D. Pekka Rinne and Dan Ellis allowed just four goals while helping them knock off four teams vying with them for the West's final playoff spots. Sunday's loss to the Stars stung, but they've built a template for an interesting finish. Last week: 3-1 |
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| 22 |  |
Last Week: 19 |
The 8-3 spanking by the Wings was their second blowout loss in their last six games, a span during which they lost their hold on a playoff spot and, perhaps more troubling, their top center (Shawn Horcoff) and power play QB (Lubomir Visnovsky). Last week: 1-2-1 |
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| 23 |  |
Last Week: 26 |
No typo. They're in dead last in the West . . . and just six points out of the playoffs. Galloping through their most impressive stretch of the season, they've taken 15 of a possible 20 points. With Manny (The Malcontent) Legace in Peoria, Andy McDonald re-signed, and Keith Tkachuk apparently staying for the stretch, the Blues might become more than mere spoilers. Last week: 2-0-2 |
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| 24 |  |
Last Week: 23 |
The good news? After a hard knock on the jaw, Milan Hejduk avoided joining a $10 million sick bay that already includes Joe Sakic, Paul Stastny and Adam Foote. Bad news? With just three wins in their last 11 games, they're rapidly becoming an afterthought in Denver. Last week: 2-1 |
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| 25 |  |
Last Week: 20 |
Losers of five straight, they needed a home win on Saturday against the Canes. Instead, they got blown out of their own barn, offering up a level of play that -- despite the assertions of the Great One -- suggests they'll be playoff bystanders for the eighth consecutive year. The one bright spot: breaking an 0/21 power play slump. Hooray! Last week: 0-3 |
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| 26 |  |
Last Week: 24 |
A six-game home stand got off to a rousing start when Mike McKenna shut out the Isles in just his second NHL start. Still, Tampa's playoff hopes (curse us for playing the optimist) dimmed with news that Mike Smith was out with post-concussion symptoms, forcing them to rely on McKenna and fellow rookie Riku Helenius indefinitely. Last week: 1-1-1 |
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| 27 |  |
Last Week: 27 |
The thought of paying Jason Blake $10.5 million over the next three seasons will scare off most teams looking for trade deadline help. But some bold GM may be willing to take a chance that the feisty winger (nine goals, 16 points in his last 10 games) can keep his streak rolling down the stretch, and worry about what to do with that contract later. Last week: 1-1-1 |
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| 28 |  |
Last Week: 28 |
Tough town, Ottawa. Cory Clouston finally wins his first game behind the bench -- a 4-3 shootout win over Buffalo -- and all the talk is about who will replace him next season. The thought is that he'll have to fare exceptionally well over the final 31 games to avoid a return to AHL Binghamton next fall. Last week: 1-1-1 |
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| 29 |  |
Last Week: 29 |
On paper, it looks about as compelling as a Jimmy Fallon talk show. Still, the backup goalie role sweepstakes should be worth watching as they play out the string. Joey MacDonald proved his value early, but the battle's been joined by Yann Danis. The Montreal castoff has given up just one goal in four of his last five starts, stopping 165 of 173 shots for a .953 save percentage. Last week: 1-2 |
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| 30 |  |
Last Week: 30 |
Slow starts are bedeviling the slumping Thrashers, who've scored just 11 goals while losing six of their last seven games. They've failed to score even once in the first period over that span, and have just one second period goal, digging themselves holes too deep to climb out of. Last week: 1-2 |
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