THN Power Rankings - Feb. 25
The Anaheim Ducks are on fire and eyeing a Stanley Cup repeat. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)
Mike Brophy
2008-02-25 19:29:41
Don’t look now, but the Anaheim Ducks are mighty again.
While the Detroit Red Wings continue to disintegrate before our very eyes, the defending Stanley Cup champions are looking very much like a team that could be the first champion to repeat since the Red Wings of 1997 and 1998.
In the East, the Devils are coming on strong and have taken top spot away from Ottawa for the time being, but the Sens are showing signs of life once again.
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RK.
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TEAM
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LW
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OVERALL
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L10
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THE SCOOP
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1
|
 |
1
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42-17-5
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2-7-1
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The Red Wings hold on top spot in The Hockey News’ weekly Power Rankings is tenuous to say the least. Injuries have conspired to make them rather ordinary in the month of February. |
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2
|
 |
2
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39-22-5
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8-2-0
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Mike Ribeiro had a huge night netting two goals and setting up two as the Stars beat Nashville for their 11th win in their past 13 games. |
|
3
|
 |
3
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37-21-5
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7-1-2
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While the Senators continue to search for an identity, the New Jersey Devils have won five straight and now hold down top spot in the Eastern Conference. Despite being outs hot 38-31, the Devils beat the Caps in overtime. |
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4
|
 |
6
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36-23-7
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9-1-0
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Teemu Selanne has been a godsend for the Ducks with six goals and 11 points in 10 games since returning to the team. |
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5
|
 |
7
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35-21-7
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6-2-2
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The good news is the Penguins have been OK in Sidney Crosby’s absence. The even better news is Crosby is skating again and could return to the team soon. |
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6
|
 |
4
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36-20-6
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4-4-2
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Three straight shootouts (two wins, one loss) is an indicator the Sens are getting their act together again. Further proof is the fact they fell behind 3-0 to Pittsburgh, but stormed back for the win. |
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7
|
 |
13
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33-22-8
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7-3-0
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Miikka Kiprusoff made 38 saves to lead the Flames to their fourth straight victory, a 2-1 decision over Minnesota. |
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8
|
 |
5
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34-23-5
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4-4-2
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No need to press the panic button, but the Wild is winless in three games. Suddenly a playoff spot is not guaranteed. |
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9
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 |
8
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33-21-9
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5-5-0
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The Canadiens recorded their biggest comeback in franchise history when they erased a 5-0 deficit to beat the Rangers 6-5, but then lost to Pittsburgh and Columbus. |
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10
|
 |
10
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32-24-8
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6-2-2
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After coughing up a fur ball against Montreal, the Rangers responded with wins over Buffalo and Florida. Even defenseman Marek Malik got in on the fun, scoring his first goal of the season. |
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11
|
 |
14
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32-22-8
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6-1-3
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The surging Canucks have won four straight including a convincing 4-1 win over short-staffed Detroit. Ryan Kesler continues to shine and has a career-best 16 goals. |
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12
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 |
11
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33-21-8
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4-5-1
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He may be old, but there’s still a little gas left in the tank of Jeremy Roenick. J.R. scored the shootout winner as San Jose topped Pittsburgh 2-1. |
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13
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 |
18
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32-23-6
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5-4-1
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Glen Murray’s third two-goal game of the season lifted the Bruins to a 5-3 victory over Tampa Bay. The Bruins, who have missed the playoffs the past two seasons, moved into seventh in the East. |
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14
|
 |
9
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32-24-8
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4-3-3
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The Predators hold on a playoff spot is rather tenuous following two straight losses. |
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15
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 |
19
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32-26-5
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4-4-2
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While the Coyotes are 2-2 in their past four games, their two wins were shutout victories. |
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16
|
 |
15
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30-24-8
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6-3-1
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Ten goals in eight games (including two hat tricks) for Thomas Vanek have the Sabres rolling in the right direction. |
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17
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 |
16
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32-28-5
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6-3-1
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Eric Staal is on a roll with 10 points in six games as the Hurricanes have climbed back atop the SouthLeast Division. |
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18
|
 |
22
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30-26-7
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6-3-1
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Bill Guerin has gone ice cold with no goals in seven games, but his Islanders remain in the hunt for a playoff spot. |
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19
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 |
26
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29-27-6
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6-3-1
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Jonathan Toews has a goal and five points in two games as the Blackhawks continue to give their loyal fans lots of hope for the future. |
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20
|
 |
17
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31-26-6
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3-5-2
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Paul Stastny scored in his first game back after missing a month, while Joe Sakic had an assist in his first game after being out more than two months. |
|
21
|
 |
25
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29-26-9
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4-3-3
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After losing to Toronto, of all teams, the Blue Jackets waltzed into Ottawa and Montreal and stoned the home teams. |
|
22
|
 |
21
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28-24-10
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4-3-3
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Three straight losses and yet the Blues have a mathematical shot at the playoffs. Don’t count on them making it, though. |
|
23
|
 |
20
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29-30-4
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5-5-0
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Three consecutive losses have the Thrashers sliding towards Tampa Bay for last place in the East. |
|
24
|
 |
12
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30-25-7
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0-8-2
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Make that 10 losses in a row for the desperate Flyers who were once the class of the Eastern Conference, but now are in danger of missing the playoffs. |
|
25
|
 |
24
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28-30-7
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3-5-2
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The Panthers only win in their past five games came against Philadelphia. Hardly worth writing home about. |
|
26
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 |
23
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28-27-8
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4-3-3
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Three straight losses have the Capitals fairytale season coming to a thundering halt. That said, defenseman Mike Green’s stock continues to soar…he has 16 goals and 40 points in 63 games. |
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27
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 |
28
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26-28-9
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6-4-0
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Darcy Tucker had six goals in five games, but cooled off again and hasn’t scored in three. |
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28
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 |
27
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28-30-5
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5-5-0
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More bad news for the Oilers; leader Ethan Moreau is done for the season. |
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29
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 |
29
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25-30-7
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4-4-2
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Even Vinny Lecavalier has slowed down a bit with just one goal in his past 10 games. |
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30
|
 |
30
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26-34-4
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5-4-1
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The Kings scored four straight goals in the third period to force overtime, but still wound up losing to Chicago. |
The Hockey News ranks the teams 1-30 on Mondays. Changes in rankings reflect each team’s play from the previous seven days.
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Mark H. Webb (Posted 2008-03-03 19:49:27)
In my heart I'd love to see the Quackers(Ducks) get knocked out early, but that will not happen until the 3rd round and the Dallas Stars beat them... sorry SoCal no Cup this year. And I'm an Avalanche fan, and sorry to many changes and injuries for them to win anything this year... first round and out for them.
Steve (Posted 2008-03-03 12:02:55)
David,couldn't agree more.Go leafs Go
David Pamensky (Posted 2008-03-02 17:37:58)
Everyone's got to chill out about how the leafs suck, guys come on we're only 5 points out of a playoff berth,be optimistic leaf fans. OTTAWA SUCKZ
Jonathan (Posted 2008-03-01 21:35:57)
If Broph doesn't bump up the Habs this week after a dominating week then I might have to turn back to TSN for my hockey fix.
Robert Rodriguez (Posted 2008-03-01 00:48:33)
Mr. Brophy need to wake up. The Dallas Stars had one of the best winning records in the NHL for the month of February by going 12-2-0 are are ranked second. Yet he still ranks the team from "Hockeytown USA" as number one while their record has been 4-10.
Even ESPN, which is not known for its broadcast hockey coverage, has ranked the Dallas Stars as the top team in the NHL, and bumped the Red Wings to 4th.
Not bad for a team that was predicted to be 11th in the Western Conference in the THN 2007-2008 yearbook.
Will it take the Dallas Stars winning the President's Trophy or the Stanley Cup again before they are taken seriously as a NHL powerhouse team?
Chris Dum (Posted 2008-02-28 16:22:09)
The Pens have been just OK since Sid has gone down? We're 6-2-2 in our last ten, Conklin is playing as good as any goalie in the league, and Malkin is racing to win the Art Ross Trophy. We've done better than anyone thought we would after Sid got injured. Give us some credit.
Bob Alan (Posted 2008-02-28 12:30:35)
Dallas must be too difficult for you guys to spell since they are mentioned only when the moon is blue & the team must be too ugly for the cameras since they rarely appear in videos or photos. Whats your problem anyway? In the last 60 days they went from being 17 points behind the Red Wings to 5 today. And with Brad Richards comming on board I guess you'll have to recognize them when they overtake Detroit for 1st place. Too bad you have nothing but sour grapes for Mike Ribero who has proven he has a lot more to give than the Canadians were able to get out of him. More has been made of a half crippled has-been, returning to a go nowhere team (the Avs) than of a real American hero still playing & racking up points (Mike Modano).How about some real, impartial coverage of the game & the guys who deserve some recognition.
Ben (Posted 2008-02-26 19:01:24)
Another unacurat power rankings. Come on we all know he loves the Red Wings and can't admit to the fact that they are in a slump. I don't even think that i will countinue to beleve the rankings. Its a bunch of GARBAGE!Go Sabres!
Davenport (Posted 2008-02-26 16:58:57)
Montreal doesnt have to worry about Hossa, as the Penduins got him for a third line player, a prospect and a pick. Gainey is now the worst GM in sports, as he also gave Huet away for a second tounder. Fire that bum, please. Go Penguins.
Ian Sbalcio (Posted 2008-02-26 10:03:12)
These rankings make no sense. Detroit has been sitting on top of the rankings for weeks even when they go on a losing streak. How can they be the best team OF THE WEEK if they lose Lidstrom and are 2-7-1 in their last 10 games. Let's get serious Brophy, The Stars, Devils and Ducks deserve to be on top of them easily.
Team Player (Posted 2008-02-26 09:29:59)
So what if Montreal lands Hossa, they still need a big center and a couple of net crashing fowards. They are charmin soft, thats why the Sens big line always kills them. Koivu has to go, he does nothing and has won nothing.
scott (Posted 2008-02-26 05:23:17)
this and espn.com have the biggest joke for power rankings, ducks are 9-1, NINE AND ONE!!! detroit hasn't gone 9-1 for weeks, yet maintain the top spot, makes no sense. what's the point, there are 15 teams doing better than that injury ridden detroit team, yet number 1>?
Mavid (Posted 2008-02-26 00:55:42)
Feel better now, thanks, how about Gainey sending Huet, a defenseman and Chipchura to Pittsburgh for Jordan Staal?
Jim Terry (Posted 2008-02-25 22:58:39)
What a joke this has become! Why list the rankings by the week?? Just admit you're going to lap up Detroit's drool no matter what!!!!!!!
Tim (Posted 2008-02-25 22:24:57)
...The surging Canucks have won four straight including a convincing 4-1 win over short-staffed Detroit. Ryan Kesler continues to shine and has a career-best 16 goals... The Canucks have been short staffed all season with many nights looking like we should be wearing the Manitoba Moose jerseys especially on defense yet here we are two pts out of the division lead with a game in hand...Finally we're getting healthy with only two top players out of the lineup(instead of 6 or 8).Now people make excuses for the Red Wings. Suck it up and play through. If the Canucks stay healthy and Luongo performs like he can in the playoffs...Lookout!!
Andrew Clark (Posted 2008-02-25 22:12:25)
How are the Wings still on top!? I'm a die hard Red Wings fan and I'm saying this. Yeah, when we're healthy we're the best in the league but we might as well be the Detroit Griffins with the line we have right now. Oh well power rankings don't mean anything, I was just surprised to see my boys in red still number 1.
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