The Hockey News: Power Rankings: Power Rankings

Power Rankings - Oct. 14

The Buffalo Sabres won their first two games and sit 12th in our Power Rankings. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)

Ryan Dixon
2008-10-14 14:11:00

Maybe Buffalo’s bounce-back year was just a season in the making.

Even after the Sabres lost Chris Drury and Daniel Briere just hours apart in the summer of 2007, most pundits thought there was enough talent left for the team to slide into a playoff spot. That didn’t happen, of course, and expectations for Buffalo this year weren’t overly optimistic.

However, the Sabres are still a very speedy bunch with a good coach and a great goalie; perhaps even a great goalie tandem. Last year Lindy Ruff felt he couldn’t trust backup Jocelyn Thibault and Ryan Miller ended up playing way too much. But new No. 2 Patrick Lalime already has one of the Sabres’ two wins, while Thomas Vanek has netted three goals.

THE HOCKEY NEWS POWER RANKINGS
RK.	TEAM	LW	OVERALL	THE SCOOP
1		-	2-1-0	Opening night stumble, but champs showed their mettle with late road win over Ottawa.
2		-	5-0-0	Hard to focus on best start in team history after tragic news of young Alexei Cherepanov’s passing.
3		-	3-0-0	Quick start for Jonathan Cheechoo could signal good things.
4		-	2-0-1	Picked up five of six points during three-game road trip to start the season.
5		-	2-1-0	The “other Alex” lighting it up as Semin has three goals and six points after three contests.
6		-	0-1-1	No wins through two games, but this team won’t be on the mat long.
7		-	0-2-0	Lost to the Sharks on opening night, then played what used to be a gimme against Phoenix and lost that one, too.
8		-	1-1-1	Gave up 49 shots in first game back after European excursion. Think that blueline doesn’t miss Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney?
9		-	2-1-0	Two wins, but have yet to score more than two goals in a game through three contests.
10		-	0-2-0	The Flyers have one of the deepest forward crews in the biz; they just need to tighten up defensively.
11		-	2-1-0	Ever seen the movie Rounders? The Preds have “alligator blood,” meaning they’re always just hanging around and refuse to go away.
12		-	2-0-0	Lindy Ruff says it’s his goal to make Thomas Vanek the best two-way player in hockey and the Austrian already has his first shorthanded goal ever – yes, ever.
13		-	2-0-0	Rookies Kyle Turris and Mikkel Boedker each added to their puck collections with their first NHL goals.
14		-	2-1-0	Nice Canes debut for Joni Pitkanen, who has a goal and three points through three games.
15		-	1-0-0	Only played one game, but looked good winning it simply by virtue of those vintage orange and blue uniforms.
16		-	1-1-1	Dany Heatley wearing the ‘C’ in Daniel Alfredsson’s absence, has three goals in three games.
17		-	2-1-0	Came out blastin' against Calgary for two games, but managed just 10 shots versus the Caps.
18		-	1-0-0	Marian Gaborik trade talk will only get louder unless he signs an extension – and that in no way appears imminent.
19		-	1-1-0	B’s play eight of their first 11 away from home, so they’d be thrilled with a .500 October.
20		-	0-2-1	Team is built, fans have come, now the Hawks have to start delivering.
21		-	0-1-1	The Flames have one plus-player after two games; that would be Andre Roy at plus-1.
22		-	2-1-0	Hot pre-season carries over for Andy McDonald, but despite six assists, the center is minus-4.
23		-	1-1-0	Rookie Jakub Voracek gives hope for the secondary scoring with a goal and two points in two games.
24		-	0-2-0	How ‘bout a .795 save percentage for Peter Budaj after two games?
25		-	1-1-0	The Hockey News pegged David Booth as a player to watch this year and he’s making us look smart with three goals through two games.
26		-	1-0-1	Letting in soft OT goals like the one he allowed against Florida won’t quiet any of Kari Lehtonen’s critics.
27		-	1-1-1	Went into Detroit and beat the champs, but reality was waiting for them upon leaving Michigan.
28		-	1-2-0	Goalie Joey MacDonald was hanging in there until Buffalo hammered the Isles 7-1.
29		-	0-2-1	Giving up 42 shots a game so far; do Len Barrie and Oren Koules have any buddies who are goalie psychologists?
30		-	0-2-0	At least signing Anze Kopitar long-term bodes well for future rankings.

The Hockey News ranks the teams 1-30 each Monday based on a combination of last week’s play and a squad’s overall outlook.

For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

COMMENTS (28)

Sort: Oldest | Newest Filter: All | Videos

Curtis Posted
(2009-04-30 07:11:59)

How does a team with 2 wins be 22nd while a twinless team is 6th? makes no sense these rankings blow. And btw to habs fan, detroits off to a slow start, you are slamming a guy for doing the same thing you are.THe sharks choke every playoffs, so dont count on it, and hossa gets paid like 7.25 because detroit will not pay anyone more than their captain, which is damn respectful. Detroit is not overated.If you are the stanley cup champoins and pick up the most sought after free agent of the off season, there will be alot of hype. So just calm down and prove your points without slamming a guy by doing what he just did. And montreal is good, but most likely wont win the presidents trophy

Andy Posted
(2009-04-30 07:11:43)

Ryan Dixon, all I can say is, "You're funny!!!!". As of right now Rangers and the Great Habs, 1-2!!! DUH!!! Destoilet-10th! GO HABS GO!

Bert Wilson Posted
(2009-04-30 07:11:36)

How in the world can the Flyers be ranked above four other teams that have 2 wins. I know it is early in the season, but come on...Maybe the one point they got so far this week will push them to #1. Sad that the media, (even The Hockey News), babies any Phliadelphia team.

IMB Posted
(2009-04-30 07:11:24)

I know these rankings mean nothing...but how can once logically place the Redwings (2-1-0) ahead of the blueshirts (5-0-0), especially in light of their season opening loss to the Maple Leafs??? Who makes up this stuff?

HabsFan Posted
(2009-04-30 07:11:21)

Hmmm, habs blow eh, they are over rated? whats your favourite team? Toronto, Boston? I bet they are extremly underrated according to you. Montreal is a way better team. How many times has montreal made the plaoffs in the last 20 years? how many times has montreal beaten boston? what? is it 12 consecutive regulation games in a row right now? what about toronto? look at torontos home opener this season, 6 - 1? now, tell we again how the habs are overrated? Want to see a team who is overratted detroit. All this fanfare, and they proboly won't even make it to the conference finals. Sharks vs. the Habs in the stanley cup finals. Just send the presidents trophy over to us, detroit won't be going anywhere. Hossa is one man to many, proboly get injured and where will that 14 million dollars go? Next time you think the Habs are over rated. Look at the team stats. look at the player stats, look at the amount of fans that show up to every game?

Trevor Dillon Posted
(2009-04-30 07:11:12)

The habs blow. They are way overrated everywhere. I'm sure it will take everyone a long time to accept it though.

Ken Geiszler Posted
(2009-04-30 07:11:08)

Did I miss a 2nd coming of April fools day? How can the Red Wings lose to Toronto (third to last in this ranking), squeak by the Sens (a team only ranked 16th) and still retain the top spot when there are a number of undefeated teams that handily have disposed of their higher ranked opposition. Any other high ranking team would have taken a hit for not easily disposing of the Senators.

Mavid Posted
(2009-04-30 07:11:08)

Saying that the Sens took 3 of 4 points against Pittsburg, just makes them sound better than they really are, the truth is they lost one game and one one, then they lost to Detroit and were badly outplayed and looked less than average. The reality is they played three games so far and have lost two..they are were they belong..it has nothing to do with last year.

Matt Posted
(2009-04-30 07:11:02)

The Ducks definitely need to be ranked last. I regret having tickets to so many of their games now. Hah.

Dintrox Posted
(2009-04-30 07:11:02)

Dallas and Anaheim are ranked 6 and 7. Neither has won a game?? Phoenix is unbeaten including an impressive win over the ducks... ??? I think the rankings reflect the pre-season hype rather than performance on the ice. Heck Detroit lost to the Marlies errr Leafs...

1 2 3 Next »