Power Rankings - Oct. 27
Brian Boucher makes a pad save on a point blank shot by Enver Lisin. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)
Ryan Dixon
2008-10-27 15:24:00
There’s probably never been a backup goalie more synonymous with shutouts than Brian Boucher.
The Sharks stopper has two starts this year and has yet to feel the red light burn behind him. Boucher, who signed with San Jose this summer, established the modern-day NHL record of five straight shutouts while he was a member of the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2003-04 season.
Coach Todd McLellan might consider promoting Boucher, since Evgeni Nabokov, the Vezina Trophy runner-up last season, has yet to round into form. Despite holding a 5-2 record, Nabokov sports a 3.11 goals-against average and .875 save percentage.
|
RK.
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TEAM
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LW
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OVERALL
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THE SCOOP
|
| 1 |  |
1
|
6-1-1
|
Franzen's injury means Ville Leino gets a chance to prove himself in the NHL |
| 2 |  |
3
|
8-2-1
|
Kept the early-season magic going with comeback win over Pens |
| 3 |  |
2
|
7-2-0
|
Devin Setoguchi starting to fulfill his promise |
| 4 |  |
6
|
6-0-2
|
Feels like this is really becoming Ryan Miller's team |
| 5 |  |
4
|
5-1-1
|
Need to cut down on the 31 shots they're giving up per game |
| 6 |  |
9
|
5-0-1
|
Mikko Koivu becoming a true front-line center |
| 7 |  |
10
|
5-2-2
|
Can Jordan Staal find his true niche on this team? |
| 8 |  |
8
|
5-2-1
|
Zach Parise looks ready to become a full-blown NHL star |
| 9 |  |
17
|
4-5-0
|
Big 3 of Selanne, Perry and Getzlaf finally get rolling |
| 10 |  |
5
|
4-3-1
|
After eight games, No. 8 is on pace for… 21 goals |
| 11 |  |
23
|
5-3-0
|
Five-game winning streak vaults Avs up the charts |
| 12 |  |
12
|
5-3-0
|
Two more goalies injured while this sentence was written |
| 13 |  |
13
|
4-2-1
|
Here's hoping Brandon Sutter won't miss too much time |
| 14 |  |
16
|
3-2-3
|
Eight games into the season, zero goals for sophomore Jonathan Toews |
| 15 |  |
20
|
2-3-3
|
Finally picked up some wins, but lost Briere for a month |
| 16 |  |
15
|
4-4-0
|
Blowing 3-0 lead versus Calgary not typical of a Barry Trotz-coached team |
| 17 |  |
18
|
3-4-2
|
38-year-old Mike Modano looks good out of the gate |
| 18 |  |
11
|
3-2-3
|
Lucic just becoming more and more of a force out there |
| 19 |  |
21
|
4-3-1
|
As Jarome goes, so go the Flames. A time will come when he'll need help, though. |
| 20 |  |
19
|
4-4-0
|
Maybe, just maybe, there is still some life in Kyle Wellwood |
| 21 |  |
7
|
4-3-0
|
Inconsistency goes with the territory when you're a young club |
| 22 |  |
14
|
2-5-1
|
GM Bryan Murray needs to make some hard evaluations very soon |
| 23 |  |
24
|
4-4-0
|
Keith Ballard making a nice first impression with eight points through eight games |
| 24 |  |
28
|
3-2-3
|
Young legs doing some churning for coach Ron Wilson |
| 25 |  |
27
|
3-4-0
|
Need to make hay during a seven-game homestand |
| 26 |  |
22
|
3-4-0
|
Only one goal through seven games for newcomer Olli Jokinen |
| 27 |  |
26
|
3-5-0
|
Voracek, Brassard offering some hope for the future |
| 28 |  |
25
|
2-4-2
|
Two goals and seven points a real nice start for blueliner Ron Hainsey |
| 29 |  |
30
|
1-3-3
|
Averaging an absolutely anemic 1.57 goals per game, far and away the fewest in the league |
| 30 |  |
29
|
2-5-0
|
Injuries starting to define DiPietro's career |
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.
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Mavid (Posted 2008-11-02 09:06:46)
The criteria for the power rankings is clearly stated, there is no need to over anyalize it..or try to interpet what it means, that being said, the rankings don't jive with the criteria. Montreal for example has only lost 2 games so far (one in a shootout) and yet ranks 5th? The criteria is how the team played and their overall look...well in that case they should be higher..as Rodd said maybe Ryan Dixon should actually watch the games and leave his bias out of the rankings...
Rodd Longstaff (Posted 2008-10-29 17:18:56)
Maybe it would serve Ryan Dixon well to actually watch the Calgary Flames, now and again. This isn't 2003-04 anymore, Ryan.
Happy Dude (Posted 2008-10-28 14:53:40)
Not a Senators fan by a long shot, but does anybody else think that this team needs a serious overhaul? This team has no goaltending, no second line and poor defence. Why are they doing nothing?
Flamer89 (Posted 2008-10-28 10:28:09)
I agree Shona - the media uses the same excuse when it comes to the Flames. I've come to accept that they are either not intelligent enough to come up with something different, or they are too lazy to research the facts. There is no disputing Iginla is their leader, and their go-to guy, so shouldn't that mean he should be leading his team in scoring? is THN implying that someone else on the team should be? As long as there is a supporting cast not too far behind, that is the way it should be, and his supporting case is perfectly fine. Bertuzzi, Cammaleri, Phaneuf, and Langkow are off to good starts this season, and Kiprusoff is now rounding into form for this year. And, while not meaning to knock Iggy, 2 of his 5 goals were empty-netters. Meaning, the team had the game won before he notched these 2 points.
Maxime (Posted 2008-10-28 09:54:29)
For a good explanation on how the Power Rankings work, go see the ones from last week, the comments at the bottom. They do make sense when you get the jist of it. Besides TO being ranked 24th is something when you consider they were predicted to finish 30th. It says it in the fine prints at the bottom : the team's play lately and the squad's overall outlook. Detroit is on top because they are favorite to repeat being Stanley Cup Champions. Of course this leaves place for the opinion of the writer, but if you don't like it, make you rown Power Rankings :P
Frederick A. Nagher (Posted 2008-10-28 09:07:14)
Tell the fella that wonders why the Wings are on top that it's because every night their opponent plays their best game against them and still the Wings win. It's that simple.
Shona (Posted 2008-10-28 08:47:57)
scoring: not scorring, sorry typo
Shona (Posted 2008-10-28 08:34:29)
"as Iginila goes so to the Flames" Uh last I looked: as Kipper goes, as Phaneuf goes, as the defence goes, as secondary scorring goes, as a good power play goes as a good penalty kill goes, look at the stats!!! ...Iggy is not the only one scoring goals. Thy are getting them from everywhere. Kipper is playing way better and the defence is starting to look like a defence. It is so easy to just put this all on Iggy. But if you actually REALLY look at the team, that statement is only partially true.
William Dunkley (Posted 2008-10-28 00:37:00)
The Toronto Maple Leafs completely outplay the Ducks, Bruins and Senators this past week and are still ranked in the bottom "16"! This is a "Power Rankings" rather than your "Season's Predictions" is it not? As such, is it not supposed to represent who is hot and who is not? I trust your myopic misprision is due to "oversight" and not from an inherent "anti-Leafs" bias.
Rangersfan101 (Posted 2008-10-27 21:35:13)
To mr t. the ducks have won I think 3 straight now, the nucks and oilers have lost like 3 straight, flames should be higher though and stars should be lower
mr t. (Posted 2008-10-27 21:25:03)
i still don't see how the wings are on top when the sharks are playing as they are, and i cannot comprehend why you have teams below .500 (read ducks, stars) above flames, nucks and oilers (and i am a hater of the flames, just for the record)
Leafs Fan Zako (Posted 2008-10-27 19:39:00)
EarlyExitOttawa, who in the leauge are better than the sens!!!!!!
Rangersfan101 (Posted 2008-10-27 17:00:07)
These are much better power rankings than the last time around.
EarlyExitOttawa (Posted 2008-10-27 16:08:20)
The Sens are the second worse team in the league, rated way too high.
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