Old faithful
Nicklas Lidstrom is 40 years old, but still plays the big minutes of a player in his prime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
Adam Proteau
2010-10-13 15:50:00
It’s the first week of THN.com’s Power Rankings – and with most teams only playing a handful of games so far, there isn’t much that separates the league’s middle 20 franchises from one another.
But it is clear that a few teams stand out at the top and bottom of the league’s standings, including the veteran Red Wings; the surprising Maple Leafs and Oilers, and the more-than-underwhelming Ducks, Senators and Devils.
So, without further ado, let's get to the first rankings of 2010-11, where an old reliable franchise tops the charts.
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RK.
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TEAM
|
OVERALL
|
THE SCOOP
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|
1 |
|
2-0-1 |
Ageless wonder Nick Lidstrom leads all Wings skaters in average time on ice (24:57) |
|
2 |
|
2-0-1 |
Weaknesses at power play (7.7 percent efficiency) and on faceoffs (43.9 percent) need to improve |
|
3 |
|
2-0-0 |
Haven’t faced a serious challenge yet; win-hungry Penguins will give them that Wednesday night |
|
4 |
|
2-0-0 |
Two road wins to start season is great news, but they’ll need to beat good teams before they’re taken seriously |
|
5 |
|
2-0-0 |
Opening-night win over Flames was impressive, but had to lean on Khabibulin to beat Panthers |
|
6 |
|
2-0-0 |
Upcoming three-game road trip – including games against two Central Division rivals – will test House of Payne |
|
7 |
|
2-1-0 |
All those who thought Caps would have 100 percent penalty killing and 7.7 percent power play success, please report to U.S. military’s psychic training division |
|
8 |
|
2-1-0 |
Between Quick (.964 save percentage) and Bernier (.935), it’s an embarrassment of riches in net for L.A. |
|
9 |
|
2-0-0 |
They’re unbeaten, but both wins came against the not-so-wild Wild; imminent five-game road trip won’t be easy |
|
10 |
|
2-1-0 |
Victories over Hawks, Wings show last season wasn’t a fluke |
|
11 |
|
1-0-1 |
Two very winnable games (vs. Atlanta and Carolina) coming up for so-so Sharks |
|
12 |
|
1-0-1 |
Offense needs to kick into gear if Nucks are to thrive during the upcoming five-games-in-eight-days stretch |
|
13 |
|
1-1-1 |
Pat Kane and Niklas Hjalmarsson both a minus-4 for inconsistent Hawks |
|
14 |
|
1-0-1 |
Plucky, undermanned Isles face Caps, Pens and Avs this week. Back to life, back to reality… |
|
15 |
|
1-0-0 |
Played only once and beat hapless Ducks; this week, it’s Hawks, Blues and Caps |
|
16 |
|
1-0-0 |
It’s just one game, but Bolts’ power play already looks deadly |
|
17 |
|
1-1-0 |
Nathan Horton trade looking like a home run for Peter Chiarelli |
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18 |
|
1-1-0 |
Captain Shane Doan pointless and a team-worst minus-2 in two games |
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19 |
|
1-1-0 |
Is Blueshirts’ third-period collapse against Isles a bad omen, or a blip on the radar? |
|
20 |
|
1-1-0 |
Star forward Rick Nash playing more minutes than any Jackets skater – not a good comment on D-Corps |
|
21 |
|
1-1-0 |
Formerly mighty power play has yet to convert on a single extra-man opportunity |
|
22 |
|
1-1-0 |
Win over Kings keeps wolves at bay, but with Brendan Morrison leading all Flames point-getters with two assists, the wolves will be back |
|
23 |
|
1-2-0 |
Paul Martin a solid replacement for Gonchar; Zbynek Michalek (a team-worst minus-3) still adjusting |
|
24 |
|
1-2-0 |
Antropov, Modin and Peverley have combined for just one goal, two points and a minus-8 |
|
25 |
|
1-2-0 |
Myers and Vanek have only one assist and a minus-9 between them and Miller’s .880 save percentage isn’t helping |
|
26 |
|
0-1-1 |
No team has won more faceoffs than Minnesota, but that’s where the Wild’s winning ends |
|
27 |
|
0-2-0 |
Panthers threw all they had (including 42 shots) against Canucks, but still came up short. Get used to it |
|
28 |
|
0-2-1 |
Sens’ top two scorers are Jarkko Ruutu and Chris Neil. Spezza and Kovalev should feel shame |
|
29 |
|
0-2-1 |
A league-worst 14 goals allowed? Kovalchuk really is changing Devils’ defense-first culture |
|
30 |
|
0-3-0 |
Second-worst on faceoffs, worst in goals-for, worst in win percentage – yeah, the Ducks are the worst |
The Hockey News ranks the teams 1-30 each Wednesday 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.
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