Exceeding expectations

The Toronto Maple Leafs have surprised everyone by earning nine out of a possible 10 points in their first five games. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Adam Proteau
2010-10-20 15:50:00

As is natural at the start of the NHL’s regular season, we’re seeing some significant fluctuation in THN.com’s early Power Rankings.

The upstart Maple Leafs and Stars have managed to maintain their torrid start to the year and remain near or at the top of our chart, while teams such as the Lightning, Hawks and Predators are climbing higher. Unfortunately for supporters of the Devils, Sabres and Senators, those franchises have yet to reverse their downward trajectories.

In any case, be sure to check back next Wednesday (and every Wednesday during the regular season) to keep track of where your team is ranked.

THE HOCKEY NEWS POWER RANKINGS
RK.	TEAM	LW	OVERALL	THE SCOOP
1		3	4-0-1	Coach Ron Wilson deserves credit for Leafs’ resiliency
2		16	4-1-0	Steven Stamkos is a beast; what’s up with Simon Gagne and Ryan Malone having minus-7 ratings?
3		13	4-2-1	Duncan Keith averaging more than 30 minutes of ice time a night
4		1	3-1-1	Wings third-best in league at shots allowed per game (25.6)
5		5	4-1-0	Only Anaheim averages more shots allowed than Stars’ 38.0
6		7	4-2-0	Michal Neuvirth making great case to platoon with Semyon Varlamov
7		15	3-0-2	Matthew Lombardi invisible so far, but steady Preds keep rolling
8		8	3-1-0	Imagine how good Kings would be if their power play was better than 6.2 percent efficiency
9		17	3-1-0	Stingy Bruins benefiting from rejuvenated Tim Thomas in net
10		14	3-1-2	Isles third-best in league at faceoff percentage (55.6)
11		21	3-1-1	Formerly mighty Habs power play now NHL’s worst (5.9 percent)
12		10	4-2-0	Paul Stastny averaging just one second less per game (22:00) than Avs’ most-utilized defenseman
13		23	4-3-0	Kris Letang, Alex Goligoski making Pens fans forget about Sergei Gonchar
14		6	2-1-2	No offense to Matt D’Agostini, but he should not be leading the Blues in scoring
15		24	3-2-0	Ron Hainsey, the highest-paid Thrasher, has no points and is averaging 13:49 of ice time per game
16		9	3-2-0	Special teams killing Canes after quick start
17		5	2-2-0	Oilers the league’s second-worst faceoff team (40.2 percent efficiency)
18		2	2-2-1	Losses to Lightning, Pens underscore Flyers’ lack of discipline
19		27	2-2-0	Bryan McCabe playing his best hockey in years
20		22	3-2-0	Flames fourth overall in shots per game, 29th overall in goals per game
21		12	2-3-1	Nucks need goal-scoring Henrik Sedin, not just playmaking Henrik Sedin
22		26	2-2-1	Signing of Matt Cullen (three goals, eight points) turning out to be a coup for Wild
23		20	2-2-0	Jackets need Rick Nash to step up in a big way
24		30	2-3-1	Ryan Getzlaf has two goals on 12 shots; Teemu Selanne has two goals on 28 shots
25		18	1-2-1	Yotes facing tough four-games-in-six-nights stretch this week
26		11	1-2-1	Joe Thornton is minus-6 so far; last year he was plus-17
27		19	1-2-1	Injuries to Marian Gaborik, Chris Drury reveal Blueshirts’ dearth of depth
28		25	1-4-1	Patrick Lalime’s .810 save percentage not a good harbinger for role as Ryan Miller’s backup
29		29	1-4-1	Jason Arnott, Patrik Elias and Jamie Langenbrunner a combined minus-18
30		28	1-4-1	Who goes to the unemployment line first: Cory Clouston or Bryan Murray?