Wings back on top

The Detroit Red Wings are a perfect 4-0-0 to start the season. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)

Adam Proteau
2011-10-17 16:50:00

It's Week 2 of THN.com’s Power Rankings – and is wont to happen at the start of the season, we've got ourselves a new No. 1 team.

That would be the familiarly powerful Detroit Red Wings, who have yet to lose (4-0-0) in games against the Senators, Avalanche, Canucks and Wild. How are the Wings doing it? By getting balanced scoring – 10 different players have scored at least one goal – and by Jimmy Howard (1.63 GAA, .930 SP) providing more than adequate goaltending. Detroit has a light schedule this week, with five days off before taking on the slumping Blue Jackets Friday and then facing arguably their toughest opponent so far in a road game against the Capitals on Saturday.

Here is our ranking of the 30 NHL teams thus far. Be sure to check back every Monday for the newest list.

THE HOCKEY NEWS POWER RANKINGS
RK.	TEAM	LW	OVERALL	THE SCOOP
1		2	4-0-0	Another year, another spotless start for the NHL's model franchise
2		6	4-0-0	Caps face big tests this week: Flyers Thursday, Wings Saturday
3		1	3-0-1	Star of Giroux (three goals, five points) continuing to ascend
4		3	3-1-2	Crosby close to returning, but Malkin's absence concerning
5		4	3-1-0	Luke Adam (three goals, six points) making very early case for Calder consideration
6		5	2-2-1	Sedins with identical statistics (two goals, five points, four PIMs, one power play goal)? Shocking
7		12	3-1-0	Jonas Hiller (1.71 goals-against average, .931 save percentage) looks fully recovered
8		9	2-1-1	Jack Johnson (24:27) carrying the mail on Kings blueline
9		7	2-1-1	Patrick Kane has twice as many assists (4) as goals
10		18	3-1-0	Wins over Canes, Kings, Preds a huge confidence-boost; Zach Parise showing what Devils missed so badly in his absence last season
11		17	4-1-0	Surprising Stars lean on Lehtonen, physical play; they lead league in hits (155)
12		24	4-1-0	Hot Avs face equally hot Leafs Monday before home-and-home series against Hawks
13		13	3-0-0	Acquisition of David Steckel a big reason Leafs tied with San Jose for league's second-best faceoff win percentage (56.8)
14		22	3-1-0	Has anyone seen John Tavares and Superman in the same room together? Hmmnn...
15		14	2-3-0	Four-game home stretch begins Tuesday; four-day break begins after Saturday's game against San Jose
16		8	1-2-0	Sharks suffered power outage with just two goals total in losses to Anaheim and St. Louis last week
17		11	2-1-1	Western Canadian swing takes Preds to Edmonton, Vancouver and Calgary this week
18		10	1-2-2	Dwayne Roloson looking rough; injured Mattias Ohlund a big loss
19		25	2-2-1	Sluggish start doesn't hurt as badly after beating Sabres, Bruins last week
20		15	2-3-0	Return of Andy McDonald's concussion woes is news Blues don't need
21		16	1-2-1	Injury bug already dining out on Habs' roster
22		19	2-1-0	Panthers' six goals scored by six different players
23		21	2-1-2	Dany Heatley, Devin Setoguchi have combined for three goals and five points, but Matt Cullen and Guillaume Latendresse have combined for three goals and seven points
24		29	2-1-1	Home games vs. Hawks, Kings this week will give better indication of what Yotes have to offer
25		20	1-1-1	Ryan Smyth has just four shots (and one goal) in three games; Cam Barker (five) has more
26		23	0-1-2	Blueshirts have scored only five goals in three games
27		27	1-3-0	Flames supposed to be a solid defensive team, but 11-goals-for and 14-goals-against calls that into question
28		26	0-4-1	Steve Mason's netminding numbers - 3.40 GAA, .889 SP - simply unacceptable
29		28	0-3-0	When Jim Slater is your scoring leader, things aren't going as planned
30		30	1-4-0	Sens have two reasonable chances for wins this week with games against Jets, Jackets