Tyler J. Altemose

 

With the Blackhawks and Flyers both out of the top ten, this week's Power Rankings' top spots were up for grabs. Clearly the teams of the Western Conference responded, taking four out of the five top spots. How did your team fare in this week's rankings?

 

 

 

Nashville Predators

Current Rank: 1 | Previous Rank: 14 | +13

The last team remaining without a regulation loss. Numero uno in my book.

 

Detroit Red Wings

Current Rank: 12 | Previous Rank: 2 | +10

The Wings remain competitive in the best division in the sport.

 

 

Calgary Flames

Current Rank: 3 | Previous Rank: 16 | +13

The Flames are starting to catch fire.

 

 

Columbus Blue Jackets

Current Rank: 4 | Previous Rank: 17 | +13

How do you show the league that last season is irrelevant history? You beat the Stanley Cup finalists in back to back games.

 

Montreal Canadiens

Current Rank: 5 | Previous Rank: 18 | +13

Trés bien, les Habitants!

 

 

Tampa Bay Lightning

Current Rank: 6 | Previous Rank: 15 | +11

This team is for real.

 

 

St. Louis Blues

Current Rank: 7 | Previous Rank: 11 | +4

The Blues are making the Central division more competitive than ever.

 

 

Boston Bruins

Current Rank: 8 | Previous Rank: 3 | -5

Tim Thomas is 4-0-0 with a 0.75 GAA and a .978 SV% (both are tops in the NHL). If this doesn't scream, "I want my starting job back!" I don't know what does.

 

Washington Capitals

Current Rank: 9 | Previous Rank: 13 | +4

They're getting wins, but this team still doesn't look like it's found its groove yet. Which, come to think of it, is a pretty scary thought.

 

Los Angeles Kings

Current Rank: 10 | Previous Rank: 4 | -6

A game every other night while traveling from Phoenix to Colorado to Minnesota to Chicago is going to take its toll on any team. To go 2-2-0 in that stretch makes for a good week in my book.

 

Anaheim Ducks

Current Rank: 11 | Previous Rank: 27 | +16

The Ducks were flyin' pretty high on the road this week.

 

 

San Jose Sharks

Current Rank: 12 | Previous Rank: 25 | +13

Solid week for the Sharks. Their top line of Heatley/Thornton/Marleau is fantastic!

 

New York Rangers

Current Rank: 13 | Previous Rank: 28 | +15

The Rangers needed to turn things around. With three out of four wins this week they've done just that.

 

Vancouver Canucks

Current Rank: 14 | Previous Rank: 24 | +10

The 'Nucks win two in a row for the first time this season.

 

 

Pittsburgh Penguins

Current Rank: 15 | Previous Rank: 2 | -13

Marc-Andre Fleury is 1-4-0 on the season with a 3.41 GAA and a .861 SV%. His backup, Brent Johnson, is 4-0-1 with a 1.39 GAA and a .951 SV%. So...who's the starter and who's the backup again?

 

Chicago Blackhawks

Current Rank: 16 | Previous Rank: 1 | -15

They lose to St. Louis, they lost to Columbus, and then they lost Hossa. Not a good week for the 'Hawks.

 

Toronto Maple Leafs

Current Rank: 17 | Previous Rank: 7 | -10

The Leafs always fall in autumn.

 

 

Dallas Stars

Current Rank: 18 | Previous Rank: 6 | -12

The Stars weren't shining so brightly this week.

 

 

New York Islanders

Current Rank: 19 | Previous Rank: 5 | -14

Uh-oh! It looks like the Isles' grip on the Atlantic division may be slipping a bit.

 

Colorado Avalanche

Current Rank: 20 | Previous Rank: 10 | -10

Avalanche? At 0-2-1 on the week it seemed more like a light flurry.

 

 

Philadelphia Flyers

Current Rank: 21 | Previous Rank: 23 | +2

Yo-yo, elevator, roller coaster; pick your metaphor.

 

 

Ottawa Senators

Current Rank: 22 | Previous Rank: 29 | +7

This week the Senators beat the weak competitors and lost to the tough ones. Whatever. Wins are wins.

 

Minnesota Wild

Current Rank: 24 | Previous Rank: 9 | -15

The Wild came out of the basement last week, cracking the top ten. Apparently the sun burned their eyes. Still though, that PP is pretty wicked.

 

Carolina Hurricanes

Current Rank: 25 | Previous Rank: 21 | -4

This team continues to not make its mark whether it be 5-on-5 or on special teams.

 

Buffalo Sabres

Current Rank: 26 | Previous Rank: 26 | +/-0

Seriously, what's up with last year's Vezina winner/candidates and their teams performing horribly so far this season?

 

Florida Panthers

Current Rank: 27 | Previous Rank: 8 | -19

Last week we witnessed the Edmonton Oilers' fall from grace. This week it's Florida's turn (not like this is a surprise either).

 

Edmonton Oilers

Current Rank: 29 | Previous Rank: 22 | -7

This is two straight weeks in a row now of loss, after loss, after loss.

 

 

New Jersey Devils

Current Rank: 30 | Previous Rank: 30 | +/-0

The only reason the Devils are 30th and the Oilers are 29th is because the Oilers are expected to be down in the doldrums; the Devils not so much.