Mar 18, 2015
Blues remain best in NHL Power Rankings
The St .Louis Blues remain the No.1 team in the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings, a position that they have held for six of the past seven rankings. Chasing the Blues, are the Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers.
The St .Louis Blues remain the No.1 team in the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings, a position that they have held for six of the past seven rankings.
Chasing the Blues, are the Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers.
Among teams movnig up this week, the Minnesota Wild climb into the Top 10 for the first time in more than three months, going from 11 to eight, while the Anaheim Ducks rise from nine to six.
Heading the other way, the slumping Detroit Red Wings fall from eight to 12, with a Pavel Datsyuk injury contributing to the decline.
Among Canadian teams, the Montreal Canadiens hold steady at 10, three spots ahead of the Ottawa Hamburglars, who are in turn three spots ahead of the Vancouver Canucks. The Winnipeg Jets, at 17, are one spot behind the Canucks and three ahead of the Calgary Flames.
Languishing near the bottom are the Toronto Maple Leafs, still at 28, and the Edmonton Oilers, at 29.
St. Louis Blues
45-20-5 This Week: 1 Last Week: 1
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.99
-
GAPG2.39
-
S.A. CORSI%52.7%
-
PP%22.4%
-
PK%82.7%
The Blues' only loss in the past six games came in a game in which they outshot the Wild 42-19, and the last three wins have been shutouts. That kind of defensive stinginess has to please head coach Ken Hitchcock.
Key Injuries: D Kevin Shattenkirk (abdominal).
Chicago Blackhawks
42-21-6 This Week: 2 Last Week: 3
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.80
-
GAPG2.25
-
S.A. CORSI54.6%
-
PP%18.4%
-
PK%86.1%
One regulation loss in the past nine games, getting healthier and G Corey Crawford is playing as well as he ever has. Sure, they'd like to have Patrick Kane, but everything else seems to be moving in the right direction for Chicago.
Key Injuries: RW Patrick Kane (clavicle).
Tampa Bay Lightning
43-21-7 This Week: 3 Last Week: 2
TEAM STATS
-
GPG3.21
-
GAPG2.52
-
S.A. CORSI%53.9%
-
PP%18.4%
-
PK%83.2%
As Lightning rookie winger Jonathan Drouin gets more playing time (14:05 ATOI in March) due to injuries, it's worth noting that he's in a rare group of forwards who have at least 25 assists and fewer than five goals.
Key Injuries: D Braydon Coburn (lower body), LW Ondrej Palat (foot).
New York Rangers
44-17-7 This Week: 4 Last Week: 6
TEAM STATS
-
GPG3.00
-
GAPG2.25
-
S.A. CORSI%51.3%
-
PP%17.5%
-
PK%83.6%
One regulation loss in the past 18 games is a remarkable run for a team that lost its reliable star goaltender to injury. Props to Cam Talbot (and Mackenzie Skapski for the Buffalo scrimmages) for taking care of business in King Henrik's absence.
Key Injuries: G Henrik Lundqvist (vascular), D Kevin Klein (arm), RW Martin St. Louis (knee).
Nashville Predators
43-21-8 This Week: 5 Last Week: 4
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.76
-
GAPG2.38
-
S.A. CORSI%52.4%
-
PP%16.2%
-
PK%80.5%
One regulation win in the past 11 games is hardly befitting a team at (or near, depending on the day) the top of the standings. Since the All-Star break, their offence has been led by a defenceman who has 23 points in 27 games, while C Mike Fisher is second on the team with 17 points. That defenceman? Roman Josi.
Key Injuries: RW James Neal (upper body).
Anaheim Ducks
44-20-7 This Week: 6 Last Week: 9
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.82
-
GAPG2.68
-
S.A. CORSI%50.7%
-
PP%17.0%
-
PK%81.4%
Getting healthier helps them move up, but the Ducks' big guns are having trouble offensively. Right wingers Corey Perry and Jakob Silfverberg are the team's top scorers since the All-Star break, with 16 points in 24 games.
Key Injuries: None.
New York Islanders
43-25-4 This Week: 7 Last Week: 5
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.99
-
GAPG2.78
-
S.A. CORSI%53.7%
-
PP%18.2%
-
PK%77.2%
In four straight losses, the Islanders have managed a total of four goals, on 120 shots. Is it just a case of hitting hot goaltenders (Cam Talbot, Andrew Hammond, Carey Price and Corey Crawford), a random blip, or the start of bigger offensive concerns. That the Islanders are still generating a lot of shots is a positive.
Key Injuries: C Mikhail Grabovski (concussion), D Nick Leddy (lower body), G Jaroslav Halak (lower body).
Minnesota Wild
39-24-7 This Week: 8 Last Week: 11
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.80
-
GAPG2.47
-
S.A. CORSI%51.7%
-
PP%14.9%
-
PK%86.9%
Since hitting a 20-20-6 record on January 20, the Wild have won 19 of 24 games. That puts them into playoff position, but it's not easy to climb any higher than they currently sit in the Central Division.
Key Injuries: LW Jason Zucker (collarbone), LW Matt Cooke (lower body), D Marco Scandella (oblique).
Pittsburgh Penguins
39-21-10 This Week: 9 Last Week: 7
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.76
-
GAPG2.41
-
S.A. CORSI%53.8%
-
PP%19.6%
-
PK%85.2%
Outscored by a cumulative 9-1 score in three straight losses, and the power play is 1-for-22 (4.5%) in the past eight games, a stretch during which the Penguins have two regulation wins. With injuries depleting the forward ranks, in particular, there has been a lot of line juggling going on and the results have been hit-and-miss.
Key Injuries: RW Pascal Dupuis (blood clot), D Olli Maatta (upper body), C Evgeni Malkin (lower body), RW Patric Hornqvist (back).
Montreal Canadiens
44-20-7 This Week: 10 Last Week: 10
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.55
-
GAPG2.20
-
S.A. CORSI%48.2%
-
PP%16.0%
-
PK%84.4%
Three wins in nine games this month, and only one of those wins (a 2-0 win at Arizona) occurred in a game in which the Canadiens allowed fewer than 35 shots against. The weight of all these shots against starts to add up.
Key Injuries: None.
Los Angeles Kings
34-22-13 This Week: 11 Last Week: 12
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.67
-
GAPG2.39
-
S.A. CORSI%54.6%
-
PP%18.6%
-
PK%81.4%
Saturday's loss to Nashville was the Kings' only regulation loss in the past seven games, a stretch during which they have not allowed more than 25 shots in a game, yet the Kings are just barely clinging to a playoff spot. What a dreaded matchup they are going to be in the first round.
Key Injuries: D Slava Voynov (suspension), LW Tanner Pearson (fibula), D Alec Martinez (concussion).
Detroit Red Wings
38-19-11 This Week: 12 Last Week: 8
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.90
-
GAPG2.56
-
S.A. CORSI%53.7%
-
PP%25.3%
-
PK%81.0%
Rebounded from a drubbing in Philadelphia, their fourth loss in five games, to earn a big win at Pittsburgh, but then news comes that Pavel Datsyuk is out. He's still the engine that drives Detroit's offence, leading the team with 23 points in 21 games since the All-Star break.
Key Injuries: LW Johan Franzen (concussion), LW Darren Helm (oblique), C Pavel Datsyuk (lower body).
Ottawa Senators
34-24-11 This Week: 13 Last Week: 15
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.77
-
GAPG2.54
-
S.A. CORSI%50.6%
-
PP%16.3%
-
PK%83.2%
Andrew Hammond has been a revelation in goal as the Senators have suffered one regulation loss in the past 14 games, to climb within four points of a playoff spot. That's a long climb.
Key Injuries: LW Clarke MacArthur (concussion), G Craig Anderson (hand), G Robin Lehner (concussion).
Washington Capitals
38-23-10 This Week: 14 Last Week: 14
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.89
-
GAPG2.41
-
S.A. CORSI%52.1%
-
PP%25.7%
-
PK%81.1%
Alex Ovechkin is the straw that stirs the drink for the Capitals, but rookie Evgeny Kuznetsov is an interesting player down the stretch and into the playoffs. Since the All-Star break, only Ovechkin and centre, Nicklas Backstrom, are the only Capitals with more points than Kuznetsov's 14 (4 G, 10 A) in 25 games.
Key Injuries: D Brooks Orpik (lower body).
Boston Bruins
36-23-11 This Week: 15 Last Week: 13
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.60
-
GAPG2.41
-
S.A. CORSI%52.8%
-
PP%17.2%
-
PK%81.4%
Scored five goals in the past four games, going 0-for-14 on the power play, yet came out with a 2-1-1 record. With a four-point lead on Ottawa, Thursday's matchup looms large.
Key Injuries: C David Krejci (knee), RW Brett Connolly (finger).
Vancouver Canucks
40-25-4 This Week: 16 Last Week: 16
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.80
-
GAPG2.65
-
S. A. CORSI%49.2%
-
PP%17.2%
-
PK%86.1%
One regulation loss in the past six games and getting healthier, except for in goal, where it appears that Ryan Miller won't be ready for the start of the playoffs. The good news: Eddie Lack (.929 SV% in 16 games since the All-Star break), may be ready to handle that responsibility.
Key Injuries: G Ryan Miller (knee).
Winnipeg Jets
35-23-12 This Week: 17 Last Week: 17
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.71
-
GAPG2.61
-
S.A. CORSI%53.4%
-
PP%18.6%
-
PK%81.2%
Locked in a battle for a playoff spot, the Jets' best bet may be to take the crossover from Calgary, and they do meet in the final game of the regular season, but the Jets have a more challenging schedule on the way there.
Key Injuries: LW Mathieu Perreault (lower body), D Dustin Byfuglien (upper body), C Bryan Little (undisclosed).
Dallas Stars
32-28-10 This Week: 18 Last Week: 19
TEAM STATS
-
GPG3.07
-
GAPG3.23
-
S.A. CORSI%51.7%
-
PP%18.2%
-
PK%80.5%
Too late to make serious charge, but the Stars have won five of seven and are getting a look at a their defence prospects -- a group that was already skewing young before injuries to Trevor Daley and John Klingberg.
Key Injuries: RW Valeri Nichushkin (groin), D Trevor Daley (knee), D John Klingberg (upper body).
San Jose Sharks
34-28-8 This Week: 19 Last Week: 18
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.74
-
GAPG2.76
-
S.A. CORSI%50.9%
-
PP%21.7%
-
PK%78.8%
What an unnecessary blowup between GM Doug Wilson and centre Joe Thornton. Wilson says they moved on from it quickly, but why would the GM even venture to criticize a centre who is his leading scorer, starts more shifts in the defensive zone and still drives play? Thank your lucky stars you have one of those.
Key Injuries: Raffi Torres (knee).
Calgary Flames
38-27-5 This Week: 20 Last Week: 21
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.87
-
GAPG2.61
-
S.A. CORSI%44.1%
-
PP%18.8%
-
PK%80.1%
A four-game homestand against non-playoff teams figures to be crucial for the Flames, who have to keep an eye on the out-of-town scoreboard for Winnipeg and San Jose results.
Key Injuries: D Mark Giordano (biceps), RW Paul Byron (lower body).
Florida Panthers
31-25-14 This Week: 21 Last Week: 24
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.36
-
GAPG2.64
-
S.A. CORSI%50.3%
-
PP%15.5%
-
PK%80.5%
It's looking like the Panthers aren't going to close the gap to reach the playoffs, but they have to be reasonably satisfied with the emergency goaltending they have received from Dan Ellis, who has a .922 save percentage in six games.
Key Injuries: G Roberto Luongo (upper body), G Al Montoya (lower body).
Philadelphia Flyers
29-28-15 This Week: 22 Last Week: 20
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.56
-
GAPG2.74
-
S.A. CORSI%49.5%
-
PP%22.5%
-
PK%77.0%
While many Flyers stumble towards the finish, RW Wayne Simmonds, with 11 goals and 20 points in 24 games since the All-Star break, is on his way to the most prolific goal-scoring season of his career, currently sitting two off of last year's career-high 29.
Key Injuries: D Michael Del Zotto (upper body), LW R.J. Umberger (hip).
Carolina Hurricanes
26-34-9 This Week: 23 Last Week: 22
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.29
-
GAPG2.65
-
S.A. CORSI%51.1%
-
PP%19.4%
-
PK%85.0%
He has modest scoring numbers (4 G, 13 A in 33 GP), but C Jordan Staal has been phenomenal for the Hurricanes, with spectacular possession numbers effectively undermined by a 4.5% on-ice shooting percentage. Carolina is also 16-12-5 since he returned to the lineup.
Key Injuries: None.
New Jersey Devils
30-29-11 This Week: 24 Last Week: 23
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.23
-
GAPG2.46
-
S.A. CORSI%46.7%
-
PP%19.4%
-
PK%81.0%
He's likely to get overlooked, because the Devils haven't been anywhere near a playoff spot this season, but G Cory Schneider is turning in a season that ranks with the league's best this year.
Key Injuries: LW Ryane Clowe (concussion), D Bryce Salvador (lower body).
Colorado Avalanche
32-26-11 This Week: 25 Last Week: 25
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.54
-
GAPG2.74
-
S.A. CORSI%43.6%
-
PP%13.8%
-
PK%84.3%
One loss in the past six games is a nice stretch, but is there a point? Avs are still six points out of a playoff spot, so they're going to need to keep winning to make a dent.
Key Injuries: LW Jamie McGinn (back), D Erik Johnson (lower body), C/RW Nathan MacKinnon (foot).
Columbus Blue Jackets
30-35-4 This Week: 26 Last Week: 26
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.52
-
GAPG3.13
-
S.A. CORSI%46.5%
-
PP%21.6%
-
PK%78.7%
While there may have been questions about rookie winger Marko Dano's AHL production (10 G, 8 A in 37 GP), he's been an effective addition to the Blue Jackets' late-season lineup, putting up nine points (4 G, 5 A) and generating 41 shots on goal in the past 15 games,
Key Injuries: C Boone Jenner (back), RW Jeremy Morin (heart), RW David Clarkson (oblique), LW Matt Calvert (concussion).
Arizona Coyotes
21-41-8 This Week: 27 Last Week: 27
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.00
-
GAPG3.23
-
S.A. CORSI%47.6%
-
PP%20.6%
-
PK%78.3%
The only Coyotes forward scoring better than half-a-point per game since the All-Star break is waiver pickup Mark Arcobello, who has eight points (3 G, 5 A) in 15 games.
Key Injuries: LW Mikkel Boedker (spleen), C Martin Hanzal (upper body).
Toronto Maple Leafs
27-38-6 This Week: 28 Last Week: 28
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.59
-
GAPG3.14
-
S.A. CORSI%45.3%
-
PP%17.2%
-
PK%80.9%
One regulation win in the past 10 games and it came against a team that couldn't get a healthy goaltender in to the game. Knock out of a couple of centres from the everyday lineup and this is a team that could have totally challenged Buffalo for the bottom, if only they had started on this decline sooner.
Key Injuries: D Roman Polak (sports hernia), C Peter Holland (lower body), C Nazem Kadri (suspension).
Edmonton Oilers
19-39-12 This Week: 29 Last Week: 29
TEAM STATS
-
GPG2.27
-
GAPG3.33
-
S.A. CORSI%47.2%
-
PP%18.4%
-
PK%77.5%
The win over Toronto was comfortable, but let's not get too excited; it only ended a seven-game winless slide for the Oilers who, along with Arizona, are within three points of "catching" the Sabres.
Key Injuries: LW Taylor Hall (foot), D Nikita Nikitin (shoulder).
Buffalo Sabres
20-43-7 This Week: 30 Last Week: 30
TEAM STATS
-
GPG1.80
-
GAPG3.29
-
S.A. CORSI%35.7%
-
PP%11.6%
-
PK%74.2%
It's pretty great that the Sabres have a roster that is tank-tastic, yet they are still in a fight for 30th spot because, somehow, they find their way into unlikely hot goaltenders. Anders Lindback is the latest, following up Michal Neuvirth, to threaten Buffalo's push for the basement.
Key Injuries: C Zemgus Girgensons (foot), D Josh Gorges (lower body).
Notes: While all injuries are taken into account, those listed as key injuries include top nine forwards, top four defencemen and starting goaltenders.
GPG - Goals Per Game, GAPG - Goals Against Per Game
S.A. CORSI% - Score-Adjusted Corsi Percentage. The percentage of shot attempts, during 5-on-5 play, relative to the opposition, adjusted for game-score.
PP% - Power Play%
PK% - Penalty Kill%
Much of the data included comes from great modern stats sites www.war-on-ice.com, www.puckalytics.com, and www.naturalstattrick.com
Scott Cullen can be reached at scott.cullen@bellmedia.ca