NHL Power Rankings - Oct. 28, 2008

by Waldo on Oct 28, 2008 6:02 PM CDT Comment 4 comments

Waldo’s Power Rankings return with the Wild holding position at number two. I’ve added each teams record with their record since the last ranking in parentheses.

1. Detroit 7-1-1 (4-0-0) Took care of business by winning all four games. Averaging almost 40 shots a game.

2. Minnesota 6-0-1 (2-0-1) The only team yet to give up a PP goal and the only team yet to lose in regulation.

3. San Jose 7-2-0 (2-1-0) Prior to a shutout of Tampa Bay, they had given up at least four goals in four straight games.

4. Buffalo 6-1-2 (2-1-1) Played three overtime games (winning two) before getting blown out by Ottawa.

5. Montreal 5-1-1 (0-1-0) Lost their only game to a red hot Anaheim team by giving up six goals on only 25 shots.

6. NY Rangers 9-2-1 (3-0-0) Twelve games already, two more than any other team, but they keep winning.

7. New Jersey 5-2-1 (1-1-1) Martin Brodeur added another shutout to his total against Dallas (98), but two losses to the previously winless Flyers is just not good.

8. Colorado 5-3-0 (2-0-0) Lost three to start the season. Since then they’ve been on fire.

9. Pittsburgh 5-2-2 (1-0-1) Gave up the tying goal to the Rangers with nine seconds left and lost in a shootout.

10. St Louis 5-3-0 (1-2-0) The Blues have played their last five at home. The schedule opened the season with eight at home and only two on the road.

11. Edmonton 4-3-1 (0-3-0) Won four. Lost four. Now heading out on a seven game road trip.

12. Carolina 4-2-1 (1-1-0) Gave up four third period goals to Pittsburgh and then gave up 60 shots to the Islanders. Still managed to win one of them.

13. Boston 4-2-3 (2-1-1) Barely squeezed out a win against Atlanta and Edmonton, a shootout loss to Buffalo, and coughed up an early two goal lead to Toronto.

14. Toronto 3-2-3 (2-0-1) Back to back wins, including over the rival Senators has this team over .500 (sort of).

15. Florida 4-4-0 (2-1-0) Beat a very good San Jose team. Then recorded only 17 shots in a shutout loss to the Blues.

16. Vancouver 4-4-0 (1-1-0) Came back home to beat Edmonton after a six game road trip.

17. Calgary 5-3-1 (3-0-0) One all three games, including a comeback from down three to Nashville.

18. Washington 4-3-1 (1-2-0) A pair of 2-1 losses on the road, followed by an OT win in Dallas.

19. Anaheim 5-5-0 (4-0-0) After a rough start to the season, the Ducks are heating up with four road wins including handing the Canadiens their first loss.

20. Los Angeles 3-4-1 (1-1-1) Hadn’t allowed 30 shots in a game since their first game of the year, until they ran up against Detroit.

21. Chicago 3-3-3 (1-1-1) Shutout Edmonton before losing in a shootout to Detroit and a close one to the Wild.

22. Philadelphia 2-3-3 (2-0-1) The Flyers won their first two games, and the fans threw a smoke bomb on the ice. What will happen in that city if they win a World Series.

23. Nashville 4-4-0 (1-1-0) Gave up four third period goals in a loss to Calgary. Came back with a win against LA.

24. Phoenix 3-4-0 (1-1-0) The Coyotes are the only team that still hasn’t had a game go to OT.

25. Ottawa 3-5-1 (1-3-0) A rough week with three straight losses, but finished with a strong win over a very good Sabres team.

26. Dallas 3-4-2 (1-1-1) Blown out by the Devil’s and dropped in OT by the Capitals. Beating the Islanders is nothing special.

27. Atlanta 2-4-2 (0-2-1) Gave TB their only win of the year, dropped to Detroit, and gave up the winning goal to Boston with less than two minutes in regulation.

28. Columbus 3-6-0 (1-3-0) Lost three games to three good teams. If you want to be one of the good ones, you’ve got to beat the good ones.

29. Tampa Bay 1-3-3 (1-1-0) Finally won a game against Atlanta, but they still haven’t won in regulation. Only one game was decided by more than one goal.

30. NY Islanders 2-6-0 (0-3-0) Eight power plays and 60 shots on goal. Had to be a win, right? Not if you’re the Islanders.

1 recs | Comment 4 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I still think

you have the wild a little too high on the list. the points are valid, the PK is really amazing, and so has backstrom been. (been? been). so my top 5 would go Detroit, Buffalo, Rangers, Montreal, Us (woo hoo!) One thing I believe is that Offence’s get hot and cold, but D’s tend to remain steady in the long haul. San jose’s D has been any thing but good lately, and an inconsistant D does not bode well for them long haul.

Will the Real Thor Please Stand Up ... ?

by the Real Thor on Oct 29, 2008 12:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I tend to agree long term

But it seems wrong to move us down in the rankings when we’re the only team left without a loss in regulation. My intent is for these rankings to refelect short term trends as much as anything. Who’s playing particularly well or poorly, tempered with long term expectations.

In the long haul I don’t expect St. Louis to be a top ten team and I don’t see Dallas remaining a bottom five team, but as of right now that’s how they’ve played.

by Waldo on Oct 29, 2008 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s kinda the tough part about doing rankings this early in the season. It’s a debate, do you go by performance or potential? How soon do you move to performance from potential? I mean, the BCS doesn’t come out until week 8, but it seems silly to not rate NHL teams until December.

by nathaneide on Oct 29, 2008 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs