Hockey World Blog NHL Power Rankings: Week 25

We have reached a point of excitement for fans in 16 cities and a point of agony (or excitement that the season is over) in the other 14. This is the final week of regular season games before the playoffs begin. This is also the final week of the regular-season power rankings before a playoff edition of the power rankings will hit the site next Monday.

Rank Team Last Week Team Notes
1 VAN 1 They have now clinched the President’s Trophy as having the best record in the regular season. This could also be a curse as three of the last 10 and seven of all 24 teams who have won the Presidents Trophy went on to win the Stanley Cup.
2 SJ NR  When you out score your opponents 10-2 this week, you are playing like a team ready for the playoffs. One of their opponents this week (LA, ANA, and PHO) will most likely be a first-round playoff opponent.
3 WAS 3 The Caps have all but clinched the division. Their main concern is can they make a run in the playoffs? The injuries suffered by defensemen could hurt them if they aren’t back by next week.
4 PIT 4  They are three points behind Philadelphia with three games left. Imagine how different things would be if they had Sidney or Evgeni in the lineup. If they are scratching and clawing their way to a playoff spot without them, the might have enough to give their first round opponent fits.
5 LA NR  Their only loss in the last two weeks has been to Vancouver, a team that has been beating nearly everyone. They still have a lot of work to do in the final week because Chicago, Phoenix, Nashville and Anaheim can catch up and surpass them should they lose their remaining four games.
6 TB NR The Bolts have an outside chance of winning the division, but they have a better chance of facing Pittsburgh in the 4-5 matchup. They have much more to play for in the last three games, as they trail the Penguins by one point and each team has three games left.
       
25 DAL NR  The Stars are 2-5-3 in their last 10 games. At the midway point of the season, Marc Crawford was my candidate for coach of the year. A few months later, not so much. A couple more wins in the last couple months fans would be talking about playoff hockey and not a second half collapse seen by the Detroit Tigers in the last few seasons.
26 CBJ 27  Friday night, the Blue Jackets suffered an NHL-high 13 overtime or shootout loss. Since the team started the season 4-1 in shootouts, the Blue Jackets have lost seven of their last eight. Two of their three wins in March were against teams ranked lower than them in this week’s rankings (Florida and Minnesota).
27 COL 28  Believe it or not, the Av’s have something to build on in goal. This week Peter Budaj joined Patrick Roy and Daniel Bouchard as the only goalies to have 100 victories with the Colorado/Quebec franchise. He becomes a UFA this summer, and he could bolt to a team where he can be a starter instead of remaining a backup behind Craig Anderson.
28 MIN NR When it came down to it, the Wild simply didn’t have anything in the tank to put together clutch wins and contend for a playoff spot. They have two playoff appearances in the last six seasons. Just like Columbus and Atlanta, they have to start winning soon to keep the fans interested in the team.
29 EDM 29 An upset victory over Vancouver Saturday night is what kept them from dropping to 30th. Too bad the Canucks had little to play for and this was considered a playoff-type victory for the Oilers. Mark my word, give them 2-3 years and they could be contender like Chicago 3-4 years ago.
30 FLA 26  The Panthers finished March with three victories. The Panthers are so bad they need a little bit of everything to become a contender. They have the veteran goaltender Edmonton doesn’t have, but at least the Oilers have young promising forwards to build around.

3 Comments

  1. Eddie, keep up with the times. “Peter Budaj becomes a UFA this summer, and he could bolt to a team where he can be a starter instead of remaining a backup behind Craig Anderson.” Unless he decides to sign with Ottawa that shouldn’t be a problem. Anderson has been there for like a month and has been preforming quite well out there.

    • Budaj has been there six years, mostly in a backup role. He could decide to stay there and remain a backup or could test free agency and catch on to a contending team. Take the Red Wings for example, should they lose in the first round and Chris Osgood doesn’t return, you dont think Budaj could or would want to compete with Jiimmy Howard for the starting spot?

  2. Colorado doesn’t have a starter. Why not stay there and compete for the starting job against whom ever they decide to bring in? Anderson signed a 4 year deal with Ottawa. If Osgood returns or not the starting goalie job for detroit is not up for grabs. Howard is the man unless he has a terrible playoff performance. There are going to be quite a few goalies available and Budaj would not be at the top of most teams lists.

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