This was an interesting week in the NHL. The first round ended while the second round began. Overtime games are starting to become expected instead of anticipated. Only one day (Thursday) have we not seen a game go past 60 minutes. With eight teams remaining in the running for the Stanley Cup, here are your rakings for this week.
| Rank | Team (LW) | Team Notes |
| 1 | SJ (9) | I don’t know if it is their solid play or the lack of offense from the Red Wings. Secondary scoring (goals from Ferriero, White and Wallin) has been clutch for the Sharks. Antti Nemi has been solid in goal as well. |
| 2 | TB (7) | The road warriors might not want to go back home for games three and four afterall. They have a 5-1 record on the road in the playoffs compared to 1-2 at home. Vincent Lecavlier scored twice to beat the Capitals in overtime last night. |
| 3 | BOS (3) | The head-scratching fact is the Bruins are 0-26 on the power play in eight games. The Bruins were 3-0-1 against the Flyers during the regular season and have won all three games they’ve played in Philadelphia this season. They blasted the Bruins 7-2, but we should remember the Bruins are the third team ever to blow an 0-3 lead: against the Flyers last season. |
| 4 | NSH (4) | Because they won game 2, they have a lot of confidence heading home for two games. Pekka Rinne has their number as he’s allowed only two goals against the most prolific offense in the NHL. |
| 5 | VAN (12) | Roberto Luongo has been clutch since the OT loss in game 6 vs. Chicago. He helped win games 7 and 1 in the second round. But the Sedin twins need to start finding the net and scoring. |
| 6 | WAS (2) | It’s not Alex Ovechkin, and it’s not Michal Neuvirth why they are down 2-0. It’s the defense who has made bad line change decisions and bad bounces. They have a huge task if they want to return home for game 5. |
| 7 | DET (1) | After the nine-day layover between playing Phoenix and San Jose, the only one that showed up to play in the first two games was Jimmy Howard. He has allowed two goals in each game, yet they are down 0-2 heading home for game three. |
| 8 | PHI (6) | Just as they played solid in game 7 against Buffalo, they laid a giant egg in game 1 vs. Boston. They might be better if they had consistent goaltending behind them. Peter Laviolette has pulled his goalie four times in the playoffs, and went to someone different the next game. |
