Two weeks left in the NHL\u2019s Regular Season and things are really heating up as the Power Players flex their muscle, the bubble teams scramble for a playoff spot and the weaker teams in the NHL look toward next year. <\/p>\n
Injuries and trade deadline moves have ensured a minor shake-up in the Rankings this week but outside of that, there hasn\u2019t been a ton of change over the past two weeks \u2013 except for the mighty rise of the Washington Capitals!<\/p>\n
So, without further adieu, here is Dave B\u2019s bi-weekly edition of the NHL Power Rankings.<\/p>\n
1. Chicago Blackhawks<\/strong> (32-5-4) Two Weeks Ago: 3 2. Pittsburgh Penguins<\/strong> (32-10-0) Two Weeks Ago: 1 3. Montreal Canadiens<\/strong> (26-10-5) Two Weeks Ago: 2 4. Anaheim Ducks<\/strong> (27-10-5) Two Weeks Ago: 6 5. Boston Bruins<\/strong> (26-11-4) Two Weeks Ago: 5 6. Los Angeles Kings (24-14-4) Two Weeks Ago: 10 7. Vancouver Canucks<\/strong> (23-12-6) Two Weeks Ago: 7 8. Toronto Maple Leafs<\/strong> (23-13-5) Two Weeks Ago: 8 9. San Jose Sharks<\/strong> (21-13-7) Two Weeks Ago: 11 10. Washington Capitals<\/strong> (23-17-2) Two Weeks Ago: 21 11. Ottawa Senators<\/strong> (21-14-6) Two Weeks Ago: 9 12. New York Rangers<\/strong> (21-16-4) Two Weeks Ago: 20 13. Minnesota Wild<\/strong> (22-16-3) Two Weeks Ago: 4 14. St. Louis Blues<\/strong> (23-16-2) Two Weeks Ago: 13 15. Dallas Stars<\/strong> (21-17-3) Two Weeks Ago: 22 16. Detroit Red Wings (20-15-7) Two Weeks Ago: 12<\/strong> Dave B’s NHL Power Rankings \u2013 April 15 Two weeks left in the NHL\u2019s Regular Season and things are really heating up as the Power Players flex their muscle, the bubble teams scramble for a playoff spot and the weaker teams in the NHL look toward next year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":29415,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[53103,1954,24050,10556,3067,10923,1957,1958,10559,4879,10924,1962,1015],"class_list":["post-61658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nhl","tag-53103","tag-bet-on-hockey","tag-bookmaker-nhl-odds","tag-hockey-betting-online","tag-hockey-handicapping","tag-hockey-power-rankings","tag-nhl-betting","tag-nhl-gambling","tag-nhl-gambling-tips","tag-nhl-power-rankings","tag-nhl-ratings","tag-nhl-sportsbook","tag-power-ratings"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/capperspicks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/capperspicks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/capperspicks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/capperspicks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/capperspicks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61658"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/capperspicks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61658\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61922,"href":"https:\/\/capperspicks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61658\/revisions\/61922"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/capperspicks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29415"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/capperspicks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/capperspicks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/capperspicks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nThe Hawks have really suffered no hiccups all season long \u2013 they have been consistently good, they have locked up the Central and are only a few games away from wrapping up the West. How about the defense and goaltending \u2013 just 1.98 goals against per game all season long. They have no holes and are #1 again!<\/p>\n
\nInjuries to Sidney Crosby and James Neal have affected this team a bit but the new acquisitions \u2013 Jussi Jokinen, Jarome Iginla and Brenden Morrow have fit in very well. They are 5-4-1 in their last 10 overall but they still look like the class of the East.<\/p>\n
\nThe Habs just can\u2019t seem to beat the Maple Leafs and it may be a first round playoff series! Still Montreal is 6-4-0 in their last 10, they have the fourth best record in the NHL and they are somehow holding off the Bruins. Things are good in Montreal \u2013 in all aspects of the game.<\/p>\n
\nThe Ducks have lost two straight games and are in danger of falling out of the top 5. Still, with the league\u2019s third best record and a talented lineup they are #4 but a perilous one at that!<\/p>\n
\nThe Bruins are just 5-4-1 but lost to the Islanders and Hurricanes this past week. They have been playing without their top two scorers however \u2013 Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron \u2013 good thing for Jaromir Jagr!<\/p>\n
\nThe Kings are starting to put it all together \u2013 6-2-2 in their last 10 games. The defending champs still have the talent to contend and if not for a hot start by Anaheim, they might be Pacific Division champs this year.<\/p>\n
\nThe Canucks let one get away Saturday against the hapless Avs but they are finally starting to score \u2013 18 goals in their last five games. Jason Garrison is finally looking like a difference maker and the return of Ryan Kesler has really made a difference for this squad.<\/p>\n
\nThe Leafs made a big statement with a 5-1 win over the Habs on Saturday. They are a PLAYOFF TEAM \u2013 seriously and are getting contributions from everyone in the lineup. How about James Reimer?<\/p>\n
\nThe Sharks are ramping it up again \u2013 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. Brent Burns\u2019 return from injury has really made a difference to this club \u2013 size, speed and good defense have returned at precisely the right time for the Sharks!<\/p>\n
\nHave won seven straight games and are 8-1-1 in their last 10 overall. The Caps are the hottest team in the NHL and Alex Ovechkin has silenced his legion of critics \u2013 27 goals this year leads the NHL. The Caps now lead the Southeast but have a tough schedule down the stretch.<\/p>\n
\nLost four in a row but have snapped back with two straight wins. This team is certainly resilient! Milan Michalek and Craig Anderson are back from injury which gives this team a huge boost indeed! [ad-4437448]<\/p>\n
\nThe Rangers have looked like a different team since the trade deadline and now they have perhaps the easiest schedule in the NHL down the stretch. New York is suddenly a dangerous team after an average regular season.<\/p>\n
\nThe Wild are a struggling bunch \u2013 losers of six of their last seven games has them falling out of the Northwest Division race. If they don\u2019t pick it up soon they may just fall out of a playoff spot! The Achilles heel has resurfaced \u2013 the team can\u2019t seem to score. <\/p>\n
\nHave lost two straight games but are still 6-4-0 in their last 10 games. Brian Elliot\u2019s return from injury has been a triumphant one and has boosted the Blues. They get six of their last seven games on home ice with the lone road game in Colorado.<\/p>\n
\nThe Stars are on fire \u2013 five straight wins has them right back in the thick of the playoff race. Oh how they wish they hadn\u2019t traded Brenden Morrow, Derek Roy and Jaromir Jagr!<\/p>\n
\n 17. New York Islanders (21-16-5) Two Weeks Ago: 18<\/strong>
\n 18. Columbus Blue Jackets (19-16-7) Two Weeks Ago: 15<\/strong>
\n 19. Phoenix Coyotes (18-16-7) Two Weeks Ago: 24<\/strong>
\n 20. Edmonton Oilers (16-18-7) Two Weeks Ago: 17<\/strong>
\n 21. Tampa Bay Lightning (17-22-3) Two Weeks Ago: 26<\/strong>
\n 22. Winnipeg Jets (21-19-2) Two Weeks Ago: 16<\/strong>
\n 23. Buffalo Sabres (18-19-6) Two Weeks Ago: 28<\/strong>
\n 24. Philadelphia Flyers (17-21-3) Two Weeks Ago: 25<\/strong>
\n 25. New Jersey Devils (15-16-10) Two Weeks Ago: 14<\/strong>
\n 26. Nashville Predators (15-20-8) Two Weeks Ago: 23<\/strong>
\n 27. Carolina Hurricanes (17-22-2) Two Weeks Ago: 19<\/strong>
\n 28. Colorado Avalanche (14-22-6) Two Weeks Ago: 29<\/strong>
\n 29. Calgary Flames (16-21-4) Two Weeks Ago: 27<\/strong>
\n 30. Florida Panthers (13-22-6) Two Weeks Ago: 30<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"