One month of the NHL Regular Season is in the books and we are getting a good idea of the teams that should contend the rest of the way. Two weeks ago the Sharks and the Habs were at the top of the Rankings but both teams have fallen on hard time lately paving the way for a few teams that we all envisioned being at the top of the hill this season. <\/p>\n
\nNFL Spreads & Matchup Insight<\/h3>\n
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- Today’s NHL Lines<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- Today’s NHL Matchups<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- NHL Standings<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- ***2014 NHL BONUSES***<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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The Ducks and the Pens have caught fire as well as the Lightning, the Blues and the Calgary Flames.<\/p>\n
So what does it all mean for the bi-weekly edition of the NHL Power Rankings? Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n
1. Anaheim Ducks<\/strong> 10-3-0 (Two Weeks Ago: 3) \u2013 A four game road trip yielded three wins \u2013 over the Hawks, the Stars and the Avalanche. They are tops in the NHL standings and have some guy named Corey Perry who has 11 goals already this season. The Ducks are a handful and are near the top of the NHL in goals for and goals against.<\/p>\n
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2. Pittsburgh Penguins<\/strong> 7-2-1 (Two Weeks Ago: 8) \u2013 The Penguins have won four straight games \u2013 heating up to say the least. The Pens have a league best +19 goal differential so far, have averaged 4.1 goals for per contest and have given up just 2.2 goals against per game this season.<\/p>\n
3. Minnesota Wild<\/strong> 7-3-0 (Two Weeks Ago: 20) – The Wild enter the week on the heels of a three game winning streak and have given up a league-low 18 goals so far \u2013 impressive. So much for the goaltending issues! Wins over the Stars, the Sharks and the Bruins last week have the Wild at #3.<\/p>\n
4. Nashville Predators<\/strong> 7-2-2 (Two Weeks Ago: 11) \u2013 The Preds are a team to contend with for sure \u2013 a new coach has this team looking vastly different. Pekka Rinne is back to form and rookie Filip Forsberg lead the league in rookie scoring \u2013 two goals and an assist last night against Vancouver.<\/p>\n
5. Tampa Bay Lightning<\/strong> 8-3-1 (Two Weeks Ago: 9) \u2013 The Lightning have won three straight games and lead the Eastern Conference. They have a league best 42 goals on the season and have been getting it done defensively as well. The Lightning don\u2019t seem to be missing Martin St. Louis at all.<\/p>\n
6. Montreal Canadiens<\/strong> 8-3-1 (Two Weeks Ago: 2) \u2013 The Habs have lost three of their last four games after starting the season on fire. They haven\u2019t looked good defensively especially \u2013 they have been outshot 104-64 in their last three contests and are coming off a 6-2 loss to the Flames – yuk.<\/p>\n
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7. St. Louis Blues<\/strong> 6-3-1 (Two Weeks Ago: 17) – The Blues ride a four game winning streak into New York tonight. They have yet to get some of their big guns going and will get Paul Stastny back soon. St. Louis is suddenly looking more like the powerhouse most envisioned before the season.<\/p>\n
8. Detroit Red Wings<\/strong> 6-2-3 (Two Weeks Ag: 13) \u2013 The return of Pavel Datsyuk to the lineup has made all the difference for this team \u2013 they have just one loss in their last eight games. Wins over Washington and Los Angeles last week overshadow an almost unbelievable loss to the Sabres.<\/p>\n
9. Vancouver Canucks<\/strong> 8-3-0 (Two Weeks Ago: 15) – The Canucks have won four of their last five games \u2013 Ryan Miller is 8-1 on the season and the power play is improved over last season. The top line of the Sedins and Radim Vrbata has been good and the Canucks are getting some unforeseen secondary scoring as well.<\/p>\n
10. Chicago Blackhawks<\/strong> 6-4-1 (Two Weeks Ago: 7) – are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games and are averaging just 2.25 goals per game. Still there is no denying the POWER of this team. Although the Hawks are struggling they still warrant a top 10 spot.<\/p>\n
11. Los Angeles Kings<\/strong> 6-4-2 (Two Weeks Ago: 6) \u2013 Ditto for the Kings who went 0-3-1 during their four game road swing last week. The team is struggling to score\u2026 again \u2013 just 2.25 goals per game but we all expect the Kings to rise up the Rankings soon.<\/p>\n
12. Calgary Flames<\/strong> 7-4-2 (Two Weeks Ago: 23) \u2013 A bunch of no-names have the Flames playing some good hockey \u2013 6-2-2 in their last 10 games and in sixth spot in the NHL overall standings. Despite a rash of injuries this team is getting it done in both ends of the rink.<\/p>\n
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13. San Jose Sharks 7-4-2 (Two Weeks Ago: 1)<\/strong>
\n 14. New Jersey Devils 6-3-2 (Two Weeks Ago: 18)<\/strong>
\n 15. Boston Bruins 7-6-9 (Two Weeks Ago: 14)<\/strong>
\n 16. Toronto Maple 6-4-1 (Two Weeks Ago: 19)<\/strong>
\n 17. Dallas Stars 4-3-4 (Two Weeks Ago: 12)<\/strong>
\n 18. New York Islanders 6-5-0 (Two Weeks Ago: 4)<\/strong>
\n 19. Ottawa Senators 5-3-2 (Two Weeks Ago: 5)<\/strong>
\n 20. New York Rangers 5-4-1 (Two Weeks Ago: 21)<\/strong>
\n 21. Florida Panthers 4-2-3 (Two Weeks Ago: 25)<\/strong>
\n 22. Washington Capitals 2-5-2 (Two Weeks Ago: 10)<\/strong>
\n 23. Winnipeg Jets 5-5-1 (Two Weeks Ago: 27)<\/strong>
\n 24. Colorado Avalanche 3-4-5 (Two Weeks Ago: 26)<\/strong>
\n 25. Philadelphia Flyers 4-5-2 (Two Weeks Ago: 22)<\/strong>
\n 26. Columbus Blue Jackets 4-7-0 (Two Weeks Ago: 16)<\/strong>
\n 27. Edmonton Oilers 4-6-1 (Two Weeks Ago: 30)<\/strong>
\n 28. Arizona Coyotes 4-6-1 (Two Weeks Ago: 24)<\/strong>
\n 29. Buffalo Sabres 3-9-1 (Two Weeks Ago: 29)<\/strong>
\n 30. Carolina Hurricanes 2-6-2 (Two Weeks Ago: 28)<\/strong><\/p>\n