Post Week 1 POWER RANKINGS
PostedCOLON Mon Oct 17, 2011 12:17 am
1. Toronto Maple Leafs – Cream of the Crop. Beat perennial contenders Bruins relatively easily.
2. Tampa Bay Lightning – 16-0 against anyone is impressive.
3. Los Angeles Kings – Took down a much improved flyers squad by a large margin.
4. New Jersey Devils - This team should keep improving as the season goes along. That’s a scary thought.
5. Washington Capitals – If the goaltending can keep up, watch out.
6. St Louis Blues – Resounding start against a divisional opponent. Key divisional matchup coming up in week 2.
7. Colorado Avalanche – Injuries to key defensemen put them on the wrong side of a nailbiter. Will bounce back.
8. Boston Bruins – Tough loss to the best team in the league. Still a top team in the east though.
9. Ottawa Senators –Impressive week 1 showing. Definitely a team on the rise.
10. Chicago Blackhawks – Grinded out a win against the Wings. Shouldn’t of been that close but a win is a win.
11. Columbus Blue Jackets – Pulled out the W in a back and forth matchup with the Avs. Week 2 against the Blues and Week 3 against the Hawks will not be any easier.
12. Buffalo Sabres – Beat a very strong Canadiens team. Don’t sleep on this team.
13. Montreal Canadiens – This team will bounce back. It will have to wait one more week though as the powerhouse Leafs are on deck.
14. San Jose Sharks – An expected win against a bottom feeder. Islanders should provide a good litmus test in Week 2.
15. Minnesota Wild – Picked up an important victory against a divisional rival. Match against Oilers was closer than what the final score showed.
16. Edmonton Oilers – Tough loss against the Wild. Was a close match the whole way through. Didn’t get the bounces.
17. New York Rangers – Beat an up and coming Islander team loaded with peripheral studs.
18. Anaheim Ducks – Middle of the pack seems about right with this team.
19. Philadelphia Flyers – Will need to prove that they are an improved team in week 2 after getting demolished by one of the best teams in the league.
20. New York Islanders – A little more offence and this could be a team to watch.
21. Pittsburgh Penguins – When will the penguins throw in the rebuild towel and compete again? Over/under: week 4
22. Nashville Predators – Lingering knee injury to franchise player Malkin is not encouraging news.
23. Vancouver Canucks – Rebuilding. Tank nation was hindered after a week 1 victory over the divisional rival Flames.
24. Phoenix Coyotes – Could use a minor shakeup if the Coyotes are serious about making the playoffs.
25. Detroit Red Wings – Impressive week 1 showing against a top team in the western conference. Just about everyone had this team in the basement in their preseason rankings.
26. Calgary Flames – Are the flames rebuilding or competing?
27. Carolina Hurricanes – Miller will keep this team competitive in the goalie categories but needs help everywhere else.
28. Florida Panthers – Nowhere to go but up after a disastrous week 1.
29. Winnipeg Jets – This team needs a shakeup.
30. Dallas Stars – Trouble in the lone state? GM Bill has gone MIA.
2. Tampa Bay Lightning – 16-0 against anyone is impressive.
3. Los Angeles Kings – Took down a much improved flyers squad by a large margin.
4. New Jersey Devils - This team should keep improving as the season goes along. That’s a scary thought.
5. Washington Capitals – If the goaltending can keep up, watch out.
6. St Louis Blues – Resounding start against a divisional opponent. Key divisional matchup coming up in week 2.
7. Colorado Avalanche – Injuries to key defensemen put them on the wrong side of a nailbiter. Will bounce back.
8. Boston Bruins – Tough loss to the best team in the league. Still a top team in the east though.
9. Ottawa Senators –Impressive week 1 showing. Definitely a team on the rise.
10. Chicago Blackhawks – Grinded out a win against the Wings. Shouldn’t of been that close but a win is a win.
11. Columbus Blue Jackets – Pulled out the W in a back and forth matchup with the Avs. Week 2 against the Blues and Week 3 against the Hawks will not be any easier.
12. Buffalo Sabres – Beat a very strong Canadiens team. Don’t sleep on this team.
13. Montreal Canadiens – This team will bounce back. It will have to wait one more week though as the powerhouse Leafs are on deck.
14. San Jose Sharks – An expected win against a bottom feeder. Islanders should provide a good litmus test in Week 2.
15. Minnesota Wild – Picked up an important victory against a divisional rival. Match against Oilers was closer than what the final score showed.
16. Edmonton Oilers – Tough loss against the Wild. Was a close match the whole way through. Didn’t get the bounces.
17. New York Rangers – Beat an up and coming Islander team loaded with peripheral studs.
18. Anaheim Ducks – Middle of the pack seems about right with this team.
19. Philadelphia Flyers – Will need to prove that they are an improved team in week 2 after getting demolished by one of the best teams in the league.
20. New York Islanders – A little more offence and this could be a team to watch.
21. Pittsburgh Penguins – When will the penguins throw in the rebuild towel and compete again? Over/under: week 4
22. Nashville Predators – Lingering knee injury to franchise player Malkin is not encouraging news.
23. Vancouver Canucks – Rebuilding. Tank nation was hindered after a week 1 victory over the divisional rival Flames.
24. Phoenix Coyotes – Could use a minor shakeup if the Coyotes are serious about making the playoffs.
25. Detroit Red Wings – Impressive week 1 showing against a top team in the western conference. Just about everyone had this team in the basement in their preseason rankings.
26. Calgary Flames – Are the flames rebuilding or competing?
27. Carolina Hurricanes – Miller will keep this team competitive in the goalie categories but needs help everywhere else.
28. Florida Panthers – Nowhere to go but up after a disastrous week 1.
29. Winnipeg Jets – This team needs a shakeup.
30. Dallas Stars – Trouble in the lone state? GM Bill has gone MIA.
