Some New Faces Are Controlling the Ice This Year

NHL Power Rankings.One of the NHL’s primary supporting arguments in its battle for a salary cap in the heated CBA negotiations of 2004–05 was that it would set each franchise on relatively equal ground. If The Sun’s Power Rankings are any indication, they’ve accomplished that goal with flying colors.Only four of the teams in the bottom third of the league at the conclusion of last season remain there, while we have seven new teams in the top 10. With the season approximately one-tenth concluded, it’s fair to say that these results carry statistical significance. For example, it would take a collapse of monumental proportions for the high-flying Buffalo Sabres to fall out of playoff contention, while Wayne Gretzky’s floundering Phoenix Coyotes — who have earned only four of a possible 20 standings points — are in very serious trouble.So here’s how the teams line up this week. Statistically, teams are measured from left to right, W-L-OTL, standings points, goals scored, goals allowed, power play success, and penalty-killing success. Please note that our statistics for special teams effectiveness also take shorthanded goals into account. Each team’s final ranking from last season appears in parentheses.1 BUFFALO SABRES (5) – The Sabres aren’t off to a 9–0 start because they’re dominating their opponents. They’re winning because they hustle to every loose puck and deliver a ceaseless effort on a nightly basis.9–0–018 43 23 20.0% 92.9%2 DALLAS STARS (3) – The absence of Jason Arnott hasn’t had the anticipated negative impact, largely because Eric Lindros has been a very pleasant surprise on the wing alongside Mike Modano.8–1–016 28 15 12.9% 91.7%3 ANAHEIM DUCKS (12) – Undefeated entering last night’s game against Edmonton, the Ducks don’t boast a single point-per-game performer; instead, they’re getting balanced scoring and relying heavily on their dominant defense.6–0–214 23 15 24.4% 91.1%4 MINNESOTA WILD (22) – The Wild got off to a tremendous start; as expected, newcomer Pavol Demitra has enjoyed great chemistry with Marion Gaborik. Unfortunately, a mild groin strain has sidelined Gaborik, and the loss could derail the Jacques Lemaire’s club.7–1–014 24 14 17.8% 92.3%5 ATLANTA THRASHERS (18) – It’s no surprise that the Thrashers are scoring nearly four goals a game. But the difference between this year and last is the presence of a healthy Kari Lehtonen between the pipes and hard-hitting Vitali Vishnevski on the blue line.7–1–115 33 18 24.5% 92.9%6 SAN JOSE SHARKS (11) – This season, the Sharks boast two elite-level scoring lines (Thornton-Cheechoo-Bell and Marleau-Michalek-Bernier); meanwhile, goaltender Vesa Toskala hasn’t lost in 12 consecutive regular season games.7–2–014 32 20 25.0% 92.0%7 EDMONTON OILERS (14) – Petr Sykora has been rejuvenated in Edmonton. After a mediocre half-season with the Rangers, Sykora has emerged as a top-flight scorer (13 points in eight games entering last night’s action) playing alongside Ales Hemsky on the top line.6–2–012 25 16 15.1% 90.2%8 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (29) – Rookie forward Evgeni Malkin (four goals in his first four NHL games) has been absolutely awesome, inspiring comparisons to former Pens great Mario Lemieux. He’s currently playing on Sidney Crosby’s left wing.5–3–010 25 22 23.4% 90.9%9 MONTREAL CANADIENS (15) – Free agent acquisition Sergei Samsonov has been relegated to the fourth line, while freshman forward Guillaume Latendresse — already a huge fan favorite in Montreal — has been bumped up to the second line in his place.4–2–210 26 24 22.0% 98.1%10 NASHVILLE PREDATORS (6) – The workman-like Predators are picking up right where they left off last season. Their underrated defense is amongst the league’s best, and goaltender Tomas Vokoun has settled down nicely after a rocky start.4–3–1 9 26 26 13.3% 83.3%11 COLORADO AVALANCHE (13) – The Avs are getting a breakout season from Tyler Arnason, which is helping make up for the loss of Alex Tanguay. When Jordan Leopold (hernia surgery) returns, the defense should be much improved.4–3–210 30 28 19.3% 87.5%12 VANCOUVER CANUCKS (17) – Roberto Luongo has had the anticipated effect — the Canucks have given up only 2.3 goals a game entering last night. But with Todd Bertuzzi and Anson Carter playing elsewhere, their once-vaunted offense has gone south.5–4–111 24 23 10.2% 86.4%13 TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (19) – Andrew Raycroft has been at times brilliant and at times pedestrian. He’ll need to perform more consistently if he’s to survive the unbridled Toronto press, much less get the Leafs back into the playoffs.4–3–311 32 33 11.8% 86.0%14 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (28) – The ‘Hawks got off to a wonderful start, sparking optimism that a playoff berth was possible. But injuries to Martin Havlat, Nikolai Khabibulin, and Michael Handzus could precipitate an unfortunate crash landing.4–4–0 8 32 29 21.7% 82.0%15 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (16) – Netminder Marc Denis has been a huge improvement over the departed John Grahame. But the offense — ostensibly led by the well-paid Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, and Brad Richards — has been very disappointing.4–4–0 8 21 20 6.5% 78.9%16 OTTAWA SENATORS (2) – That the Senators have slipped a bit is no surprise following the off-season departures of Havlat and Zdeno Chara. But the Sens’ power play will undoubtedly improve in the coming weeks, and they will contend for a playoff spot. 4–4–0 8 24 19 2.4% 92.3%17 WASHINGTON CAPITALS (27) – Last season, the Caps were a oneman show. But now, Alexander “The Great” Ovechkin has some help; sophomore Alexander Semin had scored eight goals in the first seven games to pace the rising Caps.2–2–3 7 24 24 13.6% 80.5%18 NEW YORK ISLANDERS (24) – The Isles have settled down following an awful start, getting solid performances from their two superstars. Alexei Yashin has 11 points in eight games, and Rick DiPietro has stopped 98 of the last 107 shots he’s faced (.916 SV%).3–3–2 8 21 25 17.4% 76.4%19 NEW YORK RANGERS (10) – Karel Rachunek was expected to make a positive impact on the blue line, but his return to the NHL has thus far been an unmitigated disaster; through the first eight games, he scored only one assist while compiling a minus-seven rating.4–4–0 8 28 32 17.0% 81.8%20 ST. LOUIS BLUES (30) – They’ve clearly got a long way to go, but the Blues are definitely on the right track. Bill Guerin has been a nice addition, and West Seneca native Lee Stempniak (eight points in eight games) is having a breakout season.3–3–2 8 19 27 11.4% 83.9%21 NEW JERSEY DEVILS (8) – Crosby and Malkin made mincemeat of the Devils’ shoddy defense on Tuesday night. Only one blueliner (Alex Brooks, plus-one in three games) has a positive rating, with Brian Rafalski (the team’s ice time leader) worst at minus-five.4–4–1 9 24 31 7.8% 81.3%22 FLORIDA PANTHERS (21) – Back spasms have sidelined Todd Bertuzzi, who got off to a solid start (seven points in seven games) in his first season in South Florida, and the Panthers need more from power forward Nathan Horton (three goals in 10 games).4–5–1 9 29 36 22.4% 85.5%23 CAROLINA HURRICANES (4) – Redheaded cult hero Mike Commodore’s development has taken another positive step forward; he is now a scoring threat from the blue line (two goals, three assists in nine games).3–4–2 8 28 31 12.7% 86.8%24 DETROIT RED WINGS (1) – The Wings are off to a rough start, and things will go from bad to worse when 41-year-old Dominik Hasek (.886 SV%) suffers an inevitable injury, and Chris Osgood (.867 SV%) takes his place.3–4–1 7 20 20 8.7% 79.6%25 CALGARY FLAMES (7) – With only five points in his first eight games with the Flames, Alex Tanguay hasn’t yet provided the offensive spark GM Darryl Sutter was hoping for. Luckily for the Flames, Vezina Trophy winner Miikka Kiprusoff is still in top form.3–4–1 7 21 22 7.4% 84.6%26 LOS ANGELES KINGS (20) – In any other division, the Kings might have compiled a better record through the first 10 games. But with 24 games against the Stars, Sharks, and Ducks, a playoff spot for Rob Blake and company is a pipe dream at best.3–5–2 8 22 28 10.5% 82.1%27 BOSTON BRUINS (25) – Injuries to blueliners Brad Stuart (broken finger) and Andrew Alberts (shoulder) have increased the burden on newcomers Zdeno Chara and Paul Mara, but at a combined – 11, they haven’t been up to the task thus far.2–4–1 5 15 28 10.8% 73.0%28 COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (26) – Sergei Fedorov’s return from a shoulder injury will provide a much-needed spark, but goaltender Pascal Leclaire (3.42 GAA, .886 SV%) must improve in order for the Blue Jackets to earn the franchise’s first playoff appearance.2–4–1 5 17 25 15.1% 77.1%29 PHOENIX COYOTES (23) – The Coyotes’ atrocious defense has left Curtis Joseph (3.96 GAA .873%) out to dry nearly every night, while the team’s top offensive threats (Shane Doan, Ladislav Nagy, etc.) have been pedestrian at best.2–8–0 4 19 44 7.7% 77.8%30 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (9) – The Broad Street Bullies thought they were Cup contenders, but they were viewing themselves through a fun-house mirror. A front-office shakeup later, they’re now the frontrunners to land 2007 top prospect Angelo Esposito.1–6–1 3 15 32 3.6% 86.0%Mr. Greenstein is the editor in chief of InsideHockey.com.

Some New Faces Are Controlling the Ice This Year

Some New Faces Are Controlling the Ice This Year

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