Well, this is it, the
final Power Rankings before the end of the regular season. (Editor's
note: Don't sweat it, we'll have a wrap-up next Monday.) One last chance
to put things right. Speaking of putting things right, here come the Boston Bruins and the Anaheim Ducks, while it's hard not to like where the New York Rangers
are at heading down the stretch. Will they be ESPN.com's consensus
Stanley Cup pick? Find out next Monday. Until then, read on to find out
where the power lies heading into the final week of the regular season.
| 2014-2015 Power Rankings: Week 26 | ||||
| RANK | TEAM / RECORD | TRENDING | COMMENTS | |
| 1 | 1 Last Week: 2 | The Rangers have won three in a row, Henrik Lundqvist is getting back into a groove and Keith Yandle is slowly rounding into form. Lots to like about a team that it'll take an extra effort to beat come playoff time. | ||
| 2 | 1 Last Week: 3 | Are the Ducks flying a bit under the radar as we head into the final week, in spite of their sterling recent play? For our money, the Ducks, winners of four of five, are one of the top two or three teams right now. Can they carry that over once the regular season is finished on Saturday? Ah, well, that's the big-money question. | ||
| 3 | 1 Last Week: 4 | A big win over the Blackhawks on Sunday helped the Blues regain the top spot in the Central and perhaps avoid a first-round clash with the Blackhawks. Kevin Shattenkirk was back, and the deep, talented Blues are rolling toward the playoffs. | ||
| 4 | 4 Last Week: 8 | The Predators have returned to form after a long stretch of poor play and are battling the Blues for the top spot in the Central. They are getting healthy at just the right time, too, with James Neal and Matt Cullen back in the lineup. This is another team that it will take an extra effort to beat come playoff time. | ||
| 5 | 2 Last Week: 7 | It was an interesting final week for the Blackhawks, who still have an outside shot at the Central title. Corey Crawford might be playing his best hockey of the season, and that bodes well for another long run. | ||
| 6 |
--
Last Week: 6 | We've seen just the slightest wobble from the Habs, who whipped the Panthers 4-1 on Sunday. Will it be enough to cost Carey Price the Hart Trophy in the face of Alex Ovechkin's scoring heroics down the stretch? Doubt it. Habs fans are hoping leading scorer Max Pacioretty is not lost for any length of time. | ||
| 7 | 2 Last Week: 5 | What a dogfight between the Canadiens and Lightning for the top spot in the Atlantic. The Bolts, of course, have the Habs' number and would love home-ice advantage for the first couple of rounds, given their league-best home record. | ||
| 8 | 7 Last Week: 15 | The Bruins are getting it done after a brief flirtation with ninth in the East; they've won five straight. Tuukka Rask is in playoff form, and that's bad news for whomever the Bruins draw in the first round -- even if it's the Canadiens. | ||
| 9 | 2 Last Week: 11 | All of a sudden, offense is coming from all over the lineup as the Caps make a bid for home-ice advantage that comes with second place in the Metropolitan. A nice win over the Red Wings on Sunday puts pressure on the slumping Islanders. | ||
| 10 | 9 Last Week: 1 | As good as the Wild have been -- and, really, Pierre LeBrun, first last week? -- there's nothing guaranteed, and they close with a murderous schedule: Jets, Blackhawks, Predators and Blues. This is a team built for the playoffs. Assuming it gets in. | ||
| 11 | 2 Last Week: 9 | The Kings haven't clinched a playoff berth, but is anyone betting against them? An interesting final week includes visits to Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary before a home date with San Jose to close it out. You know the Sharks would love to put a fork in the Kings' chances if it comes to Game 82. | ||
| 12 | 5 Last Week: 17 | The Flames start the week in third in the Pacific, but it's a precarious perch, and with Karri Ramo coming up hurt early in Saturday's win over the Oilers, it could all fall to Jonas Hiller to guide them home. | ||
| 13 | 3 Last Week: 10 | Can the Jets manage to dislodge one team to get into the postseason, even without Captain Angry Dustin Byfuglien, who will be suspended until the Jets' finale against the Flames? They took a step toward answering that with a big win over the Canucks at home Saturday. | ||
| 14 | 1 Last Week: 13 | The final regular-season days at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum are at hand. The Isles would like to stay ahead of the Caps and Pens for home ice but have just three wins in their past 11 games and aren't inspiring much faith in a long playoff run. | ||
| 15 | 4 Last Week: 19 | Love the Senators' never-say-die attitude. Will they run out of real estate before they get back in the top eight, though? Luckily for them, the Penguins are crashing through the standings and the Red Wings' sideways play keeps hope alive for a few more days. Still, leaving two big points on the table on Sunday against the Leafs might come back to haunt them. | ||
| 16 | 2 Last Week: 14 | The Wings came up with a big win in a long shootout over the Wild on Saturday but were then nipped by the Caps on Sunday. These days it's either the goaltending or the offense coming up short. Finishing against the Hurricanes twice in the final three games should help. | ||
| 17 | 3 Last Week: 20 | What a finish for the Blue Jackets, who are running roughshod over the competition, with nine straight wins long after their playoff dreams were put on ice. Credit to coach Todd Richards and a lineup that is sending a strong signal: Look out for us next season. | ||
| 18 | 2 Last Week: 16 | The Canucks are picking a bad time to go a little sideways with the Wild, Jets and Flames all eyeing postseason berths. There's not room for everyone, although the Canucks look to be in good shape with three straight at home to close out the slate, including two soft touches in the Oilers and Coyotes. | ||
| 19 | 7 Last Week: 12 | What a mess, as the Pens dropped two more on the weekend and are scrambling to just make the playoffs, let alone make any kind of statement. | ||
| 20 | 1 Last Week: 21 | The Stars are another team that simply has not taken a knee. But the big question for GM Jim Nill is how to upgrade the goaltending, which simply hasn't been good enough | ||
| 21 | 3 Last Week: 18 | The Panthers made a valiant run at a postseason berth but have to be pleased with the maturation of their youngsters. Next year. | ||
| 22 | 1 Last Week: 23 | The end won't be as dramatic as last season's, when the Sharks choked up that 3-0 series lead in the first round, but we're guessing that missing the playoffs will force uglier offseason changes. | ||
| 23 | 1 Last Week: 22 | The Avs are playing out the string on a disappointing season but got a nice win against the Ducks on Friday. Still, too many injuries, too many curious personnel decisions. Lots of work ahead for Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy. | ||
| 24 |
--
Last Week: 24 | The Flyers have somehow managed to go 3-11 in the shootout. GM Ron Hextall has a long to-do list for the offseason. Too bad for the Flyers that they don't get to play the Penguins 82 times. | ||
| 25 | 1 Last Week: 26 | The Devils continue to squander the elite play of Cory Schneider. This team has miles to go. | ||
| 26 | 1 Last Week: 25 | The Hurricanes are playing like a Connor McDavid/Jack Eichel team down the stretch. | ||
| 27 |
--
Last Week: 27 | The Oilers have shown flashes in recent days, but when they are embarrassed 8-2 by the Kings, it reminds you of just how far the team is from being even modestly competitive. | ||
| 28 |
--
Last Week: 28 | There was a brief spasm of life from the embarrassing Leafs. "Brief" being the operative word. | ||
| 29 |
--
Last Week: 29 | And then there were two. The Coyotes begin the week four points ahead of the Sabres (or is that behind?) in the race for the bottom of the standings. | ||
| 30 |
--
Last Week: 30 | Tankapalooza enters its final week, and the Sabres would have to really screw things up -- i.e., win three in row -- to miss out on at least one of Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel. I wonder if there will be a parade to the Anchor Bar when the dust clears on Saturday? | ||
| ||||
No comments:
Post a Comment