Updated: April 4,2016, 1:34PM,EDT
By Scott Burnside (posted April 4,2016)
ESPN Illustration| 2015-2016 Power Rankings: Week 26 | ||||
| RANK | TEAM / RECORD | TRENDING | COMMENTS | |
| 1 | 3 Last Week: 4 | No Evgeni Malkin and now no Marc-Andre Fleury, and still the Penguins are the hottest team in the NHL, having whipped the Islanders and Flyers in back-to-back efforts on the weekend. The Pens have won 12 of 13 and Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang are both in the hunt for postseason awards. | ||
| 2 | 1 Last Week: 3 | Just when the Blues were getting their roster out of what has been a season-long M.A.S.H. unit, goalie Jake Allen left Sunday's win over the Avs. Still, this team has put aside adversity all season long to remain in a dogfight with the Stars for first in the Central. | ||
| 3 | 1 Last Week: 2 | Tyler Seguin is hoping to get back on the ice later this week after a partial tear of his Achilles tendon, and by then the Stars might have sown up the Central crown and home ice throughout the conference side of the playoffs. Their four-game win streak ended Sunday versus the Ducks, but they are still in a good place with less than a week to go. | ||
| 4 | 3 Last Week: 1 | So hard to judge where the Caps are because they've had so little to play for over the past month. Can Braden Holtby break the single-season record held by Martin Brodeur? You know the Caps would love for that to happen and to hit their stride once more when Game 1 opens at Verizon Center next week against the 8th seed in the conference. | ||
| 5 | 1 Last Week: 6 | Patrick Kane hit the 100-point plateau in Sunday's 6-4 win over the Bruins after a three-goal, one-assist performance that should remind us of why he's the odds-on favorite to win the Hart. The loss of Marian Hossa to what looked like a knee injury is a major downer for the Blackhawks, who will be without the suspended Duncan Keith until Game 2 of the first round. | ||
| 6 | 2 Last Week: 8 | The Panthers clinched a playoff berth while they were flying to Toronto Sunday (because of a Bruins loss), but they'll take it. The question is whether they hang on to first in the Atlantic. I think the answer is yes and with the division wide open, this might be a rat-filled spring in South Florida. | ||
| 7 | 2 Last Week: 9 | The Ducks are dealing with significant injury issues, including ones to Freddie Andersen and David Perron, as they continue to fight the Kings for top spot in the Pacific. A nice win over the Stars sees them a point up on the Kings with four to play. | ||
| 8 | 3 Last Week: 5 | The Kings have gone a bit sideways, but three of their last four games are against weak sisters in the West. Mark Thursday's clash with the Ducks at the Staples Center as a key moment in the final days of the regular schedule. | ||
| 9 | 1 Last Week: 10 | Steven Stamkos is gone for at least a month and maybe three with a blood clot in his shoulder that will require surgery. No Anton Stralman. Coach Jon Cooper is going to have his hands full keeping his troops' heads where they need to be in the coming days. They still have a shot at the Atlantic title, but first they need to nail down a postseason berth. | ||
| 10 | 4 Last Week: 14 | The Sharks theoretically could still grab home ice in the first round but that's not likely to happen. And given how well they play on road (27 wins is tops in the NHL), it's probably just as well they'll be traveling to Los Angeles or Anaheim to start. Brent Burns is in the thick of Norris Trophy discussion. | ||
| 11 | 5 Last Week: 16 | With the Bruins faltering, the Flyers are looking more and more like a team that is going to the playoff dance in spite of Sunday's disheartening 6-2 loss in Pittsburgh. The Flyers finish with a visit to Detroit Wednesday, then home dates against the Leafs and Penguins, meaning they control their own destiny. | ||
| 12 | 6 Last Week: 18 | Just when it looked like the Red Wings were cooked and their playoff streak was on life support, they wake up Monday in third place in the ever-shifting Atlantic. Is a rematch of last season's first-round, seven-game set with the Lightning in the offing? They host the Flyers Wednesday and then are in Boston Thursday, two big tests for the up-and-down Wings to face. | ||
| 13 | 2 Last Week: 11 | The Predators have taken a bit of a step back after a torrid stretch earlier in March that solidified their hold on the top wild-card spot in the West. I don't think it really matters, as they're going to be a handful for the Pacific winner. | ||
| 14 | 2 Last Week: 12 | The Wild are doing their best imitation of a team entering through a side door and into a playoff spot with three straight losses. They should send a thank-you card to the listless Avalanche when this is over. | ||
| 15 | 8 Last Week: 7 | The Rangers have allowed the Penguins to assume control of home ice in the first round as the second-place team in the Metropolitan. Maybe it doesn't matter, but the Rangers are not looking particularly fearsome at this point and could in fact drop into wild-card territory. | ||
| 16 | 3 Last Week: 13 | Speaking of not looking fearsome, the Islanders are lurching along and things would be more angst-ridden in Brooklyn if the Bruins weren't stinking so much. Maybe the Isles can blame the terrible ice at Barclays Center for their woes. | ||
| 17 | 6 Last Week: 23 | Good on coach Dan Bylsma for keeping his team pointed in the right direction as it has gone 6-2-2 in its past 10. Maybe this team isn't as far away as it looked for much of the season. | ||
| 18 | 3 Last Week: 15 | The Bruins aren't making it easy on themselves as witnessed by Sunday's 6-4 defeat in Chicago, although they still control their own playoff fate with three home games this week, including a huge tilt Thursday against the Red Wings. | ||
| 19 | 2 Last Week: 21 | The Coyotes have actually played pretty well in spite of being out of the playoff picture in the West. It's nice to see Mike Smith return from a long injury and play at a high level. By next fall perhaps plans for a new arena in Tempe will be in full bloom, as befitting a team ready to take another step forward. | ||
| 20 | 3 Last Week: 17 | The Avs are simply unable to get crucial wins when they need them down the stretch and they dropped their third straight on Sunday. Another step backward for a team that two years ago won the Central with 112 points. Go figure. | ||
| 21 | 4 Last Week: 25 | So much to like about this team moving forward. Can the Flames get their goaltending squared away? If so, I like this team to return to the postseason next spring. | ||
| 22 | 5 Last Week: 27 | Watching the Canadiens choke up a 3-0 lead en route to a 4-3 regulation defeat against the Panthers on Saturday pretty much summed up their lost season. | ||
| 23 | 4 Last Week: 19 | The Hurricanes have not qualified for the playoffs since 2009. That is embarrassing -- and more than a little sad. | ||
| 24 | 4 Last Week: 20 | The Devils just sort of ran out of steam, no? | ||
| 25 | 3 Last Week: 22 | How a team with this many good moving parts became this uninterested is a bit of a mystery. Changes are coming, that's for sure. | ||
| 26 | 3 Last Week: 29 | The Leafs are tied with the Oilers for last overall in points but are seemingly working exponentially harder every time they step on the ice. Maybe the optics don't mean anything, but if there are hockey gods, it should matter. | ||
| 27 | 1 Last Week: 28 | The Jets are all banged up and have quietly become one of the worst teams in the NHL. How the heck did that happen? | ||
| 28 | 4 Last Week: 24 | The Blue Jackets are careening toward the end of another forgettable season. What offseason changes are afoot for a team that has squandered so much of the goodwill built up during their run to the 2014 playoffs? | ||
| 29 | 1 Last Week: 30 | The Canucks somehow managed to win two games in a row to interrupt what was an express trip to the very bottom of the NHL standings and an excellent shot at the first-overall pick. I'm pretty sure that oversight will be corrected in the next day or so. | ||
| 30 | 4 Last Week: 26 | You can measure this team by all kinds of metrics but it is still a smoking crater of a team that is tied for dead last in the league. Paging Auston Matthews. | ||
Patrick Graham ·
I
wonder how often a team is ranked both #1 and #30 at some point in the
same season. What a remarkable turnaround for the Pens!
Alex Bieri ·
montreal is the opposite started #1 and went to 30 haha. One thing in common all about good goalie play!
Adam Bakiera ·
What
the Penguins have done this year is remarkable. Out of the playoffs by
12 points at one point in the season and now getting home ice in the
first round. Respect.
Phil Adams ·
Pens
are playing very tough. The coaching change seems to have been just the
thing. As a Caps fan, I'm not entirely sure I'd want to see them in the
first round, but the way things are going, they probably won't. One
more RS game in DC against Pittsburgh - should be interesting.
Ona D. Lamb ·
Caps better not act scared of any opponent and play to their capabilities with chips down for the first time in never.
 
John Hodges
Phil
Adams if this Caps team can't beat Pitt without Malkin and Fleury and
I'm not sure they can beat anybody any longer they don't deserve to be
in the playoffs. If it's gonna happen let's get it over with
Daniel Coleman
Never
should've been ranked 30th though, not even close to being that bad at
any point this season. Burnside was just full of shite.
Jennifer Russo Hanham
Adam
Bakiera true but when you have three of the top 10 offensive players in
the league, maybe the best two two for this 15 year block of hockey
they better. But yes they are dangerous.
ZTorin Greenland ·
Daniel
Coleman Oh no, the Pens were easily that bad at one point this season
bud lol. Definitely an impressive turn around. When Malkin comes back,
look out this team will be even scarier.
David Brear ·
yeah,
hopefully cindy crysby gets her face caved in while cherry-picking
(which is the only way she gets goals) so they can check out that #30
spot again.
Mark Fox
David
Brear Where do you get cherry-picking from? That shows your complete
and utter ignorance when it comes to how Sidney Crosby plays the game,
especially considering he will be a finalist for the Hart and is in
serious consideration to be a finalist for the Selke this season.
Patrick Graham ·
David
Brear you must have missed all those games Crosby was a stalwart
defensively. You've clearly demonstrated your ignorance to the sport.
Mike Kurek ·
David Brear How the hell are you @ Georgia Tech? Crazy, these schools will accept anybody nowadays.
Doug Pippen
The
Pens are doing well offensively, but they are also winning games due to
their solid defense (6th best in the NHL in GA, 7th best PK). Their
forwards, including the top two lines, are playing a solid 200-foot
game, with those forwards forechecking and backchecking, and the D-men
are using their speed to disrupt the offense of the opponent entering
the zone.
This relatively stout defense is helping to create turnovers, which in turn helps generate scoring chances for the Pens. So while losing Malkin hurts the offense, the solid defense it picking up the slack. If Malkin and Fleury come back soon, they should be primed for a long run (although Fleury's backup Matt Murray has a lot of upside potential...He's someone's #1 goalie of the future).
James Meyers
I agree with Fleury coming back, but not so sure about Geno. May be more of a distraction.
James Meyers
I say a couple of draft picks and a power forward this coming draft for Geno.
Scott Thomas ·
James
Meyers That's a hard thing to say but historically they have played
harder when down a star then seem to relax when they return. Look at
the series vs the isles 3 yrs ago as an example. Hopefully that won't
be an issue with Sullivan, he seems to bet he coach they have been
needing for so long.
Rich Luckcuck
Just
wondering how the Ducks can have one of the best records since
Christmas, be #1 on the penalty kill, #1 in power play, #2 in goals
allowed, win 11 straight in that time frame and go from last in the
division to first in two months and never be ranked #1 in the power
rankings? East coast bias always wins out apparently.
Jeremy Owens ·
The
Ducks are an enigma. They managed to follow an AWFUL start with a
18-1-1 stretch and then go 1-5. Hard to get a bead on them. I do think
they should be higher ranked though. Good news is they are easily the
best defensive team going into the playoffs and defense wins
championships.
Eric Johnson ·
Probably
because the Ducks were never in sustained striking distance to the best
record in the league, division, or conference until last month, and now
they are fighting for #1 in the Pacific, not #1 in the West. Their hot
streak also coincided with a period where the Capitals won something
like 9 out of 10, and given how terrible the Ducks were at the
beginning of the year, they were never going to leapfrog the Capitals in
February. There was always a team almost as hot as them who didn't
stink it up for two months, which perfectly explains why they never made
it to #1.
Christopher Ranney ·
It
isn't exactly an East Coast bias so much as it's a bias towards whoever
the author likes more. Florida hardly caught any recognition in the top
five when they were REALLY on fire earlier in the season either, and
they're East Coast.
Brandon Pineda ·
Eric
Johnson that's a good analysis. I watched all their games this year and
during their hottest stretch they deserved to be number one for a week
or two. Since the 18-1-1 run they have played well, but not necessarily
top of the heap well. Surprised they aren't higher now though. No 1 in
both pp and pk, 2 in corsi for and goals against, they seem like a
monster to beat in 7 games, plus if you take out the first 12 games of
the year they would be a top 5 goals per game team (which just shows you
how awful that start was). Rough match up for anyone who draws them.
Vincent Mcelroy ·
David Lee Make it an all bird finals!
Dean Marriott ·
More like the Ducks history of choking. It is April about the time the Quacks begin their annual choke job.
Luc Poseru Anderson ·
Jeremy Owens I think trading Maroon was a mistake.
David Lee
Doesnt
it seem like ages ago when the LA Kings beat Chicago and Dallas on back
to back nights and were ranked #1 here and everyone was crowning them
cup champs?
GO KINGS GO! Like 'GO' straight to 2nd place in the Division that they had a 16 point lead in and 'GO' to a first round exit vs the Sharks!!! 
Robert DeMaria ·
Sharks are like the Blues a 1st Rd exit almost every year
Dean Marriott ·
The Kings are still the team to beat.
Randal Panik ·
Dean Marriott The team that won the Stanley Cup last season, is the team to beat. Not the team that missed the playoffs
Paul Karahalios ·
should
be a great last week of the season. only washington can sit back.
everyone else has to battle for positions. detroit boston philly battle
for 2 of the last 3 spots. islanders rangers lightning panthers in the
east battle for 1-2-3 spots while out west many teams battle for home
ice in the 1 st round. In my opinion no clear cut favorite to win the
cup. Let the playoffs begin...
Doug Pippen
I'd put Islanders in the "battling for 2 of the last 3 spots" mix also, considering they are a wildcard team at the moment.
Pittsburgh should be on your list of battling for the top spots, considering Pittsburgh (at this time) has the 2nd-best record in the eastern conference (ahead of the Rangers, Panthers, and Bolts). 
Patrick Cvetic ·
Doug
Pippen certainly agree but they cant move higher really at least they
should have home ice for 1st round barring major blunder
Gary Barndollar ·
Until
such time as the Capitals are eliminated from the hunt they should be
placed at the top of the power rankings. The rankings should be based on
the season as a whole, not the last 4 weeks. I'm a devoted Penguins
fan, but I would have to think the Capitals less inspired play of late
comes from having nothing to play for until the playoffs.
Doug Pippen
It's based mainly on the past week or two + season as a whole. That's why they are updated weekly.
If it were just about the season as a whole and nothing else, then they could just parrot the points totals and be done with it.
Doug Pippen
James
Meyers -- Well, not every Pens fan (which I am one) needs to be a
blind homer. Having said that, I think the Pens deserve to be ranked
above the Caps given the recent play of both teams, although I'm not
sure if the Pens necessarily should be #1...
...but then there's the argument that if not the Pens or Caps at #1, then who? Nobody in the West has been barnstorming like the penguins have latley.
James Meyers
Doug
Pippen first off not a blind homer, anyone who has watched hockey the
last month and a half wouldn't make a statement like that.
James Meyers
Let alone a devoted Pens fan. Thats the point I was making, that he is really a Caps fan.
Sergio Bonilla
Doug
Pippen As much as it leaves a bad taste in my mouth, I would say the
Blues could have been ranked #1 this week, even with their
near-come-from-behind loss to the Bruins.
Amen Dhillon
They do publish a ranking based on the entire season. It's called the standings!
Noah Yates
The
power rankings are more of a "what have you done for me lately?" type
of rankings. That being said, if it was a close race for the
Presidents' Trophy then I think the Caps would remain at #1 for
clinching it this past week, but since it has been a foregone conclusion
that the Caps would win it then it doesn't hold much weight right now.
Patrick Graham ·
The rankings have always been more about who the hottest teams are than their body of work over a whole season.
Jonathan Cribbs ·
A
"power" ranking isn't a traditional ranking. It's like a momentum
ranking. How well a team is playing. A team's position rises and falls
each week based on how well they're playing. Their overall record plays
into their position, but it's one among several factors. Also, it's
clearly subjective, debatable. A lot of people who complain about it
every week don't seem to understand that. The Caps' position makes sense
to me based on their relatively uninspired play over the last week.
They're certainly not crushing teams like the Penguins.
Ted Miller
James
Meyers Any self-respecting Caps fan would immolate himself before
claiming to be a Pens fan. See you in Round 2 - bring your A-game
Phil Adams ·
The
Caps would love to give Holtby two more wins to beat Brodeur's record.
And another Richard trophy for Ovechkin would be nice. Other than that,
they're playing to stay healthy.
Fraser MacDonald ·
Get a clue, Gary. Power rankings and season standings are two different things.
Daniel Coleman
Burnside,
just put the Caps at #1...you're not pulling the wool over my eyes son.
I still recall when you had the Pens at #30 when they deserved to be
ranked no lower than middle of the pack. Take your ranking and eat it.
Josh Clinger ·
Dude
They're easily the hottest team in hockey right now and therefore
deserve the 1 spot plain and simple. And I'm a flyer fan. No bias here
John Chabala ·
Works at Continuum
you do realize these rankings are based on a week by week basis right?
David Lee
Preds
Fans, while I do feel we will win the upcoming 1st round series in 6, I
do respect the Preds and know they can / will give us trouble....you
have a very formidable team. Much respect and Good Luck....
John Hodges
Caps
fan here.....there done. Goaltender couldnt stop a beachball,. My
apologies to all the posters who said these guys are pretenders. You
were correct. Same old Craps. Drop them out of the top 10. Wouldnt
surprise me if they lose out
Eli Chesner ·
As
much as I wanna complain about the Rangers being so low and being
ranked lower then the Wings, Flyers and Wild among other teams, I
realize that these rankings mean NOTHING.
Doug Pippen
The wings and Flyers have been winning more lately than the Rangers.
The Wings and Flyers are rising in the Eastern conference standings (and their respctive division standings) as of late while the Rangers are falling in their divilsion and conference as of late...and "as of late" is an important factor in these rankings. If the power rankings were based solely on points and standings, then there would be no need for these rankings -- just use the standings. 
Jakob Lagerstedt ·
Scott
Burnside...never shy to proclaim his nauseating love for Crosby and the
Pens. Still, I think they're deserving of the top spot but their
injuries will catch up to them.
Doug Pippen
I
don't know. Coach Sullivan has turned them into a team who has become
very good on the forecheck and backcheck (including Crosby, who most
hockey analysts think deserves to be "at least in the conversation" for
the Selke due to his solid defensive play).
With the whole Penguins team being a lot more cognizant of the forecheck and backcheck, they seem to be playing team defense in such a way that they can go deep in the payoffs, even without Malkin (and maybe Fleury) for a little while.
Jakob Lagerstedt ·
Doug
Pippen No doubt. Typically a team can overcome key injuries for only so
long, especially with a rookie goalie. But we'll see. Would love to see
caps - pens play.
Tony Borrelli ·
Doug Pippen Did you see Hornqvist playing D on that 2 on 1 yesterday? I've seen it all with the Pens this year
Michael Podvin
Jakob
Lagerstedt I would love to see it too. The last Pens-Caps 2nd round
matchup was the stuff of legend. Easily the best playoff series I have
ever seen (deulling hat tricks between the best players in the league?
C'mon)
That said, Malkin, Maatta, and Fleury are supposed to be back for round 2. The scariest thing for me as a Pens fan is the first round where we're missing about $17M of cap from the lineup, but we've been dominant without them, so I think we can get to the 2nd and face you with our full roster. 
Devan Joseph Watts ·
Stars
win 3 of 4 and fall below the Blues. Interesting. Stars seem to be
playing some of their best defensive hockey of the season as of late.
However I feel like I won't see any crying Nashville fans this week. A
solid 0-3-1 week for them lol.
Greg Mursko ·
15th...that's
harsh. As a Ranger fan I don't want to play any team in the Metro
division in the playoffs. That's the problem every year. We all have
teams that can win the cup but we beat the crap out of each other before
we get there. Should be an excruciatingly fun playoffs. Go Rangers! If
we lose I will cheer for the Metro Division...except the Islanders.
David Tambeaux
So which team will break their respective fan base's hearts first? Pittsburgh, Washington or St. Louis?
Dan Schardan ·
Our
hearts are already broken from the past 4 1st round exits so we are
looking for them to be mended with a 1st round win!!!!!!!!!!LETS GO
BLUES!!!!!!!!!!!
Doug Pippen
Being a Pens fan, I hope it's the Caps.
However, also being a Pens fan, I'm not ready to bet my house on the Penguins chances in the playoffs, given the 1st round exit last year and the 2nd round exit the year before. Sure, the Penguins went to the conference final 3 seasons ago, but they were promptly swept out of those finals, too. Let's hope this season's more solid defensive Penguins team is built to go farther (at least make a run of it in the conference final, and maybe make it to the cup final). 
Jason Matusiak ·
Works at Kolpak & Lerner
Choice D. All of the Above.
Tom Maliszewski ·
Dan Schardan Didn't the Blues make it to the 2nd round vs the Kings 4 years ago?
Dan Schardan ·
Tom Maliszewski Ya I forgot about the sweep of the Sharks that year
Lana Paulish ·
very tough question all have history on their side.......probably Blues though.
Eric Johnson ·
It'll
be the Blues for sure. At least the other two teams have won more than 1
series the last decade. The Blues have been bounced in four consecutive
series where they had home ice advantage, and their reward for the
second best record in the West this year will be the Blackhawks with a
fresh Duncan Keith in Game 2. Don't see how the Blues possibly win that
series unless Kane gets himself hurt and Crawford doesn't fully recover.
Dan Schardan ·
Eric
Johnson It does not matter who the Blues play. They are good enough to
beat anyone. It's them beating themselves that has me worried the
most!!!!!!!!!!!!!LETS GO BLUES!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sean McCarty ·
Honestly?
With the homer glasses taken off? Pens. They're the softest team of
the three, and that's gonna hurt them in a 7 game series where the
whistles go into the pockets and the physicality ramps up.
Luc Poseru Anderson ·
If
you're asking which team is going to lose 1st, that would be St. Louis,
but the Pens' collapse won't take too long either. And the Caps will
lose before the ECF, but it won't break any hearts b/c Caps fans don't
have any heart to begin with.
Luc Poseru Anderson ·
Dan
Schardan It's so easy to forget about another Sharks choke in the
playoffs. The Sharks make the Blues look like postseason winners.
Scott Tucker ·
The
secret to the Stars that no one is talking about is the absolutely
incredible contribution the kids from Cedar Park have made late in the
season. Radek Faksa has been one the most impactful forwards on the ice
over the last few weeks of the season and, likewise, Stephen Johns has
been on their best defensemen. It's mad a huge difference. Lindy will
have decisions to make, too, once, both Janmark and Ritchie are ready to
come back. Personally, I'd give Ritchie the shifts and set Nichushkin
down.
Sergio Bonilla
I
thought that was such a terrible trade. Not the Sharp part of it, since
the Blackhawks needed to make cap, but throwing in Stephen Johns for
free. Their defense has been bad this year, that they could have used
what was one of their top defensive prospects. One of the few missteps
Bowman has made.
Tom Maliszewski ·
Sergio Bonilla Hawks 10th in goals allowed.
Danny Aguilar ·
Tom
Maliszewski, the Hawks would no doubt be a better team with Johns. I
know the Stars defense is MUCH better with him. Should have signed him
for more than 2 years.
Scott Tucker ·
Danny
Aguilar Your point is well made but Nill can rework the John's deal at
his discretion. If Faksa shows well during the playoffs, I bet he gets a
nice fat contract over the summer and he should . The next at Cedar
Park to work his way up is Jason Dickinson. We are season ticket holders
for the Texas Stars and I'm telling you, this is another kid that has
ALL the tools: he's big. He's fast. He's got a wicked shot. He'll take
the body. His game reminds me a lot of Benn's. They need to deal
Nichuskin over the summer and make some room. I'd rather have Curtis
McKenzie or Devon Shore shifting for me, night after night. Val has had
every opportunity. He just can't finish and can't bering the same kind
of physical game that a player like Faksa can.
Danny Aguilar ·
Scott
Tucker, let's hope Johns stays a long time. As far as Faksa, the guy is
a STUD and it would be a bargain for them to sign him now. Jason
Dickson? I don't know about him but thanks for the heads up. Something
to read about. And Val...he's just not happy in the NHL. If you
remember, a big reason we signed Sergei Gonchar was to help Val's
comfort level with the Stars. It sounds as though he may want to go back
to Russia. One more worth talking about is Richie. He and Faksa add
much needed physicality.
Princess Dora ·
Danny Aguilar Im not even sure if Johns would be good enough to make the Hawks lineup for this year....Cmon Man!
Danny Aguilar ·
Princess Dora, you're kidding, right?
JJ Vasilko ·
If/When
Malkin comes back, where does he fit? How could you break up
Bonino/Hags/Phil. I realize they will shuffle but that line has been
outstanding.
Rob Neal ·
Really.
The Pens are hot right now, but I think they need Malkin to have a
chance to win the cup. I hear alot of so called Pens fans it's time to
get rid of Malkin. I know Crosby is the media darling in Pitts, but
Malkin has had better playoff stats in his career than Crosby. It was
Malkin who won the Conn Smythe in 09. Last year I will admit he didn't
but nobody for Pit. did a whole lot offensively.
JJ Vasilko ·
Rob
Neal i missed the part where i said we didnt need / we should get rid
of malkin. Simply stating that 81-13-62 have been one of the best lines
in the league.
Scott Tucker ·
Also,
I feel bad for the Bolts and all their fans. I know that it's a part of
hockey but the Eastern Conference side of the playoffs would just be
better with Stamkos in there.
Princess Dora ·
I feel bad for Stars fans, delusion is a very tricky concept.
Scott Tucker ·
Princess
Dora Holy hell, your a Hawks fan and you're going address someone elses
"delusion"? How about the delusion of thinking the Hawks would win the
Central? How about the even bigger delusion of thinking thinking the
Hawks could repeat? Talking about the Stars, how about the delusion of
thinking you could beat them in a 5 game regular season series but you
wind up going 1 and 4? You know, you're right...delusion is a tricky
concept.
Mary Madro ·
Scott
Tucker ...Seriously? You are going to doubt the most succesful team in
the playoffs the last 7 years? What a team does to another team in the
regular season does not matter one darn bit come playoff time. The
Blackhawks have showed that numerous times. If you and the Stars want
the regular season crown then it is all yours. The Blackhawks know how
to win come April. The Blackhawks and you can add the Kings to this are
the only 2 teams in the NHL that truly know what playoff hockey is all
about. It doesn't that mean they will win this year but winning 4 out
of 5 from them does not matter come game one of the playoffs.
Luc Poseru Anderson ·
Scott Tucker 2 things:
1. You might want to win a meaningful playoff series before you talk trash about a team that has been the most dominant in the league the past 7 years. 2. The regular season means absolutely nothing in the playoffs. Ask the Sharks.
Randal Panik ·
Scott Tucker Blackhawk fans delusional? You are an idiot.
David Lee
Where are The Islander fans that were telling me that they're going to own the Rangers in the first round a few weeks back?
Doug Pippen
It
could still end up with the Isles taking third in the metro ( and the
Penguins 2nd) and playing the Penguins in the 1st round, with the
Rangers being the 1st wildcard, which would send the Rangers over to the
Atlantic Division Bracket.
The Rangers (or any Metro team) might fare better in the Atlantic bracket, with Stamkos out for the Bolts, the Bruins and Detroit maybe backing in (if they make it at all), and the Panthers being a bit hot and cold. The Metro Bracket with the Caps and the Pens might be harder to get through to the conference finals. 
Eugene Berkovich ·
Florida
Panthers are an interesting team out there. Loads of talent, lots of
experience, lots of youth. Yet, as a team, we have no clue what they
are capable of in the play-offs. I doubt anyone is left from the
panthers' last post-season entry four years ago.
Eugene Berkovich ·
David Lee Statistically speaking, Pacific is weaker. I get your point, though...
Eugene Berkovich ·
David Lee I guess Stamkos' injury takes Tampa Bay out of the ranks of the true contenders, I suppose...
Sonny Oropilla
Burnside can ranked the Kings as low as he wants but playoffs are next week and thats when the Kings crank it up a notch..
The refs from the Dallas vs Kings game last saturday are horrible and I hope they dont get to officiate during playoffs..
Sonny Oropilla
David
Lee you are being funny right? I tell you what if they end up playing
against each other we will let you win the first 3 and will come back
and win the next 4.. deal?
David Lee
Sonny
Oropilla first I want to be clear I am not a sharks fan at all I just
respect their team and it's so tired people just bring up teams that are
so different from years ago as if it has any impact on this year's
playoffs just shows how little you know about hockey or Sports in
general yeah the 27 Yankees were pretty good and blew away their
competition that really matters for this year's team right
Sonny Oropilla
David
Lee They barely missed the playoffs (two points) because they were
horrible in SOs and OTs.. Been a hockey fan since 1986 yeah I know
little about hockey and I listen to XM Satellite radio and watch NHL
channel or whatever hockey is on.. To refresh your memory, Sharks are
the Chokers of the NHL..
Sonny Oropilla
David Lee Sorry but I picked the Broncs to win the SB a couple months ago..
Dean Marriott ·
David Lee So much Kings hatred. Get over it.
Luc Poseru Anderson ·
David
Lee Kind of like how the Sharks blew the Kings away two years ago after
scoring 11 goals in the 1st 2 games? Seriously, San Jose fans, you
need to STFU until your team actually accomplishes anything of note.
Jeremy Owens ·
Here
is what I would truly like to know. How in hades can you draft 1st
overall 4 times in the last 6 years, get a 3rd overall as well, rig the
lottery to draft "generational" Hockey Jesus himself last draft....and
still be dead friggen last in the league?? That very well may be the
all-time greatest prolonged epic fail in the history of NHL general
manegment. Here's a tip for you guys out there in Edmonton: If you get
any of the lottory picks DO NOT PICK A FORWARD. Your goals against is a
dumpster fire at 3rd worst in the league. Trade the pick for a defensman
who can do something with the p...See More
Scott Boyle ·
Tell us how you really feel...
Jeremy Owens ·
Scott
Boyle Thats how I really feel. Seriously. My team, the Sabres, were far
and away the worst in hockey the last 2 years, Edmonton got the better
player in the draft, and started the offseason with far more talent on
the roster. Yet, somehow Buffalo, after missing its best 2 veteran
players for a month or more each, its starting goalie for most of the
year, and relying on untested rookies, guys not even drinking age, minor
leaguers, and an undrafted defesman we signed out of college, is 10
points higher in the standings. While the Oilers are once again primed
for there yearly #1 pick, Buffalo is playing well enough to concievably
reach the .500 mark. They have gone 6-2-2 in the last 10 despite Kane,
our starting goalie and our #4 defesman all being done for the year with
injury. Edmonton meanwhile has gone 1-5 in the last 6. It just doesnt
seem possible to be that bad with that many high picks. Rebuilding just
isnt that hard.
Lana Paulish ·
They should drop to the AHL next year they have had enough chances and can't seem to get it right!
James Meyers
Jeremy Owens by the time their #1 draft picks start playing they wont be able to afford them
Mike Geraghty ·
Works at NorthShore University HealthSystem
Jeremy
Owens - trade secret: coaching is the problem. Those top 5 picks know
they'll get playing time, because, hey, it's edmonton. What they need is
a coach to personally kick all their fannies, and teach them that just
because edmonton can't do better than them, it does not mean they have
an excuse to keep churning out this nightmare. While i understand that,
yes, defense and goaltending are also thin, and that is NOT the coach's
fault, tell me this: do you conceivably see a top six forward on
edmonton being able to supplant a top six forward from (any)
playoff-bound team? If your answer is yes, ignore the new york teams.
[Disclaimer: that isnt a real trade secret. Personal thoughts.]
Princess Dora ·
Jeremy
Owens thats your punishment for tanking last year. Good for you. Trade
your best Dman for an injured player so you finish last and get McDavid?
Oops. Good for you Sabres, good for you.
Eric Hampton ·
Penguins
look like the most dangerous team going into the playoffs the whole
teamnis gelling right now without Flurry, Malkin, Maata and Doumilin..
Nobody in the East wants a 7 game series with that Pens squad right now
Eric Hampton ·
Fleury*
Jeremy Owens ·
What
concerns me about them is that in between the world beating
performances over the last 7 games they got shut out by a rookie goalie
in NJ, got taken to OT by the tire-fire that is the NY Rangers lately,
and played an AWFUL 1st period and gave up 4 goals to a Buffalo team
that isn't very good offensively. Playing subpar hockey against teams
you should absolutely crush is a big red flag for an early round upset,
and that just happens to be the Pens speciality recently. Are they the
hottest team in the NHL right now? Absolutely. Are they capable of
beating the caps or florida and making the finals? Certainly. Are they
just as capable of being upset in the first 2 rounds by a team they
should manhandle? Unfortunatly yes.
Tim Streisel ·
"Penguins look like the most dangerous team going into the playoffs" says the person who only watches Penguins games...
Ruslan Rybin
Well
if they aren't the most dangerous team heading into the playoffs....do
tell us who you think is the most dangerous team. Don't worry I'll wait
Mike Kurek ·
Jeremy
Owens Well yea, dude, obviously. You're still pointing out 2 games out
of 13 that you didn't like. I'll take those odds, bro.
Patrick Cvetic ·
Tim
Streisel Well in the east Pens probably are....as far as the entire
NHL ...it is sort of a moot point as I assume you are a STL
fan....actually was there last week...well St.Charles O'Fallon.....also
near Union because i have family there
Eric Hampton ·
Tim
Streisel that and thier 7 year sellout streak too right.. just because
you don't watch the team does not mean thousands don't your probably a
capitals fan
Princess Dora ·
Tim Streisel A B'lose' fan who thinks he knows anything about winning in the playoffs....hilarious.
Dean Marriott ·
Ruslan Rybin LA, Chicago, Anaheim, San Jose, Nashville, Dallas are all much more dangerous than the tiny Penguins.
Sergio Bonilla
The comments are going to be great this week, and by that, I mean the whinging by certain fanbases.
Dan Rinkes ·
I was thinking the same thing... We must be here really early.
Doug Pippen
I
can understand it if Caps fans argue that they should be #1 because of
winning the president's trophy. I can also see Kings fans wondering why
they are #8. They would both have at least an argument.
However, neither of those teams have been exactly hot lately, and these rankings are (in part) about "who's been hot lately" as much as it is about a team's overall season performance. Besides those two, the rankings in general seem about right. The top four team in the rankings could be shuffled around in almost any order and it would still be OK. 
Mo Awale ·
Doug
Pippen Caps haven't played good hockey in 2 months so I can't say they
deserve to be #1 in a Power Ranking! Their last 4 games they should play
full out again the Isles, Pens, Blues and Ducks. Especially the
Penguins and Blues after the 6-2 defeat and 4-0 defeat
Doug Pippen
Mo
Awale -- The argument a Caps fan might have is that they had the
conference lead and even the Presidents Trophy "just about" locked up so
long ago (although I know they just technically locked it up last week)
that they really had nothing to play for.
I'm not saying that's necessarily a valid argument, but they might have a bit of a valid argument. The danger of that is that they get into bad habits at the wrong time, and become in danger of an early 1st pr 2nd round playoff exit. 
David Moore ·
Pretend argument with yourself about what Caps fans might say, but haven't. Funny
Mo Awale ·
Doug
Pippen I'm not worried about the playoffs as much knowing how well
Holtby plays in the playoffs! I think we need to shoot more, other then
Burakovsky and Ovi, a lot of the other players (Kuznetsov, Oshie,
Backstrom, etc..) are passing too much which I know they won't do in the
playoffs.
Doug Pippen
David
Moore -- I dunno. I've seen Caps fans mention that they think the
team is not playing with a lot of gusto lately because they have less to
play for than other teams.
It's not jus a Caps thing, but rather it's a common trait among many teams in many sports. The team with a big lead in the standings starts to become a bit complacent.
Mo Awale ·
Doug
Pippen They haven't been complacent they hit the inside of the post 9
times in the last 2 games and haven't been giving the opponents a lot of
chances. Attention to defense is more important than offense, because
with the talent they have up front they can no doubt fill the net!
David Tambeaux
Mo Awale Yeah they have gone 20-9-2 since the end of January. True sign that they have not played well during that time.
Mo Awale ·
David
Tambeaux a lot of those wins were comeback wins I've watched 70 of the
78 games they've play so far, only missed ones when I had midterms. They
are playing better of late and they will start scoring at 5v5, their
last 6 games they've been shooting at 2.3%, 4 goals on 172 shots. Less
than Orpik's career shooting percentage lol!
Mo Awale ·
David Tambeaux btw if you couldn't tell by me watching 70 of 78 games I'm a caps fan! or by my cover photo on FB!
David Tambeaux
Mo
Awale I see a lot of their games, as I live in the Washington area,
however I am not a Caps fan. I am sure most teams would trade for
20-9-2.
Patrick Cvetic ·
Doug
Pippen Im not putting too much stock in the ranking....it can change
quick. Caps might wake up...not watching their games so i have no idea
if the are holding back.... I doubt that would go well with with Barry
Trotz's philosophy
Jeremy Andreano ·
If Edmonton wins the lottery again I am going to lose my mind.
as a wings fan i hope they miss the playoffs they dont deserve to be in
I actually think they are going to make it.
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