Power Rankings

Power Rankings: Streaking Bruins back on top

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Another week and more changes at the top of the Power Rankings, as the Bruins jump three spots after going 2-0 last week. It wasn't that Boston was especially impressive, but instead, the other four top teams were unimpressive in going a combined 3-6-3.

For better quality performances, you have to look further down the standings. The urgency of fighting for one of the final playoff spots in the Western Conference has sparked the Blues and Predators into impressive runs, while in the East, the Hurricanes and Penguins are threatening to shake up home-ice advantages in the first round.

As usual, you can throw in your comments about the rankings below.

-- By Jim Wilkie; posted March 30

2008-2009 Power Rankings: Week 23
	RK (PV)	TEAM	REC.	COMMENT
	1 (4)	Bruins	48-17-10	Bruins forward Milan Lucic rediscovered his scoring touch with two goals against the Flyers on Sunday.
	2 (2)	Sharks	49-15-11	The Sharks have a franchise-record 109 points and the inside track on the Presidents' Trophy.
	3 (5)	Capitals	46-23-7	Capitals defenseman Brian Pothier's first goal since Dec. 27, 2007, against the Lightning on Friday was a special one in Washington's season that has been full of great moments -- and likely has more to come.
	4 (1)	Red Wings	48-19-9	Forget what we said last week about goalie Chris Osgood's possible turnaround. Only six games left for Ozzie or Ty Conklin to get his game straightened out.
	5 (5)	Devils	47-24-4	New Jersey, 0-3-1 in its past four games, could be in its worst slump of the season with a loss Monday at the New York Rangers.
	6 (6)	Canucks	41-25-9	Still think the Sedins are soft? Daniel Sedin took a high stick to the chops, lost some dental work and came out on the second shift to score on the power play against the Stars before going off for stitches Tuesday. "It was nothing. He's not a baby," Henrik Sedin told The Associated Press.
	7 (7)	Flyers	41-24-10	Red-hot Carolina is breathing down Philadelphia's neck in the standings, but the Flyers can't ask for a much better schedule this week: a home-and-home with Toronto and a road contest against Ottawa.
	8 (10)	Penguins	41-27-8	Sidney Crosby has a 15-game points streak, and the Penguins are 14-2-3 under coach Dan Bylsma.
	9 (11)	Hurricanes	42-28-7	Cam Ward has gone 16-6-2 while starting 24 consecutive games.
	10 (9)	Flames	43-26-6	Calgary had more goals disallowed (two) in Saturday's victory over the Wild than it had scored in the two previous games (zero).
	11 (12)	Blackhawks	40-23-11	Some bad blood developed in the third period Sunday, creating a nice first-round matchup if Chicago and Vancouver remain in fourth and fifth in the Western Conference.
	12 (8)	Blue Jackets	39-29-8	Seven wonderful words the Blue Jackets haven't said in eight seasons of existence: Playoff tickets go on sale April 11.
	13 (17)	Predators	38-30-8	Who can stop the Predators? Not the Sharks or Red Wings late last week, though the Kings came close.
	14 (15)	Canadiens	38-27-10	After last week's Habs-for-sale rumors, we can't wait for the next bombshell in Montreal's thrill-a-minute centennial season.
	15 (13)	Rangers	39-28-9	Cue the violins around the NHL: "I don't think Sean is being treated fairly," Rangers coach John Tortorella told the New York Post about some abuse Avery took Saturday against the Penguins.
	16 (19)	Blues	37-30-9	Rookie forward T.J. Oshie has been an incredible force lately, racking up three goals, three assists and a plus-4 in the past five games (all victories) while amassing 10 hits, including this memorable one on Rick Nash.
	17 (18)	Ducks	38-32-6	After Jonas Hiller registered Anaheim's past two victories, isn't it time for the Ducks to stick with him in net?
	18 (21)	Sabres	37-30-8	A great return for Ryan Miller last week, but the Sabres goalie will have to be near-perfect to lead Buffalo to a playoff spot.
	19 (16)	Panthers	37-28-11	Desperate Panthers coach Peter DeBoer will start Craig Anderson in net for the third consecutive game Tuesday against the Senators.
	20 (20)	Wild	36-32-8	Minnesota, which has the NHL's second-best penalty killing (87.4 percent), hasn't allowed a power-play goal in its past four games (17-for-17).
	21 (14)	Oilers	36-31-9	Edmonton has the next five games at home to decide its postseason fate.
	22 (22)	Senators	33-32-10	Ottawa goalie Brian Elliott picked up his first NHL shutout Sunday. Sure, it was against Tampa Bay, but it still counts.
	23 (24)	Maple Leafs	31-32-13	Alexei Ponikarovsky has six goals and 19 points in 12 games since the trade deadline and has failed to earn a point in just two of those contests.
	24 (25)	Thrashers	32-38-6	Peaking just in time for golf season, the Thrashers were 9-4 in March.
	25 (26)	Kings	31-33-11	Kings center Anze Kopitar picked up his 200th career NHL point Saturday against the Predators.
	26 (23)	Stars	33-33-9	During the Stars' six-game losing streak (0-5-1), goalie Marty Turco has a 3.20 goals-against average and .887 save percentage.
	27 (27)	Coyotes	31-37-7	Phoenix ranks last in the league with 186 goals.
	28 (30)	Islanders	25-41-9	The Islanders are 8-5-2 since removing the eventually traded Bill Guerin from their lineup.
	29 (28)	Lightning	24-35-17	Tampa Bay has just 12 home victories this season, worst in the NHL.
	30 (29)	Avalanche	31-43-2	Colorado has lost seven in a row, the franchise's longest losing streak since the Quebec Nordiques lost eight in a row in 1992.