The last of the Stanley Cup rings get passed out tonight as Wild winger Petr Sykora and Wild General Manager Cliff Fletcher return to Pittsburgh. The Wild are also searching for their first win on the road.
Who’s hot – Koivu had two assists against the Rangers and has five helpers in his last four games. Alex Goligoski’s goal against the Blue Jackets that forced overtime was his third in as many games, and the defenseman has four goals, eight points and a plus-8 rating during a seven-game points streak. He’s a team-leading plus-13 for the season.
Is anyone a litte glad he won’t be doing this against the Wild tonight?
Gaborik’s Gone And So Are The Goals from Michael Russo of the Star Tribune,
There’s no hiding the first month of the Chuck Fletcher/Todd Richards regime was as successful as a grouse staring down the barrel of a shotgun, but, boy oh boy, the hockey gods sure had a good laugh at the Wild’s expense.
As the Wild keeps losing (it is 3-9), Gaborik keeps scoring (10 goals), although in a fitting twist of irony, Gaborik’s St. Paul homecoming is threatened tonight because of that oh-so familiar “lower body” injury. He hasn’t skated since Monday.
But let’s be honest: Gaborik’s fast start under the Broadway spotlight was as predictable as a rush-hour traffic jam through the Lincoln Tunnel.
Two exciting teams take the ice tonight in this Original Six match up. This will be the only time this season these teams meet.
Who’s hot – Tomas Plekanec was responsible for Montreal’s lone tally against Pittsburgh on Wednesday, which was more of the same for the Czech center. The goal gave Plekanec a four-game point streak. Before the Hawks were blanked in Nashville Thursday, Chicago’s Troy Brouwer had scored in three of the previous four games.
This is the first meeting this year between the Islanders and Rangers. Talk about two teams going in opposite directions, the Rangers are sitting a point behind the Penguins for the division lead, and the Islanders are sitting in the cellar.
Who’s hot – First-year defenseman Michael Del Zotto, the Rangers’ top pick in the 2008 Entry Draft, leads all rookies in scoring with 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) and has given the power play a major boost. The Islanders have gotten some offense from Jeff Tambellini, who had both goals in Montreal and has scored each of the Isles’ last three.
There has to be a collectible market out there for bobbleheads of pro athletes, right? But $25 for a bobblehead that looks nothing like the player. I think Puck Daddy says it best …
Are you ready for this week’s edition of the My NHL Blog’s Power Rankings?
It’s time to give more credit to a couple of teams who started off hot and despite everyone saying they’d cool off…haven’t.
Let’s get started.
As always, you can weigh in here and rank all 30 teams.
– By Leafs Fan
2009-2010 Power Rankings: Week 5
1 Pittsburgh Penguins. Gonchar is gone for a month but I’m not ready to drop the Pens down a spot. Let’s see how they hold up in the coming weeks.
2 Calgary Flames. The Flames are riding a three game winning streak and are second in the West standings right now. The Flames will be Canada’s team this year.
3. Los Angeles Kings. A hot start followed by an implosion and now four straight wins. Hard to predict where this team will be but for now I think they have all the ingredients for a nice run.Can you say…Kopitar
4. San Jose Sharks. The regular season hasn’t been a problem for the Sharks. They will continue to be in the top portion of the rankings baring some major injuries.
5 New York Rangers. The perfect start has faded but they are still 7-3-1. Not too worried about the 3 game losing streak.
6 Colorado Avalanche. This team keeps winning. I don’t know what to think but for now I have to give them their kudos.
7 Washington Capitals. Red hot with 4 straight wins. OV is the man!
8 Chicago Blackhawks. The injury bug has hit and it’ll be interesting to see if other players can pick up the slack.
9 Dallas Stars. Well rounded team. Handled St. Louis easily in their last game.
10 Detroit Red Wings. It’s looking like the Detroit dynasty is crumbling. It’s still early and way to early to bail on the Wings.
11 Columbus Blue Jackets. Who wouldn’t want Nash on their team. He needs some other players to step it up.
12 Edmonton Oilers. Slipping in the rankings but I think most expect that.
13 Buffalo Sabres. At the top of the Northeast with only 8 games played. Nice win Saturday night boys!
14 New Jersey Devils. Riding a three game win streat. Probably should have this team ranked higher.
15 Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks are having their character tested early with the current injuries. It’s going to be a tough road but if they can stay .500 and ride it out it might help them out in the second half of the season.
16 Philadelphia Flyers. A slightly higher then .500 team doing exactly what they will do for the rest of the season.
17 Boston Bruins. A win over a surprising Ottawa team on Saturday may just be what the doctor ordered. Unless that doctor can make Savard magically heal overnight.
18 Ottawa Senators. The additions over the summer are paying off. Too bad Kovalev isn’t a team player and will find a way to ruin them. OK…I admit I’m not a huge fan of his.
19 Phoenix Coyotes. Could the Yotes continue the strong play they’ve demonstrated. I hope so…and then maybe the NHL can find a buyer for this team.
20 Montreal Canadiens. Les Canadiens keep on finding a way to win.
21 Atlanta Thrashers. See last weeks comment. Kovalchuk out…ouch!!!
22 Anaheim Ducks. What’s going on in Disneyland?
23 St. Louis Blues. The Blues have the blues. Need to pick it up boys!
24 Carolina Hurricanes. Six straight loses…this is not the team of last year.
25 Tampa Bay Lightning. Shootouts continue to be a problem for the Bolts, who are 0-3 this season after losing 10 of 13 last year.
26 Nashville Predators. Steve Sullivan has only one goal and David Legwand none for the league’s worst offense.
27 New York Islanders. A win…a win!!! Nice work Tavares.
28 Minnesota Wild. Still not looking good for the State of Hockey. I think Pass The Pylons should take over. See www.ptpf.org
27 Florida Panthers. Challenging the Leafs for bottom spot.
The last time the Caps and Flyers met, Mike Richards had a hat trick, Alex the Great had a pair and the Flyer’s Danny Briere finished it off in overtime.
Who’s Hot – The Flyers are spreading it out pretty good so far. Arron Asham, new to the top line with Richards and Gagne, had goals in three straight games before getting shut out Sunday. Rookie James van Riemsdyk has points in three of the last four games and Briere had two goals and an assist in their 5-1 win over Florida on Saturday night. … Caps defensemen Mike Green and Jeff Schultz are each on fire. Green has points in each of the last five games (2-4-6) while Schultz has four points (1-3-4) over the last two games. Mike Knuble has a goal and six assists in the last five games.
The Wild enter the United Center looking to build on an overtime win over Carolina on Saturday and hoping to snap an 0-7-0 skid on the road this season. This is a big opportunity for the Wild, Toews and Seabrook are questionable for the game, the Wild could capitalize on the fact that Chicago is banged up.
Who’s Hot – Chicago’s Dustin Byfuglien has points in four of his last six games, including three goals. Minnesota’s Andrew Brunette is running at nearly a point-per-game pace with six goals and three assists on the season.
The San Jose Sharks and Philadelphia Flyers meet for the first of two meetings this year. The Shark’s won both high-scoring affairs last season, but the addition of Chris Pronger to the potent Flyer’s lineup looks to change that.
Who’s Hot – Sharks center Joe Thornton leads the League with 13 assists and has a point in four straight games. Arron Asham suddenly has become a scoring star for the Flyers. The feisty forward, better known for penalty minutes than goals, has found the back of the net in a career-best three straight games.
Are you ready for this week’s edition of the My NHL Blog’s Power Rankings?