NHL Power Poll: Sharks Make a Move
Craig Custance - SportingNews.com
Jan 05, 2010
This is where the compression starts to kick in. The Olympics are still more than a month away, but the NHL schedule will be packed with games before and after to make up the lost time during the break.
"Yeah, there's compression," said Toronto general manager Brian Burke, whose Maple Leafs still have to play 14 more games this month -- two more than they played in all of October. "I do worry."
But it's also the time for teams to make a move. The Sharks wrapped up last week with an eight-game winning streak and started the week seven points up in a tough Pacific Division. The Sabres and Blackhawks are heating up, too, while solidifying their spots in the standings. Now, the challenge is to keep up the pace in a crammed schedule.
1. Blackhawks (last week: 1) No team allows fewer goals than the Blackhawks. They also average 3.17 per game and both their PK and PP are in the top 10. So, yeah, this is the NHL's best team.
2. Sharks (5) As much love as Ryan Miller is getting for his outstanding season, Evgeni Nabokov starts the week with just as many wins (23).
3. Devils (3) Heck of a week for Jamie Langenbrunner. He was named the NHL's first star (after posting five goals and one assist last week), and he earned a spot on Team USA.
4. Sabres (6) Buffalo puts its undefeated record against the Western Conference on the line Saturday against a Colorado team (8-2-1) that's pretty darn good against the East.
5. Capitals (2) If we were picking the next captain of the Capitals, we'd start with Mike Knuble. Sorry, Alex, not yet.
6. Avalanche (8) Craig Anderson handled the Olympic snub with class, telling the Denver Post it was an honor just to be considered. Take note, Mikael Samuelsson.
7. Coyotes (7) Phoenix ends last week as one of only seven teams that have surrendered fewer than 100 goals this season.
8. Predators (10) Now that Jan. 1 has passed, GM David Poile can look at extending Pekka Rinne's contract. We asked him about it and he was tight-lipped, saying only: "I really like our goaltending right now."
9. Penguins (4) Evgeni Malkin has one assist during the Penguins' current five-game losing streak. He's also minus-8 in that stretch.
10. Canucks (11) A huge homestand is coming up for the Canucks, who must collect points before that outrageous 14-game road trip in February and March.
11. Kings (9) Dean Lombardi needs to be on the other line the moment Don Waddell waves the white flag on his contract extension negotiations with Ilya Kovalchuk.
12. Bruins (12) Miroslav Satan might be one-dimensional, but it's the one dimension the Bruins desperately need -- scoring.
13. Flames (13) During their current four-game winning streak, the Flames have given up four goals. Or one less than the total allowed in their last loss.
14. Red Wings (15) Jimmy Howard has twice as many wins as Chris Osgood, a lower goals-against average and a significantly higher save percentage. Is there any chance he gets the nod over Osgood come playoff time?
15. Senators (17) Alex Kovalev joins an impressive list of Senators who have scored four goals in one game. The others: Marian Hossa, Dany Heatley, Daniel Alfredsson and Martin Havlat.
16. Stars (16) Since beating the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena on Nov. 18, the Stars have only one win on the road.
17. Wild (14) Snapping out of their three-game skid won't be easy. Minnesota plays the Blackhawks in two of the next three games. After that, it's Pittsburgh.
18. Canadiens (18) Montreal's record since Andrei Markov returned to the lineup: 6-2.
19. Rangers (19) Great line from New York Post writer Larry Brooks, who is calling for John Tortorella to unleash Sean Avery: "If you can't be a little bit pregnant, you can't be a little bit Sean Avery, either."
20. Lightning (27) Tampa Bay has the organizational depth in goal to consider trading Mike Smith, who had a strong week (2-0-1 with a 1.31 goals-against average and .957 save percentage).
21. Flyers (24) After showing signs of life at the start of their road trip, the Flyers sputter to losses against Boston and Ottawa. Thursday's game in Pittsburgh will be a great test for Peter Laviolette's Flyers.
22. Panthers (25) While his performance against Team USA wasn't his best, the Panthers have to be excited about what they're seeing from 6-3 Swedish goalie prospect Jacob Markstrom in the World Junior Championship.
23. Blues (21) Here's how one coach summed up Andy Murray's firing: If you're too hard on players, they complain. If you're too tough, they stab you in the back. Finding the middle ground isn't easy.
24. Thrashers (20) In the midst of all the Kovalchuk negotiations, should Don Waddell take some time and offer an extension to Maxim Afinogenov, who is on pace for 30 goals?
25. Islanders (28) After scoring six goals in his first 11 games this season, Matt Moulson has only one in his last 11.
26. Ducks (22) Maybe he's being asked to do too much on a thin defense, but it's strange to see Scott Niedermayer sitting at minus-13.
27. Maple Leafs (23) With nine potential free agents, Brian Burke has plenty of ammunition for trades. The challenge will be convincing a contending team that Vesa Toskala is the answer.
28. Blue Jackets (29) It can't be easy, but you have to admire Scott Howson's devotion to Ken Hitchcock as the Blue Jackets continue to collapse. You also have to wonder how long it can last.
29. Hurricanes (30) Eric Staal's five-point effort against the Capitals last week is a great example of why Steve Yzerman put him on Team Canada.
30. Oilers (26) The Oilers have never had the first overall pick in an NHL draft, but this team is making a run at it.
Craig Custance covers the NHL for Sporting News. E-mail him at ccustance@sportingnews.com.
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