Power Poll: Avs Haven't Slowed Down
Craig Custance - SportingNews.com
Dec 14, 2009
First, there was motivation to prove the skeptics wrong. There weren't many people in hockey -- if any at all -- who thought the Colorado Avalanche would make the playoffs. The players and coaches knew it and used it as inspiration.
After a while, that disappears. But the winning hasn't in Colorado.
"The thing that's helped us, because we had some success and we've played well, is ... we know we can compete and we can beat anybody," Colorado coach Joe Sacco told Sporting News. "Really, to keep it going is just a matter of the guys believing in what we were doing."
The believers are growing, especially after their 3-2 win over the Flames broke the tie for first in the Northwest Division.
1. Devils (last week: 4): They're winning without him, but news that injured defenseman Paul Martin could be back by Christmas is great for the Devils.
2. Capitals (2): The Capitals are even more dangerous now that they have more cap room with Michael Nylander in the AHL. They'll be a team to watch at the trade deadline.
3. Blackhawks (1): Remember when goaltending was supposed to be a problem in Chicago? Backup Antti Niemi has two shutouts in his last three starts.
4. Penguins (6): Great moment for Quebec-native Pascal Dupuis, who scored the game-winner against Montreal in front of a large group of friends and family.
5. Kings (8): How are the Kings surviving without Ryan Smyth? Goaltending. Jonathan Quick is 6-0-1 with a 2.20 goals-against average in his last seven starts.
6. Sharks (3): It's hard to believe that a team with so much offensive firepower had only one win in its first six December games.
7. Avalanche (13): Impressive 18-year-old Ryan O'Reilly hasn't scored a goal since Nov. 6, when he had two.
8. Flames (5): Nobody started the week with more road wins than Calgary, but the Flames are slipping. They've lost three of four away from home.
9. Bruins (7): Friday's game against the Blackhawks in Chicago will be a great opportunity for the Bruins to make a statement.
10. Coyotes (12): G.M. Don Maloney tells us he has been very impressed with Dave Tippett's ability to block everything out and prepare for each individual game. And there's been plenty to block out in Phoenix.
11. Predators (9): Not that the timing of an injury is ever good, but Jordin Tootoo was playing great hockey before breaking his foot.
12. Sabres (10): The Buffalo News points out this impressive stat: The Sabres are 8-1-2 in one-goal games. They're also 13-0 when leading after two periods.
13. Red Wings (15): On a team that has Brian Rafalski and Nicklas Lidstrom, it's impressive that Brad Stuart has quietly been the Red Wings' best defenseman.
14. Stars (11): Is it too late for the Stars to get Jussi Jokinen back to help the team win a shootout? They are 2-7.
15. Canucks (17): After missing time with a broken foot, Daniel Sedin is making up for it. His five goals led the league last week.
16. Senators (16): Pascal Leclaire is due back soon from injury, which raises an interesting goalie debate in Ottawa. Brian Elliott has been strong in Leclaire's absence.
17. Thrashers (14): After posting a career-high 73 points last season, Todd White is on pace for only 33 this year.
18. Oilers (25): Five consecutive wins on the road have catapulted the Oilers back into the playoff race.
19. Wild (20): After a slow start, Martin Havlat is coming around. "The last few games, he's been tremendous," Wild coach Todd Richards said.
20. Blues (21): It's probably not a good thing that defenseman Erik Johnson leads the Blues in points (21).
21. Canadiens (26): If Montreal can pry scoring away from the forward-deep Flyers for goalie Jaroslav Halak, now is the time to do it.
22. Blue Jackets (19): The struggles in Columbus have overshadowed what has been a pretty good year for R.J. Umberger. He's on pace for a career-high in points.
23. Maple Leafs (27): The Maple Leafs started the week four points outside a playoff spot. That's unreal considering their first win didn't come until Game 9.
24. Islanders (24): It's time for the Islanders to pile up points. They're not a good road team and close out 2009 with six of nine games at home.
25. Rangers (23): Brandon Dubinsky's broken hand is healed, and his return couldn't come at a better time for the sliding Rangers.
26. Lightning (18): G.M. Brian Lawton tells the St. Petersburg Times he's not panicking during a brutal stretch for Tampa: "I have tremendous confidence in the guys there."
27. Ducks (28): Anaheim's win in Columbus was the Ducks' first road win since Oct. 10.
28. Panthers (29): Florida starts the week with twice as many road wins (eight) as home wins (four).
29. Flyers (22): James van Riemsdyk, who began the season with 11 points in his first 10 games, doesn't have a single point since John Stevens was fired.
30. Hurricanes (30): Eric Staal trade rumors have started, but you build around a player like Staal, you don't trade him.
Craig Custance is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ccustance@sportingnews.com.
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