Welcome to another edition of the Hockeybuzz hotstove.
As is the case every Wednesday, the hotstove will share their power rankings for the top-5 teams in the NHL.
Todd Cordell 1. Anaheim Ducks (10-3-0)
I had the Ducks No. 1 last week and since they've won 2-3 with wins over Dallas and Colorado so they haven't done anything to lose their spot. The injury to John Gibson hurts, but Frederik Andersen has been as good or better and is more than capable of carrying the load.
Ryan Kesler's been a nice fit, Sami Vatanen is developing into a star and Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf are both averaging over a point per game. As long as their stars continue to produce, they're going to win a lot of games.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins (8-2-1)
Sidney Crosby is averaging almost two points per game, Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz and Patric Hornqvist are all averaging well over a point per game, and their goaltending tandem of Marc-Andre Fleury and Thomas Greiss have given the Penguins ~.925SV% goaltending on the year.
3. St. Louis Blues (8-3-1)
They've won six consecutive games against Chicago, Dallas, Anaheim, Colorado, New York (Rangers) and New Jersey. Jake Allen and Brian Elliott are giving them excellent goaltending, and Vladimir Tarasenko is turning into a superstar. They're really, really good.
4. Tampa Bay Lightning (8-3-1)
They continue to win games without Victor Hedman, and are tied for 1st place in the Eastern Conference. Given there's room for most of their kids to improve they're a scary team.
5. Vancouver Canucks (9-4-0)
Teams with more points than Vancouver: Anaheim. The Canucks haven't had the toughest schedule, but they've continued to pile up wins and have looked good doing so.
Ryan Wilson 1. Pittsburgh (8-2-1)
The Penguins are humming along this season. They have by far the league’s best power play and they also have a penalty kill that has killed off the past 30 penalties they have faced. The Penguins also tied the NHL record for most consecutive goals scored by one team, 18. Minnesota broke that streak last night but lost the game 4-1. Beau Bennett’s return is around the corner and it will only improve the Penguins forward ranks. The Penguins +22 goal differential is the best in the NHL.
2. Anaheim (10-3-0)
They may be losing John Gibson for a few weeks but Frederick Anderson is more than capable of handling the load. Corey Perry is playing at a Hart Trophy caliber level and the rest of the team is taking his lead. Ryan Kesler has provided their forward depth with the proper balance it has been lacking for the past number of years.
3. St. Louis (8-3-1)
These guys were my pick for the division and Vladimir Tarasenko was my pick for the breakout player in the Western Conference, so far so good. Tarasenko is putting on a show right now and the rest of the Blues players are doing the things that make them successful as well. With Tarasenko flirting with stardom and Paul Stastny coming back in the near future this team is dangerous.
4. Tampa Bay (8-3-1)
Tampa lost one of the best defenseman in the league in Victor Hedman but they haven’t missed a beat. They have won three straight games and show no signs of slowing down. Steven Stamkos is playing at over a point per game ratio but he isn’t the highest scoring center on the team, Tyler Johnson is. That is a very good sign for the Lightning and a very dangerous one for the rest of the Eastern Conference. Jonathan Drouin has also come in and done an alright job. He has 4 points in 7 games.
5. Vancouver (9-4-0)
I have to admit, I’m surprised how well the Canucks are doing. The Sedins are doing Sedin things and Radim Vrbata has been a great compliment to come along for the ride. Nick Bonino who came over in the Kesler trade has 11 points in 13 games and has been a nice fit for the team. Ryan Miller has provided them quality goaltending so far this season. If the Canucks can keep this up they are going to throw a wrench in a lot of people’s preseason predictions, including my own.
Tim Chiasson 1. Pittsburgh Penguins (8-2-1)
The Penguins have won five straight and have kicked there season into high gear. They're getting great goaltending (only the Wild and Panthers have allowed less) and Crosby and Malkin continue to display why they're the top two players in the world.
2. Anaheim Ducks (10-3-0)
When your goaltending coach has to suit up for a game you might be in a little trouble. The Ducks are still playing great hockey but a banged up cage combined with the Penguins dominance over anyone they play finds the Ducks in the 2nd spot.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning (8-3-1)
The Lightning went 2-0 since the last Power Rankings as they keep playing excellent hockey. They continue to get strong play from top to bottom and they're getting some banged up players back now. Right now it's hard to imagine an Eastern Conference Final that doesn't feature Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh.
4. St. Louis Blues (8-3-1)
After a slow start the Blues are back around the top of the league standings as everyone expected. They've won six games in a row and second year player Vladimir Tarasenko has taken flight. Right now they're doing all of this without TJ Oshie and Paul Statsny.
5. Calgary Flames (8-4-2)
They may not be in the playoffs by the end of the season but right now the Flames just keep getting points. They've won three straight and have shot themselves up the standings. Jonas Hiller is playing lights out this year and is carrying this team to a hot start.
Honorable Mention: Vancouver Canucks
Ed Stein 1) Anaheim Ducks (10-3-0) – At 10-3-0, they have the best record in the league. Every team has holes, but the Ducks holes are smaller than most. Their two biggest ones are a front line LW and a top 4 defenseman. That LW slot is being held down by Patrick Maroon, he's not a prototypical scorer, but he fits in well with Perry and Getzlaf. Every team needs another top 4 defenseman, so Anaheim is in the same boat as everyone else. Their goaltending has been superb.
2) Pittsburgh Penguins (8-2-1) – The Pens are scoring at a rate of 4.1 goals per game. If that isn't amazing enough, they convert on 42% of their power play opportunities. Mark-Andre Fleury has a 1.89 GAA which is fifth in the league among goalies with more than five games played; he also leads the league in shutouts. Pittsburgh has the best winning percentage in their conference and if Fleury holds up, they will be hard to beat.
3) Tampa Bay Lightning (8-3-1) – Tampa is tops in the East and its not all Stamkos. Tyler Johnson is tied for the league lead in assists and has one more point than their superstar. They have excelled in most facets of the game.
4) San Jose Sharks (7-4-2) – I'm still trying figure out how they are doing it. Before the season, most people, including me, thought the Sharks would be a train wreck. What they have done is put a balanced team on the ice and fought hard every shift.
5) Nashville Predators (7-3-2) – The Preds win the tossup over Montreal. Pekka Rinne has been stingy in goal and they seem to score the big goal when necessary.
Consensus top 5: 1. Anaheim Ducks (10-3-0) T1. Pittsburgh Penguins (8-2-1) 3. Tampa Bay Lightning (8-3-1) 4. St. Louis Blues (8-3-1) 5. Vancouver Canucks (9-4-0)
Recent posts