The Detroit Red Wings and their incredible 23-game home winning streak are atop the rankings, dethroning the New York Rangers, who have continued to win but aren't doing so in the impressive fashion of the team from Hockeytown.
One of the three new faces this week are the Calgary Flames, who have clawed into a playoff spot in the West after a slow start. The two other teams to crack the rankings this week aren't in playoff positions in the standings that truly matter.
Which teams made the list? How far have the Rangers fallen? Let's take a look and find out:
| RANK | TEAM (RECORD) | LAST WEEK | COMMENTARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit (41-17-2) | 2 | Would the Red Wings like to win a bit more frequently on the road? Sure. But if they finish with the most points in the NHL, they don't have to win any games on the road in the playoffs. |
| 2 | Vancouver (37-15-6) | 4 | The last time the Canucks didn't earn at least a point in a game was Jan. 15. They are 10-0-3 in their last 13 games. |
| 3 | N.Y. Rangers (38-14-5) | 1 |
There's nothing wrong with playing three games in a week in winning two of them, but the Wings and Canucks are playing a little bit better of late.
|
| 4 | St. Louis (36-16-7) | 3 | A pretty so-so week for the Blues, who lost to Columbus and blew a third-period lead vs. Chicago, but the Islanders and Wild by a combined 9-1. |
| 5 | Nashville (34-19-6) | 5 | In his first game with the Predators, Hal Gill was plus-2 with 16:23 of ice time in a 3-2 win. When the season settles, might that be the best acquisition of the deadline? |
| 6 | New Jersey (34-20-4) |
9 |
This 8-1-1 run has pushed the Devils into fourth place in the East and into a tie with the Bruins for the second-most points in the Eastern Conference.
|
| 7 | Phoenix (29-21-9) | 10 |
It wasn't all that long ago the Coyotes were thought to be sellers at the deadline. But this 8-1-1 stretch has vaulted them to seventh in the West, ending all that talk.
|
| 8 | Chicago (32-21-7) | 14 |
The Blackhawks exorcised those nine-game losing streak demons with authority, vanquishing the Rangers, Jackets and rallying to beat the Blues on Sunday in their last three.
|
| 9 | Philadelphia (32-19-7) | 11 | There was some really scary news over the weekend via Tim Panaccio of CSN Philly about Chris Pronger's health. Love him or hate him, you have to hope his concussion problems subside. |
| 10 | Pittsburgh (33-21-5) | 6 | Since that eight-game winning streak, the Penguins are 4-4-1 in February. Dan Bylsma wants to give Marc-Andre Fleury some rest coming down the stretch. |
| 11 | Boston (35-20-2) | 7 | The domination of November and December is a thing of the past. Since the Bruins' 9-0 thrashing of Calgary on Jan. 5, Boston is 9-10-1. |
| 12 | San Jose (31-19-7) | 8 | What is wrong with the Sharks? They have just two wins in their last eight games. They are 1-3-1 on a road trip that has four more games left on it this week. |
| 13 | Ottawa (30-22-8) | 16 |
In the chase for the final two spots in the East, the Senators are showing no signs of wavering, winning three of four heading into a week with games against Boston and Washington.
|
| 14 | Calgary (28-22-9) | NR | The Flames have earned a point in all eight games (5-0-3) they've played this month. Miikka Kiprusoff is looking like the goaltender who got them to the Final in 2004. |
| 15 | Anaheim (25-24-10) | NR |
The Ducks are 13th in the West but climbing fast. They've won 4 of 5 and are 15-2-4 since Jan. 6. They're still six points out of eighth, but look out for Bruce Boudreau's team.
|
| 16 | Winnipeg (29-26-6) | NR | The Jets have won three straight and five of seven to push the Capitals into third place in the Southeast Division. They are tied for eighth with the Leafs, who have played two fewer games. |
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