nhl-general
The Sabres keep the top spot this week, while the Predators knock Anaheim off of their perch, dropping them below number two for the first time this season. Ottawa makes their first appearance in the top ten, meaning Vancouver’s time in the limelight lasted only a week. At the bottom, the Bruins were the biggest losers this week, dropping five spots. Conversely, the Islanders pick up five spots, and find themselves in the top twenty again. Where did your team end up?
The top of the power rankings has seen the same four teams almost every week this season. Meanwhile, Martin Broudeur has become a one-man team in New Jersey willing the Devils near the top five for the first time this season. The Canucks find themselves in the top ten for the first time all season, while the Hurricanes have slipped a little, sending them down to thirteen this week.
Meanwhile, the middle of the pack sees all but the aforementioned Canucks in the northwest division. The Islanders had a tough week, as they proved their quick start is just a fluke. Phoenix has found their highest point of the season, just as “The Great One’s” fire sale begins. Where did your team end up?
The Sabers take the first number one in 2007, with the Ducks hot on their heels. On the other side of the countdown, the bottom five hasn’t changed one bit. Where did your team end up?
In the middle of the holiday festivities, and the hockey couldn’t be hotter. The Northwest division boasts a three-way tie, while other divisional races are heating up. The Christmas break is over, and now it’s a fight to the next break, during All-Star weekend. There was no change at the top, with the top eight staying right where they are. Meanwhile, Tim Thomas helps Boston jump an amazing nine spots this week. On the other side of the spectrum, the Orcas out of Vancouver drop three important games, and nine spots this week. Where did your team end up?
The NHL has announced a plan to go back into the future by bringing back four team divisions based on their time zones. For example, Colorado, Calgary, and Los Angels would all be in the same division because they are Mountain and Pacific Time zones. There would still be eight teams per conference making the playoffs, with the top two divisional finishers per division getting the top four seeds, and the other four seeds given to “wild card” teams. How would the playoffs look this year?
This week, as we sit down to celebrate Christmas and Chanukah, please remember the less fortunate who can’t get the things we have. On the hockey front, we were treated to an amazing comeback by Crosby and company; saw Gretzky’s office re-opened, and JR had a huge meltdown in the desert. There’s no change at the top or bottom this week, the Ducks are still number one and the Blues are still horrible. Where did you team end up?
The Ducks have quacked their way to number one this week, while a small change at the bottom now means they’re singing the Blues in St. Louis. In other NHL news, Montreal’s GM Bob Gainey’s daughter is missing after a wave swept her off the deck of the ship she was on. Our thoughts are with the Gainey family in the hope that she turns up safe. Where did your team finish this week?
The Flyers have done it. They have liberated themselves from the bottom of the power rankings. A slight tweak to the formula finally puts Ottawa where they belong. While the top of the standings see no change. Where did you team end up this week?
*Note: Power Rankings Formula is ((Points Earned/Points Possible) * Goal Differential per game + wins)
Two major coaching moves in the central division highlight the week. Ken Hitchock has gone from the disaster known as the Flyers to the disaster known as the Blue Jackets. Meanwhile, in the east, the aforementioned Flyers are threatening to climb out of the cellar, but for right now, it’s going to be a long winter in Philly. Oh, and that smell, it’s coming from Sunrise, Florida. The Bertuzzi-less Panthers look horrible. Where did your team end up?
The NHL’s 2006-07 campaign is already a quarter over, and we have seen moments worth noting, Jaromir Jagr scored his 600th career goal, the Bobby Clarke era in Philadelphia is over, and we inducted arguably the greatest goaltender in the history of the NHL. What are the surprises, what are the disappointments? What can we look forward to the next three-quarters of the year?