NHL Power Rankings: Ducks lead post-trade deadline parade
Three cheers for Ryan Getzlaf. The guy who couldn’t score an even-strength goal during the season’s first three months is suddenly the hottest player in the league with 20 points in his past 14 games. Getzlaf’s revival was key to Anaheim’s 12-1-1 record in February, a stretch that set new franchise standards for most wins and points in one calendar month, and sets him up to be included among the first 16 players named to Team Canada on Wednesday.
Biggest jump: Tampa Bay Lightning (9 to 4)
Biggest drop: Carolina Hurricanes (17 to 22)
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1. Anaheim Ducks
PREVIOUS: 1
RECORD: 34-19-8
The Ducks are almost unstoppable with the extra man. They've scored at least one power play goal in eight straight games and are 13-for-28 during that span. No surprise that they’ve won all eight. Adding big winger Jamie McGinn from Buffalo at the deadline was an excellent depth addition that positions this team for a run at the Stanley Cup. Last week: 3-0-0
2. Washington Capitals
PREVIOUS: 2
RECORD: 45-12-4
There’s much to be said for being able to play well in close games, but shouldn’t a team this good blow someone out everyone now and then? Eleven of the Caps' past 13 games have been one-goal affairs. Where’s the killer instinct? Last week: 1-2-0
3. New York Rangers
PREVIOUS: 3
RECORD: 37-20-6
The Rangers would love to have home ice for the first round of the playoffs. They’ve feasted at Madison Square Garden this season, earning at least one point in 12 of their last 13 home games (10-1-2) after knocking off Columbus on Monday night. Last week: 3-1-0
4. Tampa Bay Lightning
PREVIOUS: 9
RECORD: 37-22-4
A reminder of the importance of Steven Stamkos: The captain scored in six straight games, leading the surging Lightning to six straight wins. He was finally held off the board in Toronto on Monday, but a pair from Tyler Johnson extended the team’s streak to seven victories. Last week: 4-0-0
5. Chicago Blackhawks
PREVIOUS: 5
RECORD: 39-20-5
General manager Stan Bowman performed his annual trade deadline miracle, adding forwards Andrew Ladd, Dale Weise and Thomas Fleischmann at the deadline for scraps and buttons. Probably time to give him that GM of the Year Award, eh? Last week: 1-1-0
6. Los Angeles Kings
PREVIOUS: 6
RECORD: 37-21-4
What’s up with the offense? The Kings have scored just 12 goals in their past eight games. A stout defense allowed them to win four of them, but that first-to-two approach could be tough to sustain come crunch time. Last week: 3-1-0
7. St. Louis Blues
PREVIOUS: 4
RECORD: 36-20-9
The Blues ended a three-game skid with a 5–2 win over the Hurricanes on Sunday. The bigger story: Top defender Alex Pietrangelo had a goal and an assist as he returned to action after missing nine games with a right-knee injury. Last week: 1-2-0
8. San Jose Sharks
PREVIOUS: 8
RECORD: 34-22-6
The Sharks went 3-8-2 last February, effectively ending a 10-year playoff streak with one horrible month. Things went much better this year. San Jose posted a 6-3-1 record on the road and went 2-1-1 at home to turn the battle for the Pacific Division title into a three-team race. Last week: 2-1-1
9. Dallas Stars
PREVIOUS: 7
RECORD: 38-19-7
It’s the opposite problem in Dallas, where the D has allowed at least three goals in six straight contests and is averaging 4.67 against over that span. The acquisition of backliner Kris Russell from Calgary should help, but this ultimately comes down to a greater commitment from the forwards and fewer letdowns by Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi between the pipes. Last week: 2-2-0
10. Pittsburgh Penguins
PREVIOUS: 10
RECORD: 32-21-8
They smoked the Jets and Coyotes, but were completely overmatched against a Bruins team that has been bleeding points at home. Pittsburgh’s next two games, against Metro Division powers (Capitals and Rangers), will be revealing. Last week: 2-1-0
11. New York Islanders
PREVIOUS: 12
RECORD: 33-20-7
Despite a solid 6-2-1 stretch, the Isles are in a dogfight to hold on to third spot in the Metro. Keep an eye on fourth-liner Casey Cizikas. He's playing the best hockey of his career, recording three goals and eight points during his past eight games. Last week: 2-1-0
12. Nashville Predators
PREVIOUS: 13
RECORD: 31-21-11
The Preds are rounding into form at just the right time, winning four straight and going 6-0-3 during their past nine. Filip Forsberg is on fire, recording two hat tricks last week and tying for the league lead with 12 tallies in the month of February. Last week: 3-0-0
13. Florida Panthers
PREVIOUS: 11
RECORD: 35-19-8
A 6-4-3 February brought the Atlantic Division leaders back to the pack and now the Cats face the prospect of playing nine of their next 13 on the road. It's put-up or shut-up time for this team. Last week: 1-1-1
14. Detroit Red Wings
PREVIOUS: 14
RECORD: 32-20-11
Is there a better nickname in the NHL right now than Greece Lightning? Andreas Athanasiou showed off the wheels that earned him that moniker in Monday's OT win over the Stars, scoring twice and leaving defenders in his dust on nearly every shift. He’s going to be a fun one to watch. Last week: 3-0-0
15. Boston Bruins
PREVIOUS: 15
RECORD: 34-23-6
They thump the Penguins. They roll over for the Lightning. They keep Loui Eriksson. They give away four draft picks. And they just keep goin' round and round in circles... Last week: 2-1-0
16. Philadelphia Flyers
PREVIOUS: 16
RECORD: 29-22-11
Philly finished off February with a 5-1-1 kick to pull to within three points of the Penguins and the final wild card spot. The Flyers will have to keep the ball rolling without the help of forward Jakub Voracek, who's expected to miss another two weeks recovering from a lower-body injury. Last week: 3-0-0
17. Colorado Avalanche
PREVIOUS: 18
RECORD: 32-28-4
GM Joe Sakic had a pretty decent week on the ice—that wrister looked pretty dangerous in the Stadium Series alumni game. Remains to be seen how well he did off it. Mikkel Boedker was one of the top names available at the deadline and Sakic didn't overpay for the streaky winger. Would have been nice, though, to see him add a more reliable defenseman than Eric Gelinas. That blueline could cost the Avs their hold on a wild card berth. Last week: 0-1-1
18. Ottawa Senators
PREVIOUS: 20
RECORD: 30-27-6
The Sens outscored their opponents 13-10 in their three games last week, continuing a trend that's been evident all season long. This team can score, alright, but it also surrenders a bunch in return. No team in the Eastern Conference has combined for as many goals for/against as Ottawa's 381. Last week: 2-1-0
19. Minnesota Wild
PREVIOUS: 19
RECORD: 28-25-10
Has any player looked better under new coach John Torchetti than Erik Haula? The 24-year-old center is up to a career-high eight goals and has tallied multiple points in five of his past 11 games. Last week: 1-3-0
20. Columbus Blue Jackets
PREVIOUS: 22
RECORD: 26-30-8
The Jackets ran up a strong 7-3-3 record in February, reminding everyone that there's no tougher team in the league that a Columbus side that's been eliminated from playoff competition. Last week: 2-1-1
21. New Jersey Devils
PREVIOUS: 21
RECORD: 30-26-7
It's been a tough stretch for Cory Schneider. The All-Star keeper has allowed 13 goals on the past 98 shots he's faced, a dismal .867 save percentage. It shouldn't cost him an early roster spot on Team USA for the World Cup, but with only 16 spots up for grabs on March 2, you never know. Last week: 1-2-0
22. Carolina Hurricanes
PREVIOUS: 17
RECORD: 28-26-10
The Canes are probably looking at a lot of nights like the last couple after dealing away forwards Eric Staal and Kris Versteeg, but there's something to be said for turning the page. This team needed to take a step back in order to take two forward and those trades have them aimed in the right direction. Last week: 1-3-0
23. Montreal Canadiens
PREVIOUS: 23
RECORD: 30-28-5
Montreal's bottom six hasn't been good enough all season long, but if Phillip Danault and Michael McCarron are allowed to soak up some minutes there a chance for real improvement. McCarron is mobile and uses his size well. He's found a way to make himself noticed in each game since his call up. Danault's upside isn't as high, but he looks like a viable option for the checking line center role, possibly as soon as next season. Last week: 2-1-0
24. Buffalo Sabres
PREVIOUS: 25
RECORD: 25-31-7
The Sabres may be languishing near the Eastern Conference basement, but don't blame the team's defense and goaltending. They've held the opposition to a single goal or less in five of their past seven games. Robin Lehner looks like he was worth the investment of a first-round pick last summer, stopping 151 of 159 shots during his past five appearances (.950 save percentage). Last week: 1-2-0
25. Vancouver Canucks
PREVIOUS: 26
RECORD: 24-25-12
Tough week for Canucks fans, who were disappointed to find there was no pile of picks and prospects waiting for them under the Trade Deadline tree. Hard to say if it was GM Jim Benning or ownership that Grinched it up, but the blame isn't as important as the result: a missed opportunity for a team that desperately needed to juice its rebuild with a sizable deal or two. Last week: 1-1-0
26. Calgary Flames
PREVIOUS: 24
RECORD: 26-32-4
With just one win in their past nine, the Flames are objectively terrible. Still, their fans have to be smiling after GM Brad Treliving loaded up on futures ahead of the deadline. There are better days ahead. Nice, low-risk pickup of goalie Niklas Backstrom from Minnesota as well. No telling what, if anything, he has left, but now's the time to find out. Last week: 0-3-1
27. Winnipeg Jets
PREVIOUS: 27
RECORD: 26-31-4
GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is being roasted for not getting something done on deadline day, but that's probably not fair. He took care of business earlier by signing Dustin Byfuglien to an extension and dishing Andrew Ladd for a sizable package that included a first-rounder—the only one to trade hands ahead of the deadline. No need to shuffle deck chairs after those moves if there was nothing worthwhile on the table. Last week: 1-2-0
28. Edmonton Oilers
PREVIOUS: 29
RECORD: 23-34-7
Connor McDavid kept his Calder Trophy hopes alive, putting 12 assists and 17 points in February to lead all freshmen and win the NHL’s Rookie of the Month award. But the Oilers keep on losing, and it's looking more likely that he could be joined by Auston Matthews next season. Last week: 1-2-1
29. arizona Coyotes
PREVIOUS: 28
RECORD: 27-30-6
The 'Yotes were plain outclassed on their just concluded five-game Eastern road trip, dropping all five by a combined score of 18-7. If they had any designs on a late run for the playoffs, that debacle probably took care of them. Last week: 0-4-0
30. Toronto Maple Leafs
PREVIOUS: 30
RECORD: 21-30-10
After selling off all their scrap last week, Leafs management rewarded the team's fans with their first look at future stars William Nylander and Kasperi Kapanen on Monday night. The consensus? This is going to be a very fun team to watch not too far down the road. Last week: 1-3-0