Despite their loss to the Blackhawks, the Red Wings earned the top ranking this week by virtue of their win over the Islanders. Yes, consideration was given to moving the Blackhawks up, as well, but a 5-2 loss at Anaheim? Plus, there's only so much room at the top.
Two high notes of the week: The Islanders rebound from losing to Detroit and win at Philadelphia 2-1, and the Penguins rebound from losing half their offense to go 2-1-0-0.
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Team
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Pvs.
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W-L-T-OL
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The skinny
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1. Red Wings
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2
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12-3-0-0
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Granted the Wings lost to Chicago after beating the Isles, but with four games in four cities in six days, we'd be tired, too.
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2. Islanders
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1
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10-1-1-1
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Dave Scatchard after the Isles' win over Philly: "We've got six or seven tough years to make up for." Indeed.
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3. Flames
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3
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10-2-0-2
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The Flames' 10 wins match the franchise's 1990-91 team for the fastest start while in Calgary.
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4. Maple Leafs
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4
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8-4-1-1
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Defenseman Tomas Kaberle played 22:34 in his first game back, a 4-1 win over Colorado.
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5. Blackhawks
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5
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9-4-3-0
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As awful as the Hawks have been over the last few years, they're 4-2 against the Wings the past two seasons.
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6. Blues
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7
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7-3-3-0
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Amazing what a healthy lineup, the emergence of a No. 1 goalie and a good kick in the pants from the Senators can do for a team.
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7. Sharks
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10
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7-3-3-1
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Perhaps sensing the Sharks aren't missing him, holdout defenseman Mike Rathje reportedly has put his house up for sale.
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8. Oilers
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6
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10-5-1-0
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Anson Carter leads the league with four game-winning goals.
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9. Devils
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8
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6-4-0-1
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Forget finding offense, isn't fixing the league's worst penalty killing (69.8 percent) easier?
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10. Flyers
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13
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6-4-3-0
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Brian Boucher's last two games were his first starts at home since Dec. 6.
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11. Bruins
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12
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6-3-3-2
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With the second-best power play (23.1 percent) and top-ranked penalty kill (93.4), it's no wonder 14 of their 31 goals are by special teams.
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12. Hurricanes
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14
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8-6-0-2
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The 'Canes power play (9.5 percent) has been shut down in nine of their 16 games.
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13. Senators
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16
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7-6-1-0
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Four losses followed by four wins. Their goaltending may not be consistent, but the results are.
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14. Stars
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9
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5-5-2-3
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The Stars were 34-4-5-0 when they scored first last year. This year, they are 2-3-2-2.
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15.Penguins
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19
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6-6-1-1
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Coach Rick Kehoe on the Pens' league-worst power play (7.9 percent): "It would be nice to get a couple power-play goals. Or get a power-play goal."
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16. Avalanche
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11
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7-8-0-0
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No truth to the rumor the NHL is thinking of asking for the Cup back.
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17. Sabres
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15
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6-7-1-1
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The Sabres are doing just fine keeping the puck out of their net. Putting it in their opponent's net is another matter.
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18. Rangers
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18
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7-7-1-0
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Mike York gives the Rangers the best return on their dollar.
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19. Coyotes
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20
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5-4-3-2
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Claude Lemieux said his head-butting penalty against Carolina was "the wrong move at the wrong time." Does that rank above or below the wrong move at the right time?
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20. Capitals
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17
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5-7-2-0
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Only nine players have scored for the Caps -- a league-worst total they share with the Lightning.
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21. Wild
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23
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5-4-3-1
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Is there such thing as a goalie controversy on an expansion team? If so, the Wild may have one.
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22. Mighty Ducks
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25
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6-7-1-0
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Paul Kariya finally scores and the Ducks finally win. Funny how that happens.
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23. Canucks
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26
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5-9-1-0
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If Todd Bertuzzi was asked to write "What I learned during my 10-game suspension," the pages would be blank.
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24. Predators
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27
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5-8-2-0
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There should be a rule: No third jerseys before your fifth birthday or until you finish at .500 or better.
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25. Lightning
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21
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4-7-1-1
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Zen question of the week: With only one goal in 11 games, if Vincent Lecavalier was traded, would anyone notice?
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26. Canadiens
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22
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5-7-1-0
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The Habs are averaging four goals in their five wins, but just one in their seven losses. It's not rocket science.
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27. Kings
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28
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4-8-1-2
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Team president Tom Leiweke in the L.A. Times on Jason Allison spending his holdout with Merrimack College: "No offense against Merrimack ... I think he's still a couple of weeks away." Um, none taken.
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28. Panthers
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29
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3-8-2-1
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The Panthers say they want to be defensive-minded hockey club, yet they don't know what's wrong after surrendering a third-period lead to the Rangers? Just checking.
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29. Thrashers
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24
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3-7-1-2
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Ray Ferraro to the AJC on their losing streak: "The cavalry is not coming." If only horses could skate.
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30. Blue Jackets
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30
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2-8-4-0
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If Craig MacTavish is right, and teams that shouldn't win can be the most dangerous, then the Blue Jackets would be on the FBI's most wanted list.
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