Last week, we asked for someone to give us a good reason to drop the Red Wings from the No. 1. The Red Wings did the honors themselves and lost 4-1 to Colorado and tying Phoenix 1-1 -- both at home. But the next problem is: Who gets elevated to the top spot? The Leafs, who lost to the Mario-less Penguins? So, for lack of a worthy heir, the Wings get to keep their crown.
If it makes any difference, the resurgent Colorado Avalanche have finally gotten our attention. Their wins at home over Florida and on the road at Vancouver didn't register much in last week's rankings. However, their win at home over Ottawa and their three straight victories on the road (4-1 at Detroit, 4-1 at Buffalo, 2-0 at Columbus) are another matter.
This week's skinny: the stats edition.
|
Team
|
Pvs.
|
W-L-T-OL
|
The skinny
|
|
1. Red Wings
|
1
|
22-5-2-1
|
Brett Hull has two points in his last nine games (1-1-2 vs. Calgary); Steve Yzerman has one in his last six.
|
|
2. Maple Leafs
|
3
|
17-8-2-3
|
The Leafs are 7-0-0 at home when leading after the first period; 7-0-1 when leading after the second.
|
|
3. Avalanche
|
19
|
17-12-2-0
|
Joe Sakic tallied a goal and eight assists and the Avs went 4-0-0-0. Go figure.
|
|
4. Sharks
|
7
|
14-7-5-3
|
The Sharks are 11-0-1 when leading after the first period.
|
|
5. Senators
|
5
|
15-10-3-0
|
The Senators are tied with the Rangers for the best team plus/minus at plus-23.
|
|
6. Stars
|
8
|
12-8-6-3
|
Since the start of last season, the Stars are 46-0-1-1 when leading after two periods.
|
|
7. Oilers
|
4
|
17-9-4-1
|
Sean Brown has never finished a season better than plus-2. He's plus-14 this season.
|
|
8. Islanders
|
6
|
16-8-4-1
|
The Isles' nine road wins equal the number they had all of last season.
|
|
9. Rangers
|
2
|
17-12-2-1
|
The Rangers have allowed 21 more power-play goals than they have scored (38-17).
|
|
10. Bruins
|
10
|
15-8-3-3
|
Brian Rolston has four of the Bruins' six shorthanded goals and leads the league in the category.
|
|
11. Flyers
|
12
|
13-8-5-1
|
The Flyers are 2-0 on the second night of back-to-back games and have won both by shutout.
|
|
12. Blackhawks
|
14
|
15-10-7-0
|
Jocelyn Thibault leads the league in minutes played with 1,793 -- proving that Steve Passmore is not Manny Legace.
|
|
13. Blues
|
13
|
14-9-5-1
|
The Blues are 10-1-2 when leading after two periods; 0-7-0 when trailing.
|
|
14. Flames
|
9
|
14-8-6-2
|
The Flames have compiled just six of a possible 22 points in their last 11 games.
|
|
15. Coyotes
|
17
|
12-9-5-3
|
The Coyotes have the fourth-best home record in the West at 9-1-1-2.
|
|
16. Penguins
|
22
|
13-11-3-2
|
The Penguins are 12-5-3-1 against the Eastern Conference -- and that's without a power play to speak of.
|
|
17. Devils
|
23
|
12-10-3-2
|
At 0-4-1-1, the Devils are the only team in the league without a point against teams in its own division.
|
|
18. Canadiens
|
11
|
12-11-4-1
|
After scoring 6-7-13 in October, Brian Savage went 4-3-7 in November. He has 0-2-2 in December.
|
|
19. Wild
|
15
|
11-11-5-2
|
At 8-0-4, the Wild are the only team that is undefeated when scoring the first goal of a game. Unfortunately, they don't always score the first goal.
|
|
20. Capitals
|
20
|
12-14-4-0
|
With 12-17-29 in 30 games, Ulf Dahlen is on pace to eclipse his career highs in assists (39) and points (74) reached in 1992-93.
|
|
21. Hurricanes
|
16
|
13-12-4-3
|
At 79.5 percent effiency, the Hurricanes would have the worst penalty kill of all division leaders...if it weren't for the Rangers (77.8).
|
|
22. Sabres
|
18
|
13-15-2-1
|
The Sabres have scored more than two goals in only one of their 15 losses.
|
|
23. Canucks
|
21
|
12-17-3-0
|
Out of the 15 teams in the West, the Canucks rank 11th at home (7-6-2), 11th on the road (5-11-1), 11th against the East (3-3-1) and 11th against the West (9-14-2). Too bad the magic place for the playoffs is eighth.
|
|
24. Predators
|
26
|
10-15-4-0
|
The Predators are 6-0-1 in their last seven home games, but 0-8-1 in their last nine on the road.
|
|
25. Kings
|
25
|
9-14-4-2
|
Jason Allison has 16 points in his last 16 games. More remarkable: Jaroslav Modry has 10 assists in his last nine.
|
|
26. Lightning
|
27
|
11-15-2-1
|
The goalie tandem of Nikolai Khabibulin and Kevin Weekes ranks first in save percentage and fourth in GAA. If only the rest of the team ranked first or fourth in something that didn't start with "worst."
|
|
27. Mighty Ducks
|
29
|
9-17-3-1
|
After Saturday's game at Calgary, Jean-Sebastien Giguere now leads all goalies with 14 PIMs. Three others are in second with eight.
|
|
28. Panthers
|
30
|
7-16-2-3
|
The Panthers' last four wins have been by shutout. Talk about feast or famine.
|
|
29. Blue Jackets
|
24
|
7-17-5-1
|
The Jackets are scoreless in their last 195:21 -- obliterating their team record of 141:11.
|
|
30. Thrashers
|
28
|
6-17-3-2
|
The Thrashers are 0-14-2 when trailing after the second period.
|
