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NHL Power Rankings Heading into Week 4 of 2016-17

By Ryan Ritchie

NHL Power Rankings: New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) celebrates with New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) and New York Rangers center Derek Stepan (21) after defeating the St. Louis Blues at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
NHL Power Rankings: New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) celebrates with New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) and New York Rangers center Derek Stepan (21) after defeating the St. Louis Blues at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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NHL Power Rankings: Chicago Blackhawks center Artem Anisimov (15) celebrates his gaol against Calgary Flames with his teammates during the third period at the United Center. The Hawks won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
NHL Power Rankings: Chicago Blackhawks center Artem Anisimov (15) celebrates his gaol against Calgary Flames with his teammates during the third period at the United Center. The Hawks won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /

Previous Ranking: 18 (+11)

Team Record: (6-3-1)

Player of the Week: G Corey Crawford (3 wins 1.00GAA .969 save percentage)

Special Teams

PP: 10-for-42 (23.8 percent) (8th)
PK: 15-for-36 (58.3 percent (30th)

Goaltending

After a rough start to the year, Crawford has put together four solid outings in a row now, three of those coming in the past seven days. He recorded the win versus New Jersey on Friday allowing just two goals on 31 shots. Two nights later, Corey got his first shutout of the season stopping all 32 shots versus LA. Then, on Tuesday, Crawford stopped 33 of 34 shots for the win against Calgary.

Defense

Brent Seabrook was arguably Chicago’s top defender over the last seven days. He had a pair of helpers in three games, including one assist and +3 plus/minus rating vs. Calgary. Brent now has seven points in 10 games and a +6 rating.

Duncan Keith posted one assist over those three games, but continues to prove one he’s one of the NHL’s best all-around defenseman. He now has a season total of seven assists in 10 games with a +5 rating.

Forwards

It seems the NHL’s hottest line from 2015-16 is beginning to heat up over the past couple of weeks, although they’ve begun to split up the trio a bit in 2016-17. Patrick Kane had four points in the last three games, including one goal and two assists vs. Calgary on Tuesday. Artem Anisimov reached the scoresheet in all three contests scoring a goal against New Jersey and LA before racking up a goal and an assist vs. Calgary. Last year’s Calder Trophy winner Artemi Panarin had four points in his last three games, including two multi-point nights. He had a goal and an assist against both New Jersey and Calgary. For season totals, Anisimov leads the charge with 13 points, Kane with 12, and Panarin with 10 – all scoring at or above a point-per-game pace.

Even a couple veterans had a decent week. Hossa began the year on a four-game point streak before missing one and being kept off the score sheet in his two games upon return. In those last three, Marian Hossa scored a goal in New Jersey and had two points versus Los Angeles. He has a season total of seven points in nine games. Even Jonathan Toews racked up the points with a multi-point effort against a struggling Kings squad. The elite two-way center now has five points in 10 games.

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