Puck Prose
Fansided

NHL Power Rankings: Week 21, Rangers Plunge While Canadiens Rise

By Matt Duscharme

Jan 26, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) makes a save against the New York Islanders during the second period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) makes a save against the New York Islanders during the second period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 31
Next
nhl power rankings
Feb 11, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Colorado Avalanche center John Mitchell (7) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /

Previous Ranking: 27 (-3)

Team Record: (17-42-3)

Goals For:

122

Goals Against:

205

Special Teams

PP: (13.4 percent) (29th)
PK: (78.3 percent) (24th)

Injury List

Nikita Zadorov – Ankle – Out-for-Season
Calvin Pickard – Neck – Day-to-Day
Semyon Varlamov – Groin – Day-to-Day

Statistical Leaders in 2016-17

Top Forward: Nathan MacKinnon (62gp 12g 30a 42pts)
Top Defenseman: Tyson Barrie (54gp 5g 22a 27pts)
Top Rookie: Mikko Rantanen (57gp 14g 16a 30pts)
Top Goaltender: Calvin Pickard (10 wins 2.86GAA .911 save percentage)

Player of the Week: F Gabriel Landeskog (3gp 2g 1a 3pts)

Despite all the rumors surrounding Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog, they ended up staying with the Avalanche and speaking of Landeskog he carried the team offensively last week. Rookie goalie Jeremy Smith appeared in all three games for the Aves since Semyon Varlamov and Calvin Pickard are both down to injury. And in his three games, he did quite well for himself helping the team to a 1-2-0 record. Colorado started off deadline day with a minor league deal when they sent Joe Whitney to Arizona for Brendan Ranford, they then moved long-time NHL veteran Jarome Iginla to the Los Angeles Kings for a 2018 draft pick and finished the day with a prospect for prospect trade with Montreal when they swapped Andreas Martinsen for Sven Andrighetto.

Amidst all the rumors though surrounding Landeskog you would think that would knock him off his game, but it didn’t as he put up three points in three games while finishing with a plus-one rating. Jarome Iginla (now traded), Blake Comeau, Nathan MacKinnon, and Matt Nieto all combined for six points and a plus-two. And as stated above, with Varlamov and Pickard out, they play has fallen to Jeremy Smith and despite losing two games he had himself some alright stats, he put up a .890 save percentage with a 3.36 goals-against-average. Colorado sits dead last in the NHL primed for a lottery pick in this years coming draft, someone like Nolan Patrick would definitely help this team as they are currently rebuilding. And this week won’t get any easier as they play Ottawa, Winnipeg, St. Louis, and Carolina.

Weekly Prospect Profile: Nate Clurman, Tri-City (USHL)

2016-17 stats: 2gp 0g 0a 0pts

Selected in the sixth round of last year’s draft, Nate Clurman has currently been in between USHS and the USHL. After a very strong rookie showcase at the Avalanche camp before the start of the season, Clurman impressed everyone with his offensive talent. So as he gets older and progresses he’s going to become a top prospect for Colorado.

Home/NHL News