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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 /
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NHL Power Rankings: Carolina Hurricanes forward Teuvo Teravainen (86) gets ready for a face off against the Edmonton Oilers at PNC Arena. the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Edmonton Oilers 2-1. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

Previous Ranking: 28 (-1)

Team Record: (25-25-10)

Goals For:

151

Goals Against:

175

Special Teams

PP: (17.2 percent) (22nd)
PK: (85.7 percent) (3rd)

Injury List

Brock McGinn – Upper-Body – Day-to-Day
Jeff Skinner – Neck – Day-to-Day

Statistical Leaders in 2016-17

Top Forward: Jeff Skinner (57gp 20g 20a 40pts)
Top Defenseman: Justin Faulk (53gp 11g 14a 25pts)
Top Rookie: Sebastian Aho (60gp 18g 17a 35pts)
Top Goaltender: Cam Ward (21 wins 2.64GAA .905 save percentage)
Player of the Week: C Victor Rask (4gp 1g 3a 4pts)

The Carolina Hurricanes have once again fallen out of the playoff race after having a decent, but not an impressive week. The Canes were near the bottom of the conference but had quite a few games in hand on the teams they were chasing. The week started off with a 3-0 win over the Ottawa Senators, followed by a 3-1 loss to the surging Calgary Flames. They lost 3-2 in a shootout to a team they were chasing in Florida and finished the week off with a 4-3 overtime loss to another team ahead of them in Tampa Bay. The Canes finished 1-1-2 and now sit in a tie for the last place in the conference.

While there were rumors that the Canes were throwing around Teuvo Teravainen’s name at the trade deadline, a deal never did commence. Instead, the Hurricanes moved Ron Hainsey to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Danny Kristo and a 2017 2nd round pick and moved Viktor Stalberg to the Ottawa Senators for a 2017 3rd round pick.

The Canes are without a doubt a long shot to make the playoffs now sitting nine points out, but if they can achieve a perfect week in the coming days, they still have an outside chance. The Canes will take on Western Conference bottom feeders Arizona Coyotes twice before ending the week with a matchup against the league-worst Colorado Avalanche. Victor Rask led the way offensively and he has developed into the Canes’ best option down the middle even while Jordan Staal is having one of his best seasons since being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins.The Canes have missed the playoffs in the last seven seasons, and that may put pressure on GM Ron Francis, head coach Bill Peters and the team owner.

Weekly Prospect Profile: C Lucas Wallmark, Charlotte (AHL)
2016-17 Stats: 54gp 19g 16a 35pts

Wallmark made his North American debut this season, and it looks like the three seasons of professional hockey is Sweden is paying off. Wallmark is second on the Charlotte Checkers in scoring, so he has definitely exceeded expectations in his first year on the club. Like most Swedish prospects, Wallmark is a renowned two-way player and should be able to keep that play up when he gets a chance in the NHL. At worst, Hallmark should be able to compete for a bottom-six role in the next few years.

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