NHL Power Rankings: Highs and Lows, and the Coyotes’ are going streaking
By Jeremy Tuch
The Pretenders
17. Colorado Avalanche (1-2-0, -2 Goal Differential)
Last week: 15
Highlight: Tyson Barrie scoring both goals in the second period to lead the Avs over the Devils.
Lowlight: Andrei Svechnikov finishing a pretty passing play to extend the lead for Carolina.
18. Arizona Coyotes (2-1-1, Even Goal Differential)
Last week: 19
Highlight: Darcy Kuemper’s efforts against both the Blues and Ducks dragging the Coyotes to victory both times.
Lowlight: Both Kuemper and Calvin Pickard being left out to dry by the defense in their 7-1 drubbing in Chicago.
19. Florida Panthers (2-1-0, +2 Goal Differential)
Last week: 20
Highlight: Mike Hoffman scoring a power play goal from the point to make the Sharks pay for a too many men call.
Lowlight: Sharks fans made a banner to commemorate Hoffman’s three hours with the Sharks between trades last summer.
20. Minnesota Wild (1-2-1, -4 Goal Differential)
Last week: 18
Highlight: Zach Parise scoring a power play goal between his legs to tie Sunday’s game against the Islanders.
Lowlight: Allowing three goals in just 2:22 to the Dallas Stars early in the second period, which was all the Stars needed.
21. Philadelphia Flyers (2-2-0, -2 Goal Differential)
Last week: 21
Highlight: Carter Hart finally returning from his injury.
Lowlight: Hart gave up five goals to the Capitals in his first game back.
22. Chicago Blackhawks (3-0-0, +9 Goal Differential)
Last week: 23
Highlight: Brandon Saad’s nifty backhand move around Frederik Andersson to cap off a four goal first in Toronto.
Lowlight: Richard Panik’s revenge goal to open the scoring for the Coyotes, though Chicago would respond with a touchdown later in the game.
23. Vancouver Canucks (2-0-1, +3 Goal Differential)
Last week: 25
Highlight: Tyler Motte scoring twice in 11 seconds against the Rangers to lead the Canucks to victory.
Lowlight: Antoine Roussel getting hurt on the second Motte goal in a nasty collision with Brendan Lemieux.
24. Edmonton Oilers (2-2-0, -4 Goal Differential)
Last week: 24
Highlight: It’s really amazing what Connor McDavid can do when he turns the jets on, as exemplified on his first goal in Arizona, flying right past Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Lowlight: Mikko Koskinen’s efforts against the Devils to stop the Oilers’ mad dash for a playoff chance dead in it’s tracks.
25. Buffalo Sabres (1-3-0, -9 Goal Differential)
Last week: 22
Highlight: Jeff Skinner seems to always be able to score in Carolina, as he did again on Saturday.
Lowlight: Roope Hintz scoring both goals in Dallas’ 2-0 win in Buffalo, including one from a really sharp angle.
26. New York Rangers (0-3-1, -11 Goal Differential)
Last week: 26
Lowlight: The entire week for the Rangers was a miserable trip through Western Canada.
Highlight: They didn’t slip in the rankings, mostly due to the cushion they had over the five teams underneath them.
27. New Jersey Devils (2-2-0, -5 Goal Differential)
Last week: 27
Highlight: John Quenneville finally scoring his first goal of the season, putting one home on a slapper against Edmonton.
Lowlight: This just about sums up Mackenzie Blackwood’s night of horrors in Calgary.
28. Anaheim Ducks (3-1-0, -1 Goal Differential)
Last week: 28
Highlight: This Ryan Getzlaf bobblehead, commemorating his deteriorating hairline, among other things.
Lowlight: This shorthanded goal by Oliver Ekman-Larsson really should have been caught by Ryan Miller. Not that I’d do any better…
29. Ottawa Senators (2-1-0, +5 Goal Differential)
Last week: 30
Highlight: Somehow scored six goals on the Maple Leafs on Saturday.
Lowlight: If you listen to the highlights, you can hear that there were probably more Leafs fans at that game than Senators fans. In Ottawa.
30. Detroit Red Wings (1-2-0, -2 Goal Differential)
Last week: 29
Highlight: While his first goal against the Islanders was kinda a mistake (see above), Andreas Athanasiou’s second goal that game came off a gorgeous feed by Danny DeKeyser.
Lowlight: Brett Kulak scoring a late second period goal to finish off what would end up being a Montreal win.
31. Los Angeles Kings (0-2-0, -3 Goal Differential)
Last week: 31
Lowlight: Jonathan Huberdeau somehow finding a way to score this goal with just under two minutes left to give the Panthers a late lead.
Highlight: The nightmare season is almost over.