The surprising Senators appear back on track, winning three in a row and outscoring the opposition 16-2 over the past week. (Chris O'Meara/Associated Press)
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1. DETROIT RED WINGS (41-18-2) They paid a steep price to acquire defenceman Kyle Quincey this week, but the Red Wings improved the depth on their blue-line. (Last Week: 2) |
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2. NEW YORK RANGERS (38-15-5) The Rangers have dropped two of their past three outings, including a 2-0 loss in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. (Last Week: 1) |
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3. NASHVILLE PREDATORS (35-19-6) The Predators have gone two-for-two with their new defenceman Hal Gill in the lineup, including a big 3-1 home win versus the Canucks. (Last Week: 5) |
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4. VANCOUVER CANUCKS (38-16-6) They suffered a tough loss in Nashville on Tuesday and have another difficult game lined up in Detroit on Thursday. (Last Week: 4) |
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5. ST. LOUIS BLUES (36-16-7)The Blues lost a 3-1 decision to the Blackhawks on the weekend and also lost veteran Jamie Langenbrunner for a month with a foot injury. (Last Week: 3) |
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6. NEW JERSEY DEVILS (35-20-4) The biggest surprise team this year keeps chugging along. They have gone and impressive 9-2-2 in their past 13 games. (Last Week: 8) |
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7. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (34-21-5) Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury's 2-0 shutout win over the Rangers was the 22nd of his career, tying Tom Barrasso's franchise record. (Last Week:6 ) |
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8. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (33-21-7) The Blackhawks still have a ways to go to erase the memory of their nine-game losing streak, but they're on the right track. (Last Week: 16) |
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9. PHOENIX COYOTES (30-21-9) Trading for Antoine Vermette will only bolster the Coyotes chances of locking up one of the playoff spots in the West. (Last Week: 10) |
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10. BOSTON BRUINS (35-20-2) Where has the offence gone? The Stanley Cup champs have been shutout four times in their past nine outings. (Last Week: 7) |
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11. OTTAWA SENATORS (31-22-8) The surprising Senators appear back on track. They have won three in a row and outscored the opposition 16-2 in this stretch. (Last Week: 15) |
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12. SAN JOSE SHARKS (31-20-7) So far this nine-game road trip has been a disaster for the Sharks. With three games left, they have gone 1-4-1 and they have lost four straight. (Last Week: 9) |
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13. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (33-19-7) Colourful Ilya Bryzgalov is not popular in Winnipeg after his remarks about the city earlier this season, but the goalie escaped with a win there on Tuesday. (Last Week: 14) |
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14. LOS ANGELES KINGS (27-21-12) Kings forward Kyle Clifford was not disciplined for his hit on the Coyotes' Gilbert Brule, but how long will the scars of that loss to Phoenix stick around? (Last Week: 12) |
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15. CALGARY FLAMES (27-22-8) The Flames were going well and pushed themselves into the top-eight in the West, and then they were derailed by the rival Oilers. (Last Week: 11) |
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16. ANAHEIM DUCKS (25-25-10) The Ducks dropped a tough game to the Lightning on Tuesday, but they have continued to be one of the hottest teams in the New Year. (Last Week: 18) |
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17. WINNIPEG JETS (29-26-7) That was a tough overtime loss to swallow at home against the Flyers, but the Jets still have picked up seven of eight points in their last four games. (Last Week: 22) |
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18. FLORIDA PANTHERS (27-20-11) The Panthers can feel the heat generated from the Jets. A three-game losing streak has Florida tied with Winnipeg, but the Panthers have four games in hand. (Last Week: 13) |
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19. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (27-26-6) Since general manager Steve Yzerman began selling off some of his talent last week, the Lightning has gone on a three-game win streak. (Last Week: 23) |
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20. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (29-24-7) Goaltending problems have been the latest concern for the struggling club that has just one win in seven games. (Last Week: 19) |
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21. WASHINGTON CAPITALS (29-25-5) The Maple Leafs have been there for the taking, but the Capitals have stumbled, too. The two teams meet in Toronto on Saturday. (Last Week: 20) |
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22. DALLAS STARS (30-26-4) Mike Ribeiro made a triumphant return to the Bell Centre on Tuesday as the Stars managed a 3-0 win in Montreal. (Last Week: 27) |
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23. BUFFALO SABRES (26-27-7) Can't figure out this inconsistent bunch. Win three. Lose four. Now they're back on a mini two-game victory string. (Last Week: 30) |
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24. MINNESOTA WILD (26-24-9) The Wild snapped a seven-game losing streak with an impressive 2-0 win over the Stanley Cup champs on Sunday. (Last Week: 21) |
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25.COLORADO AVALANCHE (29-27-4) We'll see what sort of an impact newly acquired Steve Downie can make in Denver. But the Avalanche sure needed his toughness. (Last Week: 24) |
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26. EDMONTON OILERS (23-30-6) Every once in a while the Oilers put it together. See their visit to the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. It was the first time they won in Calgary since Oct. 17, 2008. (Last Week: 25) |
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27. CAROLINA HURRICANES (23-26-11) They have gone an impressive 10-5-5 in the New Year and general manager Jim Rutherford locked up forward Tuomo Ruutu to a four-year extension. (Last Week: 28) |
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28. MONTREAL CANADIENS (24-27-10) The Canadiens scored only once in back-to-back losses at home to New Jersey and Dallas. (Last Week: 26) |
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29. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (18-35-7) With speculation swirling that Rick Nash and Jeff Carter could be moved before the trade deadline, the Blue Jackets have played much better. (Last Week: 29) |
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30. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (25-27-8) All of a sudden John Tavares and the Islanders have dropped three of four and can't find their offence with only one goal in two games. (Last Week: 17) |
Tim Wharnsby
Tim's worked the sports beat at The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Sun, specializing in Canada's one true sporting obsession - hockey. He knows the players, the coaches, the backroom boys and most importantly, the fans. That's what he brings to his stories. Knowledge, fairness and understanding are trademarks of a Wharnsby story. That's what you will get here as he writes for CBCSports.ca.
