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1. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (42-21-5)They have a chance to match the Bruins for the longest win streak of the season at 10 on Thursday in Manhattan. (Last Week: 3) |
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2. ST. LOUIS BLUES (45-18-8) There isn't much to pick apart about the Blues these days, but we had to move the Penguins into the top spot because of their incredible run.(Last Week: 1) |
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3. NEW YORK RANGERS (44-18-7) The Rangers have dropped three of their past five and now all-world goalie Henrik Lundqvist is dealing with an injury. (Last Week: 2) |
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4. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (40-22-7) Ilya Brygalov could set a franchise record with his fourth consecutive shutout on Thursday.(Last Week: 6) |
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5. VANCOUVER CANUCKS (42-20-8)With the Sedin twins struggling, the Canucks have not looked good in back-to-back losses to Montreal and Phoenix.(Last Week: 4) |
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6. DETROIT RED WINGS (44-24-3) The Red Wings can't get anything going with their captain Nicklas Lidstrom and best forward Pavel Datsyuk on the sidelines with injuries.(Last Week: 5) |
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7. NASHVILLE PREDATORS (41-21-7) All this talk about Alexander Radulov's return hasn't hurt the club's on-ice performance as they've won three in a row.(Last Week: 7) |
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8. DALLAS STARS (39-27-5) They fell in Winnipeg on Wednesday, but this over-achieving bunch has gone on quite a run to move into top spot in their division. (Last Week: 12) |
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9. NEW JERSEY DEVILS (40-25-5)After some tough times the surprising Devils are back on the rails with five wins in seven outings. (Last Week: 10) |
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10. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (38-25-8) With captain Jonathan Toews nearing a return from his concussion, Marian Hossa has picked up the pace with 11 points in his last 11 games. (Last Week: 11) |
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11. OTTAWA SENATORS (36-25-10) They slipped up in Montreal this week with a shootout loss, but Erik Karlsson continues to pick up steam for his Norris Trophy race. (Last Week: 9) |
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12. BOSTON BRUINS (40-26-3)The Bruins continue to their late-season flop, and the Stanley Cup champs have not found an answer in veteran goalie Marty Turco.(Last Week: 8) |
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13. LOS ANGELES KINGS (33-25-12)They have kept themselves in the playoff picture in the West with five wins in their last seven games.(Last Week: 14) |
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14. PHOENIX COYOTES (35-25-11) They have lost six of eight, but scored a huge win in Vancouver on Wednesday. (Last Week: 13) |
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15.COLORADO AVALANCHE (38-30-4) They keep piling up points and no victory felt better than the one they pulled in Buffalo on Wednesday. (Last Week: 15) |
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16. FLORIDA PANTHERS (33-23-13) The Panthers have started to get healthy again and as a result Kevin Dineen's squad has picked up the pace to hold onto top spot in the Southeast. (Last Week: 17) |
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17. CALGARY FLAMES (33-15-12)The Flames have given themselves hope with a win streak that has included victories over Montreal, Edmonton, Winnipeg and San Jose. (Last Week: 22) |
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18. WASHINGTON CAPITALS (36-28-6) The enigmatic Capitals have picked a good time to get their act together with a 7-2-1 and the concussed Nicklas Backstrom is back skating. (Last Week: 20) |
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19. WINNIPEG JETS (33-29-8) They have five games remaining at home and they better run the table if they have any chance of slipping by Buffalo and Washington in the East standings. (Last Week: 16) |
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20. BUFFALO SABRES (33-29-9) Rookie Marcus Foligno impressed his teammates with a two-goal game this week, but the Sabres lost a tough one to Colorado at home on Wednesday. (Last Week: 19) |
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21. SAN JOSE SHARKS (34-25-10) They have won only six games since the end of January and now find themselves in tough to land a playoff spot in the West.(Last Week: 18) |
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22. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (32-30-7) The Lightning snapped a three-game losing streak by shelling new Bruins backup goalie Marty Turco on Tuesday.(Last Week: 23) |
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23. ANAHEIM DUCKS (30-30-7) The Ducks also snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-0 effort at home against the ailing Red Wings on Wednesday. (Last Week: 21) |
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24. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (28-31-11) There isn't much depth, but John Tavares and Matt Moulson hit the 30-goal marks this week.(Last Week: 26) |
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25. CAROLINA HURRICANES (26-29-15) After a good run, the month of March has not been kind to the Hurricanes at 2-3-2 so far. (Last Week: 25) |
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26. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (30-32-8) We don't need to say anything more here than 2-13-2 in their past 17 games. (Last Week: 23) |
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27. MONTREAL CANADIENS (28-32-11) The Habs have played better of late with five out of a possible six points in their past three games. (Last Week: 30) |
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28. EDMONTON OILERS (27-36-7) Coach Tom Renney's hard words the other night certainly lit a fire under his team in their impressive win over Columbus on Wednesday.(Last Week: 27) |
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29. MINNESOTA WILD (29-31-10) Not much has gone right for the Wild since they bolted out of the gate so strongly last fall. (Last Week: 28) |
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30. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (22-41-7) The Blue Jackets have dropped three in a row after their season-high four-game win streak. (Last Week: 29) |
Many feel that with return of Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby, the road to the Stanley Cup in the East will go through Steeltown. (Nick Laham/Getty Images)
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.
