CBCSports.ca predicts a Blues-Penguins Stanley Cup final this year and if the Blues can continue their stingy defence-first ways they will be a difficult opponent to beat in a seven-game series. (Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
We're down to the final four days of the 2011-12 NHL regular season. Therefore, this is our final power rankings. Please hold all your applause to the end.
So we should make a Stanley Cup pick with the playoffs around the corner. We like the St. Louis Blues meeting the Pittsburgh Penguins in the final with the Blues prevailing in a seven-game series.
Since the 2004-05 lockout, no team has been able to prevent goals like the Blues this season. Their miniscule 1.86 goals against average has been a season to remember. If they can continue their stingy defence-first ways the Blues will be a difficult opponent to beat in a seven-game series.
Which team is your Stanley Cup favourite?
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1. VANCOUVER CANUCKS (50-21-9) The Canucks shifted their game into another gear at the right time with an impressive seven-game win streak, all without sniper Daniel Sedin.(Last Week: 4) |
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2. NEW YORK RANGERS (51-22-7) They clinched their first conference title since 1993-94 when they wound up winning the Stanley Cup. (Last Week: 3) |
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3. ST. LOUIS BLUES (48-21-10) After back-to-back losses, the Blues have an opportunity to make a statement in their final regular season games against Detroit, Phoenix and Dallas. (Last Week:1) |
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4. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (49-25-6) The Penguins have dropped three of their past five games, but they still have a deep lineup that will be difficult to beat in the postseason.(Last Week: 2) |
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5. PHILADELP HIA FLYERS (46-25-8)The Flyers will meet their state rivals in the first round and certainly sent a message with their big, tough win over Crosby and Co. last Sunday. (Last Week: 5) |
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6. NASHVILL E PREDATORS (46-26-8) They haven't been the dominant team most felt they might be with their trade-deadline additions and the return of Alexander Radulov. (Last Week: 7) |
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7. BOSTON BRUINS (47-29-4) The Stanley Cup champs are limping to the finish line with a bevy of injuries, but the good news was the sight of Nathan Horton back on skates. (Last Week: 8) |
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8. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (44-26-10) Captain Jonathan Toews hopes to return if not on Thursday than by the weekend. This will give this club a huge boost.(Last Week: 6) |
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9. NEW JERSEY DEVILS (46-28-6) Seeing Travis Zajac score the game-winner against the Islanders on Tuesday was a big deal for the upstart team. (Last Week: 10) |
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10. DETROIT RED WINGS (47-27-5) The Red Wings continue to struggle through the final quarter of the season. Can they turn the tap on in the playoffs? (Last Week: 9) |
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11. PHOENIX COYOTES (40-27-13) Mike Smith has enjoyed an incredible finish with a 219-minutes, 59-second in shutout streak in blanking San Jose, Anaheim and Columbus. (Last Week: 16) |
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12. LOS ANGELES KINGS (40-27-13) It appears the Kings are in a comfortable position to make the playoffs, but they still have a home-and-home with the Sharks to close out. (Last Week: 17) |
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13. SAN JOSE SHARKS (41-29-10) Ditto for the eighth-place Sharks. They still need to build on their back-to-back wins over Dallas.(Last Week: 13) |
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14. OTTAWA SENATORS (41-29-10) They put together a win streak at the right time to clinch a playoff spot and earn the title of the most surprising team in the NHL this season. (Last Week: 15) |
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15. FLORIDA PANTHERS (37-25-18) They have made life difficult for themselves by losing seven out of eight as they try to clinch their first playoff berth in a decade. (Last Week: 11) |
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16. BUFFALO SABRES (39-31-10) Their playoff hopes did not look promising earlier this week. Then the Capitals lose and Buffalo supplied an amazing comeback win in OT over Toronto. (Last Week: 12) |
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17. DALLAS STARS (42-33-5) Back-to-back losses to San Jose have put the Stars playoff hopes on life support. (Last Week: 14) |
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18. WASHINGTON CAPITALS (40-32-8) They still can take care of their playoff business with wins over Florida and the Rangers over the next three days. (Last Week: 19) |
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20. CALGARY FLAMES (35-29-16) Another playoff-less season has the Flames ownership and management searching for answers. (Last Week: 20) |
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21. WINNIPEG JETS (37-34-9) They didn't make the playoffs, but the return of the Jets celebratory season was punctuated with a come-from-behind win in Florida on Tuesday. (Last Week: 21) |
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22. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (37-35-7) All eyes are on Steve Stamkos and his chase to 60 goals. He needs two more with games left in Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg. (Last Week: 24) |
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23. CAROLINA HURRICANES (32-32-16) A strong second half under new coach Kirk Muller has this group excited about their chances next season. (Last Week: 22) |
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24. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (33-36-11) Islanders owner Charles Wang came out over the weekend to announce that GM Garth Snow and head coach Jack Capuano will be back. (Last Week: 25) |
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25. MINNESOTA WILD (34-35-11) The Wild has enjoyed a late-season surge and still could play spoiler with a big game against Phoenix on Saturday. (Last Week: 29) |
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26. ANAHEIM DUCKS (33-35-11) They have dropped three of their past four outings of what could be Teemu Selanne's final days as an NHLer. (Last Week: 23) |
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27. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (34-36-10) The Maple Leafs did their part as a spoiler by pushing the Sabres to the brink in the past few days. (Last Week: 27) |
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28. EDMONTON OILERS (32-39-9) The Oilers have dropped three of their last games, but have improved by more than 10 points over last year. (Last Week: 26) |
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29. MONTREAL CANADIENS (29-35-15) The latest news in a bad news season was that goalie Carey Price's season is finished because of a concussion. (Last Week: 28) |
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30. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (27-46-7) The Blue Jackets will find out next week at the draft lottery whether they will lasso the first overall pick. (Last Week: 30) |
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.
