Weekly Power Rankings

Welcome to our Week 2 Power Rankings.

Not a ton of movement on the power front, as we are only a few games into the season. Enjoy!

Lask weeks ranking is listed in ( )

Forwards:

1. (1) Crosby – Still the STAR. He’s #1
2. (3) Nash – Big night against Luongo...and he didn’t even score.
3. (2) Iginla – Slow start (1 assist in first two games) is not a worry.Team is winning.
4. (4) Richards – Endorsement still looms large. 2 goals in two games doesn’t hurt either
5. (6) E. Staal – Took a puck in the head and came back to score a goal. We really like him.
6. (7) Carter – The goal machine (2 goals in first two games) is on an 82 goal pace.
7. (9) Toews – Sure it was Florida, but he played well. Shootouts matter at Olympics.
8. (5) Getzlaf – An assist in first game. Big centre will be fine.
9. (8) Lecavalier – Same as Getz in front of him. One assist so far.
10. (11) Morrow – Steady start to season. Still early.
11. (12) Doan – Has been the consummate leader so far in the tough situation in Phoenix.
12. (13) Thornton – Fate still very much tied to Heatley.
13. (14) St. Louis – Little guy has come out of the gate like a gangbuster.
14. (10) Heatley – Despite his two assists, he looks disinterested thus far.
15. (15) Perry – We still think he can steal a spot.
16. (16) Gagne – May not get the “prime time” time to shine in Philly this year.

*From out of nowhere, Paul Kariya looks GOOD! Keep him on the radar…he’s on ours.

D-Men

1. (1) Niedermayer – He’s still the cornerstone of the defense.
2. (2) Pronger – Two assists, plus 3, 6 PIMs…fitting in nicely in Philly.
3. (3) Boumeester – Playing almost 30 minutes a game in Calgary. He’s been solid.
4. (4) Weber – Not going anywhere on this list.
5. (6) Phaneuf – Looks interested and rearing to go thus far. Sedin knows.
6. (5) Boyle – Still to be counted on.
7. (9) – Keith – Big minutes thus far makes him our last puck mover to make the squad.
8. (7) Green – Only 1 assist in two games. Not much for all the offense the Caps have shown thus far.
9. (8) Regher – Quiet but steady so far. May be outshone by other Olympians in Calgary.
10. (NR) Burns – Hickcock’s comment prompts us to “PUT HIM ON THE BOARD”

The Goalies

1. (1) – Brodeur – Bad week for him. Eek!
2. (2) – Luongo – Worst week for him. Double Eek!
3. (4) – Fleury – 2 and 0 to start. No signs of Stanley Cup hangover in Pittsburgh.
4. (5) – Mason – Got his second win of the season against the man at #2.
5. (3) – Ward – Shelled in the Boston game.

Out and out bad week for the top three goalies from the pre-season. We're not worried however.

Till next week...
WHAMMO!!

Quick Hits

Welcome to the radar: Brent Burns

An interesting twitter post from everyone's favorite SportsCentre anchor, Jay Onrait, I saw this morning on my computer monitor.

"I don’t think there’s five defensemen like him in the league, not even close." Ken Hitchcock on Brent Burns of the Wild.

Not saying I put him on the team, but that's a strong endorsement from one of the coaches of our beloved hockey team in Vancouver.

Luongo struggling

Roberto Luongo allowed 4 goals on 12 shots last night in what became a 5 - 3 for the Canucks at the hands of the mighty Columbus Blue Jackets. This drops Luongo's record to 0 - 3 this year, in 3 games started. His save percentage is .820, with a GAA of 4.55. It may be his defence, it may be the team, but they were nearly perfect in the preseason so I'm having trouble saying there would be THAT much of a fall off.

Hey Bobbo, I know it's early, but you haven't been announced as a member of Team Canada although most figure you to be a lock. You've gotta be the best to be on this team... if we wanted a guy who doesn't win and has a terrible GAA and SV% we could have gone out and easily picked up Chris Osgood (zing!!)

Staal is tough

I have to say I let out a small expletive on Saturday night watching the Bruins - Canes game... not because I had to listen to Matty boast about "his Bruins" incessantly, but because a guy who I figure to be in Vancouver, Eric Staal, took a slapshot to the head during the game.

Thankfully, Staal returned in the 3rd and even notched a goal in a 7-2 loss to the Bruins, all but eliminating Ryan "No one can stand in front of the net like me" Smyth from Twentyten consideration. Also helping to eliminate his chances, his enrollment into the witness protection program... Oh wait, I guess he's in LA, whatever, same difference...

Women are winners

The Canadian Women's hockey team beat the US yesterday, their first win after three consecutive losses to the yanks...

... so yeah... Go Canada!