Another week of the 2FB Power Rankings brings us a new batch of teams moving up, and some familiar faces at the top. The Red Wings have clawed their way into first this week, and the Rangers continue to dominate the Eastern Conference. Check out where your team stacks up this week. The NHL has a light schedule this week before the All-Star break and as a result the Power Rankings will return two weeks from today.

1. Detroit Red Wings — (32-15-1) — 65 pts.

The Red wings are Red Hot! Winners of 6 Straight and have won 16 straight on home ice. For those of you that have been to Joe Louis in Detroit you know that when that barn is full there might not be a better atmosphere in hockey. The self proclaimed ‘Hockeytown’ lives up to its name. In a city struggling as a result of the downturn in the economy and in the car industry, they will always have their Wings.

#Notinourhouse

2. New York Rangers — (30-12-4) — 64 pts.

Brad Richards ended a 6-game pointless streak on Saturday, but even the drought from their top centerman isn’t  enough to slow down a Rangers team who has won 7 of their last 10. The Eastern Conference is shaping up to be a bit of a two horse race for the first spot. A race that could ultimately decide the Presidents Trophy as well. The Rangers and the Bruins continue to be the cream of the crop and have done it by denying their opponents from scoring. The Rangers are tied for least goals allowed in the NHL with St.Louis, at 96. The Bruins sit second with only 97 allowed.

#BeastsoftheEast

 

3. St. Louis Blues — (29-12-6) — 64 pts.

You can’t say enough about the job Ken Hithcock is doing. The Blues went from being an underachieving squad with huge potential to a team reaching their potential and challenging for top spot in the Central division, Western Conference, and the NHL. Proof that a coaching change can make all the difference.

#changeisgood

4. Boston Bruins — (31-13-2) — 64 pts.

Like the Rangers the Bruins continue to dominate teams night in and night out. The Bruins are +71 in goal differential this season. The Red Wings sit second with a +46, which tells you just how good this Bruins team is and how good they have been all season. The Bruins have also had their fair share of suspensions of late and are starting to get the reputation that they are a dirty squad.

#BigBadBruins

5. Nashville Predators — (28-16-4) — 58 pts.

Winners of 8 of their past 10. The Predators continue to get it done without the presence of a star forward. Sergei Kostitsyn and David Legwand don’t count. The predators currently sit 6th in the West, but 4th in the super competitive Central division.

#tocatchapredator

 

6. Ottawa Senators — (27-17-6) — 60 pts.

The Senators continue to play at a 7-2-1 clip and more importantly continue to separate themselves from the Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets in the playoff race. It would be tough to find someone outside of Ottawa that thought this team had a chance to make the playoffs this season at the beginning of the year. Now the Senators are looking like a tough first round opponent.

#allstars

7. Vancouver Canucks — (29-15-4) — 62 pts.

A big week ahead for the Canucks starts with a match up against the division rivals and struggling Edmonton Oilers. The Canucks then face Chicago, Detroit, and Colorado to round out the week which will tell us just how good the Canucks are this season. The Stanley cup finalists are in control in the Northwest and a win over Colorado will only spread the gap.

#NorthbyNorthwest

 

8. Pittsburgh Penguins — (27-17-4) — 58 pts.

Two Words…Evgeni Malkin. The Pens are winners of 6 straight after being losers of 6 straight. The return of Kris Letang has been the difference maker and Evgeni Malkin has taken over in the past month and looks like this seasons Hart and Art Ross trophy winner.

#Malkinitforallitsworth

 

9. Chicago Blackhawks — (29-14-6) — 64 pts.

As good as the Blackhawks have been at points this season they have also been just average. The Hawks are said to be in the market for a defenseman and a depth forward. Expect the Hawks to be busy at the deadline as they gear up for another Stanley Cup run.

#Shoptilyoudrop

 

14. New Jersey Devils — (26-19-2) — 54 pts.

A pair of 4-1 losses to Philly and Boston last week have the Devils streaking and in the wrong direction. The Sabres are in town on Tuesday and the Devils hope to enter the all-star break on a high note. Martin Brodeur said this week that he is considering returning for one more season. He said the biggest reason is because he is having fun again.

 #youplaytowinthegame

 

15. Washington Capitals — (25-19-3) — 53 pts.

Dale Hunter saw his Capitals go down 2-0 early to the Penguins on Sunday before rallying the troops and getting back into the game. The Penguins ended up on top 4-3, but the Captials look to be getting better each week. Only a big matchup left versus Boston on Tuesday before the break. Expect the Capitals to come out flying in order to hang onto that final playoff spot.

#Endonahighnote

16. Anaheim Ducks — (18-22-7) — 43 pts.

It took longer than some expected but Bruce Boudreau has the Ducks playing some great hockey. The Ducks have won 5 straight and are 8-1-1 in their past 10. Jonas Hiller has returned to form and it looks like it is going to be fun to watch the Ducks make a late playoff run. If its not too late already.

#Theyreheatingup

17. Toronto Maple Leafs — (23-19-5) — 51 pts.

The Leafs continue to match stretches of good play with stretches of poor play. The inconsistency this season must be driving Leaf fans insane. The Leafs will be buyers. Brian Burke has made no secret of that, but will only make a deal if the deal is right. The Leafs are deep defensively which should give them some buying power.

#loosenthetie

 

18. Florida Panthers — (22-15-10) — 50pts.

The Panthers are back into first in the Southeast. They sit only one point up on the quickly improving Capitals. The Panthers are ready to make it back into the playoffs, but don’t expect Dale Tallon to sell the future for mediocrity now. The Panthers need to keep pace with Washington, New Jersey, Toronto, and Winnipeg to reach the promise land for the first time since 2000.

#thatsalongtime

 

19. New York Islanders — (19-21-6) — 44 pts.

John Tavares continues to climb the ladder in the scoring race. Tavares currently sits with 48 points including 19 goals. Imagine if Tavares had more than Matt Moulson to play with.

#LonelyIsland

 

20. Calgary Flames — (23-20-6) — 52 pts.

I have been saying it all season. The Flames continue down the path of mediocrity and sit 2 points out of the playoffs. Do the flames have what it takes to get over the hump and back into the playoffs? The acquisition of Mike Cammalleri certainly helps, but where does that leave the Flames next year or the year after that?

#thetimeisnow

 

21. Montreal Canadiens — (18-21-9) — 45 pts.

The Canadiens continue to under achieve and Pierre Gauthier continues to research ways to make this team worse. He has done a masterful job so far and has Canadiens fans covering their eyes as the trade deadline approaches.

#dontlook

 

22. Winnipeg Jets — (22-20-6) — 50 pts.

The Jets have improved have worked on improving their road record, but have not been as dominant at home leaving the Jets in the same spot they have been all season. The Jets sit 3 points behind Washington for the final spot in the Eastern Conference.

#ontheoutsidelookingin

 

23. Dallas Stars — (24-21-2) — 50 pts.

3-6-1 in their past 10 the Stars are heading in the wrong direction and at the wrong time. They seem to have lost the mojo they had at the beginning of the season. At this point look for the Stars to begin a rebuild unless they can turn it around in the next two weeks.

#Stardust

 

24. Carolina Hurricanes — (17-24-9) — 43 pts.

The Hurricanes are 4-3-3 in their past 10 and the return of Jeff Skinner has given the Hurricanes a little hope moving forward, but there is likely too many team between them and Washington to have any hope of making a playoff run. Jim Rutherford unloaded Alexei Ponikarovsky on Friday signaling the beginning of a sale of anyone and everyone teams are interested in.

#ponyexpress

 

25. Phoenix Coyotes — (21-20-8) — 49 pts.

Yes for those of you who didn’t know the Coyotes are still in Phoenix. They currently sit four points out of the playoffs are a team to watch down the stretch if Mike Smith can continue to hold the Yotes in games. The Coyotes need to be better at home if they hope to be playoff bound, but its probably tough playing in front of the 10 beer vendors and 20 alcoholics that fill the seats every night.

#beerhere

 

26. Tampa Bay Lightning — (20-23-4) — 44 pts.

The Bolts are winners of three straight and Martin St.Louis has woken up from his slumber. Just like the Hurricanes the Lightning are too far back to make a run, but if St.Louis, Stamkos, and Lecavalier can get going you can never save never.

 #soyoursayingthereisachance

 

27. Columbus Blue Jackets — (13-28-6) –32 pts.

The nice part of this season is that the Blue Jackets will have a chance to win the draft lottery. The Jackets have a great track record with first round picks….or maybe I am thinking of another team.

 #isitoveryet

28. Minnesota Wild — (23-18-7) — 53 pts.

The Wild are a mirror image of the St.Louis Blues. After a red hot start it was near impossible to imagine the Wild sitting outside of the playoffs come seasons end. A lack of goal scoring continues to haunt the Wild who have consistently gotten good goaltending from the duo of Nikklas Backstrom and Josh Harding.

#Wildtimes

 

29. Edmonton Oilers — (17-26-4) — 38 pts.

The young Oilers have experienced their fair share of injuries this season. Only coach Tom Renney has managed to stay off the IR this season. The Oilers seem destined for another early draft pick. Its scary to imagine another top talent to go along with an already stacked farm system. The Oilers may shop for a goaltender or depth defenseman if the deal is right, but those kind of assets usually come at a price at the deadline.

#playingforpride

 

30. Buffalo Sabres — (19-24-5) — 43 pts.

The Sabres have lost 5 straight and their season is all but over. It hasn’t been pretty in Buffalo this season after a great start was halted when Milan Lucic lit up Ryan Miller as he left his crease to play the puck. The hit was the turning point for the Sabres and was the beginning of the end on the Sabres season and possibly of the jobs of Darcy Regier and Lindy Ruff.

#MayDay