Week 4 Power Poll

We had our first coaching change of the NHL this past weekend but it wasn't by the team I thought it would be.

I was in St. Paul on Saturday night to watch the St. Louis Blues & the Minnesota Wild and while I was in the press box I was keeping an eye on the game between Columbus & Philadelphia.

The Flyers jumped out to an 8-0 lead en route to a 9-2 win over Columbus. Rumors had been circulating about the Blue Jackets making a coaching change and bringing back Ken Hitchcock behind the bench.

Sure enough this past weekend Ken Hitchcock was hired to coach again but it wasn't Columbus making the change, it was St. Louis.

The move caught me off guard at first because off all the coaches rumored to be on the hot seat Davis Payne's name was not one that was mentioned. But with the Blues struggling on the ice St. Louis felt it was best to make a change now before things got to late.

General Manager Doug Armstrong worked with Ken Hitchcock when both were in Dallas and I think that is a bigger reason for a change than anything else. He inherited Payne when he took over as GM in St. Louis. Now he gets to bring in his own guy to coach.

As for Hitchcock I think he'll have an impact right away. He's had success coaching in Dallas, Philadelphia, & Columbus. He may wear out his welcome eventually but he'll have plenty of time to turn things around in St. Louis. With this move the onus is clearly on the players.

Here is the Power Poll for this week.

1. Pittsburgh        9-3-3  21 points
Rumors keep circulating about Sidney Crosby's return. Could be as early as Friday.

2. Dallas            10-3-0  20 points
Big road test this week for the Stars with games in Washington, Pittsburgh & Detroit.

3. Chicago            8-3-3  19 points
Duncan Keith is back practicing after missing the last three games with an upper body injury. Could return Tuesday against St. Louis.

4. Toronto            9-4-1  19 points
Despite their good start the Maple Leafs have been outscored 13-2 by Boston in head to head games.

5. Washington        9-3-0  18 points
Nicklas Backstrom (3G, 3A) named NHL's 3rd star of the week.

6. Philadelphia        8-4-2  18 points 
Flyers lead the NHL with 56 goals on the season and is averaging four goals per game.

7. Edmonton        8-3-2  18 points
Oilers had won six in a row before losing 4-2 to Phoenix on Saturday.

8. N.Y. Rangers        7-3-3  17 points
Rangers are playing well but still no word on when defenseman Marc Staal will return.

9. Minnesota        7-3-3  17 points
Josh Harding (3-0-0 with a 0.99 GAA and a .968 save percentage) named NHL 1st star of the week.

10. Buffalo            8-5-0  16 points
Jonas Enroth has been in goal the last two games instead of Ryan Miller who was pulled after giving up three goals in the 1st period against Philadelphia last Wednesday.

11. Tampa Bay        7-5-2  16 points
Anytime Steven Stamkos gets a hat trick there will be video posted on this blog.

12. Nashville        7-4-2  16 points
Big week for the Predators as Pekka Rinne signs a seven year $49 million contract to stay in Nashville.

13. Phoenix        7-4-2  16 points
Congrats to Dave Tippett on his 100 win as head coach of the Coyotes.

14. San Jose         7-4-1  15 points
Big game in the Pacific Division tonight when Sharks play the Kings.

15. Los Angeles        6-4-3  15 points
See above.

16. Vancouver        7-7-1  15 points
Five power play goals in win over Chicago help Canucks rebound after back to back losses in Minnesota & St. Louis.

17. Colorado        7-6-1  15 points
Avalanche has given up nine power play goals in last seven games.

18. Florida            6-4-3  15 points
Goalie Jacob Markstrom sent down to San Antonio to make room for Scott Clemmensen who is returning from a knee injury.

19. Ottawa            7-7-1  15 points
Senators are winless in their last three games after the six game win streak was snapped.

20. Detroit            6-5-1  13 points
5-0 win over Anaheim snaps a six game winless streak.

21. Anaheim        5-6-3  13 points
Forwards Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan & Selanne have a combined 19 goals on the season. The rest of the forwards have 3 goals.

22. New Jersey        6-5-1  13 points
Ilya Kovalchuk is doubtful for game tomorrow night against Carolina.

23. Carolina        5-6-3  13 points
Hurricanes are 2-3-1 when allowing the 1st goal of the season.

24. Calgary        6-6-1  13 points
Win the win on Sunday the Flames have won seven straight over Colorado.

25. Montreal        5-6-2  12 points
Canadiens had won four in a row before losing to New York on Saturday.

26. St. Louis        6-7-0  12 points
Blues special teams (30th on power play, 27th on penalty kill) a big reason for coaching change.

27. Winnipeg        5-7-2  12 points
Jets are 3-2-1 on seven game road trip which wraps up in Buffalo tomorrow night.

28. Boston            5-7-0  10 points
Tyler Seguin scores his 1st NHL hat trick in 7-0 rout of Toronto

29. N.Y. Islanders    4-5-2  10 points
Islanders start a three game road trip tonight in Boston.

30. Columbus         2-11-1   5 points
After 9-2 loss in Philadelphia on Saturday you have to wonder how much longer things will continue before Blue Jackets make a change.