Week 23 Power Poll

We are less that two weeks away from the end of the NHL regular season and there is a lot left to be determined.

So far only five teams have clinched playoff spots with one those teams clinching their division. On the other end of the standings only four teams have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. That means the fate of 21 NHL teams are still to be determined.

This will be the final Power Poll for the 2011-2012 season I'll be traveling the rest of the week but I will return right before the post-season with my playoff preview.

In the meantime here are the Power Rankings for week 23.


1.    St. Louis                  47-20-9         103 points
The Blues look well on their way to their first Central Division title in 12 years and maybe their second President's trophy. That being said I still don't think they are the favorite to win the Stanley Cup.

2.    N.Y. Rangers            47-21-7     101 points
Right now I think the Rangers are one player short of being a Stanley Cup favorite. I'll get a better feel for them tomorrow night.

3.    Pittsburgh              47-22-6     100 points
I picked the Penguins to win the Stanley Cup at the start of the season. Yeah, I'm feeling pretty good about that.

4.    Vancouver                45-21-9     99 points
The Canucks are the 1st team in the NHL to win their division. Of course when you compare their talent to the other four teams no one should be surprised.

5.    Detroit                    45-25-5     95 points
If the Red Wings can clinch home ice in the 1st round and get Nicklas Lidstrom back in the lineup they are a threat to win their 5th Stanley Cup in 15 years. If not, it could be a quick exit.

6.    Philadelphia              44-23-8     96 points
OK Flyers fans, how comfortable do you feel going into the playoffswith Bryzgalov in goal and no Pronger on defense?

7.    Boston                  44-28-3     91 points
I'm not sure if the Bruins can repeat as Stanley Cup Champions but I do know they will not be an easy team to beat in April.

8.    Nashville                  44-24-8     96 points
Right now they look like they are on a collision course with Detroit in the 1st round. And yes, this concerns me.

9.    Chicago                    42-26-8     92 points
Duncan Keith five game suspension might be a blessing in disguise for the Blackhawks as he gets some rest before the post-season.

10.    New Jersey            42-28-6     90 points
With 90 points on the season the Devils look like they will return to the playoffs after missing last year for the first time in 13 seasons.

11.    Dallas                     41-29-5     87 points
Nice job by Glen Gulutzan, winning over 40 games in his first season as head coach. It still might not be enough to make the playoffs.

12.    Colorado                   40-31-6     86 points
In my opinion, no one has overachieved more in the West than the Avalanche. It still might not be enough to make the playoffs.

13.    Los Angeles             37-26-12     86 points
It's taken longer than expected but the Kings are starting to play like a playoff team. A division title is still possible.

14.    San Jose                  38-27-10     86 points
I picked the Sharks to come out of the West at the start of the season. I'm not feeling too good about that pick.

15.    Phoenix                    37-27-13     86 points
I'm not sure how Dave Tippett does it but each year he finds a way to have his team in the middle of a playoff chase. That being said I'm not sure the Coyotes make it.

16.    Ottawa                    38-28-10     84 points
No team in the NHL has overachieved more than the Senators this year. They just have to survive two more weeks to clinch a playoff spot.

17.    Washington              38-30-8     81 points
Capitals host Buffalo tomorrow night in what could be the biggest game of the season for both teams.

18.    Florida                 36-24-15     85 points
I don't think they are the best team in the Southeast but Washington's failure to take charge may give the Panthers their first division title.

19.    Buffalo                   37-29-10     80 points
See Washington.

20.    Winnipeg                  35-32-8     76 points
A record of 12-21-4 on the road could be the reason the Jets miss the playoffs.

21.    Calgary                    34-27-15     83 points
After watching the Flames play against Minnesota on Thursday I have to think Brent Sutter's days as head coach are numbered.

22.    Tampa Bay                34-33-7     75 points
While they are still mathematically alive the top priority for the Lightning has to be what to do in goal for next year.

23.    Toronto                   33-34-9     75 points
Looks like seven years and counting for the Maple Leafs missing the playoffs.

24.    Anaheim                   32-32-11     75 points
With the Ducks looking like they will miss the playoffs I can't help but wonder if we are seeing the end of Teemu Selanne.

25.    Minnesota                  31-34-10     72 points
My only plea to Wild owner Craig Leipold is not to make any rash decisions this summer. Let the GM keep doing what he's doing.

26.    Carolina                  30-31-15     75 points
Blowing a four goal lead in a 5-4 loss to a slumping Red Wings team pretty much sums up how this season has gone for the Hurricanes.

27.    N.Y. Islanders        31-33-11     71 points
The National Post had an interesting article last week about how relevant the Islanders are. It's a fair question.

28.    Edmonton                  31-36-9     71 points
There is a good chance the Oilers may not finish last in the division.

29.    Montreal                  29-34-13     69 points
Dieu merci la saison est presque terminée. 
That's French for "Thank God the season's almost over."

30.    Columbus                  24-44-7     55 points
One of the reasons the Blue Jackets are bad, their goal differential is -68. That 20 goals worse than the next closest team.