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NHL Power Rankings

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 18, 2007

1. Senators: At this rate, they'll have the Northeast Division wrapped up by New Year's Day.

2. Red Wings: Their plane got stuck in the mud in St. Louis, but it's about the only thing slowing them down.

3. Flyers: They'll have to figure out what to do without Simon Gagne (concussion) for a few weeks - at least.

4. Predators: Six-game losing streak in October is a fading memory.

5. Lightning: Sometimes, they look like they're ready to win another Stanley Cup.

6. Hurricanes: They'll need to figure out a way to hang with the Lightning if they're going to hang on in the Southeast Division.

7. Sharks: They've struggled at home (3-4) but still control Pacific Division.

8. Avalanche: G Peter Budaj is the starter, but Jose Theodore has been better statistically.

9. Canadiens: Their good start is because of a respectable road record (6-3-1) and the league's best power play.

10. Rangers: They're starting to come around, and G Henrik Lundqvist is the main reason.

11. Wild: They've slumped lately because of injuries. When they get healthy, they'll make a big push in the Northwest Division.

12. Blackhawks: Go ahead and pencil in Patrick Kane for Rookie of the Year.

13. Blue Jackets: G Pascal Leclaire is getting a lot of credit, but Rick Nash (20 points) is a reason they're winning, too.

14. Islanders: They could use another four-game win streak, like the one that began November. G Rick DiPietro's second shutout Thursday was a good start.

15. Ducks: How extravagant of the defending champs to let their sometime-starting G Ilya Bryzgalov go through waivers. They'd better hope J.-S. Giguere can still do it.

16. Bruins: The way G Tim Thomas is playing, if this team could score at all they've be right there with Ottawa in the Eastern Conference.

17. Stars: Apparently, all it took for Jussi Jokinen to become a four-goal scorer was for Dallas to fire GM Doug Armstrong.

18. Blues: These guys could make it a party of five from the Central Division in the Western Conference playoff field.

19. Canucks: They've still got a steep hill to climb, but at least G Roberto Luongo is beginning to play up to his Vezina Trophy potential again.

20. Maple Leafs: As poorly as they've played on defense and in net, losing D Pavel Kubina (knee) indefinitely won't help.

21. Thrashers: Either Don Waddell was born to coach, or assistant Brad McCrimmon is thriving with a freer hand. Either way, it looks like Bob Hartley needed to go.

22. Kings: G Jason LaBarbera (.910 save percentage) is actually playing well enough for L.A. to have optimism going forward.

23. Flames: It's not Mike Keenan's fault that G Miikka Kiprusoff has played so poorly. But Keenan might take the heat, anyway.

24. Penguins: The Pittsburgh Penguins are the NHL's version of the Cleveland Cavaliers a few years ago. Big-time talent base, not enough experience for it to matter.

25. Panthers: Well, they've been passed in the Southeast Division by the Thrashers. How bad does that make Florida?

26. Devils: Veteran goalie Martin Brodeur finally gets his 500th career victory.

27. Oilers: The shoulder injury suffered by Sheldon Souray in October is worse than first believed. So is Edmonton.

28. Sabres: The question now is, will Maxim Afinogenov, a 23-goal scorer last season, ever find the back of the net again? Without Chris Drury and Daniel Briere, maybe not.

29. Coyotes: Will adding former Ducks G Ilya Bryzgalov turn things around? If Saturday's shutout was any indication, maybe so.

30. Capitals: Here's a radical idea that'll never come to fruition - trade G Olaf Kolzig for some decent skaters and scorers.

Carter Gaddis

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