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Sports

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 21, 2007

Updated: 10/21/2007 12:22 am

1. SENATORS: A goalie controversy is brewing between Ray Emery and Martin Gerber, but so what? All they do is win.

2. RED WINGS: No goalie controversy here, but there is an early MVP candidate in NHL scoring leader Henrik Zetterberg.

3. FLYERS: Yes, G Martin Biron (two shutouts already) is making that big of a difference, and this team is back.

4. WILD: Do you go with Niklas Backstrom and his 1.38 GAA, or Josh Harding and his 0.00? Decisions, decisions.

5. HURRICANES: As long as 38-year-old Rod Brind'Amour is on a point-a-game pace, they'll be tough to beat.

6. BLUES: Why not? They look like a different team with Paul Kariya on the roster.

7. BRUINS: Surely, G Tim Thomas (1.26 goals-against average) can't keep this up.

8. AVALANCHE: Second-year C Paul Stastny already looks better than last year with 13 points in his first six games.

9. ISLANDERS: Old-timer Bill Guerin broke through with a hat trick Thursday, proving he still has it three weeks shy of his 38th birthday.

10. STARS: Mike Modano should pass Phil Housley on the all-time scoring list among Americans any day now. Of course, we said that last year.

11. FLAMES: Former Lightning C Daymond Langkow collected his 200th goal and 500th point in a victory Thursday.

12. SABRES: Only in hockey would a guy who had heart surgery (D Teppo Numminen) think about coming back at all, let alone the same season.

13. SHARKS: Just like last year, they're waiting for 2005-06 goals champ Jonathan Cheechoo to get it going.

14. MAPLE LEAFS: So far, the Vesa Toskala experiment in goal isn't working out (3.99 GAA, .886 save percentage).

15. DUCKS: They seem to be snapping out of their early season London fog.

16. LIGHTNING: Vinny Lecavalier should be applauded once again for his foundation's $3 million gift to All Children's Hospital.

17. PENGUINS: They still could go far this year, but they'll need better from G Marc-Andre Fleury (.871 save percentage).

18. CAPITALS: Definitely miss the scoring touch of LW Alexander Semin (ankle, injured reserve).

19. CANUCKS: Roberto Luongo has struggled so far, but the team still needs to score more than 3.0 goals per game.

20. PANTHERS: After a rough beginning to his Florida career, G Tomas Vokoun has begun to settle in.

21. DEVILS: They desperately need some home cooking, but still have one more road game before the new arena opens in Newark.

22. BLACKHAWKS: Rookie Jonathan Toews (four points in four games) seems to be fitting right in after getting a late start because of an injury.

23. BLUE JACKETS: Scored a mere 12 goals in their first five games, three by Rick Nash.

24. OILERS: Big-time free agent D Sheldon Souray hits the tub with a separated shoulder after scoring once in six games.

25. PREDATORS: A lackluster start won't help the lackluster support they're getting in Nashville. Hamilton, Ont., anyone?

26. CANADIENS: Need to find someone other than Saku Koivu and Alexei Kovalev to score goals.

27. RANGERS: Jaromir Jagr and Chris Drury have two goals combined in six games? That ain't good.

28. COYOTES: The problem? A guy who never has scored more than nine goals in a season (Fredrik Sjostrom) leads them in goals.

29. KINGS: If the Lakers really want to scare Kobe straight, threaten to trade him to this team.

30. THRASHERS: If fired coach Bob Hartley wasn't good enough, why is the guy who hired him (GM Don Waddell)?

POWER RANKINGS

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