BlogPoll NHL Power Rankings- Mid October
Through out the year, we'll ask our esteemed Bloguin hockey blogs to vote on the NHL from top to bottom. It's early in the season, but at our first check point there are a lot of important takeaways. Things that stand out include:
- Reigning 2 time Western champion, Detroit, finds itself outside of the top ten to open the year.
- The Rangers grab the number 2 spot this year with a 6-1-0 record. Off to a hot start again as last year they opened 5-0.
- The Capitals round out the top 5 despite a 4 game losing streak that recently ended. The Capitals finish the month with a favorable schedule which may end up bumping their performance to match their ranking.
- San Jose is ranked 6th yet is tied for last in their division.
- Toronto is winless and finishes October with 5 straight road games that spans both coasts of Canada and the US. This could get ugly real fast.
Without futher ado
| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 1 |  |
1.2 | - |
6-1-0 | Won 4 |
| Fleury and Crosby makes it likely the Penguins will never leave the top 5 this season. The supporting cast likely keeps them in the top 3 no matter what the standings say. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 2 |  |
4.2 | - |
6-1-0 | Won 6 |
| All 3 lines are playing great hockey right now and the goaltending has been tremendous. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 3 |  |
5 | - |
5-1-1 | Won 4 |
| The Blackhawks are generating a lot of scoring opportunities from their defenseman giving them balance they've never had before. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 4 |  |
7.3 | - | 4-1-0 | Won 2 |
| Nash seems to have the supporting cast to go deep into the playoffs. Goaltending will be the key going forward. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 5 |  |
7.5 | - |
3-2-2 | Won 1 |
| A potent offense no doubt. You just wonder if the Capitals can slow down other offensive juggernauts in the East when it comes playoff time. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 6 |  |
8.5 | - | 3-3-1 | Lost 2 |
| Heatley is off to a good start but some believe Nabokov is in for a back to earth season between the pipes. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 7 |  |
8.7 | - |
5-2-1 | Won 1 |
| The Flames are playing good hockey , except the second line which is getting destroyed. If this doesn't improve look for the Flames to flame out. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 8 |  |
8.9 | - |
3-2-1 | Lost 3 |
| Pronger has the Flyers off to a good start but you have to wonder if there are enough goals to keep with the Eastern Conferences elite. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 9 |  |
9.1 | - |
4-0-1 | Won 4 |
| The Sabres don't have anyone on the team with more than 5 points, but with Ryan Miller holding oppononts to 2 goals or less in all but one of his starts, it seems not to matter. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 10 |  |
11.2 | - |
5-1-1 | Won 3 |
| A 3-1-1 road trip and improved goaltending from Anderson has some people in Denver excited that the Ave's are back. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 11 |  |
11.5 | - |
4-3 | Lost 2 |
| Hot start has cooled down a bit with some defensive depth and lackluster goaltending seeming to emerging issues. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 12 |  |
14 | - |
3-3 | Won 1 |
| You have to wonder if the defense and Osgood are going to keep this team from making another playoff run. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 13 |  |
14.3 | - |
4-2-0 | Won 1 |
| A solid start, but lack of production from Spezza and Chechoo are somewhat concerning. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 14 |  |
14.5 | - |
3-2-1 | Won 1 |
| Whitney and Niedermayer is giving Corey Perry just enough offensive support to have the Ducks in good position to make the playoffs. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 15 |  |
14.7 | - |
3-3 | Lost 1 |
| 3-0 on the road and 0-3 at home, makes it hard to figure out the Devils. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 16 |  |
15.3 | - |
4-2-1 | Won 1 |
| Quitely the Oilers off to a good start, showing the ability to score goals from 3 different lines. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 17 |  |
16.8 | - | 3-3 | Won 1 |
| Minus a blowout of Carolina, the power play is 1 of 22 this year. Yikes! |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 18 |  |
17 | - |
2-1-3 | Lost 1 |
| Three shoot out losses and a an abysmal penalty kill has this team on the outside looking in. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 19 |  |
17.8 | - |
3-1 | Won 1 |
| A soft schedule and good special teams has the Thrashers off to a good start. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 20 |  |
19.3 | - |
2-2-1 | Lost 3 |
| Tkachuk and Kariya are playing well but the Blues are going to need more than just veteran production to help them this season. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 21 |  |
19.5 | - |
4-2 | Won 2 |
| Ilya Bryzgalov has been stellar in goal. The voters are skeptical he can keep it up, but if he does like for the Coyotes to make a big jump next time around. | |||||
| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 22 |  |
20.2 | - |
2-3-1 | Lost 2 |
| Has given up 8 power play goals in only 6 games. This too go along with a pretty tame offense. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 23 |  |
21 | - |
2-4 | Lost 1 |
| Vancouver is 0-3 on the road and they haven't been that close. Not good. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 24 |  |
22 | - |
2-2-2 | Lost 1 |
| Has given up a power play goal in every game and Goalie Mike Smith is giving up 4 goals a game. All signs point to long year. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 25 |  |
24 | - |
2-4 | Lost 4 |
| Opened up with 5 straight on the road and seemed to wear down as the road trip went on. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 26 |  |
24.5 | - |
2-4 | Lost 4 |
| The Predators have given up 7 power play goals while only scoring 1, a recipe for disaster. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 27 |  |
26.5 | - |
2-4 | Won 1 |
| The Panthers front line is getting dominated, leaving the team an uphill battle. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 28 |  |
26.7 | - |
0-2-3 | Lost 5 |
| Have played tough, but have not brought home a win. Lack of goal scorers will plague them. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 29 |  |
27 | - |
1-5 | Lost 5 |
| Open with 13 of first 20 games on the road. Not good for a team who has yet to win a road game. |
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| Ranking | Team | Avg. Rank | Change | Record | Streak |
| 30 |  |
27.8 | - | 0-5-1 | Lost 6 |
| About to embark on a 5 game road trip. This is going to get ugly...... |
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