Versus.com Power Rankings

April 1

Eastern Conference |  Western Conference

1. Boston Bruins
Comment: On pace to finish with their most points since 1972 (119), their last Cup win.
Last week: 1

2. Washington Capitals
Comment: The Caps started March by going 0-3-1 and finished the month by going 6-2-1. Last week: 3


3. New Jersey 
Comment: Six goals in five games prompted Brent Sutter to rip every player but Marty Brodeur. Last week: 2


4. Philadelphia Flyers
Comment: Return of Danny Briere (groin) has boosted PP, which went 7-for-13 in consecutive wins over Buffalo, Pittsburgh and New Jersey.
 Last week: 4

5. Carolina Hurricanes
Comment: Rod Brind’Amour got hot with 16 points in 12 games and Canes won six straight and nine in a row at home. 
Last week: 5

6. Pittsburgh Penguins
Comment: Have put some heat on the fourth-seeded Flyers for home ice in the first round. Last week: 6


7. New York Rangers
Comment: Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers are playing well enough to pull a first-round upset. Last week: 7


8. Montreal Canadiens
Comment: With four of final six on the road, Habs will need to improve on 15-19-3 road record if they hope to secure the eighth spot.
Last week: 8


9. Florida Panthers
Comment: Tomas Vokoun has lost the confidence of coach Peter DeBoer, but is Craig Anderson the answer. Last week: 9


10. Buffalo Sabres
Comment: It’s probably too little, too late, but the Capitals sprinted to the playoffs last spring, so why can’t the Sabres? Last week: 11

11. Toronto Maple Leafs
Comment: Playing under the discerning eye of GM Brian Burke, Leafs can play spoiler down the stretch. Last week: 10


12. Ottawa Senators
Comment: Seems like the final march of the big three. Who will go, Alfie, Spezza or Heatley? Last week: 12


13. Atlanta Thrashers
Comment: Ilya Kovalchuk has scored 40-plus goals five straight seasons. Too bad he’s trapped in Atlanta. Last week: 13


14. New York Islanders
Comment: Young players are getting better and with a healthy Rick DiPietro (remember him?) they’ll make the playoffs in two years. Last week: 15


15. Tampa Bay Lightning
Comment: The Bolts desperately need help on the blue line this summer. Last week: 14



Western Conference


1. San Jose
Comment: Faced with key injuries, the Sharks step up and say they want to win the West. Last week: 2


2. Detroit
Comment: Tons of talent, but you wonder if they have the same hunger this year. Last week: 1


3. Vancouver
Comment: They go 4-2-0 in six-game road trip while allowing two goals in last three games. It looks like Roberto Luongo is back. Last week: 3


4. Chicago
Comment: Like any young team, they are totally unpredictable from night to night. Last week: 5


5. Columbus
Comment: Just starting to understand what the pressure of the playoffs is going to be like. Last week: 6


6. Calgary
Comment: Continue to fail key test after key test. That said, they would probably rather have Chicago than Columbus in the first round.
Last week: 4

7. Anaheim
Comment: Jonas Hiller has stepped in and pretty much taken over as No. 1 goalie. Last week: 7

8. St. Louis
Comment: Back-to-back wins against Columbus make strong statement about playoffs. Last week: 10

9. Nashville
Comment: Injuries are wearing down Predators, but Barry Trotz deserves consideration for coach of the year. Last week: 9

10. Edmonton
Comment: The greatest transgression this team has committed is that the once wild Oilers fans seem resigned to defeat. Last week: 8


11. Minnesota
Comment: Lack of goal-scoring, weak power play will probably do them in. Last week: 11


12. Dallas
Comment: Season-ending 4-13-3 slump is the worst run since 1995-96. Last week: 12


13. Los Angeles
Comment: Jonathan Quick might be solving the goaltending question going forward. Last week: 13


14. Phoenix
Comment: Scottie Upshall, Matthew Lombardi showing they can fit in for the future. Last week: 14


15. Colorado
Comment: Talk of complete makeover for front office, coaching staff means rebuilding could be just starting. Last week: 15


Contributors: Mike Heika & Chuck Gormley

Versus.com Power Rankings will appear every week for the remainder of the regular season

Archive
Mar. 25: Hurricanes, Ducks on the move
Mar. 18: Rangers, Oilers on the upswing
Mar. 11: Canucks holding down West
Mar. 4:   Pens climb without Sid
Feb. 25: Devils and Sharks at the top
Feb. 18: Eastern Conference | Western Conference