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Mike Brophy's Power Rankings: March 23, 2009

TW LW Team Our Take
1 1 The more I see of the Red Wings, the more I am convinced they have what it takes to repeat as champions.
2 2 Patrick Marleau remains locked in a three-way tie for first place with 10 game-winning goals.
3 3 Zach Parise continues his dream season with 41 goals and 87 points, good for fourth overall in NHL scoring.
4 5 Alexander Ovechkin scores his 50th of the season and sets off a hullabaloo with his pre-planned, over-the-top scoring celebration.
5 4 With only two games in a 12-day stretch, perhaps the Bruins will use the time to figure out why they are suddenly losing more often than they win.
6 5 The Flames remain at the No. 6 slot based on their season-long play, but another week like last week and they’ll be sure to drop.
7 8 Roberto Luongo continues to be unbeatable at home, winning his 11th straight at GM Place with a 3-0 over St. Louis.
8 10 An assist on Sunday extended Sidney Crosby’s point streak to 13 games during which he has seven goals and 23 points.
9 10 Danny Briere, who missed 53 games due to injury this season, popped two goals Friday in a win over Buffalo.
10 12 The suddenly high-octane Rangers scored four or more goals in six of their first 11 games under new coach John Tortorella.
11 9 Tough guy Ben Eager is suspended three games by the NHL for taking a head shot at Edmonton’s Liam Reddox.
12 13 Eric Staal, who had just nine goals and 14 points in 24 games under coach Peter Laviolette, has 25 goals and 50 points in 49 games under Paul Maurice.
13 14 Raffi Torres scores the tying and winning goals 73 seconds apart late in the third period in what turns out to be a 3-1 win over Florida Saturday.
14 11 Either Bob Gainey has lost his ability to teach or his players are too dumb to follow his instructions.
15 15 The Panthers hang on to defenceman Jay Bouwmeester at the trade deadline and his play goes south afterwards.
16 19 After failing to score in his first 14 games and netting just one goal in his first 26, sophomore Sam Gagner has come to life with eight goals and 14 points in his last nine outings.
17 17 With just two losses in regulation time the past 10 games, the never-say-die Predators are clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
18 16 Patrick Lalime stops penalty shots in back-to-back games.
19 20 Under-rated goalie Chris Mason improved to 15-6-5 in his last 26 games with a 3-2 win over Calgary.
20 18 Stars captain Brendan Morrow will visit the doctor Monday and expects to get the green light to resume skating after major knee surgery.
21 22 Hard to believe a team that has Chris Pronger, Scott Niedermayer and Ryan Whitney on its defence is in serious danger of missing the playoffs.
22 21 Marian Gaborik is back, but will he be enough to get the low-scoring Wild into the post-season?
23 23 Beating the Canadiens in Montreal and having the Habs leave the ice to a chorus of boos is music to the ears of the Leafs.
24 25 Captain Daniel Alfredsson scores a goal and an assist in a victory over Montreal, marking his 10th multi-point game in 20 games since Feb. 1.
25 24 The Kings rally from a 2-0 deficit to beat Boston 3-2 in overtime, the first time this season they have won on the road after trailing by two goals.
26 26 Slava Kozlov’s 23rd shootout winner in a 4-3 decision over Tampa Bay makes him the NHL’s all-time leader in that category.
27 28 Matthew Lombardi has three goals and five points in nine games since joining the Coyotes from Calgary.
28 27 Joe Sakic is working hard to try to make it back for at least one more game this season. What a pro!
29 29 The Thrashers allowed 15 goals in their last three games, but Tampa Bay couldn’t cash in, losing 4-3 in a shootout.
30 30 Josh Bailey scored twice in a 5-2 loss to the Senators.