NHL Power Rankings: You wanted parity?

You wanted parity? You got it. The top five teams in the NHL – Vancouver, Philadelphia, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay – have a combined record of 31-16-3 in their past 10 games. By comparison, the bottom five teams – Toronto, New Jersey, the Islanders, Ottawa and Edmonton – have a combined record of 28-17 and five in their past 10 games. No wonder we have one of the most interesting playoff races in recent memory unfolding before out very eyes. Fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride.
TW	LW	Team	Our Take
1	1		Thanks to a wealth of talent up front and solid goaltending the Canucks are surviving while their defence has been decimated.
2	2		The Flyers go penalty free in defeating the Rangers 4-2 Sunday to maintain the second place standing in the league.
3	4		Todd Bertuzzi celebrates his 1,000th NHL game by scoring the shootout winner against Minnesota.
4	6		After a couple of years of trying, the Bruins finally persuade the Maple Leafs to send defenceman Tomas Kaberle their way for what they hope will be a deep run in the playoffs.
5	3		Of the top 12 teams in the overall standings, the Lightning is the only team that has given up more goals than it has scored. Perhaps newcomer Eric Brewer can help reverse that trend.
6	5		There is lots of talk that Sidney Crosby is nowhere near ready to return to action. That is not good for the Penguins…or for hockey.
7	11		The high-flying, defence-first Coyotes have now won seven straight – six of them by a goal.
8	13		Devin Setoguchi, whose name has been mentioned over and over in trade rumors, pops three goals as the Sharks run their winning streak to three with a 4-0 win over Colorado.
9	7		Despite a great game by Ryan Miller, the Capitals edge the Sabres 2-1 to creep within three points of the Southwest Division-leading Tampa Bay Lightning.
10	16		A crowd of 41,022 gather at McMahon Stadium to watch the Flames continue their amazing rise from the ashes in the Western Conference with a 4-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens.
11	12		Mike Fisher looks right at home in Nashville with a goal and three points in his first four games with the Predators.
12	8		Four straight losses and just two wins in their last 10 games have the Dallas Stars clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
13	10		An injury-depleted blueline has the Canadiens struggling and moving in the wrong direction.
14	14		Nicklas Backstrom plays superbly making 38 saves but the Wild lose 2-1 to the Red Wings in a shootout.
15	15		What a league. The Kings were rolling along nicely with an 11-game undefeated streak and then they get skunked by the Islanders. Go figure.
16	26		That’s right, the Devils jump from 26th to 16th. With seven straight wins and a 9-0-1 mark in their last 10, the Devils are starting to make some people believe they could actually make the playoffs.
17	9		Goaltending is suddenly a huge issue in Anaheim with starter Jonas Hiller sidelined because of dizziness and fatigue. The Ducks have dropped three in a row.
18	18		The Blackhawks are trying desperately to not become the first team since the 2006-07 Carolina Hurricanes to miss the playoffs a year after winning the Stanley Cup.
19	20		The Blue Jackets have become road warriors with six straight victories away from home as they continue to push for a playoff spot in the West.
20	17		The struggling Rangers have dropped two in a row and now Marian Gaborik has a concussion.
21	19		Still waiting for the Hurricanes to make that late-season surge to get into the playoffs. Maybe it isn’t coming.
22	24		Blues killer Chris Stewart joins the team in a trade with Colorado and pays immediate dividends with two goals in a 9-3 win over Anaheim.
23	21		What had been a great season is falling to pieces. Now there’s talk of trading defenceman Zach Bogosian (which is crazy!) and the team relocating to Winnipeg.
24	23		The new ownership is in place in Buffalo. Let’s hope that means some help for Ryan Miller is on the way.
25	25		Mike Santorelli scores two goals in regulation and then manages the shootout winner as the Panthers beat the Lightning.
26	22		The Avalanche are winless in 10 games now – their longest such streak since relocating to Colorado from Quebec for the 1994-95 season.
27	28		Give GM Brian Burke credit; his recent deals have provided the club with something it hasn’t had in a long, long time – hope.
28	27		Matt Moulson scores two goals against his brother-in-law, Jonathan Quick, in a 3-0 win over the Kings.
29	30		Rookie Taylor Hall records his first NHL hat trick – scoring three straight goals in the third period Saturday in a 5-3 win over Atlanta.
30	29		Craig Anderson blanks the Leafs 1-0 in his debut with the Senators.

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You wanted parity?

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