NHL Power Rankings: Hawks rising up

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The defending Stanley Cup champions are making their move - not to defend their title, but to make the playoffs. After breaking up their Stanley Cup-winning team because of cap concerns and then struggling through most of the season, the season, the Hawks have won four straight and are sitting in ninth place in the Western Conference standings. Here are this week's sportsnet.ca Power Rankings:
TW	LW	Team	Our Take
1	1		The Canucks remain the NHL's best team when playing at home, but took one on the chin from the visiting Boston Bruins Saturday night. A loss is a loss, but it should be concerning to the Canucks that the Bruins handled them physically.
2	2		Chris Pronger continues to nurse a swollen hand in his season of injury after injury, but the Flyers bolster their blueline with the addition of Nick Boynton.
3	3		Pavel Datsyuk scores in regulation and then adds the shootout winner in a come-from-behind victory over Buffalo. Wings are starting to fly.
4	4		It is looking more and more like the Bruins are becoming Milan Lucic's team and based on his tough, two-way play that is a very good thing. Bruins continue to impress in what seems to be a wide open Eastern Conference.
5	5		Vinny Lecavalier has found his game on offence and you could make the case he has become a better two-way star who now takes his defensive chores more seriously.
6	7		The Coyotes have dropped three in a row, but managed to get a point by taking Chicago to the shootout. Can't say enough about the job Dave Tippett has done as coach of this club.
7	8		The Sharks stumbled through the first half and it looked like GM Doug Wilson was going to have to make significant changes, but his patience has paid off as San Jose is now one of the hottest teams in the league - and finally playing with a bit of an edge.
8	6		Still no sign of Sidney Crosby making a return any time soon, but the Penguins added potential offence in James Neal and Alex Kovalev. GM Ray Shero gets full marks for his annual deadline moves.
9	9		The Caps are 5-5-0 in their last 10 and still don't look anything like a team that will make a serious run for the Cup. Wonder if anything will change between now and the playoffs?
10	12		The Stars shocked the hockey world when they traded young stud James Neal, but puck-moving defenceman Alex Goligoski has looked good early with Dallas.
11	10		The Flames Cinderella season continues with a 1-0 win over the Blues. Amazing what a difference allowing the players to feel comfortable in their own skin has made.
12	14		Jose Theodore, yeah, that Jose Theodore, makes 46 saves as the Wild defeats Anaheim 3-2 in overtime.
13	15		Sophomore defenceman Drew Doughty seems to be shaking off the cobwebs just in time for the Kings to get back to playing to their potential.
14	13		The Habs have won just three of their past 10 games, but a 4-3 decision over Carolina Saturday keeps them firmly in a playoff position.
15	11		David Legwand's 10th goal of the season gives the hard-working Predators a much-needed victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, one of the teams they are battling with for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
16	17		Funny thing, the coach and GM both get significant contract extensions and yet this team still doesn't have a playoff position nailed down.
17	18		Make it four wins in a row for the Blackhawks who are making a charge to get back into the playoffs. The Hawks tie up solid defenceman Brent Seabrook with a five-year contract.
18	19		The Blue Jackets have been red-hot in making a charge to the playoffs so Sunday afternoon's loss to Columbus is a killer.
19	16		After a tough loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Devils resume their winning ways with a scrappy 2-1 win over the Florida Panthers to keep their remote playoff hopes alive. Nine points out of the playoffs now - unbelievable!
20	20		The Rangers add hard-shooting defenceman Bryan McCabe from Florida, but go 0-for-4 on the power play in a loss to Tampa Bay in his debut.
21	22		Did the Blues give up on the season by trading Brad Boyes to Buffalo or did they simply take another step along the path of, once we get good, we'll be good for a long time?
22	21		The Canes bring Cory Stillman home, but the way they have been playing lately, which is how they have been playing most of the season, there's no indication a serious playoff run is in the offing.
23	24		The Sabres have a new owner who has boatloads of money and says he'll spend whatever it takes to make the team better.
24	25		The offence-starved Panthers drop a 2-1 decision to the Devils as GM Dale Tallon prepares to tear the team apart to start a rebuild.
25	23		A huge come-from-behind win against Toronto is probably not enough for the Thrashers (2-6-2 in their last 10) to make a realistic push for the playoffs.
26	27		Even with points in their last two games, both overtime losses, the Maple Leafs dream of making the playoffs take a massive hit. Still, there's hope for Leafs Nation.
27	28		It obviously won't happen this year, but the Islanders actually seem to be stumbling onto something good. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10.
28	26		What a difference a year makes. The Avs were one of the NHL's surprise teams last year and now it is surprising how far they have fallen. Ouch!
29	29		All that really remains for this year is to see what the Oilers will do to shape things for next year.
30	30		With an eye on next season the Senators were thrilled with Erik Condra's two goals in a shocking win over Philadelphia.

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