NHL Power Rankings: Is this the year?

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Year after year they scratch and claw to make it into the playoffs only to lose out in the first round. Could this finally be the year the Nashville Predators have what it takes to make it to Round 2? Certainly based on their strong play of late, with six straight wins, it's looking that way. Goaltender Pekka Rinne has won seven of his last eight games as he gains a lot of late-season notice for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best stopper, while newcomer Mike Fisher fired a pair of goals in a 4-2 win over Dallas Saturday. Here are this week's sportsnet.ca Power Rankings:
TW	LW	Team	Our Take
1	1		Newcomer Christopher Higgins fires a pair of goals as the Canucks reach the 50-win plateau for the first time in franchise history.
2	2		Even without star scorer Alexander Ovechkin, the Capitals invade Montreal and hand the Habs their third straight shutout defeat.
3	3		The Flyers have only lost once in regulation in their last 10 games but their lead atop the Eastern Conference has shrunk to two points with the Capitals breathing down their necks.
4	7		The good news is the Penguins have won four straight. The better news is Sidney Crosby is skating hard and looking like he'll return to the lineup for an April 5 home date against New Jersey.
5	4		Rookie Logan Couture hits the 30-goal mark in a 4-1 win over Phoenix as the Sharks remain one of the NHL's hottest teams.
6	5		The Red Wings are down to third-stringer Joey MacDonald to man the crease after starter Jimmy Howard is shaken up in a win over Toronto Saturday night.
7	6		The Bruins clinched a playoff spot Sunday with a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Rookie Brad Marchand decided the game with his 20th goal of the season.
8	9		A late-season surge - six straight wins - has the Predators looking very much like a team no other team will want to face in the first round of the playoffs.
9	8		With their three top centres missing in action, the otherwise solid Coyotes get a 4-1 wakeup call from the San Jose Sharks. Phoenix out-shot the Sharks 32-27 but had trouble solving Antti Niemi.
10	13		With three straight wins the Kings should be all smiles, but that is not the case. Top scorer Anze Kopitar was lost for up to six weeks with an ankle injury Saturday in a 4-1 win over Colorado.
11	15		King Henrik Lundqvist records his league-leading 11th shutout of the season in a 1-0 victory over the Boston Bruins. Thanks in a large part to Lundqvist's spectacular play the Rangers are 8-1-1 in their last 10.
12	10		The Blackhawks are just 5-3-2 in their last 10 and are clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
13	17		Corey Perry scores both goals in Anaheim's 2-1 win over Chicago to take over the NHL's goal-scoring lead from Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos.
14	11		Steven Stamkos seems to be struck in neutral these days, but veteran Simon Gagne is starting to light it up for the Lightning who could use his supplementary offence.
15	9		The Sabres are catching fire at the right time with three straight wins and an impressive 6-3-1 mark in their last 10 games. Nathan Gerbe's fifth goal in as many games is the winner against New Jersey.
16	12		A few weeks ago he was being mentioned as a possible Vezina and Hart Trophy candidate, but suddenly Carey Price can't buy a win. He's dropped four straight and was pulled in two of those games after surrendering five goals.
17	14		The Stars can't seem to find much traction as they chase down Chicago for eighth in the West. Three straight losses and five defeats in six games is not a good sign.
18	16		A nail-biter win over Edmonton keeps the Flames slim playoff hopes alive but Calgary is running out of track because they have played more games than the teams they are chasing.
19	22		The Hurricanes earn a split against Tampa Bay, but now face tough games against Washington and Montreal as they chase down Buffalo, the Rangers and the Canadiens in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
20	21		A tough loss to the Red Wings in Detroit Saturday all but ended the playoff hopes for the Maple Leafs. This could be the sixth straight year without a playoff game for Toronto.
21	24		The Blues continue to look like a team that is poised to make a significant leap forward - next season.
22	20		Four home losses in an eight-day span accentuates the troubles this team is going through down the stretch.
23	19		There will be no dream ending to the season for the vastly-improved Devils who have fallen back to earth with six losses in 10 games.
24	26		Andrew Ladd produces the shootout winner as the Thrashers beat the Ottawa Senators 5-4 to stay hot at 6-3-1 in their past 10.
25	23		Back-to-back losses has the Blue Jackets spiraling in the West for what is yet another disappointing non-playoff year; their ninth in 10 years of existence.
26	25		Looking for light at the end of the tunnel, Blake Comeau scores his 21st goal of the season in a 4-1 loss to the Flyers.
27	28		The Senators continue to get strong play from candidates who are hoping to impress enough down the stretch to be considered for employment next season.
28	27		The Panthers lose starter Tomas Vokoun with back spasms and then lose in a shootout to Pittsburgh.
29	29		Milan Hejduk reaches the 20-goal plateau for the 11th straight season.
30	29		Hopes of ending Calgary's playoff dreams fall a goal short as Edmonton loses 5-4 to the Flames.

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