The common thought when the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks engaged in a little reality-show game of Coach Swap was that Alain Vigneault would be a breath of fresh air for the Blueshirts and that John Tortorella’s tenure in Vancouver could be tenuous. The Sedins don’t block shots, silly.
A month into the season, and the teams — both with their share of injuries — couldn’t be on more divergent paths. Torts’ Canucks flourished on a gruelling road trip, and Daniel and Henrik are right where they belong — among the NHL’s top scorers. The Canucks cannot afford to let up on the gas, however, and lose pace in the clearly superior Western Conference. As for AV’s Rangers? Well, their road trip was doubly long and came to a merciful end this week with Madison Square Garden’s renovations finally complete. Now it’s time for the Rangers to get on a run.
| Rank | Team | Previous | |
| 1 |  |
Undefeated at home, the Sharks allowed just four goals on their five-game road trip… until they ran out of steam in L.A. Wait till they get Dan Boyle back in the lineup. Four consecutive weeks at No. 1. |
1 |
| 2 |  |
Flames coach Bob Hartley isn’t at all surprised by the success of Patrick Roy’s 10-1 Avalanche. When Roy coached in the Q, he’d call Hartley every two weeks, both men in front of a computer screen splashed with game footage, and go over plays and positioning. It ain’t all bluster; Roy’s smarter than you think. The Semyon Varlamov arrest could prove troublesome, but Roy is the right coach for the job. |
2 |
| 3 |  |
Alex Steen leads the NHL in goals, even though he’s played two fewer games than runner-up Alex Ovechkin. A solid defensive team with capable goaltending has scored nine times in its last two outings. Respect. |
5 |
| 4 |  |
James Neal is still a few weeks away from returning to the Penguins lineup. His health should take some of the pressure of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin — who played inspired hockey in their big win over the Bruins Wednesday. An important statement after the Pens’ playoff spanking last spring. |
3 |
| 5 |  |
If/when the Sedins get their juicy new extension with the Canucks, they will have earned it. Heck of an October for Henrik (the NHL’s assist leader) and Daniel (top 10 in scoring, too), who have Tortorella’s club looking good. Eleven points on a seven-game road trip is no small feat. |
12 |
| 6 |  |
If you haven’t gathered by now, the West is full of heavyweights. Although losing Teemu Selanne (surgery) for two weeks isn’t ideal, so far the Ducks — like San Jose, perfect at home — have held their own on a lengthy road swing. |
4 |
| 7 |  |
The Blackhawks finally defeated a Western Conference team, splitting a home-and-home with the Wild, but they’ve owned the East. One weak spot: Backup Nikolai Khabibulin, 40, is looking like a guy who didn’t have one more year left in the tank after all. |
6 |
| 8 |  |
Phil Kessel is producing at an all-time rate, and is rightfully getting press. But we love the work of a couple of Jameses this week. Van Riemsdyk and Reimer are playing wonderful hockey right now. Shot totals, schmot schmotals. |
9 |
| 9 |  |
The Bruins had their four-game winning streak snapped by the New Jersey Devils, and the indefinite loss of Loui Eriksson is a major setback. Not just for my fantasy team, but for the Bruins. And Eriksson himself, of course. Mostly Eriksson. |
7 |
| 10 |  |
Steven Stamkos said his Lightning have “the quietest 8-3 in the league.” The record is now 8-4, but it’s time we start paying attention to a club that has knocked off the Blackhawks twice. |
14 |
| 11 |  |
Very impressed by the Canadiens’ resilience, as the injury-hampered Habs are finding a way to win with defence and goaltending (Carey Price is great, but stop sleeping on Peter Budaj and his 0.50 GAA!). The Habs have allowed just four goals in their last four games. |
20 |
| 12 |  |
The Kings faced a good test Wednesday against the Sharks, and rallied like champs. Still, Jonathan Quick’s goals-against average must come down for this team to round into 2012 form. |
11 |
| 13 |  |
What makes the Coyotes dangerous is their score-by-committee approach. There is no one guy to key in on. Martin Hanzal, their second-highest scorer, was suspended for a couple games, but Phoenix still beat the Kings. Now, about that attendance… |
10 |
| 14 |  |
Remember when the Red Wings couldn’t lose at Joe Louis if they tried? Building on the Tigers’ exit from the MLB post-season, Detroit lost every game of a three-date home stand. |
8 |
| 15 |  |
The Blue Jackets have no worries in net, they’re scoring goals, and defenceman James Wisniewski — four-game point streak — is on fire right now. Look for them to contend for a spot in the East. |
16 |
| 16 |  |
Anytime Dany Heatley wants to get going will be fine with the Wild. The contract-year winger has one goal and three points through 13 games. Getting minutes hog Jonas Brodin back from injury will be helpful, too. |
17 |
| 17 |  |
The loss of captain and blue-line rock Mark Giordano is devastating for this surprising young club. It will take some luck and more hard work if Calgary is to avoid a significant slide in November. |
22 |
| 18 |  |
The Predators are playing .500 hockey, but the loss of Pekka Rinne cannot be overstated. When their No. 1 goaltender was placed on IR, the Preds backup duo had a combined one NHL game played between them. |
15 |
| 19 |  |
Cam Ward is out again long-term and the Hurricanes have dropped three straight. God love him, but Justin Peters is not taking this team to the post-season. |
13 |
| 20 |  |
The Senators called a players-only meeting this week to focus in on winning games. It didn’t work. The Sens allowed 11 goals in their last two games and have lost three in a row. |
18 |
| 21 |  |
Word is, Alex Ovechkin is questionable for Friday. This is an average club with Ovie in the lineup; without him… yikes. A two-game skid has Washington outside of the playoff picture, but the Caps face beatable competition this week. |
21 |
| 22 |  |
The Islanders won the Thomas Vanek sweepstakes (reportedly outbidding the Leafs and Blues, among others). Now it’s time to get going. New York has dropped seven of its last nine. |
19 |
| 23 |  |
The return of Kari Lehtonen to the lineup has given the Stars a chance to win every night. Big, emotional victory in Buffalo this week for coach Lindy Ruff, who promised his players an extra day off if they won in his former city. |
26 |
| 24 |  |
As bad as things look for the Rangers, who have a league-worst goal differential of minus-19, they’ve won two straight and have the same number of W’s (four) as two teams in the East’s top eight (Carolina and the Isles). |
27 |
| 25 |  |
Some decent individual efforts on this team from centre Bryan Little (seven goals) and Dustin Byfuglien (nine assists), but the Jets nine losses can only be topped (bottomed?) by the Oilers in the West. |
23 |
| 26 |  |
Team points leader Jaromir Jagr has now passed everyone but Gordie Howe in terms of game-winning goals, and the Devils have earned points in three straight — despite supposed No.1 Cory Schneider going down with a lower-body injury. |
28 |
| 27 |  |
Padding their position with a pair of loser points this week, the Panthers have only won two of their seven games at home, where they now hand out free tickets for every victory. |
25 |
| 28 |  |
The Oilers are loose and unorganized. They play sloppy defence and need to acquire a better goaltender. But don’t call them a junior team. |
24 |
| 29 |  |
The Flyers won consecutive games for the first time this week, and a now-healthy Vincent Lecavalier scored a hard-work hat trick against the Islanders. It was the only time Philly as a team scored more than twice in a game all season. |
29 |
| 30 |  |
Look at the bright side: GM Darcy Regier appears to have won that Thomas Vanek trade. Two high draft picks, plus Matt Moulson makes him look genius by scoring twice in his first game. |
30 |