Flyers aiming high
The Hockey News
With an 8-1-1 record in their past 10 games, the Philadelphia Flyers are one of the NHL’s hottest teams - and that’s reflected in the latest THN.com Power Rankings.
The Flyers began the year 3-3-1, but have not fallen into the kind of bad stretch that put so much pressure on them to make the playoffs last season. They’re getting outstanding point production from their forwards – including Claude Giroux’s team-best nine goals and 18 points, as well as Ville Leino’s team-leading 12 assists – and are benefiting from strong defensive play from their blueliners (including Andrej Meszaros, a plus-10 so far this season after finishing last year in Tampa Bay as a minus-14).
As well, Philly has to be pleased with the showing from rookie netminder Sergei Bobrovsky. The 22-year-old Russian has a sparkling .932 save percentage and 2.08 goals-against average – and in his past two games, Bobrovsky had a 1.50 GAA and .958 save percentage – numbers that are placing him amongst the early Vezina Trophy candidates.
The Flyers lead the second-place team (the New York Rangers) in the Atlantic Division by five points. With four games in six nights this week – two home games against Ottawa and Tampa Bay and two roadies against the Canadiens and Capitals – it won’t be a cakewalk for them to maintain that lead.
RK. | TEAM | LW | OVERALL | THE SCOOP |
1 |
| 2 | 12-3-0 | Last of the NHL’s teams undefeated at home (8-0-0) |
2 |
| 4 | 11-3-1 | Johan Franzen, Dan Cleary tied for Wings’ goal scoring lead with seven apiece |
3 |
| 3 | 13-4-1 | Alex Semin has a sizzling 21.3 shooting percentage (13 goals on 61 shots) |
4 |
| 1 | 9-3-3 | Injury to T.J. Oshie will test Blues’ mettle |
5 |
| 6 | 11-4-2 | A league-best plus-21 in goals for/against differential |
6 |
| 5 | 10-4-2 | Backup goalie Cory Schneider has a 0.90 goals-against average in four games |
7 |
| 10 | 11-5-1 | With Andrei Markov injured again, Habs need Carey Price to stay this good |
8 |
| 8 | 9-6-0 | Derick Brassard showing stellar offensive form last seen two seasons ago |
9 |
| 16 | 8-5-2 | Devin Setoguchi is struggling (two goals, and a team-worst minus-7) |
10 |
| 9 | 8-6-2 | Martin Havlat had 29 goals two years ago; currently on pace to finish with five |
11 |
| 7 | 8-5-1 | Zdeno Chara leads all Bruins in shots on net (43); runner up is…er, Shawn Thornton (34)? |
12 |
| 23 | 7-5-3 | Shea Weber an uncharacteristic minus-eight; he’s only been a minus player in one of his five previous seasons |
13 |
| 15 | 9-7-1 | Sens’ surge spurred by goalie Brian Elliott |
14 |
| 26 | 7-5-5 | Wojtek Wolski woeful in shooting percentage (one goal on 27 shots) |
15 |
| 14 | 9-7-1 | Sophomore pivot Artem Anisimov doing good work for Rangers |
16 |
| 21 | 10-7-2 | Ducks’ big quackers pull team back from the brink of playoff irrelevance |
17 |
| 13 | 8-7-1 | Chris Stewart showing last season was no fluke |
18 |
| 11 | 8-7-0 | The Mike Ribeiro first-goal-of-the-season watch continues |
19 |
| 12 | 8-7-2 | Mike Smith’s goaltending numbers (.869 save percentage, 3.62 GAA) not looking so hot |
20 |
| 20 | 9-8-1 | Kris Letang (three goals, 17 points) ahead of Evgeni Malkin (seven goals, 16 points) on Penguins’ top scorers |
21 |
| 19 | 9-9-2 | Blueliner Duncan Keith plays three more minutes than next most-played Hawks skater |
22 |
| 24 | 7-8-0 | Bryan McCabe leading Panthers in points (10) and plus/minus (plus-8) |
23 |
| 18 | 8-9-0 | Jeff Skinner a consistent bright light in a season of inconsistencies for Canes |
24 |
| 17 | 7-8-3 | Thrashers have given up a league-worst 67 goals |
25 |
| 25 | 7-9-0 | How much longer does Jarome Iginla want to be part of this mess? |
26 |
| 22 | 5-8-3 | Leafs missing edge provided by Colby Armstrong, Dion Phaneuf |
27 |
| 29 | 6-9-3 | Jordan Leopold has more points than Thomas Vanek or Tim Connolly |
28 |
| 30 | 5-10-2 | Only one regular frontline player is a plus (Travis Zajac at a plus-2) |
29 |
| 27 | 4-9-3 | Porous defense surrendering a league-worst four goals per game |
30 |
| 28 | 4-10-3 | Firing of head coach Scott Gordon may change the ship’s captain, but still lots of holes in the ship |
The Hockey News ranks the teams 1-30 each Monday based on a combination of last week’s play and a squad’s overall outlook.
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