Power Rankings: No. 1 Ducks peaking thanks to goaltending

After giving up 12 goals in successive losses to the Rangers and Columbus last week, the Anaheim Ducks are peaking at the right time. And most importantly, so is their goaltending.

After some rough outings, the tandem of Fredrik Andersen and John Gibson has won three straight and given up just five goals. Going into the playoffs, the Ducks will have a decision to make between Andersen, who has been a rock for most of the season, and Gibson, who has won 11 of 16 games since being recalled from the American League. The Ducks find themselves No. 1 in this week’s thn.com Power Rankings, which is where they also find themselves in the NHL standings with four games remaining. (Last week’s ranking in parentheses.)

1. ANAHEIM (9): The Ducks held the ubiquitous “players only meeting” last week and responded with three consecutive wins, all against Eastern Conference opponents and on the road, in which they gave up only five goals. Coming up: Three of their final four games at home, starting with Edmonton Wednesday night.

2. MINNESOTA (6): The Wild is a team that’s at its best when it’s really busy. Minnesota had a stretch of 30 games in 62 days and compiled a 24-5-1 mark to get back into the Western Conference race. Coming up: A breather until Thursday night when the host the Rangers in the third game of a five-game home stand.

3. MONTREAL (2): The Canadiens have the opportunity to make a late-season statement when they host Tampa Bay tonight. The Lightning has won all four games this season and outscored the Canadiens 16-5. Coming up: After tonight, they face Washington at home Thursday, then are on the road for three of their last four of the season.

4. NASHVILLE (10): The Predators hit the 100-point plateau for the fifth time in franchise history and two nights later clinched a playoff spot. Hands up all of those who predicted either of those things happening this season. Coming up: Home to Vancouver Tuesday night, then four days off until they face Dallas at home.

5. N.Y. RANGERS (1): The hurting Rangers were forced to call up Chris Summers on an emergency basis for their 5-2 loss to Washington on Sunday. With Henrik Lundqvist back and splitting the past two games with Cam Talbot, the Rangers have given up nine goals. Coming up: A late-season western trip starting Tuesday night in Winnipeg. The Rangers are 16-5-5 against Western Conference teams this season.

6. PITTSBURGH (15): When Chris Kunitz scored on the power play in Sunday’s 3-2 shootout win over Arizona, it was just his second goal in 27 games. Defenseman Kris Letang remains sidelined with a concussion, which could be serious given his history with head injuries. Coming up: Home to Philadelphia Wednesday night, then four of their final five games on the road.

7. CHICAGO (7): Prior to their come-from-behind 4-3 win over Winnipeg Sunday, the Blackhawks had dropped to fourth place in the Central Division. Coming up: Home to the defending Stanley Cup champs tonight, then back-to-back against Vancouver and Buffalo Thursday and Friday.

8. TAMPA BAY (3): The Lightning could stop a late-season swoon and enhance its chances of finishing first in the Atlantic Division with a win in Montreal tonight. It would also sweep the five-game series against the Habs. Coming up: After the Montreal game, Tampa is in Toronto Tuesday night, then continue on to Ottawa and Florida.

9. ST. LOUIS (8): After missing 25 games with an abdominal injury, Kevin Shattenkirk played 21:34 in a loss to Columbus on Saturday. Alex Steen left the same game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. Coming up: Home to Vancouver tonight and Calgary Thursday, then the last two road games of the season in Dallas and Chicago.

10. N.Y. ISLANDERS (13): The Islanders are throwing some kind of farewell party for the Nassau Coliseum. Prior to beating Detroit 5-4 at home Sunday, they had dropped seven in a row there. Coming up: Three of their final five games on the road, starting with a trip to Columbus Thursday night.

11. WASHINGTON (16): Capitals coach Barry Trotz shuffled his lines in a big way Sunday, splitting up Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom and putting Joel Ward on the top line. The moves paid off in a 5-2 win over the Rangers. Coming up: Ovechkin will try to become the first (and only) 50-goal scorer this season starting Tuesday night when the Capitals host Carolina.

12. VANCOUVER (11): The Canucks open a four-game road trip tonight in St. Louis, which isn’t a problem considering they’re 22-12-3 on the road this season. Coming up: The aforementioned four-game road trip, all against Central Division opponents, then their last three on home ice.

13. DETROIT (12): The Wings must be getting a little nervous about their goaltending. Aside from a 4-0 shutout by Petr Mrazek over Tampa, the Red Wings gave up 16 goals in four games. Coming up: Home to two desperate teams with Ottawa visiting Tuesday and Boston Thursday night.

14. BOSTON (20): Fans in Boston held their breath Saturday when goalie Tuukka Rask had to leave early in the second period with a dehydration issue, but he was back to his old self, stopping 30 of 31 shots in the Bruins 2-1 overtime win over Carolina Sunday. Coming up: Home to Florida Tuesday night, then four of their final five games of the season on the road.

15. COLUMBUS (22): It’s far, far too late, but the Blue Jackets are the hottest team in the NHL right now. They’re 9-1-0 in their past 10, have won six in a row and are riding a franchise-record eight-game winning streak on the road. Coming up: Now the downside. The Blue Jackets could be mathematically eliminated as early as Tuesday night when the host New Jersey.

16. CALGARY (14): The Flames will have to earn their keep if they hope to stay on the positive side of the playoff race in the Western Conference, starting with a huge game in Dallas tonight. Coming up: A nasty five-game road trip continues with games later this week in St. Louis and Edmonton.

17. WINNIPEG (5): The Jets didn’t do themselves any favors when they allowed hometown boy Jonathan Toews to tip in the winning goal for Chicago with 31 seconds left in a 4-3 regulation loss on Sunday. Coming up: Home to the Rangers and Vancouver, then three of their final four games on the road.

18. OTTAWA (4): It wasn’t long ago that the Senators had a glut of goalies. But with Andrew Hammond hurting and Craig Anderson struggling, the Senators have given up 13 goals in the past three games, all losses. Coming up: In Detroit Tuesday night, then home to Tampa Bay and Washington.

19. LOS ANGELES (19): After sweeping the New York teams, the Kings found themselves outside the playoff picture looking in once again when they dropped a 4-1 game to Minnesota on the weekend. Coming up: A five-game road trip ends tonight in Chicago, then home for two and back on the road for three.

20. DALLAS (18): The Stars are still fighting to stay alive and saying all the right things, but with six points to make up and two teams to catch, things are looking grim. Coming up: A huge game tonight when the Stars host Calgary, then St. Louis before going on the road for three of their final four games.

21. FLORIDA (17): Gutsy call by coach Gerard Gallant. With his team in a desperate bid for a playoff spot, he scratched Brad Boyes Sunday in Ottawa. Boyes hasn’t scored a goal in eight games. Coming up: Provided his shoulder is fine, Roberto Luongo will go for his 400th career win Tuesday night in Boston.

22. COLORADO (21): With a goal and eight points in four games last week, Ryan O’Reilly was named third star of the week. Coming up: Home to Edmonton, than a killer road trip through California as the Avs try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive./

23. EDMONTON (27): After missing 23 of 24 games with injuries, Taylor Hall has points in each of the four games he’s played since returning to the lineup. Coming up: In Colorado tonight, then on to Anaheim and Los Angeles for back-to-back games Wednesday and Thursday.

24. SAN JOSE (23): Even the San Jose Sharks see the reality in their season. “We’re not out of it yet, still not out of it,” Sharks coach Todd McLellan told the San Jose Mercury News. “I know there’s people probably watching and reading and going, ‘This guy’s nuts.’ But who knows? We'll see.” Coming up: Home to Colorado and Arizona, then three of their final four on the road.

25. PHILADELPHIA (24): The Flyers are considering buying out the final three years of Vincent Lecavalier’s contract if they can’t trade him in the off-season. Coming up: Visits to Pittsburgh and Carolina, then the last four games of the season at home.

26. CAROLINA (25): March Madness is March sadness for the Hurricanes. They played 11 home games in March, and their average announced (not actual) attendance was 12,470. With Duke in the Final Four, the ‘Canes might as well not exist. Coming up: The Hurricanes finish their season with five of seven on the road.

27. TORONTO (29): The Leafs have a history of ham-handing ceremonies, but their treatment of 11-year-old Garrett Gamble over the weekend was pure class from start to finish. Coming up: Hosting Tampa Bay Tuesday night, then three of their last five games on the road.

28. NEW JERSEY (26): A microcosm of the Devils season: They say they didn’t know until after their 2-1 loss to Anaheim Sunday night that they had been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, which had happened when Boston won in the afternoon. Coming up: Four of their final six on the road, starting Tuesday night in Columbus.

29. ARIZONA (30): There is no quit in the Coyotes, who won two overtime games last week and have been getting stellar play from goalie Mike Smith. Coming up: Hosting Buffalo tonight in the Connor McDavid Sweepstakes™, then on the road for three of their final five games.

30. BUFFALO (28): The Sabres have won just one game in March, and that was in a shootout. Coming up: They could all but clinch last place and the top seeding in the draft lottery with a regulation loss in Arizona tonight. At least fans will be able to cheer for the loss in the privacy of their own homes this time.