Steered by the guidance of new coach Craig Ramsay, the Atlanta Thrashers continue to turn heads – and climb up the THN.com Power Rankings.
The Thrashers, who move up two slots this week from No. 13 to No. 11 (after jumping to No. 13 from the No. 18 position two weeks ago), are third place in the Southeast Division and sit just four points back of Washington with two games in hand on the slumping Capitals.
Backed by outstanding goaltending from Ondrej Pavelec (8-2-0, 1.39 goals-against average and .956 save percentage in his past 10 games), Atlanta is the NHL’s second-hottest team in the league behind only the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have won all of their past 10.
Two of their off-season acquisitions (Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd) are leading the way in goal-scoring with 10 apiece, followed closely by sophomore left winger Evander Kane (nine). Byfuglien also leads the team in assists (20), shots (117), game-winning goals (five), and is tied with four other Thrashers for the lead in power play markers (four).
The Thrashers have a punishing schedule this week, playing four games in six days. If there’s a bright side to that pace, it’s that the teams they’ll face (Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Carolina and New Jersey) are nowhere close to juggernauts.
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.
For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.