Article Written By: Adam Wible
1. St. Louis Blues (94pts)- Ever since trading for Ryan Miller and Steve Ott the Blues have not lost. Owning a five game winning streak, St. Louis, jumped into the top spot in the NHL. The Blues will have a target on their back, from here throughout the rest of the season. Upcoming games this week (DAL,EDM,@NSH)
2. Anaheim Ducks (93pts)- Once a team that looked to runaway with the Presidents’ Trophy, Anaheim will have to grind it out with the rest of the powerful Western Conference. Anaheim has just three wins since the month of February began, losing their last two games in shootout fashion. Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry better be ready for the long haul. (TOR,@CGY,@COL,@LAK)
3. Chicago Blackhawks (90pts)- The defending Stanley Cup champs have stood their ground, and maintain pace with the top contenders out West. Chicago has won two in a row, beating Buffalo Sunday night. The Blackhawks are loaded on both offense and defense, but the key down the stretch will be goaltending. “I think we’re all on the same page,” Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford said. “We’re working as a unit, and getting the puck down…” (@COL,NSH,DET)
4. Boston Bruins (89pts)- Boston is one of the hottest teams in the NHL. Winning five in a row, and going 7-1-2, has catapoulted the B’s into a double digit lead, in the Atlantic Divsion. Goalie Tuukka Rask, has played phenominal in the month of March, going 3-1. The NHL leader in shutouts, should have Boston fine tuned, down the stretch. (@MTL,PHX,CAR)
5. San Jose Sharks (89pts)- Lead by goalie Antti Neimi, San Jose has been hot in their last 10 games, going 7-2-1 in that stretch. Things are looking up this week for the Sharks, as they look to gain ground out West. The Joe’s (Pavelski and Throton) will have plenty of opportunities to score this week, as they host Toronto, before heading out East. (TOR,@CBJ,@NYI,@NYR)
6. Pittsburgh Penguins (88pts)- Back to back’s against Washington, marks another Crosby v Ovechkin. Pittsburgh has been playing mediocre as of late, going 5-3-2 in their last 10 games. Coming off an shootout victory against Anaheim, Pittsburgh has a big week ahead of them, if they want to catch the Blues for the Presidents’ Trophy. “This is a big week ahead of us,” Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik said. “We need to keep getting better.” (@WSH,WSH,@PHI,PHI)
7. Colorado Avalanche (87pts)- 6-4-0 in their last 10. Things were looking up, until the Avalanche media released this video. Colorado now has a 0% chance at winning the Stanley Cup. (WPG,CHI,ANH,@OTT)
8. Los Angeles Kings (80pts)- LA is the hottest team in the NHL. Going 7-3-0 in their last 10, and owning a seven game winning streak, the Kings are bringing the heat to the bottom of the Western Conference. Goalie Jonathan Quick, has won five in a row, picked up the win last night in Edmonton. Los Angeles has a decent schedule this week to keep the streak going. (@CGY,TOR,ANH)
9. Montreal Canadians (77pts)- Montreal has been hot, after trading for Thomas Vanek. Going 6-3-1 in their last 10 games, Montreal is doing everything it can to catch Boston. They get a chance to gain points Wednesday, at home against the B’s. (BOS,OTT,@BUF)
10. Minnesota Wild (76pts)- After stringing together a season-best five wins in a row, the Wild are winless in their past two games (0-1-1). Minnesota enters the week as the Stanley Cup Playoff wild-card leaders in the Western Conference, up four points on the Dallas Stars. The Wild only face one Western Conference team this week, the Conference worst Oilers, as they continue their homestand. (EDM,NYR,CBJ)
