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Power Rankings: Ducks aren't holding water yet

Updated Oct. 8

Is it that dreaded Stanley Cup hangover or simply the effects of jet lag? Either way, the new season hasn't started well for the Anaheim Ducks, who have won only once in their first five games and haven't looked very good in the process.

The Ducks and goalie Jonas Hiller haven't found the range yet. (AP)  
The Ducks and goalie Jonas Hiller haven't found the range yet. (AP)  
They're hurting of course, with key players like Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Samuel Pahlsson and Mathieu Schneider on the injured list, and veteran leaders Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne still on the sidelines, unsure if they want to continue their careers or retire. And it hasn't helped the defending champs to start their schedule with a long road trip, including the first two games overseas and the next three against opponents who got the emotional boosts of playing their home openers.

But Anaheim is a deep and talented team that had to overcome adversity en route to its title last season, an ability it hasn't yet demonstrated this season.

"We just have to play a better brand of hockey as a group," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said.

No kidding. While the Ducks rebounded in their second London game against Los Angeles after coming up flat in the opener, and then gave the Red Wings a spirited battle before losing a shootout in their North American launch, they let the lowly Blue Jackets walk all over them Friday and made too many mistakes to keep the high-powered Penguins from taking away a game the following night.

For now though, the good news is that San Jose, Anaheim's only serious Pacific Division rival, hasn't been much better. And at some point, the Ducks will get to ice the lineup they were counting on this season.

In the meantime however, they no longer hold the top spot in our rankings. Here's this week's list:

Power Rankings
CurrentTeamPrevious
1Sharks · Trends2
The Sharks started putting things together on their recent road trip and are firing on all cylinders right now. Not coincidentally, Evgeni Nabokov is much sharper in goal, too.
2Penguins · Trends1
Any more questions about a hangover? The Pens finished October with Malkin and Gonchar on the shelf, and a league record-tying 11 wins.
3Sabres · Trends5
The Sabres are looking for more from Derek Roy, but in the meantime, goalie Ryan Miller is sizzling with only one regulation loss in his 10 starts.
4Avalanche · Trends3
Craig Anderson gets the NHL's October star of the month for leading the Avs to first place in the West and tying a league record for wins in a month.
5Blackhawks · Trends4
The shots-per-game stat usually tells the story about which team controls games and Chicago is firing an average of 11 more than it is allowing.
6Capitals · Trends6
Enough of an early division cushion for the league's best offense to withstand the absence of the league's most dangerous scorer for a while.
7Rangers · Trends8
When you start thinking about MVPs, remember how the Rangers looked last week without Marian Gaborik in the lineup.
8Kings · Trends9
Defenseman Drew Doughty is doing the job in his own end and on the scoreboard with a goal and seven assists in his last six games.
9Canucks · Trends10
Lots of key injuries, little offense from the third and fourth lines and still Vancouver is keeping its head above water.
10Flyers · Trends11
The Flyers are producing big offense these days, especially Scott Hartnell with seven points in his last three games.
11Red Wings · Trends17
Only Tomas Holmstrom is scoring regularly, but Detroit is hanging tough after getting six of 10 possible points on its road trip.
12Devils · Trends14
Happy trails so far this season for the Devils, one of only two unbeaten teams on the road.
13Coyotes · Trends20
Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov continues to keep Phoenix in the playoff picture. He has allowed two or less goals in eight of his 11 starts.
14Flames · Trends7
Still waiting for Olli Jokinen to break loose and to provide Jarome Iginla the kind of center he needs.
15Bruins · Trends13
The Bruins aren't getting much offense because the power play isn't working. Boston has scored once with the man advantage in the last seven games.
16Senators · Trends15
The Senators have a chance to put up some points in November with nine of the team's 12 games being at home.
17Canadiens · Trends12
Interpret this any way you want: The Habs were .500 in October at 7-7, but six of the wins came in OT or shootouts.
18Stars · Trends16
Rookie Jamie Benn is off to a strong start for the Stars, who have been a lot more effective on the road than at home so far.
19Blue Jackets · Trends18
R.J. Umberger has started putting up points for the Jackets, who are actually scoring more per game than anyone in the Central Division.
20Oilers · Trends19
The flu bug has slowed down a lot of the Oilers, just not Dustin Penner, who is among the league scoring leaders with 19 points.
21Lightning · Trends23
Bolts coach Rick Tocchet is looking for something to shake Vincent Lecavalier out of his funk. Meanwhile, the Bolts have yet to lose at home in regulation.
22Thrashers · Trends22
Still waiting for Nik Antropov to score his first goal, although his 10 assists have helped the Kovalchuk-less Thrashers.
23Ducks · Trends25
A better effort defensively in the last couple of games, while Bobby Ryan's offense is starting to come around.
24Islanders · Trends30
The Isles are giving their fans something to cheer about with a four-game winning streak and a winning record at home.
25Panthers · Trends26
A couple of desperately-needed road wins were overshadowed only by the offensive exploits of Steven Reinprecht.
26Predators · Trends27
Pekka Rinne is looking to regain his No. 1 job in goal, winning a player of the week honor to help make his case.
27Blues · Trends21
The Blues are singing them at home, with a 1-5 record and only seven goals in their last six games at Scottrade Center.
28Wild · Trends28
They've been the Wild at home and Minny on the road so far, but more telling about the problems is the minus-23 combined rating for the top four defensemen.
29Hurricanes · Trends24
The way things are going, the 'Canes season will be done by the time Eric Staal gets back, regardless of how long it is.
30Maple Leafs · Trends29
Weeks like this -- the season's first win and 12 points from Tomas Kaberle -- need to be remembered by the Leafs.
 
 

 
 
 
 
Wes Goldstein
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