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Location: Anaheim, Calif. | Arena: Honda Center (17,174) | GM: Bob Murray | Coach: Randy Carlyle | Stanley Cups: 1
Affiliate: Bakersfield Condors (ECHL)
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Power Rankings: Ducks back on radar as Thanksgiving nears

Updated Nov.19

Here's a little warning to everyone in the NHL. Start looking over your shoulders at the Anaheim Ducks, because they are finally starting to look like the team that won the Stanley Cup last June.

And that's even before Scott Niedermayer returns to the lineup. Of course, there's no guarantee the former captain will decide to end his retirement any time soon, but reports that he has been skating lately have fueled the speculation. So has Anaheim's decision to give away No. 1-caliber goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov last week via the waiver wire, a move that cleared some much-needed salary cap space.

In the meantime, the Ducks are hitting the crucial quarter pole of the schedule at full speed. Anaheim struggled through October and finished under .500, but since the calendar turned, the talented Ducks have picked up 13 of a possible 14 points and head toward Thanksgiving hot on the heels of the similarly stacked San Jose Sharks in the Pacific Division. Anaheim has won four in a row, two of them in shootouts against the Sharks. That's notable not only because the points will be crucial in a tight race, but because Anaheim has won the past four of their skills competitions after previously going 7-19 through two-plus seasons since the format was introduced in 2005.

Throughout it all, the Ducks' best players -- goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere and defenseman Chris Pronger -- have been their best players, while emerging young talents like Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Chris Kunitz have been having big seasons as well. And lately, Andy McDonald, who was second on the team's scoring list last season, has picked up his pace with points in four of his past five games.

It has taken a little while, but everything is pointing in the right direction for Anaheim, which is not good news for the rest of the league.

Here are this week's rankings:

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.
 
 

 
 
 
 
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