Power Rankings: Kiddie Penguins already making big splash

Updated Oct. 31

There's a natural tendency to look to the future when thinking about the Pittsburgh Penguins, which is understandable considering the team could move and the core of its exceptionally talented lineup doesn't have to shave yet.

Sidney Crosby leads the Penguins with six goals, nine assists after nine games. (Getty Images)

But maybe people should stop getting ahead of themselves and focus on what's going on right now. The Penguins, dismissed as a playoff contender before the season began by almost all the experts, have a deep-pocketed new owner and they might get the new building necessary to keep them in Pittsburgh. But most important, they are playing surprisingly well in early going.

Thanks to a kiddie corps led by fresh-faced superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and recent first-round draft picks Marc-Andre Fleury, Jordan Staal and Ryan Whitney, Pittsburgh finished October riding a four-game winning streak that lifted its record to 6-3 and gave the Penguins a better winning percentage than all but two teams in the East.

"It's been really exciting," said Staal, an 18-year-old who learned this week that he'll be hanging around the NHL instead of being sent back to the junior leagues. "I think this team's really starting to join together, really creating a lot of chemistry."

The most interesting chemistry of late has been developing between Crosby and Malkin, two natural centers who have been on the same line since last week. The bond was apparent in the first game they played as a unit against New Jersey, when Crosby set up Malkin for a goal that will likely remain part of highlight packages for years to come.

"It's a little bit hard for me because I'm not used to it," Malkin said about his new position. "But if the coach thinks I'm doing well on the left wing, that's how I'm going to play now.

"Right now we are winning the games and it's great for everybody."

Obviously. Here are the rankings for this week.

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Sharks · Trends	2
	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.
	2	Penguins · Trends	1
	Any more questions about a hangover? The Pens finished October with Malkin and Gonchar on the shelf, and a league record-tying 11 wins.
	3	Sabres · Trends	5
	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.
	4	Avalanche · Trends	3
	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.
	5	Blackhawks · Trends	4
	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.
	6	Capitals · Trends	6
	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.
	7	Rangers · Trends	8
	When you start thinking about MVPs, remember how the Rangers looked last week without Marian Gaborik in the lineup.
	8	Kings · Trends	9
	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.
	9	Canucks · Trends	10
	Lots of key injuries, little offense from the third and fourth lines and still Vancouver is keeping its head above water.
	10	Flyers · Trends	11
	The Flyers are producing big offense these days, especially Scott Hartnell with seven points in his last three games.
	11	Red Wings · Trends	17
	Only Tomas Holmstrom is scoring regularly, but Detroit is hanging tough after getting six of 10 possible points on its road trip.
	12	Devils · Trends	14
	Happy trails so far this season for the Devils, one of only two unbeaten teams on the road.
	13	Coyotes · Trends	20
	Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov continues to keep Phoenix in the playoff picture. He has allowed two or less goals in eight of his 11 starts.
	14	Flames · Trends	7
	Still waiting for Olli Jokinen to break loose and to provide Jarome Iginla the kind of center he needs.
	15	Bruins · Trends	13
	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.
	16	Senators · Trends	15
	The Senators have a chance to put up some points in November with nine of the team's 12 games being at home.
	17	Canadiens · Trends	12
	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.
	18	Stars · Trends	16
	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.
	19	Blue Jackets · Trends	18
	R.J. Umberger has started putting up points for the Jackets, who are actually scoring more per game than anyone in the Central Division.
	20	Oilers · Trends	19
	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.
	21	Lightning · Trends	23
	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.
	22	Thrashers · Trends	22
	Still waiting for Nik Antropov to score his first goal, although his 10 assists have helped the Kovalchuk-less Thrashers.
	23	Ducks · Trends	25
	A better effort defensively in the last couple of games, while Bobby Ryan's offense is starting to come around.
	24	Islanders · Trends	30
	The Isles are giving their fans something to cheer about with a four-game winning streak and a winning record at home.
	25	Panthers · Trends	26
	A couple of desperately-needed road wins were overshadowed only by the offensive exploits of Steven Reinprecht.
	26	Predators · Trends	27
	Pekka Rinne is looking to regain his No. 1 job in goal, winning a player of the week honor to help make his case.
	27	Blues · Trends	21
	The Blues are singing them at home, with a 1-5 record and only seven goals in their last six games at Scottrade Center.
	28	Wild · Trends	28
	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.
	29	Hurricanes · Trends	24
	The way things are going, the 'Canes season will be done by the time Eric Staal gets back, regardless of how long it is.
	30	Maple Leafs · Trends	29
	Weeks like this -- the season's first win and 12 points from Tomas Kaberle -- need to be remembered by the Leafs.