1. Miami Heat (64-16, previous No. 1) - Well, Dwyane Wade is back, and the Heat look ready for the postseason. They might even consider resting LeBron James and Wade for the entire series with Milwaukee in preparation for an actual challenge.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (59-21, previous No. 2) – Kevin Durant was fined $25,000 for a “menacing gesture” last week, but what he and the Thunder do in the Western Conference should be even more menacing.

3. San Antonio Spurs (58-22, previous No. 4) - The Spurs weathered the storm that was the 2012-13 NBA regular season. But do they have enough left in the tank to go deep into the postseason? It’ll be tough.

4. Memphis Grizzlies (54-26 previous No. 3) - What to make of Memphis’ 91-87 loss to the Clippers over the weekend? One, it could be an opening round playoff preview. Two, it should be a very entertaining one.

5. Los Angeles Clippers (54-26, previous No. 5) - A win over the Griz before the postseason does wonders for L.A.’s confidence. It also helps that it could give them homecourt advantage over them.

6. New York Knicks (53-27, previous No. 6) - The Knicks beat up on the Celtics pretty good in the regular season, but make no mistake: they aren’t thrilled about their opening round matchup.

7. Denver Nuggets (55-25, previous No. 7) - On the day point guard Ty Lawson returned, Kenneth Faried sprained his left ankle. Hopefully it’s not serious, because they’ll need all hands (and ankles) on deck without Danilo Gallinari.

8. Indiana Pacers (49-31, previous No. 8) - Roy Hibbert is playing at a higher level over the second half of the season. The Pacers should be fine against a banged up Bulls team or a Hawks team that lacks an identity.

10. Brooklyn Nets (47-33, previous No. 10) - The team that nobody is talking about could give the Heat more trouble than we all think in the second round. Deron Williams is playing as good as anybody.

9. Houston Rockets (45-35, previous No. 9) - The Rockets are the only Western Conference playoff team with a losing record against Western Conference teams. Beating up on the Eastern Conference won’t help them now.

11. Golden State Warriors (45-35, previous No. 11) - The Warriors seem to be that team that every other team in the Western Conference wants to play. Can they use that as fuel? Or will they just prove all those teams right?

12. Chicago Bulls (43-37, previous No. 12) - It feels more and more like the season of “what could have been” for Chicago. Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson are banged up now. Derrick Rose doesn’t appear to be suiting up this season, either.

13. Boston Celtics (41-39, previous No. 13) - The Celtics may not have depth on their side. Or age. But one thing they’ve never lacked is confidence, and often times that’s all a team needs.

14. Atlanta Hawks (44-36, previous No. 14) - He seems to go under the radar just about every year, but Al Horford is the type of player every team wants. Can play both power forward and center effectively on both ends.

15. Los Angeles Lakers (44-37, previous No. 15) - It’s an absolute shame that Kobe Bryant is lost for the season after doing everything in his power to get his team into the playoffs. Can Dwight carry them now?

16. Utah Jazz (42-38, previous No. 16) - The Jazz didn’t trade Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap at the deadline, could lose both now, and it’s looking like they’ll miss the postseason. What a season …

17. Milwaukee Bucks (37-43, previous No. 17) - No truth to the rumor that the Bucks are raising a banner with the words “Just Happy to be Here” written on it before the Heat series.

18. Dallas Mavericks (40-40, previous No. 18) - The Dallas Mavericks all finally shaved their beards on Sunday . . . because they reached .500 on the season. Congrats?

19. Philadelphia 76ers (33-47, previous 20) - Reports are that Doug Collins will resign as head coach after the season. Not a big surprise. It was pretty clear that, like everybody else, he had had enough with that team.

20. Toronto Raptors (32-48, previous – ) - All the Raptors are doing now is costing themselves ping pong balls. Should have followed the Trail Blazers lead to end the season (an 11-game losing streak).

The post NBA Power Rankings: The playoffs are here! appeared first on Metro.us.

1. Miami Heat (60-16, previous No. 1) – LeBron James is back, but word is that Dwyane Wade (knee) could be out until the postseason. The Heat don’t need him now, obviously, but that’s certainly something to monitor.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (56-21, previous No. 3) – The Thunder are just one game out of the top spot in the West, which would line them up with the Jazz in the opening round. Tuesday, in Utah, could be a preview of that one.

3. Memphis Grizzlies (52-25 previous No. 4) - Often times it’s the toughest team – not the better team – that advances in the postseason. The Griz have “grit and grind” on their side. Is that enough to carry them?

4. San Antonio Spurs (57-20, previous No. 5) – The Spurs’ last three losses are to the Thunder, Grizzlies, and Heat. That’s not a good way to prove you belong as the No. 1 seed. Health, as always, is the main concern.

5. Los Angeles Clippers (51-26, previous No. 6) – The good news: The Clippers are healthy and determined to leave the Lakers’ shadow. The bad news: More shots of the Kardashians (and Kanye!) sitting courtside.

6. New York Knicks (50-26, previous No. 9) - Twelve straight wins, including the latest over Oklahoma City on Sunday. Melo looks great. Maybe this team is “realer” than we gave them credit for … maybe.

7. Denver Nuggets (53-24, previous No. 2) – Danilo Gallinari blew out his ACL last week, which is an absolute shame. It’ll be tough for Denver to compete in the postseason without him. *sheds a few tears*

8. Indiana Pacers (48-29, previous No. 7) - The Pacers clinched their first Central Division crown in nine years on Sunday after the Bulls lost to the Pistons. This team has bigger goals than that, though.

9. Houston Rockets (43-34, previous No. 8) – If Denver remains the No. 3 seed, it’ll come down to Houston or Golden State as its first-round opponent. That’s a matchup both of those team want now with Gallinari out.

10. Brooklyn Nets (44-32, previous No. 10) - If Brooklyn is to play Chicago in the first round, The Prokhorov will make sure that Derrick Rose is nowhere to be found. But can he make the Heat disappear the next round?

11. Golden State Warriors (44-33, previous No. 11) - Warriors Head Coach Mark Jackson desperately wants his team to be tough and “old school.” We aren’t quite sure they’re either of those things, especially if they hope to make noise in May.

12. Chicago Bulls (42-34, previous No. 12) - Derrick Rose is still keeping the option of playing this season open. His return would help an offense ranked dead last in points per game (92.8). Dude, decide already.

13. Boston Celtics (40-37, previous No. 14) – The Celtics say they don’t care who they play in the first round. With Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce returning on Sunday, you have to take them for their word. Give them this – they are fighters.

14. Atlanta Hawks (42-36, previous No. 13) – Losers of three in a row, Atlanta isn’t doing much to instill confidence in anybody associated with the team. They’re going in the wrong direction, and will be put to rest by the Knicks or Pacers in the first round.

15. Los Angeles Lakers (40-37, previous No. 15) - The Lakers go into Tuesday a half-game behind the Jazz for the eighth seed. Utah has the Thunder. L.A. has the Hornets. This battle could go down to the final game.

16. Utah Jazz (41-37, previous No. 17) - You have to hand it to the Jazz. It appeared that the Lakers were going to take the eighth seed from under them, but they are 7-1 in their last eight games. Can they hold off L.A.?

17. Milwaukee Bucks (37-39, previous No. 16) – The only way Milwaukee will have a chance to beat the Heat is if Dwyane Wade really is injured. And LeBron James. And Chris Bosh. And … you get the idea.

18. Dallas Mavericks (38-39, previous No. 18) - Losses to the Lakers and Nuggets just about sealed the fate of the Mavs, who will most likely miss their first postseason this century.

19. Washington Wizards (29-48, previous) - The Wizards were bad – really bad – without John Wall. But since the star point guard’s return, they’ve gone 24-20, which is very respectable.

20. Philadelphia 76ers (31-45, previous 20) - Good news for Sixers fans: Andrew Bynum has been playing a ton of NBA 2K13 on XBOX in preparation for next season.

The post NBA Power Rankings: Gallinari injury sends Nuggets down the ranks appeared first on Metro.us.

1) Chicago Blackhawks (27-5-3, previous No. 2) – The Blackhawks regain the top spot since they’ve won two games in a row and most importantly, they have less injuries to key players than the Penguins. Patrick Sharp could return this week, which will only help Chicago’s NHL-best goal-differential of plus-43.

2) Pittsburgh Penguins (28-9-0, previous No. 2) – Pittsburgh’s 15-game winning streak ended on Tuesday against Buffalo but more importantly, Sidney Crosby (who would be the NHL MVP right now) is out indefinitely after breaking his jaw on Saturday. We’ll have to see how the Penguins play with newcomer Jarome Iginla in the lineup, but no Crosby.

3) Montreal Canadiens (23-7-5, previous No. 4) – The Habs didn’t make any real moves at the trade deadline which signifies confidence in their current group. They’ve won their last three games and they are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. Montreal is 2-1 against Boston this season and they have a chance to wrap up the season series on Saturday at the Bell Centre vs. the Bruins.

4) Anaheim Ducks (24-7-5, previous No. 3) – The Ducks haven’t been themselves lately (4-4-2 in their last 10 games), or perhaps they are finally regressing to the mean after an incredible start. The Ducks begin a five-game homestand tonight (tied for their longest of the season) which is bizarre since they played Dallas on Monday then they play them Wednesday and Friday (three games in a row).

5) Boston Bruins (23-8-4, previous No. 5) – Other than Iginla and Marion Gaborik, the B’s made probably the biggest acquisition of the trade deadline by getting Jaromir Jagr. After playing listlessly for a few weeks, they’ve won their last two games thanks to backup goaltender Anton Khudobin, who earned back-to-back starts (allowing two combined goals). Their concern is Patrice Bergeron’s health after the do-everything center left Tuesday’s game with a possible concussion.

6) Minnesota Wild (21-12-2, previous No. 6) – The Wild are in a dogfight for home ice with Vancouver but they made a nice move by trading for Buffalo captain Jason Pominville (10 goals, 15 assists) before the deadline. He should help create more balance between their lines that are very top heavy.

7) Vancouver Canucks (19-11-6, previous No. 7) – The Canucks were another winner from the trade deadline since they got Derek Roy (18 assists) from the Stars for a prospect and second-round draft pick. Vancouver tried to flip Roberto Luongo to Toronto but his albatross of a contract held them back from getting it done.

8) Los Angeles Kings (20-13-3, previous No. 10) – The Kings obtained defenseman Robin Regehr from the Sabres but other than that, the defending Stanley Cup champs are healthy and still loaded with talent. Thanks to Jeff Carter (20 goals, 4th in NHL), the Kings have scored more goals (104) than expected.

9) Toronto Maple Leafs (20-12-4, previous No. 12) – Toronto has won its last three games but it is weird that they didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline since their situation in goal is still muddled at best. It looks like they’ll make the playoffs which is a big deal for them, but advancing is another story.

10) San Jose Sharks (18-11-6, previously No. 14) – The Sharks are the hottest team in the NHL with five straight wins. It has taken them this long, but they have finally started to live up to their abilities – although it is interesting that they traded one of their emotional leaders, Ryane Clowe, to the Rangers for draft picks.

11) Ottawa Senators (18-11-6, previous No. 8) – If the Senators make the playoffs, they have to hope they don’t play the Bruins. Boston has won all four games against Ottawa this season (they meet once more) and making that more painful, they have all been by one goal. Craig Anderson is close to returning which is why they flipped backup goaltender Ben Bishop to Buffalo for rookie winger Cory Conacher.

12) Detroit Red Wings (18-13-5, previous No. 9) – The Red Wings didn’t make a single trade around the deadline which is interesting since this underachieving team hasn’t played nearly well enough to earn that respect. They are the only team currently in the top eight in the West without a positive goal-differential (zero).

13) New York Islanders (18-13-6, previous No. 19) – Nobody could have imagined this, and we’re still four weeks away from the playoffs, but at this moment the Islanders are the best team in the New York area (Islanders, Rangers, Devils and Sabres). Their next three games are against teams outside the top eight in the East: Washington, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia so they need to rack up the points there.

14) St. Louis Blues (18-14-2, previous No. 13) – Now that the Sharks have gained their skating legs, the Blues have to be called the most underachieving team in the West. Still, they are hanging on to the eighth spot so they haven’t been a complete train wreck. Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, who they obtained from Calgary, should help them right away.

15) Edmonton Oilers (15-13-7, previously not ranked) – People have been waiting for years and it looks like the Oilers have finally put together enough good players to get to the playoffs. They have their work cut out for them since the West is better than the East but they’ve won their last four games and are playing well when it counts.

16) New Jersey Devils (15-12-9, previous No. 16) – The Islanders, Devils and Rangers are likely battling for the last two spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Of those, I like the New York teams better since New Jersey is treading water (3-3-4 in last 10 games) and their goal-differential is minus-11.

17) Nashville Predators (15-14-8, previously No. 17) – Pekka Rinne isn’t himself, although it’s not all his fault since the Predators are one of the lowest scoring teams in the West with 92 goals. Getting a goal-scorer seemed obvious at the deadline but apparently the front office felt otherwise.

18) Columbus Blue Jackets (15-14-7, previous No. 20) – The race for the eighth seed in the West is going to be one of the NHL’s best heading into the postseason and the Blue Jackets honestly have a decent chance to make it. The lowest scoring team (87 goals) in the West should receive a huge boost from Marion Gaborik (9 goals, 10 assists) who was having a poor season with the Rangers but he scored 41 goals last season and 40-plus two other times in the NHL.

19) New York Rangers (17-15-3, previous No. 15) – I have no idea why the Rangers traded their best goal-scorer when they have scored the fewest goals in the NHL (82) … and if they miss the playoffs, that will be the main reason why. Forwards Derick Brassard (7 goals) and Derek Dorsett (3 goals) along with defenseman John Moore (zero goals) better fit their trapping defensive style, but none of them can put the puck in the net.

20) Winnipeg Jets (18-18-2, previous No. 2) – The Jets are free-falling and they are only two points ahead of the Capitals for first place in the Southeast Division after losing four straight games. They are 3-7-0 with a goal-differential of minus-22 … not the resume of a playoff team in anybody’s eyes.

Follow Metro sports writer Richard Slate on Twitter: @RichSlate

The post NHL Power Rankings: Crazy trade deadline shuffles the lineup appeared first on Metro.us.

1. Miami Heat (58-15, previous No. 1) – The streak is snapped, which could be a good thing in the long run. After all, it allowed the heat to sit LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers vs. the Spurs . . . and still win.

2. Denver Nuggets (50-24, previous No. 2) – There’s a three-team race for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, and the Nuggets are just barely ahead of the Grizzlies and Clippers. They kill teams at home, so that’s big.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (54-20, previous No. 3) – Four days off for the No. 2-seeded Thunder before a big game on Thursday against the No. 1-seeded Spurs. This top seed is still up for grabs, unlike in the East. OKC should win this one at home.

4. Memphis Grizzlies (49-24 previous No. 6) - Grizzlies-Clippers in the first round of the playoffs would be appointment television … Assuming it’s not played on Sunday nights around 9 p.m.. Tyrion Lannister would NOT be happy.

5. San Antonio Spurs (55-18, previous No. 5) - Here’s some not-so-shocking news: Another key member of the Spurs is out again. Manu Ginobili is expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a right hamstring strain. No bueno, Los Spurs.

6. Los Angeles Clippers (49-25, previous No. 4) – The Clippers lost to the Rockets by 17 without James Harden. I don’t know about you, but they’re just too streaky to trust in the postseason. I’ll take the other coach over Vinny Del Negro.

7. Indiana Pacers (47-27, previous No. 7) - The Pacers went into Monday’s game in L.A. against the Clippers winners of three road games in a row. That’s a great sign for a team that’s had trouble away from home.

8. Houston Rockets (40-33, previous No. 8) - The Rockets could go into the postseason with some serious momentum. Seven of their final nine games are against current non-playoff teams. But teams that have beaten up on them await there.

9. New York Knicks (46-26, previous No. 12) – And just like that, the Knicks are winners of eight in a row. They’re doing it without Tyson Chandler too, which is more impressive. If it’s Celtics-Knicks in Round 1, Boston 100 percent needs Kevin Garnett – we know that.

11. Golden State Warriors (42-32, previous No. 11) - The Warriors have been fun to watch at times this year – on offense anyways – but the Nuggets would literally eat them up and spit them out in a first round matchup.

12. Chicago Bulls (40-33, previous No. 15) – Derrick Rose is waiting for a sign from God to let him know he’s ready to play. Well, what if God isn’t a Bulls fan? Ever think of that, Derrick?

13. Atlanta Hawks (41-33, previous No. 9) – Credit the Hawks for being in the position that they’re in, but they aren’t deep enough or mentally tough enough to do damage in the postseason. Josh Smith, you are the weakest link. Goodbye.

14. Boston Celtics (38-35, previous No. 13) – We don’t have a point guard … we don’t have a center… our pets heads are falling off! Boston needs to get right before the playoffs, or they’ll be watching them on TV like the rest of us. Except on nicer TVs.

15. Los Angeles Lakers (38-36, previous No. 14) – You can’t help but think that if the Lakers just get to the playoffs, they could make things interesting. But can they get there before they all kill each other?

16. Milwaukee Bucks (35-37, previous No. 16) - The Bucks are going to need to get in touch with Ryan Braun’s people – and fast – if they want a shot at competing with the Heat. And that’s not a knock on them.

17. Utah Jazz (36-37, previous No. 18) – Four straight wins for the Jazz heading into Monday night. They’re hanging onto that eight seed for dear life. It’s almost like they don’t know they’ll have to play four games against the Spurs or Thunder if they get there.

18. Dallas Mavericks (36-37, previous No. 17) – It’s great to see Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs make some noise down the stretch. It almost drowns out all the noise Mark Cuban makes from the sidelines.

19. Portland Trail Blazers (33-40, previous No. 19) - They were 4.5 games out of a playoff spot on Mondyay, with the Mavs and Lakers ahead of them trying to get in. Time for the Blazers to start booking those offseason vacations. Tip: Avoid cruises.

20. Philadelphia 76ers (30-43, previous 20) – “Did somebody say offseason vacations?” – Andrew Bynum, as he books his fourth vacation of the NBA regular season…

The post NBA Power Rankings: Time for Heat to start a new streak? appeared first on Metro.us.

Records through March 27

1) Pittsburgh Penguins (26-8-0, previous No. 3) – It’s hard to have a much better week than the Penguins. They are riding a 13-game win streak and they’ve acquired Brendan Morrow, Jarome Iginla and Douglas Murray. The only things to worry about for them is the health of Marc-Andre Fleury (who left Tuesday’s game) and Kris Letang who went back on IR after returning for a game.

2) Chicago Blackhawks (25-4-3, previous No. 1) – No longer on their epic win streak, the focus and pressure has been taken off the Blackhawks. Chicago has an NHL-best goal-differential of plus-37 while they have the best home record (12-2-1) and road record (13-2-2).

3) Anaheim Ducks (22-7-4, previous No. 2) – There is bad news in Disneyland as the Ducks have lost four games in a row, twice to Detroit and twice to San Jose. The surprising part is that the first three were at the Honda Center where the Ducks were 13-1-0. Anaheim scored one goal in each game against the Red Wings and were blanked by the Sharks on Wednesday, shocking for a team that has scored the second most goals in the Western Conference (104).

4) Montreal Canadiens (21-7-5, previous No. 4) – The Canadiens proved their resiliency by rallying twice in the third period  in Boston on Wednesday. This was after pulled Carey Price after the second period plus lost 1-0 in Pittsburgh the night before. Montreal and Boston will have a great battle for first place in the Northeast Division.

5) Boston Bruins (21-7-4, previous No. 5) – The B’s are understandably reeling after a brutal loss to the Canadiens on Wednesday followed by them losing out on the Jarome Iginla sweepstakes when it looked to be a done deal that he’d joined the spoked ‘B.’ Boston gets two days without a game for the first time in over a month which should do wonders for the banged up team that’s currently missing three regulars (Chris Kelly, Adam McQuaid and Johnny Boychuk).

6) Minnesota Wild (20-10-2, previous No. 7) – The Penguins understandably are getting most of the publicity but the Wild are the hottest team in the Western Conference, having won their last seven games in a row. Minnesota is 9-1-0 in their last 10 games and 12-3-1 at the Xcel Energy Center. The crazy part is that a team that is so reliant on its top lines has scored 90 goals.

7) Vancouver Canucks (18-9-6, previous No. 12) – Similar to the Wild, the Canucks have really found their game in the last few weeks. They’ve won five straight games to tie Minnesota atop the Northwest Division. Vancouver is 7-3-0 in their last 10 games and 9-4-3 on the road which are both good trends

8) Ottawa Senators (18-9-6, previous No. 8) – Head coach Paul MacLean and his comical moustache is close to wrapping up the NHL coach of the year award with this remarkable run his team has turned in. They might not do anything in the playoffs but with 15 games left in the regular season, they look like a lock to make it (barring a major collapse) which for them is still very impressive.

9) Detroit Red Wings (17-11-5, previous No. 11) – The Red Wings began their four-game road trip with two excellent wins in Anaheim then they won in Phoenix last night. If they can grab two points in San Jose tonight, you’ll know that the Red Wings are truly back after a uncharacteristically slow start to the season. The ironic part was that Detroit was under .500 (5-6-2) on the road before the trip.

10) Los Angeles Kings (18-12-2, previously No. 6) – It was a strange week for the Kings who lost two in a row at home, where they are great (12-4-1) but then won 5-4 at Chicago on Monday. They are 6-8-1 on the road this season but that victory against the NHL’s best team could go a long way to giving them confidence during the stretch run.

11) Winnipeg Jets (18-14-2, previous No. 13) – Up six points now on Carolina and seven ahead of Washington, the surprising Jets are in good shape for the third seed in the Eastern Conference. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and 10-6-2 on the road this season which are good signs, unlike their goal-differential of -11 which is the worst mark of any team in the top eight of either conference.

12) Toronto Maple Leafs (18-12-4, previous No. 15) – The Leafs are treading water (3-3-4 in their last 10 games) but they are still in good shape to make the playoffs for the first time in nine years which in Canada is magnified tenfold. Toronto has identical 9-6-2 records at Air Canada Centre and on the road but they are 0-4 in shootouts. Good news for them is that if they make the postseason, they won’t face a shootout.

13) St. Louis Blues (17-13-2, previous No. 9) – The Blues have lost their last two games to drop into seventh place in the Western Conference. Anything can happen in the NHL playoffs as we see every spring but St. Louis really doesn’t want to face Chicago or Anaheim in the first round of the playoffs. Their next three games are really tough: vs. Kings, at Wild and at Blackhawks.

14) San Jose Sharks (14-12-2, previous No. 17) – The Sharks are hanging on for dear life to the eighth seed in the Western Conference but they are coming off their best two wins of the season: sweeping a home-and-home series with Anaheim. It’ll be interesting to see what they do at the trade deadline (April 3), they’ve already shipped defenseman Douglas Murray to Pittsburgh.

15) New York Rangers (16-13-3, previous No. 14) – If they make the playoffs, the Rangers are still a team that nobody in the Eastern Conference wants to face since their games always tend to be such physical grinds. New York’s margin for error is so small since they’ve scored a conference-low 78 goals. Up next, they play the three Eastern Conference Canadian teams (Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg) who would all be in the postseason if it started today.

16) New Jersey Devils (15-11-7, previous No. 16) – Ilya Kovalchuk is out with a shoulder injury for 2-4 weeks which means the Devils could drop out of the playoff picture if they’re not careful. This team hasn’t had any luck this season since Kovalchuk’s injury followed quickly in the footsteps of Martin Brodeur’s injury. Getting back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second straight year seems highly unlikely.

17) Nashville Predators (14-13-6, previously No. 13) – The Predators haven’t been themselves for most of the season but they are turning it on (3 consecutive wins) when it matters most. Nashville needs to a find a way to win more on the road (5-11-2) since they are fine at home (9-2-4), otherwise they could miss the playoffs.

18) New York Islanders (15-15-3, previous No. 19) – One of the sneaky storylines in the NHL is that the Islanders have a decent chance to make the playoffs which would be a huge accomplishment for them. They’ve won their last two games and they are excellent on the road (9-4-1). Now they have to win at dumpy Nassau Coliseum (6-11-2).

19) Dallas Stars (15-14-3, previously not ranked) – You can certainly question Dallas’ desire to make the playoffs this season as they traded winger Brendan Morrow to Pittsburgh but they are only three points out of the eighth seed so like it or not, they will be a factor in who makes it. PS why is that franchise still there?

20) Columbus Blue Jackets (13-13-7, previous No. 20) – The Blue Jackets lost a heartbreaker, 1-0 in a shootout at Vancouver, on Tuesday but one of the worst road teams in the NHL (3-9-2) has a good chance to bounce back. They are in Edmonton on Thursday and Calgary on Friday, two of the worst teams in the Western Conference that aren’t going anywhere this season. If Columbus is serious about make the playoffs, they need more points on this trip.

Follow Metro sports writer Richard Slate on Twitter @RichSlate

The post NHL Power Rankings: Penguins grab No. 1 slot from Blackhawks appeared first on Metro.us.

1. Miami Heat (55-14, previous No. 1) – As good as the Miami Heat are playing right now, they’re just the second-best basketball team in Florida. Hey, you’ve got to give Florida Gulf Coast University the credit they deserve.

2. Denver Nuggets (49-22, previous No. 3) – If it wasn’t for the Heat, the Nuggets would be the talk of the NBA. They went into Monday’s game against the Hornets winners of 15 in a row. Scary team that will haunt your dreams.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (52-19, previous No. 2) – Losses to Denver at home and Memphis on the road make you question the toughness of OKC in a potential matchup with either one in the second round.

4. Los Angeles Clippers (48-22, previous No. 5) – A big four-game road trip kicks off Tuesday in Dallas and includes two more Texas stops in San Antonio and Houston. Tough test for them.

5. San Antonio Spurs (53-17, previous No. 6) – The Spurs went 6-2 without their MVP Tony Parker, and it looks like he’s picking up where he left off. With Parker back, the Spurs – as always – must be feared.

6. Memphis Grizzlies (47-22 previous No. 4) – The news that center Marc Gasol is out indefinitely after an abdominal tear is an absolute killer for a Grizzlies team fighting for home court advantage.

7. Indiana Pacers (43-27, previous No. 7) – Losing to the Bulls without Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah? That could creep back into the minds of Indy players if they see Chicago in the postseason . . . with those two players.

8. Houston Rockets (39-31, previous No. 8) – In his last 10 games, James Harden has hit 34 3-pointers and 111 free throws. The guy literally scores from all over. Fear the beard.

9. Atlanta Hawks (39-31, previous No. 10) – Nobody’s talking about the Hawks, but they’re a very tough first-round opponent, especially if Josh Smith is set on proving he’s a max player.

10. Brooklyn Nets (41-29, previous No. 12) – In the middle of an eight-game road trip and they play in three of the toughest road venues coming up: Portland, Denver, and Utah. The Prokhorov embraces it.

11. Golden State Warriors (40-31, previous No. 13) – Former NBA player Dell Curry must be a proud dad. One of his sons, Stephen, is making a run at the postseason with Golden State, while the other, Seth, is making a run at the Final Four with Duke.

12. New York Knicks (42-26, previous No. 14) – Wins over the Jazz, Magic, and Raptors twice doesn’t make the Knicks “better” than they were last week. They are older, though – somehow.

13. Boston Celtics (36-33, previous No. 9) – Celtics president Danny Ainge says Kevin Garnett could be out for a couple weeks. Hey, as long as he’s back before the C’s lose to the Heat in the opening round.

14. Los Angeles Lakers (36-34, previous No. 11) – Coach Mike D’Antoni told his team that the idea of a championship is “laughable.” Well then, everybody all together now: “Hahahahahaha!”

15. Chicago Bulls (38-31, previous No. 15) – You never want to rush a player back from an injury, but Rose has been cleared to play. At what point do the Bulls say, “Derrick, you’re fine. And you’re starting tonight.”

16. Milwaukee Bucks (34-35, previous No. 16) – There’s never been a better time for the Bucks to make up ground on the Celtics and take the No. 7 spot. Somebody should tell them that.

17. Dallas Mavericks (34-36, previous No. 18) – Dallas has found life over its last 11 games, going 8-3, and now sits just two games behind the Lakers for the No. 8 seed. Nothing would make Mark Cuban happier.

18. Utah Jazz (34-36, previous No. 17) – It appears as though the Mavs and Jazz are at opposite ends of their play right now, and that’s terrible news for Utah.

19. Portland Trail Blazers (33-37, previous No. 19) – Of the final 12 games, nine are against teams currently slotted into a playoff spot. Doesn’t do much for the team’s outside playoff chances.

20. Philadelphia 76ers (27-42, previous -) – Bigger shock: Andrew Bynum missing the entire season due to knee injuries, or Punxsutawney Phil’s inaccurate “spring will come early” forecast?

Follow Jimmy Toscano on Twitter @Jimmy_Toscano

The post NBA Power Rankings: Heat, Nuggets streaking – Celtics, Lakers falling appeared first on Metro.us.

Records through March 11

1. Chicago Blackhawks (21-2-3, previous No. 1) – Somewhere the ’72 Miami Dolphins popped champagne when the Blackhawks went down 6-2 to the Avalanche on Friday, snapping their unbeaten in regulation streak at 24 games (half the regular season). Oh wait, wrong sport. Seriously though, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Chicago come back to Earth somewhat as they also lost 6-5 to the Oilers on Sunday.

2. Anaheim Ducks (18-3-3, previous No. 2) – Don’t look now but the Ducks are only six points (three wins) behind the Blackhawks. Given Chicago’s injuries at the moment, I might even like Anaheim’s chances against them in the playoffs. However, we’re still a month and a half away from that so no need to make rash judgments.

3. Boston Bruins (17-3-3, previous No. 4) – The B’s and Canadiens are in a virtual dead heat. They have even split their first two games (with both winning on the road). The only thing that separates them is that Boston has played three games less than Montreal and the Habs only have one more point. It feels like they’re building to another epic playoff series this spring. Wouldn’t that be great?

4. Montreal Canadiens (17-5-4, previous No. 3) The Canadiens have won three games in a row and they are 6-1-3 in their last 10 games. Their goal-differential is plus-18 and they are 9-2-2 on the road. The Bruins might jump them this week since they have five games and the Canadiens only play twice. Winger Michael Ryder (two goals, seven assists) has been solid in his seven games back in a Montreal uniform.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins (18-8-0, previous No. 5) – The Penguins are the hottest team in the Eastern Conference – they have won five games in a row entering Tuesday night’s showdown with Boston in Pittsburgh. It’s a huge week for the Penguins since they play four current playoff teams: Toronto, Rangers and Bruins (twice). We’ll see what kind of shape Pittsburgh is in next week after that gauntlet.

6. Los Angeles Kings (14-8-2, previous No. 9) – The defending Stanley Cup champs are the hottest team in the Western Conference: they are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and 9-2-1 at the Staples Center. Their formula of great goaltending from Jonathan Quick and Jonathan Bernier, plus plenty of goals from Jeff Carter (17 goals, second in the NHL) has been working wonders.

7. Carolina Hurricanes (14-9-1, previous No. 10) – One team was added to the higher rung this week (Kings) but just like last week, after the top teams the drop-off to the mid-level teams is enormous. The Hurricanes have stayed afloat thanks to Alexander Semin’s 19 assists (sixth best in the NHL). They can put some more distance between themselves, Tampa Bay and Washington this week since they play the Capitals twice and the Lightning once.

8. Minnesota Wild (13-9-2, previous No. 14) – The Wild have played well lately (7-3-0) and they’ve been great at home all season (9-2-1). Their goal-differential of minus-1 and road record (4-7-1) say that they are frauds, but they also reside in the Western Conference’s worst division: Northwest. Minnesota has taken advantage of Vancouver’s inconsistent start.

9. Toronto Maple Leafs (15-10-1, previous No. 7) – The Leafs have receded to their more fitting level as they’ve hit a tougher portion of their schedule. They are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games but they play the Jets twice this week, sandwiched around a game with the Penguins, so they need to get points against Winnipeg. The Maple Leafs are 9-5-0 on the road, where they’ve played two more games than at home so far.

10. Ottawa Senators (13-8-5, previously No. 11) – If there was an award for playing hard, the Senators would be a runaway favorite. Unfortunately, this isn’t Little League. Ottawa is getting the most out of its limited roster at the moment but the Sens have trouble when facing the more talented teams that can wear them down. Blowing a 2-0 lead at home to the Bruins on Monday couldn’t have made them feel too good about themselves either.

11. Detroit Red Wings (12-9-5, previous No. 19) – Honestly, the Red Wings didn’t do anything specifically to make this big of a jump from last week. But then again, they are playing a tad better than the rest of the teams are at their same level. Detroit is 5-3-2 in their last 10 games and as always, they excel at home: 9-4-3. Figuring out how to win on the road (3-5-2) is the next step for them to take.

12. New York Rangers (13-9-2, previous No. 17) – The Rangers have clawed back into contention, playing their unique style of ugly, defensive hockey. Rick Nash (five goals, four assists) has been on fire in his last five games and has proven to be ready for the bright lights of New York City after toiling for years in Columbus. The Rangers can fatten up on the Sabres and Jets before facing the Penguins on Saturday in Pittsburgh.

13. San Jose Sharks (11-7-6, previous No. 12) – The Sharks have lost an NHL-high (tied with Vancouver) six games in overtime and they are 4-3 in shootouts this season. That seems like a risky proposition that is bound to catch up to them if they keep playing so many extra sessions. They are one of the more mercurial teams in the NHL since they are 7-1-4 at home but 4-6-2 on the road, plus they’ve lost their last two games (both in overtime).

14. Vancouver Canucks (11-7-6, previous No. 6) – Another team that is spinning its wheels and should be playing much better than they currently are. The Canucks are 3-4-3 in their last 10 games and are 2-5 in shootouts. It might be time for them to shake things up with a roster that has been basically the same for years.

15. St. Louis Blues (13-10-2, previous No. 13) – Speaking of underachievers, the Blues are a squad that look better on paper than they do on the ice. They are 8-5-1 on the road ,which is promising, and have played three less games at home, but they are 5-5-1 there so that has to improve if they want to get anywhere.

16. New Jersey Devils (12-9-5, previous No. 15) – The Devils would have dropped more, if only there were fewer middling teams just like them. They are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games but they are still in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, mostly because the teams on the outside-looking-in are hopeless. Martin Brodeur can’t return soon enough since Johan Hedberg (4-7-2) has been terrible since taking over as the starter.

17. Phoenix Coyotes (12-10-3, previously No. 8) – It’s not that they have struggled that much lately or that I overrated them, it’s more that their division (Pacific) is the toughest in the NHL with four points between the second-place and fifth-place teams. It will probably be that way for the rest of the season since only Los Angeles (first in Pacific) is a notch above the rest.

18. Dallas Stars (12-10-2, previous No. 18) – The Stars continue to hang around which is probably the best-case scenario for them this season. Their goal-differential is 0 and they are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games – it doesn’t get much more average than that.

19. Nashville Predators (10-9-6, previous No. 20) – The Predators put their two most talented forwards on IR Monday in Colin Wilson and Patric Hornqvist, which certainly doesn’t help a team that has still scored the fewest goals in the NHL (54, 31 less than Chicago and Anaheim). Pekka Rinne’s (9-8-5, 4 shutouts-best in the NHL) margin for error is smaller than any other goaltender in the NHL.

20. Winnipeg Jets (12-11-2, previously not ranked) – By virtue of being the only other team in the NHL over .500, the Jets make these rankings pretty much based solely on that. They are 8-5-2 on the road (they must be excited to get out of Winnipeg) and 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. Still, their goal-differential of minus-11 leaves something to be desired.

Follow Metro sports writer Richard Slate on Twitter: @RichSlate

The post NHL Power Rankings: Blackhawks lose twice, but still top this week’s rundown appeared first on Metro.us.

Records through March 4

1. Chicago Blackhawks (19-0-3, previous No. 1) – At some point, the Blackhawks are going to lose in regulation, right? This streak is turning into one of the great marks in regular season sports history and true to form, they are winning in a number of ways. Chicago is only two games away from the halfway point of the regular season. So how long until they clinch a playoff spot?

2. Anaheim Ducks (15-3-3, previous No. 3) – I doubt they have many nationally broadcast games this season, since nobody thought they’d be this good, but if you have NHL Center Ice then you already know about the Ducks. They have scored a Western Conference-best 75 goals and they are 8-1-0 at home.

3. Montreal Canadiens (14-4-4, previous No. 5) – You can argue that the Bruins could be here since the Canadiens have played three more games then them, but we’ll go with Montreal since they won 4-3 in Boston on Sunday night. Plus, the Canadiens (7-0-3) are unbeaten in regulation in their last 10 games and they topped the B’s with backup goaltender Peter Budaj in net.

4. Boston Bruins (14-3-2, previous No. 2) – Boston had its six-game win streak snapped on Sunday night vs. Montreal but they have been playing great hockey on the whole. The Northeast Division doesn’t appear to be the walkover it has been the last few seasons with Montreal and Toronto much improved. Tyler Seguin is heating up, while linemates Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron are on fire too.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins (15-8-0, previous No. 4) – The Penguins have 30 points, just like the Bruins, but they have played four more games. Pittsburgh leads the NHL with 81 goals, they’ve gone 7-3-0 in their last 10 and they are 9-4-0 on the road. Evgeni Malkin returned from a concussion Monday and scored a highlight reel goal. Be scared of this team.

6. Vancouver Canucks (11-6-4, previous No. 7) – There is a seismic drop from Pittsburgh to Vancouver. The Canucks haven’t played well in their last 10 games (4-4-2) but you have to respect the assorted talent they throw on the ice every night. Ryan Kesler returned from a shoulder injury for seven games before breaking his foot last week. Vancouver will miss his leadership on a team that lacks many standup guys.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs (14-9-0, previous No. 11) – It is still hard to take the Leafs too seriously but they are treading water while many teams around them fall back due to major injuries or terrible play. Toronto is 9-4-0 on the road and it’s a big week for them with a home game against the Senators on Wednesday, at the Bruins on Thursday and at the Penguins on Saturday. Those three games should give us more of a clue as to whether Toronto is a contender or not.

8. Phoenix Coyotes (11-8-3, previous No. 15) – The Coyotes are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games which means something in the Western Conference (the superior conference). One of the best in the NHL, goaltender Mike Smith is healthy and back on the ice for Phoenix. Nobody has noticed but they have built a nice team in the desert.

9. Los Angeles Kings (11-7-2, previous No. 16) – Outside of the Blackhawks, there is no hotter team in the NHL right now than the defending Stanley Cup champions. They are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and they have been great at the Staples Center (6-1-1). Jeff Carter had a natural hat trick on Monday night as the Kings’ previously dormant offense has begun to wake up.

11. Ottawa Senators (12-7-4, previous No. 6) – It might have taken a little longer than we expected but colossal injuries to the Senators are wearing them down. They are 9-1-2 at home but they’ve already played in five shootouts (3-2), most in the Eastern Conference. It’s hard to see them staying ahead of Montreal, Boston and even Toronto with this AHL-infused roster.

12. San Jose Sharks (10-6-4, previous No. 13) – The Sharks have struggled in their last 10 games (3-4-3) but it’s hard to see them continuing to play at that mediocre level. Don’t ask how a team with Logan Couture, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau is tied with Nashville with the least goals (47) in the NHL. San Jose has played fine at home (7-1-3) but they haven’t gotten enough results on the road (3-5-1).

13. St. Louis Blues (11-8-2, previous No. 10) – Did you know six teams in the Western Conference all have 24 points? It’s absurd. The Blues are one of those squads but they aren’t trending upward since their goaltenders (Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott) haven’t been themselves. The Blues are 6-3-1 on the road which shows you that they can be a quality team when they put their minds to it.

14. Minnesota Wild (11-8-2, previous No. 17) – They still don’t score goals (49) but the Wild have won on their home ice (8-2-1) and have played well in their last 10 games (6-3-1). Mikko Koivu (13 assists) is one of the best passers in the NHL and one of the best defensemen – Ryan Suter (14 assists) – has adjusted quickly to his new team.

15. New Jersey Devils (10-7-5, previous No. 8) – No team has slid farther than the Devils in the last few weeks. That’s what happens when you lose a Hall of Fame goaltender like Martin Brodeur to IR. New Jersey is 2-6-2 in its last 10 games while their division foes, the Flyers and Rangers, have finally awoken. That’s bad news in the Garden State for the Devils who are 0-3 in shootouts.

16. Philadelphia Flyers (11-11-1, previous No. 20) – The Flyers won their only two games last week but they face a much tougher stretch this week: at Rangers (Tues.), vs. Penguins, at Bruins and vs. Sabres. You can’t expect them to be consistent with Ilya Bryzgalov between the pipes but they are tough and can score with anybody so they’ve got that going for them.

17. New York Rangers (10-8-2, previously unranked) – The sons of crazy John Tortorella have started to play their favored style. Fittingly, their goal differential is 0 since they’ve scored the same amount of goals (51) as they’ve allowed. The big news for them is that Rick Nash has returned although Brad Richards is banged up after a dirty hit by Buffalo’s Patrick Kaleta (suspended five games) on Sunday.

18. Dallas Stars (11-9-2, previous No. 12) – If the playoffs started today, the Stars would be left out of the Western Conference playoff picture despite having the same amount of points as LA, San Jose, St. Louis and Minnesota. It’s hard to see them really jumping any of those teams but there is always a random team or two that manages to sneak into the postseason.

19. Detroit Red Wings (10-8-4, previous No. 14) – Not sure if the alarms have sounded yet in Hockeytown but the Red Wings have been arguably the NHL’s biggest disappointment so far this season. They had a great chance to knock off Chicago on Sunday but after grabbing a 1-0 lead in the third period, they took two straight delay of game penalties which led to Patrick Kane’s tying goal. After a scoreless overtime, Chicago won in a shootout. That’s how it’s been for Detroit.

20. Nashville Predators (9-9-5, previous No. 9) – They fell more than anyone in this week’s rankings but unlike the Devils, they don’t have a built-in excuse with a major injury. The Predators have just been playing poorly as they are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games and they’ve lost three games in a row. That minus-12 goal differential sticks out like a sore thumb. They have to find a way to manufacture more goals.

Follow Metro sports writer Richard Slate on Twitter: @RichSlate

The post NHL Power Rankings: Flyers, Rangers climbing appeared first on Metro.us.

Records through March 3

1. Miami Heat (43-14, previous No. 2) – A 14-game winning streak. Is that good? Nope. It’s freaking awesome – and so are the Heat right now. They haven’t lost in over a month!

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (43-16, previous No. 3) – A tough loss in Denver was followed up by a big win against the Clippers to lock the Thunder in at the No. 2 spot this week. Miami No. 1, OKC No. 2 – not much has changed since last year.

3. San Antonio Spurs (47-14, previous No. 1) - Tony Parker (ankle) will be down for about a month. He’s been the reason the Spurs have overcome injuries. Can they pay him back the favor?

4. Los Angeles Clippers (43-19, previous No. 4) – Still one of the deepest teams in the NBA, which will be huge for them in the postseason – especially if they eventually meet that always-banged-up Spurs team.

5. Memphis Grizzlies (39-19 previous No. 5) – The second hottest team in the league behind the Heat has gone 9-1 in their last 10 games losing to just – you guessed it – the Heat. An OKC-Memphis second round sounds exciting. Then again, so does a Memphis-Denver first round.

6. Indiana Pacers (38-22, previous No. 6) – The last game the Heat lost was against the Pacers, and the two will play again – this time in Miami – on Sunday. We’ll learn a lot about the Pacers here.

7. DenverNuggets (38-22, previous No. 7) - Say what you want about the Nuggets’ lack of star power, by Ty Lawson is averaging 23.1 points and 7.6 assists over his last 10 games – including a game-winner to beat the Thunder last Friday.

8. New York Knicks (35-21, previous No. 11) – The Knicks posted 37 points in the second quarter against the Heat on Sunday, but just 34 points combined in the third and fourth. They move up the ranks this week by default.

9. Atlanta Hawks (33-25, previous No. 12) - Going into Monday night, the Hawks were ranked No. 4 in the Eastern Conference, but they were just two games from falling to No. 7. Do they have what it takes to hold on?

10. Chicago Bulls (34-26, previous No. 10) – Joakim Noah looks like a man amongst boys out there as of late, but the Bulls are playing below-.500 basketball since late January.

11. Brooklyn Nets (34-26, previous No. 9) – Hopefully Jay-Z is too busy planning his summer stadium tour with Justin Timberlake to notice his team has lost four of its last five games.

13. Boston Celtics (31-27, previous No. 14) – Four games in six days for the C’s, including a back-to-back on the road. They could easily go 4-0, or 0-4. That’s been the theme for the majority of the year.

14. Golden State Warriors (33-27, previous No. 8) – The Warriors have two big problems. They don’t play much defense and they can’t win on the road. That spells early playoff exit.

15. Utah Jazz (32-27, previous No. 15) - The good news: The Jazz are 22-8 at home. The bad news: Five of their next six are on the road, where they’ve gone 10-19.

16. Milwaukee Bucks (29-28, previous No. 16) – As it stands now, the Bucks would play the Heat in the first round of the playoffs. Imagine if they w- nah, never mind.

17. Los Angeles Lakers (30-30, previous No. 17) - It might sound crazy, but with the Warriors, Jazz, and Rockets currently ahead of L.A., the No. 6 seed is still possible.

18. Dallas Mavericks (26-33, previous No. 19) – Mark Cuban claims to have this new CBA thing down. Mavericks fans have no choice but to hope he’s right.

19. Portland Trail Blazers (27-31, previous No. 20) – It’s starting to hit the fans in Portand that the playoffs probably aren’t coming there this season.

20. Toronto Raptors (23-37 previous No. 18) - It was looking good for Toronto for a few days anyways, but losing five of six will snap everybody back to reality.

Follow Metro sports writer Jimmy Toscano @Jimmy_Toscano

The post NBA Power Rankings: No one can beat the Heat appeared first on Metro.us.

Records through Feb. 26

1) Chicago Blackhawks (16-0-3) – Off to the best start in NHL history qualifies Chicago for the coveted top spot in the inaugural power rankings of the season. The Blackhawks also lead the NHL with a ridiculous plus-24 goal differential and even backup goaltender Ray Emery (8-0-0) has played out of his mind while starter Corey Crawford has been out with an injury.

2) Boston Bruins (12-2-2) – It’s hard to argue that the B’s aren’t the Eastern Conference’s best team at the moment. They’ve won four in a row (all on the road) and are 8-1-1 away from TD Garden. Head coach Claude Julien couldn’t have dreamed of a better start for the Black and Gold.

3) Anaheim Ducks (13-3-1) – The surprise of the NHL so far has been the team formerly known as the Mighty Ducks. Unknown rookie goaltender Viktor Fasth (8-1-0) has propelled Anaheim while ageless wonder Teemu Selanne (5 goals, 11 assists) is still getting it done at 42.

4) Pittsburgh Penguins (13-7-0) – Few teams can match the Penguins’ top-end talent (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz and James Neal) but they also have two major issues: Malkin is out with a concussion and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (10-4, 2.27 GAA) was a puddle in last season’s playoffs.

5) Montreal Canadiens (12-4-3) – They actually lead the Eastern Conference in points but the Bruins get the nod over since Boston has played three less games. They don’t score a ton which is why they traded for former Bruins winger Michael Ryder, who previously played in Montreal as well. The good Carey Price (10-3-2, 1.90 GAA) has so far made an appearance this season for the Habs.

6) Ottawa Senators (12-6-2) – Nobody deserves the amount of major injuries suffered already by the Senators to their best players: defenseman Erik Karlsson (out for the season), center Jason Spezza (out indefinitely) and goaltender Craig Anderson (day-to-day). Ottawa might be put together with duct tape but they’re making the best of it thus far, they’ve won five games in a row.

7) Vancouver Canucks (10-5-4) –The team that everyone loves to hate is off to its usual solid start. For some reason, they haven’t traded lame-duck goaltender Roberto Luongo (5-1-3) and he’s actually performed better than the projected starter Cory Schneider (5-4-1) … awkward!

8) New Jersey Devils (10-5-4) – This is misleading since the Devils are freefalling a bit with goaltender Martin Brodeur placed on IR earlier this week. Their games are not easy to watch but they usually get the job done. They are the defending Eastern Conference champions for a reason.

9) Nashville Predators (9-5-4) – The Predators still can’t score goals but goaltender Pekka Rinne (8-5-4, 1.90 GAA, 3 shutouts) is one of the NHL’s best and they’ve built the team around him. BU product Colin Wilson (5 goals, 10 assists) seems to be on the verge of a breakout season, in his fourth year in the league.

10) St. Louis Blues (10-6-2) – After a great start, the team that most resembles the Bruins in the Western Conference have come back to Earth (4-4-2 in their last 10). There is plenty of reason to believe in their deep and talented roster and they look to be built for the long run.

11) Toronto Maple Leafs (12-8-0) – It’s hard to trust a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in nearly a decade (2003-04) and sports the longest Stanley Cup drought in the NHL (45 years). Still, the Leafs are playing decently despite shaky goaltending (as always). Former Bruins whipping boy Phil Kessel (4 goals, 12 assists) hasn’t been finding the net at his usual clip.

12) Dallas Stars (10-8-2) – The Ryder trade, which netted Erik Cole in return. was about building cap space for the future. The Stars also sent a third round draft pick to Montreal. That won’t sell more tickets in an awful market. It’s hard to see this group staying at this level.

13) San Jose Sharks (9-6-3) – For the first few weeks, the Sharks were right there with the Blackhawks. Then they went 2-6-2 and started to fold faster than they normally do. Joe Thornton (4 goals, 15 assists) is still one of the top passers in the NHL but no team is under more pressure to do something in the playoffs than them.

14) Detroit Red Wings (9-7-3) – These aren’t your father’s Red Wings that steamrolled over everyone. With Nicklas Lidstrom’s retirement, Detroit has suddenly taken a major step back in the West. Henrik Zetterberg (6 goals, 19 assists) and Pavel Datsyuk (8 goals, 14 assists) are still must-see TV.

15) Phoenix Coyotes (9-7-3) – Nobody really knows how or why this team is still stuck in the desert, the NHL’s worst decision now that Atlanta doesn’t have a team anymore, but they are not bad at all. The lack of a crowd doesn’t seem to affect them either considering they are 6-3-1 at home and 3-4-2 on the road.

16) Los Angles Kings (9-6-2) – The Stanley Cup champions have gotten off to a bumpy start but that shouldn’t be a shock since they snuck into the playoffs last spring as the No. 8 seed before their unforgettable run. They are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games and have won four straight so they appear to be getting things in order.

17) Minnesota Wild (9-7-2) – Zach Parise (8 goals, 5 assists), the biggest free agent splash of last summer, predictably hasn’t lived up to his absurd price tag while the front office hasn’t surrounded him with much talent. They have scored an NHL-low 39 goals so it’s hard to see them making the playoffs without trading for another sniper.

18) Tampa Bay Lightning (9-9-1) – On the other end of the spectrum, the Lightning can score with the best of them (NHL-high 70 goals) but they still lack a true No. 1 goaltender. Steven Stamkos (14 goals, 16 assists) is basically unstoppable and should be the odds-on favorite to be the NHL MVP (Hart Trophy) this season.

19) Winnipeg Jets (9-9-1) – You won’t find a more boring team than the Jets. They don’t have any stars and they don’t do anything particularly well. Perhaps that’s fitting for such a non-descript outpost. Bruins fans have to laugh at Blake Wheeler (6 goals, 10 assists) being one of their top scorers.

20) Philadelphia Flyers (9-11-1) – I can’t really say the Flyers deserve to be ranked even this high but take a look at the other awful teams below them. Philly is here by default. They are 4-8-0 on the road and still haven’t solved their goaltending issue of the past 10 years or so.

The post NHL Power Rankings: Blackhawks, Bruins at head of class appeared first on Metro.us.

Records through Feb. 24:

1. San Antonio Spurs (45-13, previous No. 1) – The Spurs finished their nine-game road trip with a 7-2 record, and continue to win games despite fighting the injury bug. Health seems to be the only roadblock for this team come postseason.

2. Miami Heat (40-14, previous No. 3) – Eleven wins in a row, seven of which have come by double-digits. Is that good? Not for the rest of the NBA. The Heat are pulling away from the East with relative ease.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (41-15, previous No. 2) – A 30-point beat-down of the Bulls is comforting. Not comforting? Signing Derek Fisher a few hours later. Do they really need him?

4. Los Angeles Clippers (40-18, previous No. 4) – Would Kevin Garnett put them over the top? We’ll never know. But the Clippers still have as good of a chance as any team to win a title.

5. Memphis Grizzlies (37-18 previous No. 6) – It’s not the strongest seven-game winning streak around (two wins over playoff contenders), but it’s a streak nonetheless. Still, it’s hard to include them with the elite right now.

6. Indiana Pacers (35-21, previous No. 8) – The Pacers are the team keeping somewhat of a “pace” with the Heat over the last 11 games, going 9-2 in that span. And they just got Danny Granger back. Fun times.

7. Denver Nuggets (35-22, previous No. 5) – Can we just bottle up everything about Kenneth Faried and give it to every NBA player? It would make for some pretty intense and amazing games.

8. Golden State Warriors (33-23, previous No. 9) – It looked like the wheels fell off for the Warriors after six straight losses. But a comeback, overtime win over the Spurs on Friday has them living up to their team name.

9. Brooklyn Nets (33-24, previous No. 11) – Went into and out of the break strong – two wins each – but have since lost to the Rockets and Griz. Joe Johnson can only hit so many game-winners, ya know?

10. Chicago Bulls (32-24, previous No. 7) – Sunday’s loss to the Thunder was ugly. Here’s some salt for that wound: According to Elias, it was Chicago’s eighth-straight game in which none of its players scored more than 20 points, the longest such streak in franchise history.

11. New York Knicks (33-20, previous No. 10) – The Knicks have just one win against a playoff team (the Bucks) in February. They are fading, and fading fast. Is anybody that surprised?

12. Atlanta Hawks (31-23, previous No. 13) – It almost seemed like a guarantee that Josh Smith would say buh-bye to ATL at the deadline. Instead, it’s a guarantee that the Smith-led Hawks are first or second round playoff exits.

13. Houston Rockets (31-27, previous No. 14) – With the position Houston has put itself in since last offseason, it’s easy to picture the Rockets as a top dog in the West next season. Not this season though.

14. Boston Celtics (29-27, previous No. 12) – Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett will live to see another full season in Green. That may have not been the case if it was a seller’s market at the deadline.

15. Utah Jazz (31-25, previous No. 16) – The Jazz have both Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap ready to hit free agency. They aren’t good enough with them, can’t re-sign both, but didn’t trade either. Figure that one out.

16. Milwaukee Bucks (26-28, previous No. 15) – A round of applause for the Bucks who tried as hard as possible to land Josh Smith. Now, a moment of silence.

17. Los Angeles Lakers (28-29, previous No. 19) – The Lakers are 11-4 in their last 15 games, which can only mean one thing: they’ve finally tuned out Mike D’Antoni.

18. Toronto Raptors (23-33 previous No. – ) – The Raptors are 6-1 over their last seven games, including wins over the Pacers, Nuggets, and Knicks (twice). Playoffs?!

19. Dallas Mavericks (25-30, previous No. 18) – Mark Cuban loves hypotheticals (“Amnesty Kobe”), so here’s one: “Let’s just say the Mavericks make the playoffs this season…”

20. Portland Trail Blazers (26-30, previous No. 17) – The problem with Portland is that they need lots of production from their starters because their bench is extremely weak. No offense, Sasha Pavlovic.

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