3/17 Power Rankings Roundup: Movin' on up

by Chris Burton on Mar 17, 2010 12:19 PM EDT

Check out the Coyotes-- five points out of the top seed!

After completely falling apart in San Jose, the Nashville Predators have rebounded in a huge way behind some incredible performances from Pekka Rinne. They've reeled off three straight wins, and are six points up on 9th place Calgary.

Before we get to the power rankings, lets take a quick look at the standings. The Predators got all eight points I laid out for them, and have already gotten a head start on the 2nd 7-game stretch by winning the first two games. In James Mirtle's updated playoff push, the Predators need to go 5-6-1 to get to 94 points, something that seems quite doable. Finally, Sports Club Stats has the Predators with a 90.4% chance of making the playoffs, with 7-4-1 being the record that guarantees a spot.

After the jump, the Preds average out at 12th in the mainstream media's power rankings.

Pierre LeBrun moves the Preds up three spots to tenth. [ESPN]

Followed up the meltdown in San Jose with impressive wins in Anaheim and Los Angeles..

Ryan Dixon has Nashville in 11th, up one. [THN]

Picked up three big wins in a four-game trip away from home.

They've moved up, but still head-scratchingly trail teams like Montreal. Up seven to 16th. [TSN]

Won three of four on their road trip, with rookie C Colin Wilson starting to become a factor offensively, and return home for six of the next seven as they try to solidify their playoff positioning.

Allan Muir pushes the Preds up one spot to 13th. [SI]

Toss out one really bad period against the Sharks and they have to be pleased with the sort of gritty, defensive-minded play that characterized their three-game swing through California. They'll need more as they head back to Bridgestone Arena for six of their next seven with a playoff spot dangling loosely in their grasp.

Wes Goldstein has Nashville in 9th, up nine. [Sportsline]

They're tough when things are tight. Nashville has won a league-high 34 times in games decided by two goals or less.

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From comments in Tn

An “insightful” commentary Mr_Wonderful wrote:

Replying to mapdesigns:
One of Rinne’s best games the season – big win for the Preds.

Wow, I guess I’m not one of you smarter than thou hockey fans, but how in the wide world of sports does Rinne get such praise for blowing a 3-1 lead?

If that’s one of his best I’d hate to see a mediocre game for him.

You guys are just pollyanna homers of the first order. Give me a break. And, that’s going against the backup goalie who had to come in in an ijury situation and gave up a goal right off the bat before he knew what was going on.

The Preds might sneak in the playoffs, but they’ll be lucky to win one game, then.

This team has 2 of the worst goalies in the league and it’s not getting any better.

I have to give Trotz credit, how this team is even in the picture with the 2 slugs in goal is a great feat, not to mention a team of rookies and new guys.

Hey! Maybe Rinne will give up 6 goals the next game to show even more greatness.

3/17/2010 8:40:03 AM

by EXPECTATIONS on Mar 17, 2010 1:24 PM EDT reply actions

wtf^^

Appearantly this guy missed the 42 saves part of rinnes game.

by flyalder on Mar 17, 2010 1:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Inconsistent? yeah, ok.....

but “slugs”…I don’t think so. There are lots of goaltenders that are playing way worse than Ellis or Rinne. I’m pretty sure guys that are “slugs” don’t get 3rd star of the week status from the NHL.

by hockeydekefreak on Mar 17, 2010 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Success breeds contempt

by jerseypredsfan on Mar 17, 2010 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

to be fair

he did put a disclaimer in there that pretty much states he doesn’t know what’s going on.

Wow, I guess I’m not one of you smarter than thou hockey fans,

by Great Paperclip on Mar 17, 2010 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I never understood what was so hard about buttoning your lip when you have no clue what is going on.

Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

by gotsparkly on Mar 19, 2010 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Power rankings from 9th to 16th....

…that’s a big disparity between rankings(thanks for averaging them). This is what confuses me a little with these new power rankings. It’s hard to take them seriously with everyone’s list being so different. No surprise TSN is the lowest at 16th.

by hockeydekefreak on Mar 17, 2010 2:22 PM EDT reply actions

Almost leads me to believe TSN doesn’t watch Nashville, lol. If we’re not better than the Rangers I’ll eat my hat.

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by Chris Burton on Mar 17, 2010 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

exactly, I'll eat mine, too!...

How, after all these years, do we still manage to slip under people’s radars?

by hockeydekefreak on Mar 17, 2010 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Pretty simple, I think. You don’t have a lot of championships and you don’t have a controversial figure or an outright asshat in your organization. Media ignores teams that don’t fall into one of those two categories.

Besides, take it from me – having the media pay attention to your team means seeing a lot of uninformed BS about your team and is nearly as bad. Grass is always greener and all that.

Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

by gotsparkly on Mar 19, 2010 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions