Music to listen to: Just Like You Imagined by Nine Inch Nails
Time for my top-10 NHL Power Rankings and other general thoughts:
1) Chicago Blackhawks: They’ve not suffered a loss in regulation yet this season, Patrick Kane is playing at an MVP level, have the second-rated offense AND defense in the league and Corey Crawford has been solid at the net. Furthermore, the Blackhawks’ next six games are at home which may push the undefeated streak to 19 games before its done.
2) New Jersey Devils: They’ve avoided the dreaded Stanley Cup hangover by an increase in balanced scoring led by the revelation of David Clarkson who leads the team with nine goals and the ageless Martin Brodeur who has continued his Hall of Fame-bound career with a solid start to the 2013 campaign.
3) Boston Bruins: Speaking of goalkeepers, many Bruins’ fans had legitimate concerns about their team’s goalkeeping situation with the sabbatical of incumbent Tim Thomas for this season. However, Tuukka Rask has been solid between the pipes and the Bruins have only one loss in regulation this season.
4) Vancouver Canucks: The Sedin twins are off to slow offensive starts (by their standards), the goalkeeping drama between Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider makes the headlines and the Canucks keep winning, currently sitting third in the West behind…
5) Anaheim Ducks: Nice bounce back season for the Ducks who have the third-best offense behind veteran Teemu Selanne, who contemplated retirement in the offseason to only now leads the team in assists (10) and points (14). Even fellow grey beard Saku Koivu leads the team in plus/minus (+11).
6) Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby is back, Evgeni Malkin may be the best offensive player in the NHL yet something seems to be missing from the Pens. Lack of offense outside of those two and Jams Neal would be a nice start. The back-to-back losses to New Jersey over the weekend was sour but Pittsburgh did pick up a solid home win against Ottawa on Wednesday night.
7) San Jose Sharks: If this list was made after the first two weeks of the season, the Sharks may have been at the top of the rankings after starting 7-0-0. However, San Jose has since been 0-3-3, including an embarrassing 6-2 loss at lowly Columbus on Monday. The offense has been on life-support since Patrick Marleau’s hot start (nine goals in the first five games of the season) has diminished and Joe Thornton has struggled offensively as well.
8) Detroit Red Wings: Who leads Detroit in goals scored? Pavel Datsyuk? Henrik Zettenberg? No, the answer is undrafted Swiss rookie Damien Brunner with six goals.
9) Toronto Maple Leafs: Break up the Leafs! Perennial disappointment Toronto has won four straight contests and have a top-10 offense. The knee injury to goalkeeper James Reimer is a concern but reports say that he will only be out a few weeks.
10) St. Louis Blues: They have the best power play in the NHL and got a much-needed overtime victory at Detroit on Tuesday. The game marked the NHL debut of goalie Jake Allen for the Blues who gave up a goal on his first-ever shot faced in the contest and gave up a second score in the first period. However, he settled down and allowed only one more goal the rest of the way. However, similar to Toronto, the Blues desperately need their main goal, Jaroslav Halak, to return to the net as soon as possible.
Other Thoughts:
-No thoughts on the lockout, maybe further analysis in another post. Just glad hockey is back.
-I really wanted to include my Rangers on the list, especially after the gritty 4-3 overtime win over Boston in their last contest. However, they need to improve on the second-worst power play in the league before a move up the rankings would be warranted. I do like how Rick Nash looks so far.
-I had to go all the way to 34th in the goals list this season for players to finally see Alex Ovechkin. Five goals through 13 games aren’t acceptable. It’s not surprising that the Capitals have the worst record in the NHL so far this season.
-If you put Nashvile’s defense, especially Pekka Rinne’s goalkeeping along with Tampa’s offense, you would be looking at your Stanley Cup favorites.
-The Kings will be a top-five team by the playoffs and be a major threat in the West.
-Another season, another controversy at goalkeeper in Philadelphia. I actually llya Bryzgalov, theories on the universe included. If the Flyers think that Brian Boucher is the answer, the question is terrible to start off with.
-I’m excited that the Islanders are moving to Brooklyn, which makes the personal temptation to move back to the NYC even stronger. However, similar to the New York Knicks/Brooklyn Nets situation, I’m sticking with my original team and supporting the Rangers. Furthermore, the day I root for the Islanders/Devils/Flyers is the day I give up being a hockey fan, never happening.
Those are my thoughts, what are yours?
The Sports Inquirer 
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