NHL Team Rankings: Jan. 8, 2003
January 8, 2003
The Ottawa Senators may be out of cash, but they're definitely running super-charged and lead all teams on thehockeynews.com's weekly NHL Team Rankings.
1. Ottawa (1)
Good:Marian Hossa has six goals and two assists in the first three games of January.
Bad:Show me the money.
Curious:Hossa's four goals in an 8-1 defeat of Atlanta was the first time in Senators history that a player has scored more than three goals in a game.
2. Dallas (5)
Good:A current seven-game (5-0-2) undefeated streak.
Bad:It's a stretch to find anything bad about the Stars right now, except that they allowed four goals in a 7-4 win over Los Angeles, the most they've allowed at home this season. In two of three previous meetings with the Kings, the Stars were shut out.
Curious:The Stars just finished a six-game streak of allowing two or fewer goals. Earlier in the season, they had a nine-game streak.
3. Vancouver (3)
Good:Markus Naslund is one of two players (Marian Hossa) on pace for a 50-goal season.
Bad:After the Naslund-Morrison-Bertuzzi line, no other forward has more than 18 points.
Curious:Naslund's 17 power play goals are the same as last year's league leader, Peter Bondra, had for the entire season.
4. Detroit (2)
Good:Undefeated since the end of November (4-0-3) on the road until losing 1-0 in Tampa Bay.
Bad:Since scoring two goals in a game on October 25, Luc Robitaille has scored two goals in 33 games.
Curious:In the game following a loss (one in OT) the Red Wings have a record of 8-0-2.
5. New Jersey (6)
Good:Joe Nieuwendyk looks as if he may finally be getting it together, with two goals against Montreal after being reunited with Jamie Langenbrunner.
Bad:Had 51 shots against Toronto, in Toronto, but still lost 2-1, facing Ed Belfour.
Curious:Corey Schwab has faced his old team, Toronto, in two of his four starts, and has allowed a total of one goal against them.
6. Philadelphia (7)
Good:4-0 in January, all on the road.
Bad:The Flyers are averaging 2.2 goals per game at home. Only Nashville, at 2.0, is worse.
Curious:Dan McGillis had three points in 24 games for the Flyers. Since being traded to San Jose, he has eight points in 14 games.
AI
