If we aren't Number 1 in every Power Ranking this week......

[PGABluesFan]

I know they mean nothing, but it's still nice to see respect from the hockey world. I think it's safe to say that the Blues should be Number 1 in EVERY power ranking there is if we win tonight, as much as it may hurt some of those East Coast Team fanboys that make those lists.

Any predictions?

[ibldbl]

Somehow they'll show the East coast bias and the Rangers will still be #1, even after losing three in a row. Here's to hoping they break the bias.

[thedoc]

On NHL tonight last night they actually said nashville is hot and breathing down our necks

[cprice12]

On NHL tonight last night they actually said nashville is hot and breathing down our necks

Sometimes I just roll my eyes at things the national "expert analysts" say. Quite often, they are vague, only hit talking points, and haven't paid enough attention (other than look at highlights) to any team not named Detroit, Chicago, or any east coast team, to be considered an expert on anything those other teams have done.

Nashville is 10 pts. behind us. They aren't catching us. Almost impossible unless we go into a funk and they win out.

Nashville is, however, breathing down Detroit's neck. Only 4 pts. back of the Wings with one game in hand, PLUS Nashville is playing much better than Detroit is not right now, and they just beat them last night in regulation.
It would be HILARIOUS if Nashville could catch them and get home ice on them in the 4 vs. 5 first round matchup. Most of the folks over at letsgowings.com don't think Nashville is a threat at all..and few there think the Blues are a threat.

I said this earlier in the season when Howard was playing every game in net for Detroit and was on pace for something like 75 starts. He has never even came close to playing that many games in a season. It is quite possible he breaks down, gets hurt, or gets worn out down the stretch and/or in the playoffs. And what do you know...he's been hurt a couple times in the past month or so, and has missed quite a bit of time.
Their lack of goaltending depth is going to be their downfall if Howard can't stay healthy.

[STLADOGG]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=6217 ... L|NHL|home
#2 on NHL.com Behind Pens.

[not_a_wings_fan]

And the pens have won 9 straight, so I think they earned it. I'm fine with #2 behind a team that hot. Just means we need to keep rolling.

[cprice12]

And the pens have won 9 straight, so I think they earned it. I'm fine with #2 behind a team that hot. Just means we need to keep rolling.

Horseshit.
We've won 9 of 10, killed 47 penalties in a row, have the TWO best goalies in the NHL, allowed the fewest goals in the NHL, have only allowed 1 goal in each of the last 5 games, have a 4pt. lead for the President's trophy, have a 5pt. lead in the West, have a 6 pt. lead in the division, have 8 more pts. than Pittsburgh.

Power Rankings are worthless...but since we're discussing it, the Blues should easily be #1.

The Penguins can be #2.

Detroit has fallen to 10th.

[PGABluesFan]

I see that, but we have won 8 of our last 9 right? And are well ahead of them in the standings. I still don't see how they are a "hotter" team than us right now.

[cprice12]

I see that, but we have won 8 of our last 9 right? And are well ahead of them in the standings. I still don't see how they are a "hotter" team than us right now.

We've won 9 of the last 10.

[kodos]

The less "buzz" and national attention this team gets the better.

Seriously.

[STLADOGG]

The less "buzz" and national attention this team gets the better.

Seriously.

Kudos kodos.

[theohall]

Somehow they'll show the East coast bias and the Rangers will still be #1, even after losing three in a row. Here's to hoping they break the bias.

And as he ibldbl predicted, East Coast bias strikes again - it was just the Penguins, instead of the Rangers.

Their claim on the Penguins - 9 straight wins. Outscored opponents 33-13.

In that same 9 game stretch when the Blues went 8-1, the Blues outscored their opponents 28-12. In other words, the Blues are scoring goals almost at the pace of the Penguins right now - and that's without having someone like Evgeni Malkin on the roster.

They were also busy making the argument about key players not having played together. When have the Blues actually had their top 22 players healthy the past two seasons. We all know it is never, but the Penguins are the popular team to hype right now.

[WaukeeBlues]

The less "buzz" and national attention this team gets the better.

Seriously.

Especially come playoff time. IF we get that #1 seed, more than a few people are going to raise an eyebrow and say "huh"? And I'm totally okay with that. Hopefully it translates to our opponent doing that as well.

We're not taken seriously yet. I'm also perfectly okay with that. That can only help us down the stretch.

[cardsfan04]

It's Pierre LeBrun. He's an all around idiot.

I was quite shocked we didn't get the number 1 slot even with him doing it. Last night as I went to bed, I was actually thinking about that and how nice it would be today because nobody could possibly choose any other team, right? Oh well, kodos might be onto something about being under the radar being a good thing.

[ajmchief1]

Well I think it is a popularity contest. They didn't look at the fact that we don't have any big points players, though I believe one could argue Pietrangelo is a high offense guy. They didn't seem to care that we have killed 47 straight shorthanded opportunities. And they most certainly don't care that we just won a lot on the road. I know the rankings don't matter, it's the standings that are important. Anyway, Detroit moved down to 10, so I'm cool.

[cardsfan04]

Oops, just realized NHL.com ranking is the one that was posted. Number 2 behind Pens on ESPN too.

But, somehow, NHL.com's description of the Pens is the most laughable of the two:

"Of all the numbers that can make a case for Malkin to win the Hart Trophy, his faceoff numbers get overlooked. He's won 47 percent of draws, a career high, and taken 1,049 faceoffs after never taking more than 890 in a season."

Don't get me wrong. Faceoffs are important. I get that. But, when you're less than 50% is it really noteworthy? I mean, come on.

[cardsfan04]

At least TSN puts us first: http://tsn.ca/fantasy_news/rankings/nhl/

I give TSN the most cred of the 3 anyway.

[dmiles2186]

Oops, just realized NHL.com ranking is the one that was posted. Number 2 behind Pens on ESPN too.

But, somehow, NHL.com's description of the Pens is the most laughable of the two:

"Of all the numbers that can make a case for Malkin to win the Hart Trophy, his faceoff numbers get overlooked. He's won 47 percent of draws, a career high, and taken 1,049 faceoffs after never taking more than 890 in a season."

Don't get me wrong. Faceoffs are important. I get that. But, when you're less than 50% is it really noteworthy? I mean, come on.

That's why the Pens are number 1? Because of Malkin's faceoffs?

That would be like us saying, "Of all the numbers that can make a case for Pietrangelo to win the Norris trophy, his dump in numbers get overlooked. He gets the puck deep on 93% of his dump ins, a career high, and dumped the puck in 3,534 times after never dumping it in more than 2,324 in a season."

I don't really pay much mind to power rankings. It's good to see the Blues up top, but I'm not going to get butthurt with the Blues not being number 1. I'd prefer the national media to keep overlooking the Blues. It hasn't stopped the Blues train from rolling yet.

[philco_3]

The number one seed don't mean a thing...look at the last time when we won the Presidents Trophy.

[not_a_wings_fan]

I just want to be the only team in the league that wins its last game this year. That's it. Rank us where ever you want.