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NHL Hockey Rankings

Final 2006-07: Ducks Power Past Senators

Anaheim came into the Stanley Cup with a reputation as being a physical team.  The Ducks lived up to that reputation, even earning a one-game suspension for defenseman Chris Pronger for a blow to the head in Game Three.  But Anaheim's physical play eventually overwhelmed Ottawa as the Ducks hammered the Senators in Game Five (6-2) to claim its first championship and the first Stanley Cup ever in California.  Scott Niedermayer claimed the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP, but goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere (13-4 record; 1.97 GAA) and Ryan Getzlaf (team-leading 17 points) were just as instrumental in the team's run.  Here are the complete Dunkel hockey ratings* for the 2006-07 season.

* Through Games Played On June 6

Regular Season: Senators Finish No. 1

Ottawa has transformed itself in recent seasons, getting rid of players like Martin Havlat, Marian Hossa and Zdeno Chara, but it doesn't seem to have slowed the team down as the Senators once again topped the 100-point mark and will be making their 10th straight playoff appearance.  Dany Heatley led the way with 50 goals, becoming the first player since Pavel Bure in 2001 to score 50 goals in back-to-back seasons.  The effort helped Ottawa finish with the highest regular season rating in the Index.  Here are the complete Dunkel hockey ratings* for the 2006-07 regular season.

* Through Games Played On April 8

Week 25: Cheechoo Leading Shark Attack

Jonathon Cheechoo had his third hat trick of the season on Sunday to lead San Jose to a 6-2 win over Los Angeles that moved the Sharks back into a tie with Dallas for fifth place in the Western Conference.  Over his past 10 games, Cheechoo has 17 points (12 goals, five assists)  to help the Sharks finish the month of March with a 10-2-2 record and the No. 1 spot in the Index.  Here are the complete Dunkel hockey ratings* for the week.

* Through Games Played On April 1

Week 24: Rangers Answer The Call

The Rangers are putting together a nice stretch run that has seen them win five straight, including back-to-back road shootout victories over Boston and the Islanders this weekend.  The 2-1 win over the Islanders on Sunday also happened to be the third 2-1 victory over their in-state rival in the last 21 days.  The surge has moved New York into sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings, a point ahead of Tampa Bay, and up to No. 5 in the Index.   Here are the complete Dunkel hockey ratings* for the week.

* Through Games Played On March 25

Week 23: Oilers Leaking Badly

The Oilers may have been signaling that they were throwing in the towel when they traded away leading-scorer Ryan Smyth and their play since has only confirmed it.  Edmonton has lost 10 straight -- nine since the trade of Smyth -- and is only one loss away from tying the franchise record set back in 1993.  The Oilers have been outscored 37-9 during the skid, which has dropped them to No. 30 in the Index.  Here are the complete Dunkel hockey ratings* for the week.

* Through Games Played On March 18

Week 22: Colorado Climbing Higher

Colorado hasn't missed the playoffs since the 1993-94 season and the Avalanche are making a push to extend that streak.  Rookie Paul Statsny has led the charge by registering a point in 18 straight games -- a rookie record that surpasses the mark set by Teemu Selanne (17) and Paul's father, Peter Statsny (16).  Statsny's record also helped the Avalanche go on a five-game winning streak that pushed the Avs up to No. 2 in the Index.  Here are the complete Dunkel hockey ratings* for the week.

* Through Games Played On March 11

Week 21: Panthers On The Prowl

Florida shut down cross-state rival Tampa Bay (6-2) on Saturday for the Panthers' season-high fourth straight win. A key to the success has been coach Jacques Martin's decision to pair Nathan Horton and Stephen Weiss on the same line with Martin Gelinas.  Horton and Weiss each tallied two goals against the Lightning.  The hot streak has moved Florida to the top spot in the Index.   Here are the complete Dunkel hockey ratings* for the week.

* Through Games Played On March 4

Week 20: Wild Times In Minnesota

The Wild put together a solid week that saw Minnesota record wins over Dallas, Colorado and Edmonton.  Goalie Niklas Backstrom continues to play well in place of the injured Manny Fernandez.  Backstrom has gone 7-2-1 since replacing Fernandez with a .923 save percentage.  The effort has been good enough to push the Wild to No. 1 in the Index.  Here are the complete Dunkel hockey ratings* for the week.

* Through Games Played On February 25

Week 19: Atlanta Thrashing About

It's been a tough February for Atlanta so far as the Thrashers dropped their record to 1-6-1 for the month with a 5-3 loss at Ottawa on Saturday.  The losing skid dropped the Southeast Division-leading Thrashers to No. 30 in the Index.  Here are the complete Dunkel hockey ratings* for the week.

* Through Games Played On February 18

Week 18: Pittsburgh Reliving Old Times

It's been a while since Pittsburgh was talked about among hockey's elite teams, but an infusion of youth led by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin has brought the Penguins back.  Pittsburgh is 5-1 in the month of February so far -- including a 4-1 thrashing of the No. 1 team in the West (Nashville) on Tuesday -- and has gone 13-5 in the new year to move up to the top spot in this week's Index.  Here are the complete Dunkel hockey ratings* for the week.

* Through Games Played On February 11

Week 17: Minnesota Running Wild

Minnesota was already a solid team at home, but the Wild just couldn't seem to pick up victories on the road.  That looks to be changing now as Minnesota has won seven of its last eight road games, including three straight over Phoenix, Colorado and St. Louis last week, to move up to No. 2 in this week's Index.  Here are the complete Dunkel hockey ratings* for the week.

* Through Games Played On February 4

Week 16: Predators Take No Prisoners

Nashville picked up right where it left off at the All-Star break by beating Chicago and St. Louis on the road on back-to-back nights.  The wins gave the Predators 10 in their last 11 games to take over the No. 1 position in this week's Index.   Here are the complete Dunkel hockey ratings* for the week.

* Through Games Played On January 28

Week 15: San Jose Hits Break No. 1

A 1-0 loss to St. Louis on Saturday was one of the few setbacks the Sharks have had lately.  San Jose entered the All-Star break by winning seven of its last nine to move into the top spot of this week's Index.  Here are the complete Dunkel hockey ratings* for the week.

* Through Games Played On January 21

Week 14: Ottawa Opens Up On Montreal

The Ottawa line of Daniel Alfredsson, Chris Kelly and Dany Heatley can be one of the most potent in the NHL.  Just ask Montreal.  Kelly had a career-high four points, Alfredsson had a goal and four assists and Heatley added a goal and two assists as the Senators jumped out to a 6-0 lead over the Canadiens en route to an 8-3 win over Saturday.  The victory pushed Ottawa back up to No. 1 in this week's Index.  Here are the complete Dunkel hockey ratings* for the week.

* Through Games Played On January 14

Week 13: Brodeur Bedevils Canadiens

Registering shutouts is nothing new to New Jersey's Martin Brodeur and the veteran picked up his league-best seventh on Sunday in a 3-0 win over Montreal.  Brodeur, who leads the league with 25 wins, is third in career shutouts (87) behind George Hainsworth and Terry Sawchuk.  The win also helped move the Devils up to No. 3 in this week's Index behind Nashville and San Jose.  Here are the complete Dunkel hockey ratings* for the week.