Around the League: A number of teams bounce back after tough results in week four and a couple of struggling teams have several notable performances leading to six teams not ranked last week jumping into the rankings. The playoff race still seems close in both the East and the West as only two teams in both conferences are out by more than ten points. The trade deadline is quickly approaching (the end of next week) so owners are going to have to decide if their team is realistically looking at a playoff run or should be sellers at the deadline. Here are the rankings: 1. Chicago Blackhawks (7-2-0) Last Week: 8 Hit: Always good to see an ECU play well in some call-up games and join the team. @Riven2513 went 2-0 with 6 points playing with @SoY LoS 19 and @PureRippin against the Sharks and Wild. Miss: @zPxcman is gone, not sure how difficult it will be to replace him, though the loss did get them @Blade mtl and cap space for @Riven2513 . 2. New York Islanders (6-3-0) Last Week: 2 Hit: The Islanders beat the Maple Leaf's top line winning in overtime with a great saucer pass from @kcut to @Basful for a back-door goal. Managed to go 4-0 versus current playoff teams as well. Miss: Lost to some good lines, but a 5-0 loss to the Capitals is a blemish on an otherwise solid week. I'd guess that their depth will be tested from here on out as they are currently the team to beat in the East. 3. Winnipeg Jets (6-3-0) Last Week: 4 Hit: The Jets shut out the second-place team in their division, the Blackhawks, in a bit of a line mismatch winning 5-0. @a1xFREAKx13 had a team-high 7 goals and a personal season-high of 11 points this week. Miss: 3-2 against current playoff teams this week which isn't bad, but this is also a Jets team that is at the top of their division. 4. Florida Panthers (6-2-1) Last Week: 3 Hit: @Lauxey goes 5-0 this week with a 1.60 GAA. Miss: Played 5 teams currently in the playoffs; the one loss they suffered was against a team that ended up bumping Florida down into the first wildcard spot. 5. New Jersey Devils (7-2-0) Last Week: Not ranked Hit: The @riorio56 @Laine x 29 @Sleeman Guy line goes 3-0 adding onto what has been a solid season so far for the two rookie draft picks paired with the vet. Miss: None 6. Minnesota Wild (6-4-0) Last Week: Not ranked Hit: A great week for the offense (36 GF) led this team through a tough schedule with 7 (!) games against teams currently in the playoffs. Miss: Despite a 6-4 record, they were actually above their average GA by a decent margin this week. They are only a few points out of the playoffs, but really need to tighten up in their own zone if they're going to make it to the postseason. 7. Dallas Stars (5-3-1) Last Week: 13 Hit: The @RoWsKi @Mr SaWse line captures 3 of the Stars 5 wins this week. Miss: Still just +4 goal differential this week. 8. Colorado Avalanche (6-2-1) Last Week: 6 Hit: A 3-0 week for @Ballistik ICE who will apparently be joining the Avs with the departure of @Pattelite . Miss: GF and GA were worse compared to recent weeks, hopefully this isn't a trend that continues or the Avs could be in trouble. 9. Toronto Maple Leafs (5-1-3) Last Week: Not ranked Hit: They managed to get points out of all but one of their games. Miss: The top line loses the game of the week versus the Islanders. 10. San Jose Sharks (5-3-1) Last Week: 5 Hit: Every loss this week was to a team currently in the playoffs. Miss: 3-2-1 in one goal games, would expect this team to do at least slightly better even with this schedule. 11. Washington Capitals (5-3-1) Last Week: Not ranked Hit: 2-1-1 against playoff teams keeping the playoffs just within reach with three weeks to go. Miss: 3-2-1 in one goal games which, though a slight improvement, isn't going to cut it in the future. 12. Calgary Flames (5-4-0) Last Week: 12 Hit: Third week in a row that the Flames have made the Super 16. Just in the playoffs and should remain that way as long as they can stay above .500 . Miss: @FtB x Sauce was traded, surely the lockerroom won't recover after losing a glue guy like that. 13. Los Angeles Kings (5-1-3) Last Week: Not ranked Hit: They need every point they can get being just 3 from the second wildcard in the West, and they managed to get at least one in 8 of 9 games. Miss: Need to find a way to win more in close games, extra points could amount to a playoff berth. 14. Boston Bruins (5-2-2) Last Week: Not ranked Hit: @JJ-Finesse- scored just enough goals to regain sole possession of first place in the Rocket race. Miss: Not a great Bruins debut for @itz xX BaLLa going 0-2-1 in his first week for his third team. 15. Philadelphia Flyers (5-2-2) Last Week: 15 Hit: @sbdr91 @bigleaguebala and @Breaky go 3-0. The Flyers are just ten points behind the last wildcard spot. Miss: Can't let OT games slip away with still a good bit of ground to make up on the teams ahead of them. 16. Vegas Golden Knights (4-4-1) Last Week: 16 Hit: They scored 13 goals in one game. Miss: The Golden Knights didn't fare well versus Central division opponents this week going 1-3-0 against them. Games to Watch: Vancouver Canucks @ Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday Nov. 21st - 9:00 PM EST Two teams just in the playoffs after rough weeks in week five look to grab two points. New York Islanders @ Winnipeg Jets Tuesday Nov. 21st - 11:00 PM EST The top team in the Metro matches up against the top team in the Central on an ESHL-free night. Surprises of the Week: The website got hacked and the world didn't end. Letdowns of the Week: Tampa Bay going 3-6-0 and just barely hanging onto a wildcard spot. Everyone knows the Coyotes are struggling, but they're tied with the Oilers and AHEAD of two other teams in the league points-wise.
