NHL Panel Power Poll

With the help from SprungOnSports staff writers Adam Davis and Daniel Friedman, today marks the first of a weekly top 10 poll based on a points system used in college basketball and college football polls. A team with a first place vote earns 10 points, second place nine points and so on. The team closest to the maximum 30 point level is ranked first. Here goes:

NHL Power Poll
1) New York Rangers- 27 points- The Rangers earned two first place votes and go into the All-Star break leading the Eastern Conference.
1) Detroit Red Wings- 27 points- Despite losing a 7-2 decision at Montreal, the Red Wings have won seven straight and lead the NHL in points.
3) Boston Bruins- 22 points- The panel was divided on Boston, who got a first place vote but also a seventh. They’ve only won five of their last 10 games.
4) Nashville Predators- 17 points- Despite being fifth in the Western Conference standings, Nashville got two fourth place votes and have won nine of 10.
5) Chicago Blackhawks- 14 points- Ranked high as third and as low as unranked this week, Chicago has also only won five of 10 and just fell to the Predators.
5) Vancouver Canucks- 14 points- The Canucks are on their way back after a slow start and are third in the league in goal differential.
7) Pittsburgh Penguins- 11 points- A huge seven game winning streak led by Evgeni Malkin has them in the top 10, and they even got a third place vote.
7) St. Louis Blues- 11 points- They had been on a roll, but losses in consecutive nights to Detroit and Pittsburgh lowered their stock.
9) San Jose Sharks- 7 points- The Pacific Division leaders are fifth in the league in goals allowed per game and barely earned them a spot this week.
10) Washington Capitals- 6 points- Despite having allowed more goals than they’ve scored, the new Southeast Division leaders got a fifth place vote for all their points.
Also Receiving Votes- Los Angeles Kings (5 points), Philadelphia Flyers (4 points)