Capitals Power Ranking Roundup: Week 6

by EmilyB on Nov 17, 2010 1:00 PM EST in Power Ranking Roundups

Our weekly temperature-taking of the mainstream media's opinions on the Washington Capitals:

Outlet	This Week	Last Week	What They're Saying
	2	4	Getting offence from the back end.
	4	3	Getting more from the back end lately. D-men have 10 goals in the past eight games after getting just one in the first 10.
	4	3	The Caps have finally reclaimed their rightful place as the top offensive team in the NHL (3.6 goals per game) and one of the premier power-play squads. Alex Semin couldn't be any more clearly having a contract season if he was talking about his role Randy Moss-style after each and every game.
	-	3	Pending.
	2	4	Riding an eight-game point streak. Would be a winning streak if it weren't for an OT loss to -- say, what? -- Buffalo.
	5	5	Alexander Semin is slated to become an unrestricted free agent July 1. He's second in the NHL with 13 goals. Who's happier than his agent, Mark Gandler?
	3	3	Alexander Semin was one of the main reasons the Capitals were able to pick up seven of a possible eight points last week. The Washington forward potted four goals and four assists in his team's four games, including a hat trick and the game-winning goal in a win over Tampa on Nov. 11.
	3	3	Alex Semin has a sizzling 21.3 shooting percentage (13 goals on 61 shots)
	5	3	Capitals defensemen have been contributing offensively during team's 8-1-1 surge.
	-	-	Pending.
	1	3	Alex Ovechkin says the best is yet to come for the Capitals. "I don't think we've played our best game right now. Soon, I think it's going to be better."
	-	N/A	Pending.
	2	3	John Erskine 's second goal of the season and ninth of his career proved to be the winner as the Caps topped the Thrashers 6-4.
	4	4	It's a credit to the strength at the top end of the league that the Capitals are still fourth with one regulation loss in the last 11 games. Key Injuries: G Semyon Varlamov (groin), Tom Poti (lower body).
	2	2	Tough to believe, but ahead of last season's President's Trophy pace.
	1	2	The Caps are 9-0-0 when Alexander Semin scores. Yeah, but he still doesn’t belong on the all-star ballot, huh?

Click on logos for links to full power rankings.

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Some of these are (at least) a few days old…but I find it surprising that only Yahoo! has the Caps at #1.

Caps have won 7 of last 8, and collected 15 of 16 points in that stretch, and goals being scored at a pretty decent clip on top of that. These weren’t all games against “cupcake” teams either. I’m not saying the Caps are a #1 across the board…but I find some of the "4"s and "5"s surprising.

"I am ready for his provocations"
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by PaintDrinkingPete on Nov 17, 2010 1:14 PM EST reply actions

I’d assume Philly is in the top spot in most of the polls? Pretty tough to argue against. They have the points and have looked dominant while getting them.

The Caps have the points but have looked…other than dominant while getting them. At times, anyway.

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by fat_daddyo on Nov 17, 2010 2:49 PM EST up reply actions

Click on the logos to go to the full ranking. The Kings or Red Wings are on top of most if not all of the polls, which were finalized before LA lost to the Sharks. Hurry back, Willie!

Or not.

You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!

by EmilyB on Nov 17, 2010 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

I believe it was the inimitable Peerless who deconstructed Philly’s ascent to the top as beating up on a bunch of sub .500 teams.

by S h a g g y on Nov 17, 2010 3:43 PM EST up reply actions

They’ve also been running poor Bob pretty hard. As evidenced by their 3-0 loss to MTL last night.

You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!

by EmilyB on Nov 17, 2010 3:57 PM EST up reply actions

Tellin’ it the way it is Yahoo sports, woot woot!

~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~

by Chaz-Capapalooza on Nov 17, 2010 1:15 PM EST reply actions

I kind of wish CBC had said “Getting offensive from the back end”…would have been a hell of a lot funnier.

"Do you see my fist? It was fists like these that built quaint Canadian cities out of the harsh Canadian wilderness, etc. etc."

Not in Seattle anymore.

by SeattleCapsFan on Nov 17, 2010 1:23 PM EST reply actions

You and I had the exact same thought there.

I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.

by Rather Bengt on Nov 17, 2010 1:26 PM EST up reply actions

Actually I think that’s in the pending Sports Illustrated Power Rankings aka Michael Farber’s Hockey Haunches Rankings.

I poured spot remover on my dog. Now he's gone.

by Rather Bengt on Nov 17, 2010 1:28 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Semin getting some serious love this week from the Power Rankings.

The guy is Peter Schumpmaker. Lord knows what a schump is, but you can bet your bippy his ancestors made them. What he's doing is far worse than crafting fine schumps.

by Steckel Me Elmo on Nov 17, 2010 1:34 PM EST reply actions

And some serious cynicism too, as in he’s only playing well because it’s a contract year.

"I would feed them lefts until I was pretty much tired of doing it." - Alan May, JRR, 10.16.2010

by bagace on Nov 17, 2010 2:03 PM EST up reply actions

It’s not like he gets by without cynicism ’round these parts.

The guy is Peter Schumpmaker. Lord knows what a schump is, but you can bet your bippy his ancestors made them. What he's doing is far worse than crafting fine schumps.

by Steckel Me Elmo on Nov 17, 2010 2:15 PM EST up reply actions