Madhouse Enforcer's Central Division Power Rankings: Week 11
By James Neveau ••
It’s been several weeks since we have gone through the Central Division to check out how the competition is doing for the Chicago Blackhawks, but as the Hawks have ascended back to the top of the heap, it’s high time that we resume our look with this week’s edition of the Power Rankings.
1: Chicago Blackhawks
With their recent eight-game winning streak and their run of 12 wins in 14 games, the Blackhawks are arguably not just the best team in the Central Division, but in the entire NHL as well. They are only allowing two goals per game, the second-best total in the NHL, and they are scoring nearly three goals per game. That blend of offensive skill, defensive prowess, and solid goaltending (even without Corey Crawford in net) has vaulted them to the top of the rankings, and with good reason.
2. St. Louis Blues
It was tempting to put the Predators ahead of the Blues due to their victory over St. Louis earlier this season, but that temptation went out the window as they scored 12 goals in two wins over the New York Islanders (a team that beat the Blackhawks on Saturday). The Blues are a complete team on offense and defense, but questions still remain about their goaltending. Can Jake Allen seize the starting job full-time? Can Martin Brodeur come up big if Allen doesn’t?
3. Nashville Predators
The Predators have been up-and-down so far in the month of December, winning three games and losing three after ending November on a four-game winning streak. The one constant over that stretch has been goaltender Pekka Rinne, as he continues to put together a Vezina-caliber season. His 19-6-1 record is impressive enough, but a 1.75 GAA and a .937 save percentage are both absolutely oustanding. He’s been the Predators’ rock this year, and it’s pretty obvious as to what this team was missing in a lost 2013-14 season.
If you want to talk about a team with up and down results recently, look no further than the Wild. Since they extended a winning streak to four straight games on November 20, they’ve alternated wins and losses in each of their next 10 games. They have benefitted greatly from Ryan Suter’s return to the lineup after missing time with mumps, but an inconsistent scoring attack hasn’t helped matters in recent weeks.
5. Winnipeg Jets
The Jets were expected to be buried in the basement of the Central Division, but a funny thing happened on the march to mediocrity. They found a solid goaltender in Michael Hutchinson that has helped them to the fifth-best goals against average in the league, and their power play has been steadily improving, scoring six goals in their past four games. Games against Buffalo and Boston loom on the schedule however, and a test against the Blackhawks on December 23 will help prove whether or not they are for real.
6. Dallas Stars
While the Jets have been proving that they were underestimated, the Stars continue to prove that they were vastly overestimated when the year began. They’ve lost five of their last seven games, giving up five goals in each of the games, and their special teams have been far from special. They’re in the bottom 10 in the league in both power play and penalty killing percentage, and they’ve allowed six power play goals in their last six games. Tyler Seguin continues to be the lone bright spot for Dallas, scoring four goals and dishing out two assists in their last three games.
7. Colorado Avalanche
While teams like the Blackhawks and Blues show the value of bringing a balance of offense and defense to the ice on a nightly basis, the Avalanche are showing that a lack of both qualities can be devastating. They rank in the bottom 10 in the NHL in both goals for (21st) and goals against (26th) this season, and they’ve lost five of their last six games as they continue to struggle to find their form that won them a division title last year. Captain Gabriel Landeskog is helping out the offense a bit as they try to turn things around, picking up five assists in his last four games.
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Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes dished out some serious PDA courtside at a basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 11, 2019. The two are known for club hit "Señorita" as well as burgeoning relationship rumors stemming from the collaboration.
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The two were caught locking lips throughout the game.
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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, watches the Women's Singles final match between Serena Williams of the United States and Bianca Andreescu of Canada at the 2019 US Open, Sept. 7, 2019, New York. The Duchess of Sussex was there to cheer on her friend in her first solo trip abroad since she gave birth to her son, Archie.
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From left: Alexis Ohanian; Serena Williams' mother, Oracene Price; Meghan, Duchess of Sussex; coach Patrick Mouratoglou; publicist Jill Smoller; sisters Isha Price and Venus Williams; and Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue, all react as they watch Serena Williams face off against Bianca Andreescu of Canada during the Women's Singles final at the 2019 US Open on Sept. 7, 2019.
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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Anna Wintour, left, watches the Women's Singles final match between Serena Williams of the United States and Bianca Andreescu of Canada at the 2019 US Open, Sept. 7, 2019, New York. The Duchess of Sussex was there to cheer on her friend in her first solo trip abroad since she gave birth to her son, Archie.
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Gabrielle Union celebrates Dwyane Wade's three-point shot next to Chrissy Teigen and John Legend in the final regular season home game against the Philadelphia 76ers at American Airlines Arena on April 9, 2019, in Miami, Florida. It was Wade's last home game before his retirement.
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From left: Nathan Stewart, John Stewart, Pete Davidson and John Mulaney attend Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Monday, April 1, 2019.
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Former President Barack Obama attends a college basketball game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019.
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Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban arrive ahead of the Women's Semi Final match between Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic and Danielle Collins of the United States at the 2019 Australian Open, Jan. 24, 2019, in Melbourne, Australia.
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Joe Jonas kisses fiancée Sophie Turner's hand during the ladies singles third round match between Venus Williams and Serena Williams on August 31, 2018, in Queens, New York.
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John Vosler, Emma Watson and Luke Evans attend the men's single final on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 15, 2018, in London, England.
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Hannah Bagshawe, Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch attend the men's single final on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 15, 2018, in London, England.
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Kate Winslet and Ned Rocknroll react during the men's singles final on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 15, 2018, in London, England.
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Alexis Ohanian, Lewis Hamilton and Anna Wintour attend day twelve of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 14, 2018, in London, England.
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Emma Watson attends day twelve of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 14, 2018, in London, England.
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Joel Embiid (21) of the Philadelphia 76ers talks with rapper Meek Mill after the playoff game against the Miami Heat at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center on April 24, 2018. The 76ers won 104-91.
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Singer-songwriter John Legend attends game two of the 2017 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 25, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
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Actor Jason Bateman attends game two of the 2017 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 25, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
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Patrick Warburton, the actor who played David Puddy on "Seinfeld" and wore makeup supporting the New Jersey Devils during an episode of the show, gestures at the end of Game 4 of an NHL first-round hockey playoff series between the Devils and the Tampa Bay Lightning, Wednesday, April 18, 2018, in Newark, N.J. The Lightning won 3-1. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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Houston Astros owner Jim Crane sits with Payton Manning during the second inning of Game 2 of baseball's World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Oct. 25, 2017, in Los Angeles.
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Comedian Jerry Seinfeld is seen during Game 1 of the 2017 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
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(L-R) Actors Ken Jeong, Rob Lowe and George Lopez attend Game 1 of the 2017 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
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Singer-songwriter Lady Gaga attend game one of the 2017 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 24, 2017, in Los Angeles, California.
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NBA legend and co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr., at Game 1 of the 2017 World Series against the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium on October 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
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Actor Rob Lowe at one of the 2017 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
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Actress Jennifer Lopez and former MLB player Alex Rodriguez attend the super welterweight boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor on Aug. 26, 2017, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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LeBron James waits for a super welterweight boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Las Vegas. Former boxer Mike Tyson sits behind James.
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Former boxer Mike Tyson attends the super welterweight boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor on Aug. 26, 2017, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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Actors Jamie Foxx, Don Cheadle, recording artist Chance the Rapper and actor William H. Macy attend the Showtime, WME IME and Mayweather Promotions VIP Pre-Fight party for Mayweather vs. McGregor at T-Mobile Arena on Aug. 26, 2017, in Las Vegas.
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Actor Chris Hemsworth attends the super welterweight boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor on Aug. 26, 2017, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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Actress Charlize Theron attends the super welterweight boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor on Aug. 26, 2017, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne and Jack Osbourne attend the super welterweight boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor on Aug. 26, 2017, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Britain's Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, sit in the Royal Box for the Men's Singles final match between Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Croatia’s Marin Cilic on day thirteen at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London Sunday, July 16, 2017.
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Actor Eddie Redmayne and his wife Hannah, left, and Actor Hugh Grant and Anna Eberstein watch the Mixed Doubles final match on day thirteen at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London Sunday, July 16, 2017.
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Carole Middleton, her son James Middleton and Bradley Cooper (front) react as they attend day 11 of Wimbledon 2017 on July 14, 2017 in London, England.
