K-Mart's NHL Top 5 Bottom 5

Top Five, Bottom Five

Well due to the fact that I had several exams last week I didn't write a top five, bottom five column. So this weeks will cover teams' records over the period February 4^th to February 17^th.

Top Five (Weekly record in parentheses)

1. Dallas Stars (6-1-0)- As Detroit has cooled, the Stars have gotten red hot. They've won six of their past seven to close within ten points of Detroit for the conference lead. All of their wins have come against division or conference foes which bodes well for the playoffs.

2. Anaheim Ducks (6-1-0)- The Ducks were floundering two weeks ago, but have since turned it around, losing only once since February 2^nd and that was to Dallas on the 15^th. Of their six wins, three of them came against division or conference opponents.

3. Chicago Blackhawks (4-1-1)- The Blackhawks were floundering a couple of weeks ago but their recent play has given them an outside shot at making the playoffs.

4. Tampa Bay Lightning (4-1-1)- The Lightning likely aren't making the playoffs this year, but they still have a slim chance of winning the division. They have recently posted wins against playoff bound teams such as Nashville, Montreal and Philadelphia, but they have dropped both games to division opponents, something they cannot do if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.

5. Nashville Predators (4-2-2)- The Predators have posted points in eight of their last ten games and have gained some ground on Detroit, however they still remain 18 points out of first in the division, but they have a solid shot at the fourth seed in the playoffs.

Bottom Five

5. Colorado Avalanche (2-3-0)- The Avalanche posted consecutive wins against San Jose and Vancouver, but since then have dropped three straight in regulation to Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver leaving them on the outside of the playoff picture.

4. Phoenix Coyotes (2-3-1)- The Coyotes salvaged a lost week with wins against Dallas and Los Angeles, but before they they lost four in a row, something they can't afford if they want to make a late push for the playoffs. As it stands, they are two points out of the final spot in the west.

3. Columbus Blue Jackets (2-2-3)- The Blue Jackets were close to having a great week, but their inability to win overtime games has doomed them. The playoffs are looking less and less likely after what started off as a promising season.

2.Detroit Redwings (1-5-1)- The Redwings pulled out an overtime victory against Minnesota on the 5^th, but since then they have lost six straight, five of them in regulation. Luckily for the Redwings, their lead on the rest of the pack in the Western Conference was so great that they still have a ten point lead on Dallas and an 18 point lead in their division. However, the Redwings cannot afford to keep playing like this for the rest of the season.

1. Philadelphia Flyers (1-7-0)- The week started off well for the Flyers when they beat Atlanta 3-2 on the 5^th. That gave them 65 points and they were only three behind conference leading Ottawa. Since then, the Flyers have lost seven straight games in regulation, including four one-goal losses. Three of the seven losses have come against division opponents and they have dropped from first to fourth in the division and are holding a one-point lead over Boston and Buffalo for their playoff spot. If the Flyers don't turn it around quickly they could miss the playoffs for a second straight year.