Power Rankings: Ovie, Capitals move into top spot after high-scoring week

Week: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

ESPN.com

Jetting back over the Atlantic from a great week in Helsinki, Finland, I bring to you this week's NHL Power Rankings ... early, early into the NHL season.

Are the Colorado Avalanche really better than we all thought? Are the Vancouver Canucks worse? Should people in Hockeytown be alarmed? Can the Montreal Canadiens salvage their season without their best player?

Ah, yes, only one or two games in ... of course we have all the answers!

As always, you can weigh in here and rank all 30 teams.

-- By Pierre LeBrun; posted Oct. 5

[Editor's note from Oct. 5: We updated our rankings at 4:30 p.m. ET after an earlier error. We apologize for any inconvenience.]

2009-2010 Power Rankings: Week 2
	RK (PV)	TEAM	REC.	COMMENT
	1 (4)	Capitals	2-0-0	On pace for 410 goals this season! We know that won?t happen, but what a start for Alex Ovechkin, who already leads the league with six points. Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Brooks Laich and Nicklas Backstrom are the top four scorers with 21 combined points. Well, we knew they could score goals.
	2 (1)	Penguins	2-0-0	The Cup champs off to a nice 2-0 start with Sidney Crosby potting two in two games. Does the captain put up a career-high in goals this season?
	3 (7)	Flames	2-0-0	Ah, nothing like starting the season with wins over your two Canadian rivals. Miikka Kiprusoff looking pretty darn good early on.
	4 (12)	Blues	2-0-0	Can't wait for that season opener at the Scottrade Center. Just hope the roof doesn't collapse from all the noise. A great market finally gets a team worth cheering for. Talk about a statement with two season-opening wins in Stockholm over the mighty Red Wings.
	5 (3)	Flyers	2-0-0	If there's a player in the NHL that needed a quick start, it was indeed Ray Emery. Well done, sir!
	6 (5)	Blackhawks	1-0-1	Patrick Kane was the best player in Helsinki -- on either team. He was flying while he picked up four points.
	7 (2)	Sharks	1-1-0	Nice rebound win over the rival Ducks on Saturday. Coach Todd McLellan won't be Mr. Nice Guy this season.
	8 (6)	Red Wings	0-2-0	Hey, let's ask the Wings if they want to start the season in Europe next season. Oh, and they're on a five-game losing streak, counting official games dating back to last spring.
	9 (8)	Bruins	1-1-0	How do you spell revenge? A 7-2 rout over Carolina. Who needs Phil Kessel!
	10 (9)	Ducks	0-1-0	Shaky start with the loss to the Sharks. Are they nervous Mr. LeBrun picked them to win the West?
	11 (18)	Canadiens	2-0-0	Nice response after losing Andrei Markov, but can they do it over the long haul? Don't think so.
	12 (22)	Rangers	1-1-0	Eat your heart out Minnesota Wild fans: Marian Gaborik has two goals in two games.
	13 (11)	Hurricanes	0-2-0	Hello, offense ... is there anybody home? Two goals in two games combined.
	14 (13)	Sabres	0-0-1	Fell into Montreal's trap and were lulled to sleep Saturday night.
	15 (14)	Kings	0-1-0	Nice way to open a season full of high hopes: lose at home to the Coyotes.
	16 (15)	Panthers	1-1-0	You'll be hearing more of 18-year-old blueliner Dmitry Kulikov.
	17 (17)	Canucks	0-2-0	OK, memo to the Canucks: You may want to win some games in October and store away those points given your 14-game road trip around the Olympics.
	18 (24)	Devils	0-1-0	Hard to believe the Devils couldn't find room for Brendan Shanahan with goals looking like they'll be hard to come by this season.
	19 (30)	Avalanche	2-0-0	This might be as good as it gets, but how can you not be impressed by their surprising start, led by rookie Matt Duchene and goalie Craig Anderson?
	20 (25)	Thrashers	1-0-0	Not sure if they'll find a goalie this season, but scoring goals won't be a problem. Try on six to start the season.
	21 (19)	Senators	0-1-0	This season is all about Pascal Leclaire.
	22 (23)	Blue Jackets	1-0-0	Not a lot of leeway in their division this season with St. Louis on the rise, Chicago on fire and Detroit still being Detroit.
	23 (21)	Predators	1-0-0	Nice start by the Timmins Tornado, Steve Sullivan.
	24 (16)	Oilers	0-1-0	Too many good defensemen, not enough good forwards. This team needs a trade at some point.
	25 (26)	Stars	0-0-1	The blue line is a concern, but there's not a lot of money to spend.
	26 (20)	Wild	0-1-0	It's only one game, Wild fans, calm down!
	27 (29)	Coyotes	1-0-0	Hey, hey, what do you say, the Coyotes are here to stay! (Maybe.)
	28 (27)	Maple Leafs	0-1-1	We knew they couldn't score this season, but let's play a little defense. Ten goals against in two games.
	29 (10)	Lightning	0-1-0	Mike Smith must show the hockey world he's the real deal this season.
	30 (28)	Islanders	0-0-1	Those are fighting words from Charles Wang!