Power Rankings: Week 22

This season is coming down to the wire with at least 6 teams still having a realistic chance at the last playoff spot. The matchups this week couldn’t be any better, making it a great playoff race right to the finish. Lets take a look at this week’s power rankings.

1. Ottawa HC (previous ranking: 1) – Only an off week from Pekka Rinne and Martin Brodeur prevented Ottawa HC from destroying RoBERTo LuFONGo, but the win was enough to clinch a playoff berth. This week Ottawa HC has nothing to lose and looks to be the spoiler for Guess who’s golfing? With a little skill and a little luck from Ottawa HC, the answer may be Jesse Cook.

2. HANK’S AUTOSHOP (3) – A big win this past week put this team within 3 points of the coveted 2nd place and a first round playoff bye. A tough week this week as HA will face Andre Poodle Lussier. GM Zach Gray, in a fit of glue-sniffing euphoria, actually offered 1st round bye-bye Olli Jokinen and Dan Boyle for Cam Barker and Dwayne Roloson. This move significantly weakened the offense and provided zero benefit in return. If Zach wasn’t on glue, I hope somebody punches him in the nuts for this blunder.

3. Reggie ‘Reg’ Dunlop (2) – Maintains a top three standing in the power rankings but only because of the team’s league standings. This team has struggled mightily and will need to battle this week for the first round bye and a chance to regroup. A loss this week and this team won’t last long in the playoffs.

4. 1st round bye-bye (4) – Made humongous moves before last week’s trade deadline and now has a squad that all the other manager’s envy. There is no question the talent is there, now the team needs to look to GM Cole Ballard to see if the leadership is in the right place. Based on the change of team name, this writer says it is doubtful.

5. RoBERTo LuFONGo (5) – This past week was a glimpse into the future of this team: Good enough to make the playoffs, not good enough to win. Maybe next year.

6. Andre Poodle Lussier (6) – Not the best week to have Marion Hossa sidelined with an injury, but still in your starting lineup. Hopefully he returns to provide this team with the fire power needed to get past red hot HANK’S AUTOSHOP this week and into the playoffs.

7. GM Anze Backup (7) – Needed a bigger win this past week than what they got, but not out of it yet. The matchups work almost completely in favor of this team this week, with the 5 and 6 seed playing each other, the 4 seed playing the 1 seed, the 7 seed playing the 2 seed, and GM Anze Backup playing the bottom dwelling Bizzarohawks. While this team leads the league statistically, performance has mainly been front loaded this season and this team has slowed down in the last few weeks. GM Red McIntyre needs the numbers of the year from his boys this week to have a chance.

8. Who’s going golfing? (10) – After donating every key player on his team to other teams, especially his goalies, there is a very real chance it may be this team that is the answer to GM Jesse Cook's thought provoking question.

9. Mystery Eskimos (8) – Clearly, GM Caleb Widen has gone in search of a rub and tug, mailed it in and donated the best goalie in fantasy sports to First round bye-bye. Strong start this week and an outside chance of making the playoffs, but it is doubtful.

10. Bizzarohawks (9) – Watching this team is like watching the Duke’s golf swing. You aren’t sure whether to call an ambulance, steal their wallet and leave them for dead, or if they are faking it. As a fantasy hockey non-expert, I can only conclude that GM Scott Freeland has a serious case of impatience mixed with emotional distrust, often trading his players off too cheaply when their performance is less than expected, or benching his stars after an off week. Point in case, Jason Spezza, who sits on the bench this week over Todd White and Jarret Stoll (no, I am not making this up), even though Spezza plays on more game. His emotions got the best of him last week when he agreed to a trade with 1st round bye-bye that even he later said “even (he) wanted to veto it.” I expected a ninja to be more disciplined. Oh well, you can’t blame a guy for trying. Actually, yes you can. You suck Scott.