At this juncture in our season, one thing is clear; the disparity between conferences. A quick look at records in inter-conference matchups shows how truly bad the Prince of Wales division is. Is it a coincidence that all the GMs in this conference are Canadian. I think not. Power rankings below.
1. The 2009 San Jose Sharks (1) – Anyone else notice that the hot goalies that have led this team to the top beginning to lose their mojo? I have..you can all thank me for that, or Jobu, nah, just me. What they need is rest, but neither of them is going to get it during the Olympic break.
2. Malkin In the Middle (4) – It isn’t that this team has won its last 5 weeks, it is that it has won them against mostly Clarence Campbell Conference opponents. The disparity between the two conferences is clearly evident, and it doesn’t take much of a fortune teller to guess that the Anze Cup will go through a Wales team.
3. Grand Rapid T-Hawks (5) – Continues to plod along and hang around. Last two opponents should be a cake walk and give this team great seeding come playoff time.
4. Dave’Killer’ Carlson (3) – This team doesn’t have what it takes to win, just has what it takes to be annoying. As shown last week, a good team can beat’em, and as shown last year, Brodeur late in the year can end this team’s season real fast. One wonders if GM Mike Gaunt will move Brodeur for a lesser goalie and some more offense.
5. Bizarrohawks (6)
6. Montreal Wanderers (8) – On a tear the last few weeks, though that it primarily because this team was playing Wales opponents. Tough schedule the last few weeks, goaltending will have to become more consistent to hang onto a playoff spot. If it does and the offense keeps firing on all cylinders, this team could be a playoff favorite.
7. Texans (7) - The highest ranked Price of Wales Conference team in both the standings and the power rankings, this team has one, yup, just one win against an out of conference opponent. With 6 of the 8 current playoff seeds going to Wales teams, the outlook doesn’t look good for this team.
8. Plattsburgh Pioneers (2) – The bizarro team of the Wales as the only conference team with a better than .500 against out of conference teams. If the goaltending can somehow come around and this team stays in the playoff hunt, it definitely has a chance at hoisting the Anze Cup. In other news, Jimmy Howard is awesome, Elliot is a phenom, and Nabokov never loses. Translation: Smooth moves by GM Jesse Cook.
9. Swedish Old Balls (11) – This team has the most potent offense in the league. If only they still had Luongo.
10. Amish Rake Fighters (9) – GM Peter Burns doesn’t even remember he owns this team, winning is unlikely.
11. Suck It Trebek (13) – sucks…
12. Jesse Loves Paymon (12) – Paymon’s….
13. Andre Poodle Lussier (14) – engorged…
14. Kanucks (10) – tubesteak.
