Bartnick’s NHL Power Ranking for March

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LOS ANGELES – The NHL season is in the final weeks of the campaign and the disappointments continue to mount and become clear that the early season failures were no flukes.

The New York Rangers’ brass pulled the plug on the season at the trade window, dumped players and found a new breath of life in their play.

But the good teams are still the good teams and the bad teams welcome new members to their cast like the Edmonton Oilers.

But here is the final scorecard of the regular season, enjoy.

RANKJanuaryTEAMBARTNICK ‘s TAKE
14PREDATORSNashville is ready to hoist the Stanley Cup. That’s why Mike Fisher came back, right?
21LIGHTNINGBolts have been on cruise control since holidays. JT Miller is helping top line put it into overdrive.
36BRUINSThe Bruins can’t be my sleeper team anymore because they are becoming favorites.
43JETSThey will need Mark Scheifele healthy to have any chance of beating Nashville in the postseason.
52GOLDEN KNIGHTSThey have come back to reality a little bit. No longer just happy to be in playoffs. Pressure mounting.
619PENGUINSThe hottest/ best team in the East before the deadline. Derick Brassard has yet to prove he’s better for team than Ian Cole and Ryan Reaves.
77CAPITALSWill Barry Trotz have Phillip Grubauer be his starting goaltender in the playoffs? It maybe his last decision as Capitals head coach.
88MAPLE LEAFSLeafs looked lost for a bit without Auston Matthews. But wouldn’t any team really.
916SHARKSEvander Kane gives the Sharks more pop in many respects. The Sharks have popped into a secure playoff spot.
1024FLYERSIs Petr Mrazek they goaltender they’ve been looking for over two generations?
1111DEVILSA very exciting team to watch. Taylor Hall making case for Hart Trophy. They need Cory Schneider to make case start every game.
1213BLUE JACKETSHave the Jackets finally woken up or did management assure them John Tortorella wouldn’t be fired no matter how or when season ends.
135KINGSDion Phanuef solidified the defense. Jeff Carter solidified the lines. Now Kings need to stop playing the occasional clunker.
1415WILDEric Staal is having a career year. If you said you saw it coming you’re lying.
1514DUCKSThis team could either win the West or not make the playoffs. I can’t figured out what is more likely.
1610STARSThe Stars are unstoppable when Ken Hitchcock loads up the big three ( Benn, Seguin, Radulov) but then who plays on the next three lines?
1717AVALANCHENathan McKinnon has to be on your MVP ballot. Jared Bednar and Joe Sakic need to be on ballots as well.
1825PANTHERSThe Big Cats are making an historic run. Did they start to far back? Sasha Barkov is not unknown anymore.
199BLUESThe Blues swept SoCal to save their season and maybe Mike Yeo’s job.
2021FLAMESThe Flames have so many bad losses this committee thinks they won’t make the dance.
2122ISLANDERSI hope Islander fans are at least enjoying the final days of John Tavares.
2218HURRICANESGM Ron Francis got canned mid season. Odd move because they’re too far back for it to work other than to embarrass franchise legend.
2327OILERSConnor McDavid is so ridiculous people are touting him for MVP. He’s the captain of this Titanic.
2412RANGERSI agree with the notion of not finishing in the middle of the pack but they didn’t strip it all down. They just gave up.
2520BLACKHAWKSIt would be a crime if Coach Q takes the fall. Who will they find better?
2623RED WINGSDoes the Tomas Tatar trade save GM Ken Holland’s job?
2726CANUCKSInjuries crushed their season.
2830COYOTESDesert Dogs heating up aS Coach Tocchet has to take a leave of absence.
2928SENATORSFeel the nightmare will extend into offseason.
3029CANADIENSHabs nightmare will extend into next season. Shea Weber out six months.
3131SABRESWhy move up now? Ruining their lottery chances is so Buffalo.