The NHL's regular season is a few weeks from expiring. The power rankings are now presenting a full picture of the league's hierarchy, but, of course, the postseason will be filled with surprises. That being said, the New York-area teams have been very well represented on the Real Clear Sports 2012 Power Rankings over the past month or so.
The latest installment, released Tuesday, has the New York Rangers in fourth, one position lower than last week's. The New Jersey Devils have also slid a spot, down to ninth. The New York Islanders held constant at No. 26, and they've occupied the bottom-third for pretty much the entire season.
Over the past week, the Rangers continued to endure a rough patch in their play. The Blueshirts on Tuesday, March 13, began with a 4-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes, but then lost two straight, scoring three goals and giving up eight altogether, to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. On Monday, March 19, they defeated the Devils, 4-2.
New Jersey won one game, in overtime, this week, going 1-3-0. The Devils lost to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Penguins and Rangers. But defeated the Avalanche in overtime during the second game of their week.
The Islanders dropped their first two games of the week, to the Washington Capitals (in a shootout) and Flyers, but they ended it with a win against the Montreal Canadiens.
The next week has already begun for the locals: the Devils topped the Ottawa Senators, 1-0, and will play the Toronto Maple Leafs next as part of a three-game week. The Rangers on Wednesday will play the Detroit Red Wings to kick off a three-game week, while the Islanders started with a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, and they will play two more games this week.