SB Nation Minnesota - NHL Power Rankings: The Wild Ride Clicks Uphillhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2011-01-12T21:15:09-06:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16956242011-01-12T21:15:09-06:002011-01-12T21:15:09-06:00RLD Hockey Slots in Wild at 15
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<p>Ryan Porth of <a href="http://www.rldhockey.net/2011/01/power-rankings-week-14.html">Red Light District Hockey</a> has given the Wild a bump up as well, up to 15 this week from 20. After having already heard from so many other sites, the reasoning for the jumps are clear. Win four games in a row, move up in the standings, and the writers will give credit where due. Porth added this to the conversation:</p>
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<p>Minnesota was quite impressive during their four-game win streak, which was snapped yesterday. Jose Theodore and Cal Clutterbuck were solid during the streak. </p>
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https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-wild/2011/1/12/1932062/rld-hockey-slots-in-wild-at-15Bryan Reynolds2011-01-12T21:01:58-06:002011-01-12T21:01:58-06:00Kevin Gorg... Wait. Kevin Gorg? Yeah. Kevin Gorg Puts Wild at 14
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<p>Every now and again, a new player comes into the power ranking game. Usually it is another of the networks or websites that cover the NHL deciding it is either time to get back in the game, or it is that we just found them. This time, we're not quite sure which it is. Either way,<a href="http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/01/10/11/Kevin-Gorgs-midseason-NHL-power-rankings/landing_wild.html?blockID=388406&feedID=3553"> FSN analyst Kevin Gorg</a> throws his hat in the ring, putting the Wild in as the 14th best team in the league.</p>
<p>What he had to say does not really give us a reason as to why he feels they are 14th, but here are his thoughts:</p>
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<p><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 16px;">Young blueliners Stoner and Scandella have filled in nicely and Jose Theodore on a sweet 4-1 run with key road wins in Boston and Pittsburgh.</span></p>
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https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-wild/2011/1/12/1932050/kevin-gorg-wait-kevin-gorg-yeah-kevin-gorg-puts-wild-at-14Bryan Reynolds2011-01-12T20:55:12-06:002011-01-12T20:55:12-06:00ESPN Gives Wild Huge Jump
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<p>The <a href="http://espn.go.com/nhl/powerrankings">gentlemen at ESPN</a>, Pierre LeBrunn and Scott Burnside, have given the Wild a ten... yes ten... spot jump this week. From the lowly 24th rank last week, to the playoff bound 14th this week. It is a justifiable jump after the week the Wild had, although after the past two games, it is unclear if they will hold the 14 spot next week.</p>
<p>For now, the reasoning for the fourteen spot is:</p>
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<p><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;">A disappointing loss to Dallas ended a four-game winning streak, but the Wild have jumped back into a densely packed fray at the bottom end of the West playoff bracket. Cal Clutterbuck leads the team with 13 goals. Go figure.</span></p>
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<p>Cal Clutterbuck, ladies and gentlemen.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-wild/2011/1/12/1932011/espn-gives-wild-huge-jumpBryan Reynolds2011-01-12T20:39:33-06:002011-01-12T20:39:33-06:00CBS Sports brings the Wild in at 19
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<p>Wes Goldstein of <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/powerrankings">CBSSports.com</a> seems unimpressed with a stunning week, giving the Wild a bump, up nine points in a week to the 19th best team in the league. His justification for doing so seems solid as well:</p>
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<p>Jose Theodore has been filling in ably for the injured Niklas Backstrom, winning four of the five games he has started in a row. </p>
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<p>19th in the league would seem about right judging by the fact that the Wild were still outside the playoff pool despite the wins. Nineteen is a welcome height for the Wild, after residing near the bottom for so long.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-wild/2011/1/12/1931983/cbs-sports-brings-the-wild-in-at-19Bryan Reynolds2011-01-12T20:33:47-06:002011-01-12T20:33:47-06:00NHL Power Rankings: The Wild Ride Clicks Uphill
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<p>It doesn't take much to move up or down in the power rankings. A win here, a loss there, and the experts can raise or drop your ranks three or four places. So then, the question becomes, what will three wins last week do? Will the Wild's meteoric rise through the standings be reflected in the power rankings, or will the experts' opinions be tempered by the fact that this could simple be an aberration?</p>
<p>Go with us, on a journey around the league to find out where the Wild chips fall this week.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2011/1/12/2327938/nhl-power-rankings-the-wild-ride-clicks-uphillBryan Reynolds