Red Wings-Canadiens 10-21-14

Goaltender Jimmy Howard has been outstanding in five appearances this season.

(AP Photo)

The Detroit Red Wings' hot start hasn't done much to help them in the NHL Power Rankings.

The Red Wings are 3-1-2 after playing twice against Boston, twice against Toronto and once apiece against Anaheim and Montreal and they could have easily had a point in all six games.

Heck, it's not a stretch to say their record could be 6-0 had it not been for a couple of calls that didn't go their way against Anaheim and Montreal.

Regardless, not many fans are going to be unhappy with a start like that after Detroit didn't clinch a playoff berth until the final week the past two seasons.

It also wouldn't be a surprise if they move up in the NHL Power Rankings next week after debuting at No. 14 if they keep getting the type of goaltending Jimmy Howard and Jonas Gustavsson have provided this season.

The majority of the NHL Power Rankings we consulted this week had the Red Wings 13th although FoxSports.com doesn't think as highly of Detroit. Fox has the Red Wings 19th this week.

Three other outlets we consulted - ESPN.com, CBSSports.com and USA Today - has them 12th. That's as high as they check in.

Anaheim, Chicago and Pittsburgh the top three teams in MLive's NHL Power Rankings, which it should be noted were compiled before Tuesday's 2-1 overtime loss in Montreal.

Here's how the Red Wings stack up:

* TSN.ca: 17th, down from 16th last week. What they're saying: "Back-to-back wins over the Maple Leafs on the weekend helped get the Red Wings going in the right direction and getting Pavel Datsyuk back from injury ought to give the lineup a jolt.

* ESPN.com: 12th, up from 15th. What they're saying: "The Wings' offense is still hit-and-miss (11 goals in five games, four of those Friday against Toronto), but defense and goaltending have been outstanding."

* CBSSports.com: 12th, up from 15th. What they're saying: "The Wings keep finding ways to manufacture wins much in the way they did at the end of last season. Soon, they'll get Pavel Datsyuk back to bolster an offense currently led by Henrik Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist."

* NHL.com: 13th, down from 10th. What they're saying: "The Red Wings held the Bruins to 29 shot attempts Oct. 9. The 17 shots on goal is one thing, but 29 attempts is hazardously low for a bottom-feeding team, let alone the big, bruising, puck-dominating Bruins. Boston shot more in the rematch six days later, but the Red Wings still made it a low-event game (i.e. not a lot of shot attempts). If they keep playing this solidly and then add Pavel Datsyuk to the mix, the Red Wings will be near the top of the Atlantic Division."

* CSNWashington.com: 13th, down from 12th. What they're saying: "After two losses, two games against Toronto are an easy way to right the ship."

* The Hockey News: 13th, up from 15th. What they're saying: "Two enormous wins in back-to-back games against Toronto got the Red Wings on track after a 1-1-1 start to the season. You can bet coach Mike Babcock won't leave Gustav Nyquist on the bench on a 4-on-3 overtime situation again."

* USA Today: 12th, up from 14th. What they're saying: "Henrik Zetterberg personally defeated the Maple Leafs, and now Pavel Datsyuk is coming back."

* TheScore.com: 17th, up from 18th. What they're saying: "You'd think Henrik Zetterberg was an uneasy partnership between Canadian telecommunications conglomerates, what with the way he owns the Toronto Maple Leafs."

* FoxSports.com: 19th. What they're saying: "Gustav Nyquist scored his third goal in three games on Wednesday against the Bruins but Jimmy Howard can't keep facing 39 shots. Detroit is missing puck-controlling center Pavel Datsyuk (shoulder injury) in the worst way. Glimpse of the future?"

* Washington Post: 13th.

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