Power Rankings: Impressive openings stir quick (over)reactions

Welcome to the first Power Rankings of the actual season, the Jumping to Conclusions edition.

After just one or two games in some cases, it's impossible to get an accurate reading on how teams are shaping up. But small sample sizes can be fun. Just take Marian Hossa for example. Forget Gretzky and 50 goals in 39 games, Hossa's going to get 96 in 48 games. Take that Great One!

Seriously though, in a way the reactionary nature of this week's rankings is a bit fitting in this condensed season. Because there are fewer games, each one carries a little more significance than normal. It's not a sprint, no, but it's at least a half-marathon.

In some cases, it's pretty easy to see who got off to the right start in that race, too. The Blues and Blackhawks, for example, couldn't ask for better starts to their season. The Red Wings and Coyotes could have asked for a lot, lot better.

So now for the Power Rankings with more leaps than lords in the 12 Days of Christmas. Remember to take them for exactly what they are at this point; grand judgments on small sample sizes.

(*Note: Power Rankings were filed before the early games on Monday.)

RANK	TEAM		MOVE (LW)