NHL Power Rankings: Capitals, Rangers, Devils make moves on Lightning

Jim Cerny

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NHL Power Rankings: Capitals, Rangers, Devils make moves on Lightning image

The Metropolitan Division is, arguably, the most competitive in the NHL this season. To that point, the Capitals, Rangers and Devils surged past the Penguins and Blue Jackets in this week's Power Rankings, though the Atlantic Division's Tampa Bay Lightning retain their hold on the top spot.

The Golden Knights and Sharks also make a move in the right direction this week, while it's the Blues and Jets that are among those heading the opposite way.

Here is the complete breakdown of Sporting News' NHL power rankings for Week 11.

PREVIOUS POWER RANKINGS: Preseason | Week 1​ | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 
Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10

NHL Power Rankings 11.0

1. Tampa Bay Lightning

24-7-2, 50 pts (last week: 1)

Tuesday's dramatic loss to Vegas notwithstanding, the Lightning clearly remain the league's best team.

2. Nashville Predators

21-8-4, 46 pts (last week: 2)

One of the highest-scoring teams in the NHL, coupled with being sixth-best defensively, and upper-echelon special teams. It's no wonder the Preds are rolling, 6-1-1 in December and tied for first in the Central.

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3. Washington Capitals

22-12-1, 45 pts (last week: 9)

Two-time defending Presidents' Trophy winners crack top five for first time this season. Caps finally found consistent collective game and should be a beast in season's second half.

4. Los Angeles Kings

21-10-4, 46 pts (last week: 5)

Gutted through a tough four-game East Coast road trip, capping it with 4-1 win over the Flyers. Stick tap to Marian Gaborik, who scored against his former team -- the Rangers -- in his 1,000th NHL game.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs

21-13-1, 43 pts (last week: 4)

On verge of falling out of Top 5, Leafs responded by laying an eight-spot on Hurricanes in Tuesday's Next Century Game. Mitch Marner was all over the ice against 'Canes with career-high four points

6. Vegas Golden Knights

22-9-2, 46 pts (last week: 10)

Extended winning streak to three consecutive games with memorable victory over league's best team, the Lightning.

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7. New Jersey Devils

19-9-5, 43 pts (last week: 8)

Can not count these guys out of any game. Already with four wins when trailing after two periods. Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri return to lineup Monday, but it's Stefan Noesen and Miles Wood who share hero role. Everyone contributes here.

8. New York Rangers

19-12-3, 41 pts (last week: 11)

Receiving great goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist and Ondrej Pavelec, and now are fully healthy again with Mike Zibanejad back from concussion. Rangers are on three-game winning streak, and are 16-5-1 since Halloween.

9. St. Louis Blues

22-11-2, 46 pts (last week: 3)

Steady decline last few weeks, and still struggling with injuries.

10. Winnipeg Jets

20-10-5, 45 pts (last week: 7)

Healthy offense with Blake Wheeler Top 10 in scoring race and assists, while Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers rank in Top 10 in goals.

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11. Columbus Blue Jackets

20-13-1, 41 pts (last week: 6)

Being hammered 7-2 by the Bruins didn't brighten Torts' holiday spirit. 

12. San Jose Sharks

17-11-4, 38 pts (last week: 15)

The loss to the Oilers was not pretty, but the Sharks still have allowed the fewest goals  -- 80 -- in the entire league.

 

13. Pittsburgh Penguins

17-15-3, 37 pts (last week: 12)

Can't you just feel how badly GM Jim Rutherford is itching to swing a significant trade here to shake the Pens out of their doldrums.

14. New York Islanders

18-13-3, 39 pts (last week: 13)

Not a great week on the ice, but great news off of it as Islanders receive permission to build new arena at Belmont Park.

15. Boston Bruins

17-10-5, 39 pts (last week: 17)

Responded to losing to the Caps and Rangers by thrashing the Blue Jackets and blanking the Sabres. Sitting in third playoff spot in Atlantic.

16. Dallas Stars

18-14-3, 39 pts (last week: 14)

Stars returned home from tough 2-1-1 trip to the East and blew late lead and lost at home to Caps in overtime Tuesday

17. Chicago Blackhawks

17-11-5, 39 pts (last week: 18)

Pretty quietly the Blackhawks have five straight victories, the longest win streak currently in the NHL.

 

18. Minnesota Wild

18-13-3, 39 pts (last week: 16)

Wild were perfect 19-for-19 on the PK previous four games before Senators scored a pair of power play goals against them Tuesday.

19. Montreal Canadiens

15-15-4, 34 pts (last week: 21)

Carey Price gave up five goals on the road and Habs still beat Canucks 7-5 Tuesday with 14 of 18 Canadiens skaters recording at least one point.

 

20. Calgary Flames

17-14-3, 37 pts (last week: 20)

Host Blues and Canadiens before holiday break, but have lost four of five on home ice in December.

21. Edmonton Oilers

15-17-2, 32 pts (last week: 23)

Cam Talbot is back and he backstopped consecutive victories for the Oilers.

22. Carolina Hurricanes

14-12-7, 35 pts (last week: 22)

Three-game winning streak imploded in 8-1 loss in Toronto.

23. Philadelphia Flyers

14-12-7, 35 pts (last week: 24)

Second straight week Brian Elliott named as one of NHL's Three Stars.

24. Colorado Avalanche

16-15-2, 34 pts (last week: 27)

Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon both with 14 power play points, sitting among league leaders.

25. Anaheim Ducks

14-13-8, 36 pts (last week: 25)

Tough road trip to east coast right before holidays, included consecutive losses to the Devils and Rangers on Monday and Tuesday.

26. Vancouver Canucks

15-16-4, 34 pts (last week: 19)

Fortunately Brock Boeser injury was minor. He returned to score Tuesday. But Canucks are spiraling, losers in six of last seven, giving up 36 goals in that span.

27. Detroit Red Wings

13-13-7, 33 pts (last week: 28)

Two straight wins, including Tuesday's 6-3 victory at Barclays Center where Islanders dominated all season.

28. Ottawa Senators

11-14-7, 29 pts (last week: 29)

Sens did find a way to win the NHL 100 outdoor game in frigid temperatures, even with owner Eugene Melnyk threatening again to move the team out of Ottawa.

 

29. Florida Panthers

13-16-5, 31 pts (last week: 26)

Panthers have great top line, but still team goal differential sits at minus 16.

30. Buffalo Sabres

8-19-7, 23 pts (last week: 30)

Shut out for fourth time this season -- and fourth in last 11 games -- Tuesday against Boston.

31. Arizona Coyotes

7-24-5, 19 pts (last week: 31)

Losing streak stands at six. What else is there to say?

Jim Cerny