NHL Power Rankings: Blues overtake Lightning, Penguins sneak back into top five

Jim Cerny

NHL Power Rankings: Blues overtake Lightning, Penguins sneak back into top five image

The St. Louis jump past the Tampa Bay Lightning this week in the NHL Power Rankings. One of the best defensive teams in the NHL, the Blues have also received a jolt offensively from the red-hot top line of Vladimir Tarasenko, Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz while winning six of their last seven games.

Here is Week Five's complete breakdown of the NHL power rankings.

PREVIOUS POWER RANKINGS: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

NHL Power Rankings 5.0

1. St. Louis Blues

12-3-1, 25 pts (last week: 2)

Blues have won six of seven, reaching 12 wins in their first 16 games for the first time in franchise history. How about Brayden Schenn with seven points in his last two games?

2. Tampa Bay Lightning

12-2-2, 26 pts (last week: 1)

Right now, the Blues are just better. But the Lightning pretty much run neck-and-neck for that top spot.

MORE: Steven Stamkos is back and might be better than ever

3. Los Angeles Kings

11-2-2, 24 pts (last week: 3)

Down 3-1 in Anaheim Tuesday, rally to score next three goals, winning it on Nick Shore's overtime goal. The Kings have it going on right now.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins

9-6-2, 20 pts (last week: 7)

Have yet to lose in regulation on home ice (5-0-1).

5. San Jose Sharks

8-5-0, 16 pts (last week: 6)

Currently riding a four-game winning streak. Goalie Martin Jones named NHL's third star of the week.

MORE: KHL's Olympic power play could further deplete U.S., Canada talent pool

6. Winnipeg Jets

8-3-3, 19 pts (last week: 13)

Big jump into the top 10 for first time this season. Blake Wheeler on fire with 15 points in his last five games.

7. Nashville Predators

8-5-2, 18 pts (last week: 15)

Preds on three-game winning streak and just added Kyle Turris, giving Nashville a very deep Top Three down the middle.

MORE: Winners, losers from the Matt Duchene trade

8. Toronto Maple Leafs

10-7-0, 20 pts (last week: 9)

Good to see Nazem Kadri finally wake up. But Auston Matthews health concerns are a major worry.

9. Columbus Blue Jackets

9-6-1, 19 pts (last week: 5)

Lost three straight (0-2-1), blowing leads twice.

10. New York Islanders

8-5-2, 18 pts (last week: 10)

Josh Bailey had career-high nine-game point streak snapped Tuesday. 

WATCH: Jordan Eberle scores first goal vs. Oilers since trade

11. New Jersey Devils

9-4-1, 19 pts (last week: 4)

The first cracks in the Devils' armor after such a strong start: a three-game losing skid (0-2-1). Injured winger Kyle Palmieri could return Thursday after six-game absence to provide a boost.

12. Washington Capitals

8-7-1, 17 pts (last week: 17)

Three-game winning streak snapped Tuesday in loss to Sabres.

13. Ottawa Senators

6-3-5, 17 pts (last week: 14)

Landed Matt Duchene in blockbuster trade Sunday. Makes his debut against former team — the Avalanche — Friday in Sweden.

MORE: Why Matt Duchene picked No. 95 with the Senators

14. Vegas Golden Knights

9-5-1, 19 pts (last week: 8)

Mercifully the first extended road trip in franchise history is over, with the Golden Knights going 1-4-1, largely with fourth-string goalie.

MORE: Radio voice of Golden Knights talks 'surreal' start, building broadcast from scratch

15. Vancouver Canucks

8-5-2, 18 pts (last week: 19)

Did you know the surprising Canucks have the third-best team goals-against average in the NHL? Now you do.

MORE: Canucks prospect Michael DiPietro sizes up his path to the NHL

16. New York Rangers

8-7-2, 18 pts (last week: 26)

Righting the ship with four-game winning streak, highlighted by 2-1 road win in Tampa and a recent 7-for-19 outburst on the power play.

17. Calgary Flames

8-7-0, 16 pts (last week: 20)

Three-game winning streak snapped in Vancouver Tuesday.

18. Chicago Blackhawks

7-6-2, 16 pts (last week: 16)

Corey Crawford has league-best 1.77 GAA and .945 save percentage.

MORE: Goals harder to come by, Alex DeBrincat adds another dimension in NHL

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19. Anaheim Ducks

6-6-3, 15 pts (last week: 11)

Ryan Getzlaf out two months following surgery on fractured cheek. That's not going to help the league's second-worst power play.

MORE: Ryan Getzlaf among NHL's worst injuries in 2017-18

20. Philadelphia Flyers

7-6-2, 17 pts (last week: 18)

Sean Couturier has nine goals, tied for sixth-most in the NHL. Jakub Voracek is tied for third in the league with 15 assists.

21. Edmonton Oilers

5-8-1, 11 pts (last week: 22)

Won two of last three after Connor McDavid's overtime heroics Tuesday night in Brooklyn.

22. Dallas Stars

8-7-0, 16 pts (last week: 12)

Winners of five of seven on home ice.

23. Colorado Avalanche

8-6-0, 16 pts (last week: 21)

How will surprising Avs fare now without Matt Duchene on the team?

MORE: Maligned GM Joe Sakic scores much-needed win in Duchene trade

24. Montreal Canadiens

7-8-1, 15 pts (last week: 29)

Season-high three-game winning streak, with rookie Charlie Lindgren in goal for the two most recent wins.

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25. Detroit Red Wings

8-7-1, 17 pts (last week: 27)

Played 11 of first 16 on the road, more than holding their own in a surprising start to season.

26. Boston Bruins

6-4-3, 15 pts (last week: 23)

Injury-depleted Bruins have league's third-best PK and fifth-best power play.

27. Carolina Hurricanes

5-5-3, 13 pts (last week: 25)

Scott Darling allowed only two goals on 55 shots his last two starts.

MORE: Contender or pretender? Sorting out best, worst from NHL's first month

28. Minnesota Wild

5-6-2, 12 pts (last week: 24)

Lost two straight after hammering the Canadiens last week.

29. Buffalo Sabres

5-8-2, 12 pts (last week: 30)

Beat Caps 3-1 Tuesday, only their second win on home ice this year.

30. Florida Panthers

4-8-2, 10 pts (last week: 28)

Horrific, league-worst 4.23 team goals-against average.

31. Arizona Coyotes

2-13-2, 6 pts (last week: 31)

A  minus 26 goal differential already. Blech!

Jim Cerny