NHL Power Rankings - November 19, 2014

Having one really productive line has masked some inconsistent performance elsewhere in the lineup, but the brilliant line of Jaden Schwartz, Vladimir Tarasenko and Jori Lehtera has accounted for 24 of the Blues' 47 goals.

Key Injuries: None.

Losing two-way winger Pascal Dupuis for six months is a blow to the Penguins, but makes it all the more important that they added good depth up front in the offseason. Blake Comeau and Steve Downie, in particular, are inexpensive yet productive contributors.

Key Injuries: RW Pascal Dupuis (blood clot).

It's been a terrific start to the season for the Predators, with a high-scoring first line and top-drawer goaltending from Pekka Rinne, but the percentages (104.2 PDO) are issuing fair warning regarding the sustainability of this effort. At the same time, they are a Top 10 possession team, so that should provide a sound enough base that the wheels shouldn't fall off altogether when regression hits. 

Key Injuries: C Mike Fisher (Achilles).

So which line gets labeled as Tampa Bay's first line? Is it Steven Stamkos, Valtteri Filppula and Ryan Callahan? That's a good one, for sure. But what about Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov? At even strength, their production is right up there with the best. This is what's known as a nice problem to have.

Key Injuries: D Victor Hedman (hand).

The goals haven't come so easily for the Blackhawks in the early part of the season, but they are shooting at such a low percentage (7.0% overall) and the rest of their underlying stats remain strong, so there isn't much reason to be concerned. 

Key Injuries: None.

Getting LW Zach Parise back from injury has helped the Wild get back on track, though it would be made easier if LW Thomas Vanek started scoring. He has one goal in 17 games with a career-low 1.94 shots on goal per game.

Key Injuries: Jonas Brodin (mumps).

One reason that the Wings have been able to stay competitive, even with Pavel Datsyuk in and out of the lineup, is that their young forwards have been putting up strong possession numbers. Tomas Jurco, for example, only scored his first goal of the season Tuesday, but has been getting 62.4% of the shot attempts during 5-on-5 play.

Key Injuries: C Pavel Datsyuk (groin).

It's been seven games without a regulation win, as the goaltending has slipped, but the Ducks have managed to pick up points in six of those games, so it's productive as winless streaks go.

Key Injuries: D Francois Beauchemin (illness), LW Devante Smith-Pelly (upper body).

Had won six straight prior to Tuesday's loss against Pittsburgh. They're a middle-of-the-pack possession team, but with strong goaltending and good special teams, that can be a winning recipe. Getting the power play out of an early funk, ostensibly the reason for adding D Sergei Gonchar, was somewhat inevitable, but important as part of what the Habs need to be successful.

Key Injuries: None.

Flames President Brian Burke doesn't believe that the club's early results are a fluke, because they've managed to build this positive record in the face of injuries while playing 11 of their first 17 games on the road, but if those possession stats don't get better, the Flames will need to ride percentages and that's been established as a risky proposition.

Key Injuries: LW Mason Raymond (upper body), C Joe Colborne (upper body), C Matt Stajan (knee), C Mikael Backlund (abdomen).

It's been a battle for the defending champs, who have already had a couple of games with a roster under 20 players because of the salary cap bind that comes with Slava Voynov's paid suspension. As a result, the Kings haven't been able to dominate possession like they usually do and, in part, some of it likely is attributed to their ability to defend in the neutral zone, because that had been a foundation for their previous possession excellence. 

Key Injuries: D Slava Voynov (suspension), D Alec Martinez (finger).

Very much as expected, the Islanders have improved their possession game and with competent goaltending, they are suddenly looking the part of a legit playoff team. There's some upward mobility possible too, if the goaltending gets better and some young players continue to improve.

Key Injuries: RW Michael Grabner (lower body).

The Canucks are already off to a good start in the standings, but it could be even better if they were getting the kind of goaltending that a team expects when they start paying $6-million-plus for a starter. G Ryan Miller has a .902 save percentage right now, and even if Miller isn't necessarily going to be a Vezina candidate, being above league average is a fair goal.

Key Injuries: RW Zack Kassian (lower body).

Injuries have played a part in Boston's relative mediocrity this year, as missing C David Krejci and D Zdeno Chara for stretches has a notable effect on the lineup, but it's also too soon to bury them. They have been treading water and that's okay, for now.

Key Injuries: D Zdeno Chara (knee), D Adam McQuaid (thumb).

Still lots of talent on the roster, but a disturbing trend in puck possession that manifests itself in a mediocre overall record as well as two losses to the Buffalo Sabres.

Key Injuries: Raffi Torres (knee).

Amazing what good goaltending can do to a team. Even as the Jets struggle to score, with middle-of-the-pack possession stats, they have two regulation losses in the past 13 games.

Key Injuries: None.

The Capitals have been okay, but it seems that their ceiling is limited by what they're getting from rookie Evgeny Kuznetsov, who has two even-strength points in 17 games and is playing 11:42 per game. On the plus side, he does have positive possession stats (52.3%) and could use an opportunity with more skilled linemates. 

Key Injuries: D Dmitri Orlov (wrist).

If negative points were allocated based on the aesthetics of losses, the Leafs might be one of the worst in the league because they've lost ugly -- most recently 6-2 at Buffalo and 9-2 at home against Nashville -- but in the grand scheme, their record and goal differential, both a little below average, are not altogether surprising. 

Key Injuries: LW David Booth (foot), LW Joffrey Lupul (hand).

Tons of questions on defence, even when healthy -- which they aren't now -- but the Flyers are at least a fun team to watch with some wide-open offensive hockey. Claude Giroux's injury status could hamper that style, but RW Jakub Voracek and LW Brayden Schenn have been pulling some of that offensive weight too.

Key Injuries: D Kimmo Timonen (blood clots), D Braydon Coburn (lower body), D Andrew MacDonald (lower body), LW Michael Raffl (lower body), D Luke Schenn (upper body).

Goaltending hasn't improved as hoped, though some of that may be on the usage of Cory Schneider, who played a career-high 45 games last season, yet has started all 19 for the Devils this year.

Key Injuries: LW Ryane Clowe (concussion), D Jon Merrill (arm), D Bryce Salvador (lower body).

Ottawa's goaltending, on the other hand, has been outstanding but, as Travis Yost wrote this week, the underlying numbers aren't pretty, which makes for a rather precarious situation.

Key Injuries: C Marc Methot (back).

One regulation win in the past nine games, their best defenceman is hurt and their possession numbers have fallen below the equator. Not the best of times for last year's Cup finalists.

Key Injuries: Ryan McDonagh (shoulder).

The Panthers, who can barely mount any kind of offence, have finally found room in the lineup for RW Jimmy Hayes, who has seven points in the past six games and is tied for the team lead with four goals.

Key Injuries: C Dave Bolland (lower body), LW Sean Bergenheim (lower body), D Dmitry Kulikov (knee).

The regression monster has hit the Avs hard, probably a bit too hard, and the results haven't been pretty, and while it might be reasonable to expect some improvement from their high-end skill players, a team hovering around 44% possession isn't going to be successful.

Key Injuries: G Semyon Varlamov (groin), D Brad Stuart (hamstring).

It's entirely possible that the Blue Jackets' season has already been ruined by an absurd run of injuries early in the year. Every team deals with injuries, but it's hard to imagine a team breaking through Columbus' long list. But, looking for a silver lining, they started slowly last year and still climbed back into a playoff spot, so...

Key Injuries: RW Nathan Horton (back), C Brandon Dubinsky (abdominal), LW Matt Calvert (upper body), C Mark Letestu (groin), D Ryan Murray (knee), D Fedor Tyutin (lower body).

Tough to believe just how poorly the Stars are performing relative to expectations. Looking for areas of improvement? G Kari Lehtonen, RW Ales Hemsky and the defence in general. One possible reason to hold out hope on D is the early play of rookie blueliner John Klingberg, who has come up from the AHL and played big minutes (23:35 ATOI) right away.

Key Injuries: RW Valeri Nichushkin (groin).

Goaltenders are funny business, man. Devan Dubnyk couldn't stop a thing last year and in six games for the Coyotes has a .925 save percentage, playing well enough that he's starting to push underperforming starter Mike Smith.

Key Injuries: RW David Moss (upper body).

As difficult as it may be to understand, looking at a team with the worst goal differential in the Western Conference, the Oilers are actually much improved over last season, approaching competitive levels in terms of puck possession. If they're going to climb in the standings, however, they need the goaltending to improve and give them a fighting chance.

Key Injuries: None.

There are some positives to come out of the Hurricanes' early-season troubles. They've thrust some young players -- Riley Nash, Victor Rask, Elias Lindholm -- into bigger roles and, win or lose, it's a good opportunity for them to develop.

Key Injuries: C Jordan Staal (fibula).

What are the odds that the Sabres would win back-to-back games by three goals or more, and the second would be seen by friends and family because of a massive blizzard in Western New York. Oh, the blizzard thing is standard, it's the back-to-back wins that are more shocking.

Key Injuries: None.