Another week and the San Jose Sharks remain atop the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings, but the gap is closing, quickly.
The Chicago Blackhawks, winners of seven straight, have vaulted into second spot and are just awaiting the activation of big-ticket free agent winger Marian Hossa from the injured list.
"I think their talent level, in my mind, puts them top three or four in the league," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault told reporters after Chicago's 1-0 win in Vancouver Sunday.
"They've got speed, skill, a great back end that moves the puck really quick and it seems their goaltending is rounding into form."
There could have been more change among the leaders, but several of the contenders slumped last week, meaning that Philadelphia (2-2), New Jersey (0-2-1), Washington (1-1-1) and Calgary (1-2) didn't take advantage of the other mediocre results at the top of the chart.
Moving up, the Vancouver Canucks have lost 11 games in regulation -- which is one fewer than Carolina and Minnesota for most in the league -- but they are getting healthy and the return of Daniel Sedin to the lineup gives the Canucks a boost.
Buffalo's recent goal-scoring woes, and last week's 0-2-1 record, dropped a one-time top-ranked squad early in the season to tenth. Similarly, the New York Rangers, who opened the season at number one for a couple of weeks thanks to a strong start, haven't been able to score enough and they've fallen to the middle portion of the rankings.
The Los Angeles Kings have one regulation win in the last eight games, and lost first-line winger Ryan Smyth to injury, which resulted in a drop to 18th spot.
Though mired in the lower third of the rankings, both teams from Florida are moving in the right direction, with the Lightning -- and their five regulation losses -- moving up to 22, while the improving Panthers have jumped to 24.
There's also bad news for Canadian teams, as the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks are the only ones ranked in the top 16 at the moment. Ottawa (19th), Edmonton (25th), Montreal (26th) and Toronto (29th) all have an uphill climb, though the Senators are close enough that, with good health, they could be there.