Rangers climb to top of NHL Power Rankings

11-0-2 in the past 13 games, the Rangers have climbed to top spot in the rankings despite mediocre possession numbers. Sure, it's unlikely that -- as great as he is -- G Henrik Lundqvist is not likely to stop 95% of the shots he faces for the rest of the season but, until his performance slips, the Blueshirts are proving really tough to beat.

Key Injuries: None.

A winless week, with a drubbing at home against Colorado Saturday night, knocks the Habs from top spot and has fans more anxiously checking the prognosis for Carey Price, who has returned to the ice, but does not appear to be imminently ready to return.

Key Injuries: G Carey Price (lower body).

It hasn't all been graceful, but the Predators had two seven-goal outbursts last week, including a 7-0 win against Winnipeg Saturday. Of the seven Predators to record at least nine points, four of them patrol the Nashville blueline.

Key Injuries: None.

So long as the Stars can avoid running into the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have somehow knocked off the Stars twice, they should be fine. G Kari Lehtonen (8-1, .921 SV%, 9 GP) is rebounding nicely from his career-worst 2014-2015 season.

Key Injuries: None.

Mild stumbling, with one regulation win in the past four games, but nothing to seriously worry about. The Capitals also have some players, like C Evgeny Kuznetsov and D John Carlson, that appear to be taking a step forward in their development which bodes well for the long term.

Key Injuries: D Brooks Orpik (lower body).

The league's best possession team is managing to remain competitive even while left waiting for offensive production from C Anze Kopitar (5 G, 2 A) and LW Marian Gaborik (2 G, 2 A).

Key Injuries: LW Dwight King (foot), D Matt Greene (upper body).

G Jake Allen is responding favourably to the starting job, posting a .936 save percentage in a dozen games, but he's taken back-to-back losses, allowing six goals on 31 shots against the Rangers and Blackhawks. 

Key Injuries: LW Patrik Berglund (shoulder), C Paul Stastny (foot), LW Jaden Schwartz (ankle).

D Duncan Keith has returned from knee surgery and RW Patrick Kane has been unstoppable, putting up 22 points (10 G, 12 A) during a 13-game point streak, so things are going pretty well for the Blackhawks, while they wait for their first line to start producing at typical levels.

Key Injuries: None.

Wild C Mikael Granlund is still getting big ice time (19:37 per game), but has no goals and three assists in the past 13 games.

Key Injuries: LW Zach Parise (knee).

While the Islanders may not be scoring as much as last season, they are getting better goaltending. Goalies Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss have combined for a .928 save percentage.

Key Injuries: D Thomas Hickey (lower body).

Look at the Devils with some offence, at least from the top half of the forward depth chart. Given how the season has started in both places, wonder how much regret exists in Pittsburgh over coach Jon Hynes going to New Jersey. 

Key Injuries: LW Ryane Clowe (concussion), LW Patrik Elias (knee).

The Penguins have been bailed out by G Marc-Andre Fleury, overcoming their subpar possession numbers and shockingly, absurdly awful power play.

Key Injuries: None.

Still waiting on G Tuukka Rask to get back in form, but the Bruins have been able to rely on a killer power play to keep them afloat early in the season.

Key Injuries: RW David Pastrnak (foot).

The Panthers have been competitive, even with LW Jonathan Huberdeau stuck on one goal, and they are getting first-line C Aleksander Barkov back from injury.

Key Injuries: D Dmitry Kulikov (knee).

Surprisingly, the Lightning have had real problems finding the net, and are starting the week with two-thirds of The Triplets out of the lineup, making it all the more difficult.

Key Injuries: LW Ondrej Palat (lower body), C Tyler Johnson (undisclosed).

One win in the past six games has this season in danger of slipping away from the Canucks. A young lineup figures to get better as the season progresses, but they need some wins along the way.

Key Injuries: None.

C Pavel Datsyuk returns to the lineup and the Red Wings promptly lose two in a row, but they need that infusion of offence, because sitting 26th in scoring and 21st in score-adjusted possession puts a lot of pressure on the goaltending duo of Petr Mrazek and Jimmy Howard.

Key Injuries: LW Johan Franzen (concussion), C Brad Richards (back), D Kyle Quincey (ankle).

A little surprising to see D Paul Martin struggling to this extent, but he's still averaging 21:27 of ice time per game.

Key Injuries: LW Raffi Torres (suspension), C Logan Couture (fibula).

The Coyotes are surprisingly offensive, with rookies Max Domi and Anthony Duclair joining veterans Martin Hanzal and Mikkel Boedker to give Arizona some depth. Now, if only they could get the goaltending sorted out.

Key Injuries: None.

3-0-1 in the past four games, the Sabres are starting to see some results and are due to get D Zach Bogosian back from injury soon. If rookie G Linus Ullmark can continue to play well (he has a .924 SV% in six starts), then Buffalo could be ready to climb.

Key Injuries: D Zach Bogosian (lower body), G Robin Lehner (ankle), LW Evander Kane (knee).

A five-game winless slide was capped by Saturday night's 7-0 debacle at Nashville. The challenge of the Central Division being what it is, the Jets get a trip to St. Louis as their first chance to get out of this trouble.

Key Injuries: None.

Two regulation wins in the past 13 games and the Sens lose G Andrew Hammond to injury. Backup goaltender injuries aren't a huge deal, but Hammond's been good (.930 SV%) in his four starts.

Key Injuries: LW Clarke MacArthur (concussion).

The Avs have won three straight and, more promising for sustained success, they've started to make possession progress (54.5% score-adjusted shot attempts in seven games) this month.

Key Injuries: G Semyon Varlamov (lower body).

It's been six games since the Hurricanes' last regulation win, but they also have points in three of four and are just desperate for goaltending and a bit of finishing touch on offence to get better results.

Key Injuries: D James Wisniewski (knee).

Strong play from G James Reimer (.944 SV% in past five starts) helped the Leafs to points in five straight games before Jonathan Bernier returned and had some regrettable moments in Sunday's loss to the Rangers.

Key Injuries: None.

One regulation win in the past seven games is a rough stretch for the Oilers, and it puts them in familiar territory, but it's been amazing to see C Leon Draisaitl (13 points in eight games) making a quick adjustment in his second pro season.

Key Injuries: D Justin Schultz (undisclosed), C Connor McDavid (clavicle).

A four-game winning streak turned into a three-game winless streak and suddenly the Ducks aren't fixed quite yet. They've called up power forward Nick Ritchie, who had nine goals in 12 AHL games, in an effort to boost the league's worst offence.

Key Injuries: D Simon Despres (upper body).

The Flyers have one regulation win in a month, and are making C Brayden Schenn -- tied for the team lead with five goals -- a healthy scratch.

Key Injuries: D Evgeny Medvedev (upper body), D Mark Streit (pubic bone).

Four wins in six games counts as progress, but the Blue Jackets need a lot more from C Ryan Johansen and RW Nick Foligno, who have combined for three goals.

Key Injuries: None.

The Flames may not be a good team, but they have some fun players to watch like Johnny Gaudreau and Sam Bennett. If they could find someone to stop the puck, that would be the first step to climbing out of the basement.

Key Injuries: LW Lance Bouma (fibula), G Jonas Hiller (lower body).