Stars back on top of NHL Power Rankings

One loss in the past eight games moves the Stars back into top spot. They're exciting and fun, but every so often, they can deliver a clunker, like last week's 7-4 home loss against Ottawa. Still, the overall results have been impressive.

Key Injuries: G Kari Lehtonen (upper body).

One regulation loss in the past seven games pushes the Blues near the top ranking, and D Kevin Shattenkirk has put up 10 points (2 G, 8 A) during an eight-game point streak.

Key Injuries: LW Patrik Berglund (shoulder), LW Jaden Schwartz (ankle).

The Habs have one regulation loss in the past seven games, but can't stand on their overall results while missing their franchise goaltender and a top-line winger. With Carey Price out for at least six weeks, this is a big opportunity for rookie Mike Condon to establish that he can handle a starter's workload in that period.

Key Injuries: RW Brendan Gallagher (hand), G Carey Price (leg).

Winners of five straight, the Capitals are looking like a top contender, and are getting a surprise contribution from 36-year-old LW Jason Chimera, who has already matched last season's total of seven goals, and has 10 points in the past nine games.

Key Injuries: D Brooks Orpik (lower body).

Had lost three in a row before escaping with a win over Carolina Monday. It's one thing to depend on G Henrik Lundqvist, but with the Rangers' possession falling to its current levels, they're running into real trouble in terms of sustaining their early-season success.

Key Injuries: C Derek Stepan (ribs).

The Kings have one regulation win in the past six games, yet only two regulation losses in the past eight. G Jhonas Enroth has played just five games, but has been excellent, posting a .962 save percentage.

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

The Bruins are still hoping for better from G Tuukka Rask, but they've won five straight and continue to bank on a dominant power play to keep their offence productive.

Key Injuries: RW David Pastrnak (foot), D Kevan Miller (concussion).

In losing five of six, the Predators have managed a total of six goals. RW James Neal was the only Predator to finish November with better than half-a-point per game in the month.

Key Injuries: None.

After wrapping up their six-game circus trip, the Blackhawks have one regulation loss in their past eight games. The production of RW Patrick Kane, the league's leading scorer who is currently on a 19-game point streak, has covered from lack of production elsewhere and goaltending that isn't where it needs to be.

Key Injuries: None.

3-0-1- in the past four games, the Islanders have recalled RW Ryan Strome, who spent three weeks in the AHL, but now has four points (2 G, 2 A) in three games since getting recalled.

Key Injuries: None.

The Wings have gone to overtime in six of the past seven games, splitting the OT results, but their territorial play has improved since C Pavel Datsyuk returned to action. Funny what happens when an elite possession player -- even one who only has three points in nine games -- gets inserted into the lineup.

Key Injuries: LW Johan Franzen (concussion), D Kyle Quincey (ankle).

Seven wins in the past eight games, with the only loss coming against Chicago, has the Sharks battling the Kings for top spot in the Pacific Division. Strangely, the Sharks are just 4-6 at home, yet 10-3 on the road.

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

The Devils continue to grind out points, thanks in large part to G Cory Schneider, though that shouldn't be a surprise. Since the start of the 2012-2013 season, Carey Price is the only goaltender with a (slightly) higher save percentage than Schneider's .925 mark.

Key Injuries: None.

The Wild have one win in the past seven games, and while they're obviously happy to have LW Zach Parise back in the lineup, the star winger has no points in the last six games that he's played.

Key Injuries: D Marco Scandella (lower body).

The Senators suffered just two regulation losses in a dozen November games, but they've been walking a high-wire as a bottom-tier possession team. LW Mike Hoffman has stepped up, scoring 13 points (6 G, 7 A) in 12 games last month.

Key Injuries: LW Clarke MacArthur (concussion).

There are hints of progress for the Penguins, however subtle, as they have one regulation loss in the past six games. C Sidney Crosby has started to find his game, it appears, with six points (2 G, 4 A) in the past five games, and C Evgeni Malkin (7 G, 3 A) is playing at an even higher level over that six-game period.

Key Injuries: D Olli Maatta (upper body)..

Three straight wins keeps the Coyotes on their overachieving path, and they're doing it with a balanced approach. Rookies Max Domi and Anthony Duclair are scoring, but so too are holdovers like Mikkel Boedker and Martin Hanzal.

Key Injuries: None.

Last year's Cup finalists were 5-5-2 in October, then 6-6-1 in November. Mediocrity reigns and now their forward ranks have been thinned by injuries.

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

4-2-1 in the past seven games, the Panthers are competitive, and their decision to finally start giving second-year D Aaron Ekblad more ice time (18:50 per game in October, 22:11 per game in November) is a positive sign.

Key Injuries: D Dmitry Kulikov (knee).

Only three wins in the past 13 games has the Canucks sinking after an okay start to the season. As it ever was, the Sedins could use more help. The twins scored 14 of Vancouver's 37 goals in November.

Key Injuries: D Ben Hutton (lower body), C Brandon Sutter (abdominal).

Emerged from a six-game winless streak with back-to-back wins, and while the Sabres haven't played substantially better as a team, they've been getting strong goaltending from Chad Johnson and Linus Ullmark, who combined for a .934 save percentage in November.

Key Injuries: G Robin Lehner (ankle), RW Tyler Ennis (upper body).

G Michael Hutchinson stumbled in his first three starts after Ondrej Pavelec was injured, but that could mean that Connor Hellebuyck gets more opportunities. In his first start, Hellebuyck had an easy time, stopping 14 of 15 shots.

Key Injuries: G Ondrej Pavelec (knee).

After a disastrous start to the season, the Ducks are coming around, going 8-4-3 in November after 1-7-1 in October, in part due to a power play (11-for-41, 26.8% in November) starting to find its groove.

Key Injuries: D Simon Despres (upper body), LW Jiri Sekac (lower body), G Frederik Andersen (flu).

The Flyers are the lowest-scoring team in the league, and their search for answers has led them to rookie D Shayne Gostisbehere, who has five points in eight games, with four of his points coming on the power play.

Key Injuries: D Mark Streit (pubic bone), LW R.J. Umberger (lower body).

Columbus' improvement in the standings can easily be tied to G Sergei Bobrovsky, who had an .864 save percentage in October, then .940 in November. Over a 334-shot sample (what Bobrovsky faced in November), that save percentage difference effectively makes a 25-goal difference.

Key Injuries: D Fedor Tyutin (nose).

November was a better month for the Maple Leafs, going 7-4-3 after a 1-7-2 October, and while their play appears better, a lot of credit for those wins need to go to G James Reimer, who has taken the starting job from Jonathan Bernier, or at least Reimer did before his recent injury.

Key Injuries: RW Joffrey Lupul (undisclosed), G James Reimer (lower body).

It's almost inconceivable that a team can carry play ot the extent that the Hurricanes do -- their score-adjusted possession ranks second in the league -- and still struggle to score to this extent, but C Victor Rask is the only Carolina forward with 30 shots on goal who has a shooting percentage of better than 10%. Eric Staal (7.4%), Jeff Skinner (7.1%), Elias Lindholm (6.3%) and Kris Versteeg (4.7%) should all be better.

Key Injuries: D James Wisniewski (knee).

The Avalanche are finding out what it's like when they don't get spectacular goaltending, as Semyon Varlamov has just an .887 save percentage in 14 games.

Key Injuries: LW Alex Tanguay (knee).

One regulation win in a dozen games leaves the Oilers in familiar position, and head coach Todd McLellan is not used to this, so his frustration with some of Edmonton's young forwards is starting to show.

Key Injuries: C Connor McDavid (clavicle), RW Nail Yakupov (ankle).

One regulation win in the past nine games exposes Calgary's woeful goaltending, and Jonas Hiller's first game back (five goals on 29 shots) didn't help matters any.

Key Injuries: LW Lance Bouma (fibula).