Stars still reign in NHL Power Rankings

The Stars aren't easy to catch for top spot, because they don't merely win, they blow teams out. They have outscored opponents 16-5 in three consecutive wins against teams in playoff position (Montreal, Minnesota and Chicago).

Key Injuries: None.

The Capitals remain hot on the trail of the Stars with six straight wins, and if there's an advantage to be had over Dallas, it could be in goal, where Braden Holtby and Philipp Grubauer have combined to give the Capitals a .939 save percentage in December.

Key Injuries: D Brooks Orpik (lower body).

The Blues have won four of five, with the only loss coming in Monday's 4-3 defeat against Philadelphia, when they gave up a three-goal lead. They could use more offence from the supporting cast, as Paul Stastny, Jori Lehtera and Troy Brouwer have each managed a single goal in 12 games this month.

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

Just when it looked like the Kings were in peak form, they drop four of five, with the only win coming in a game in which they surrendered 45 shots at Montreal. That ought to be enough to protect against overconfidence.

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

Tuesday's 2-0 loss to St. Louis with the Bruins' second regulation loss in the past 16 games. With G Tuukka Rask playing great (.957 SV% in December) and C Ryan Spooner boosting the offence (10 points in the past eight games), the Bruins are finding different ways to win than they did earlier in the season.

Key Injuries: RW David Pastrnak (foot).

Goaltending has kept the Wild competitive -- only two teams have fewer regulation losses -- as Devan Dubnyk and Darcy Kuemper have combined to provide a .942 save percentage in December.

Key Injuries: None.

G Corey Crawford has been great (.944 SV% in December), but he's needed to be, because the Blackhawks not named Patrick Kane are still trying to get up to expected levels of offensive production.

Key Injuries: RW Marian Hossa (upper body).

Managed two goals, total, in three straight losses before Monday's 5-2 win over Anaheim. Goals haven't come easily for the Islanders, notably for wingers Anders Lee and Ryan Strome, who have four and three, respectively.

Key Injuries: RW Kyle Okposo (lower body)..

The Blueshirts are finding out that poor possession stats are a risky way to go about winning because when the goaltending slips, as it has lately, it's too much to overcome, and the Rangers have one regulation win in the past eight games.

Key Injuries: D Kevin Klein (oblique).

The Habs are realizing a massive drop-off in goal, where Mike Condon and Dustin Tokarski are struggling, but they're not getting much offensive support either -- rookie LW Daniel Carr and checker Paul Byron, with three goals apiece, are pacing the Habs in 11 December games.

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

Defencemen Shea Weber and Roman Josi have cobined for 27 points in 11 games this month; could use more support from Nashville's forwards.

Key Injuries: C Mike Fisher (lower body).

One win in the past five games for the Wings, and one of the issues plaguing them is that two of their most skilled players, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, have both been low-percentage finishers this season.

Key Injuries: LW Johan Franzen (concussion), D Kyle Quincey (ankle), RW Teemu Pulkkinen (shoulder).

As the Lightning have been forced to lean on G Ben Bishop (.927 SV% in December), while they wait for the goal-scoring to pick up, RW Nikita Kucherov is doing his part to lead the attack, putting up 11 points (6 G, 5 A) in the past nine games.

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

The Sens could use a little break, as injuries are starting to mount, leaving them understaffed, especially up front.

Key Injuries: LW Clarke MacArthur (concussion), LW Milan Michalek (finger), D Cody Ceci (upper body), RW Bobby Ryan (finger).

Snapped a five-game losing streak with Monday's win against Columbus, and while the results leave a lot to be desired, their score-adjusted possession (53.6%) has improved in six games under new head coach Mike Sullivan.

Key Injuries: D Kris Letang (undisclosed), G Marc-Andre Fleury (concussion), RW Beau Bennett (upper body).

The Panthers have won five straight and, for the first time all season, have put up at least 40 shots in back-to-back games.

Key Injuries: C Nick Bjugstad (upper body).

With two regulation losses in the past dozen games, the Flyers are climbing back into playoff contention. Aside from the usual suspects (like Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek), the biggest contributions are coming from rookie D Shayne Gostisbehere and G Michal Neuvirth.

Key Injuries: D Mark Streit (pubic bone), RW Sam Gagner (upper body).

Losers of four of the past five games, the Jets need their newcomers to elevate their play. Nikolaj Ehlers and Alexander Burmistrov, to name two, have gone 10 and 21 games, respectively, without a goal.

Key Injuries: G Ondrej Pavelec (knee).

New Jersey's play has been slipping, so they depend even more on G Cory Schneider, but he's been up to the task, at least to the point that the Devils are surprisingly contending for a playoff spot. It will be asking a lot for Schneider to backstop this team the rest of the way, given the rate by which they are getting outshot.

Key Injuries: None.

Going 3-1-1 in the past five is a nice way to emerge from a six-game winless slide, and in the hapless Pacific Division, that's enough to hold down second place.

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

Had a five-game winning streak snapped when they lost at home to Toronto Monday, a game that saw G Semyon Varlamov -- who had been the hottest goaltender in the league -- struggle.

Key Injuries: None.

Snapped a three-game losing streak with Monday's win over the Jets and, thanks to injuries, have Nikita Nikitin and Mark Fayne both back on the Edmonton blueline.

Key Injuries: C Connor McDavid (clavicle), RW Nail Yakupov (ankle), D Oscar Klefbom (finger), D Brandon Davidson (upper body).

The Flames have won eight of 10 in December, and five of their defencemen have scored at least five points through 10 games this month. T.J. Brodie leads the blueline brigade with 10 points in 10 games in December.

Key Injuries: LW Lance Bouma (fibula).

It's unbelievable how much difficulty the Ducks are having putting the puck in the net, and it's not just C Ryan Getzlaf (who has just one goal). RW Corey Perry, with 11 goals in 33 games, is the only one on pace for more than 20 goals.

Key Injuries: D Simon Despres (upper body).

The improving Leafs were 4-0-2 over a six-game span prior to dropping a 3-2 decision in Arizona Tuesday, a game in which they outshot the Coyotes 39-26. If they could get some goaltending, they might be a little bit dangerous.

Key Injuries: G James Reimer (lower body).

One win in the past four games, scoring a total of three goals in the last three, knocks the 'Canes down a few pegs, but they could be a competitive team with some good favour when it comes to percentages -- either shooting or save...or, dare to dream, both.

Key Injuries: D James Wisniewski (knee), LW Nathan Gerbe (lower body).

Had gone eight straight without a regulation win before back-to-back wins heading into the break. The major concern for the Coyotes, who are still contending for a playoff spot in the Pacific Division, is how well their goaltending duo of Anders Lindback and Louis Domingue will hold up.

Key Injuries: C Martin Hanzal (lower body), G Mike Smith (lower body), D Zbynek Michalek (lower body).

With one regulation loss in the past five games, the Sabres are increasingly competitive, being dragged to respectability by C Ryan O'Reilly, D Rasmus Ristolainen and G Chad Johnson.

Key Injuries: G Robin Lehner (ankle).

Tuesday's win at Tampa Bay, a 2-1 win in which the Canucks registered 19 shots on goal, snapped a five-game streak without a regulation win.

Key Injuries: C Brandon Sutter (abdominal), D Dan Hamhuis (face).

Columbus' only regulation win in the past eight games was when they scored seven goals on 21 shots at Arizona. They're going through tough times in Columbus, and the vultures are circling, looking to take C Ryan Johansen out of John Tortorella's dog house.

Key Injuries: G Sergei Bobrovsky (lower body), D David Savard (lower body).