The St. Louis Blues return to top spot in the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings, ahead of the Nashville Predators, Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks.
The biggest mover in this week's rankings are the Ottawa Senators, riding the goaltending heroics of Andrew Hammond as they jumped from 27 to 18.
Heading in the other direction, Calgary Flames lose the most ground, going from 16 to 20 after captain Mark Giordano suffered a season-ending injury.
Among other Canadian teams, the Montreal Canadiens hold steady at five and the Winnipeg Jets hold at 14, while the Vancouver Canucks are up a couple of spots, to 17.
The Toronto Maple Leafs keep sinking, down one to 27, and the Edmonton Oilers remain at 29.
Minnesota Wild
34-22-7 This Week: 11 Last Week: 11
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GPG
2.79
-
GAPG
2.56
-
S.A. CORSI%
52.0%
-
PP%
15.2%
-
PK%
87.0%
14-2-1 in the past 17 games, the Wild took a chance on RW Chris Stewart, and added veteran D Jordan Leopold, at the deadline, but G Devan Dubnyk has been their best addition this year and the defence is giving more responsibility to rookies Matt Dumba and Christian Folin.
Key Injuries: LW Jason Zucker (collarbone), LW Matt Cooke (lower body), D Jared Spurgeon (upper body).
Los Angeles Kings
30-21-12 This Week: 12 Last Week: 15
-
GPG
2.70
-
GAPG
2.49
-
S.A. CORSI%
54.1%
-
PP%
17.6%
-
PK%
80.3%
An eight-game winning streak had lifted the Kings into playoff position, then dropped three in a row to fall back out, but getting D Andrej Sekera at the trade deadline was, at least theoretically, the right move to address their needs. The next step? Playing him more than Robyn Regehr.
Key Injuries: D Slava Voynov (suspension), LW Tanner Pearson (fibula), D Alec Martinez (concussion).
Vancouver Canucks
36-24-3 This Week: 17 Last Week: 19
-
GPG
2.82
-
GAPG
2.73
-
S. A. CORSI%
49.5%
-
PP%
18.2%
-
PK%
85.8%
Didn't add much in terms of immediate help at the deadline, but getting healthier on the blueline will eventually provide a needed boost. Long-term, the acquisition of LW Sven Baertschi does have a chance to pay dividends.
Key Injuries: D Kevin Bieksa (hand), C Brad Richardson (lower body), D Alexander Edler (upper body), D Chris Tanev (undisclosed), G Ryan Miller (knee), RW Alex Burrows (lower body).
Columbus Blue Jackets
26-33-4 This Week: 25 Last Week: 24
-
GPG
2.52
-
GAPG
3.16
-
S.A. CORSI%
46.1%
-
PP%
20.7%
-
PK%
80.2%
The neverending run of injuries continues and the Blue Jackets have lost seven straight. Even when they try to get creative, moving Nathan Horton's uninsured contract for David Clarkson, figuring that Clarkson can at least play, Clarkson suffered an injury and is likely done for the season.
Key Injuries: C Boone Jenner (back), RW Jeremy Morin (heart), D Ryan Murray (ankle), RW David Clarkson (oblique), C Brandon Dubinsky (concussion), LW Matt Calvert (concussion).
Notes: While all injuries are taken into account, those listed as key injuries include top nine forwards, top four defencemen and starting goaltenders.
GPG - Goals Per Game, GAPG - Goals Against Per Game
S.A. CORSI% - Score-Adjusted Corsi Percentage. The percentage of shot attempts, during 5-on-5 play, relative to the opposition, adjusted for game-score.
PP% - Power Play%
PK% - Penalty Kill%
Much of the data included comes from great modern stats sites www.war-on-ice.com, www.puckalytics.com, and www.naturalstattrick.com
Follow Scott Cullen on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen and e-mail him at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca.