The Chicago Blackhawks continue to hold top spot in the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings, staying ahead of the Nashville Predators and the rising Pittsburgh Penguins.
Among teams moving up this week, the New York Islanders won a couple of games and got their top two defencemen back from injury, then climb from 11 to eight. In nearby Manhattan, the Rangers vault from 18 to 12, with a sterling defensive record during a six-game winning streak. The Boston Bruins, finally healthy now that Zdeno Chara and David Krejci have returned to action, climb from 19 to 16.
Heading the wrong way, the Toronto Maple Leafs' winning ways ended rather abruptly and they sink from 12 to 19, while the Calgary Flames are fading fast, dropping from 15 to 22.
As for other Canadian teams, the Montreal Canadiens are the class of the nation, holding steady at five, while the Vancouver Canucks remain at 13.
The resilient Winnipeg Jets gain a few spots, from 20 to 18, and a little improvement in the nation's capital lifts the Ottawa Senators from 24 to 21.
The Edmonton Oilers, finding ways to lose, remain at 30.