The Washington Capitals remain the top team in the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings, ahead of the Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks.
The Stars have emerged from a midseason slump and have one regulation loss in the past nine games, which earns them a jump from four to two in the rankings.
Other teams climbing in the rankings include the San Jose Sharks, up from 12 to six after going 12-2-3 in the past 17 games, and the Anaheim Ducks, who rise from 18 to 14 after going 10-1-1 in the past dozen games.
Teams heading the wrong way include the Boston Bruins, sliding from six to 11 after two regulation wins in the past nine games. Further down the list, the Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota Wild have been mired in long slumps and have fallen to 18 and 19, respectively.
It continues to be a tough go for the rest of the Canadian teams. The Winnipeg Jets are up a couple of spots, to 23, jumping past the Vancouver Canucks at 24, and switching places with the Ottawa Senators. The Calgary Flames remain at 26, one spot ahead of the Edmonton Oilers, who are up to 27.
Oh, and holding up the rest of the table, from the bottom, is the Toronto Maple Leafs, a bad team that has its forward ranks decimated by injuries and (wisely) just traded a 22-minute-per-game defenceman. Currently, though, that leaves the Leafs in 30th for the first time this season.