The Dallas Stars remain the top team in the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings, ahead of the surging Washington Capitals and the Montreal Canadiens.
Among teams climbing this week, the Minnesota Wild locked down defensively, and jumped from 14 to 11, the Tampa Bay Lightning get Tyler Johnson back and win a couple of California to move from 18 to 14, and the Winnipeg Jets rise from 22 to 17, thanks in part to a rookie goaltender.
Heading the wrong way, the Nashville Predators are slumping and slide from eight to 12, while the San Jose Sharks crash from 12 to 19 after losing three straight, by a cumulative six-goal margin.
When it comes to the other Canadian teams, the Ottawa Senators are up a couple of places to 13, and then there are four hovering right near the bottom. The Edmonton Oilers are up three, to 26, while the Vancouver Canucks, winless in five, fall seven spots to 27. The Toronto Maple Leafs are down two, to 28, and the Calgary Flames hold steady, at 30.