Capitals land atop NHL Power Rankings

One regulation loss in the past 15 games is enough for the Capitals to finally take over top spot for the first time this season. It's great that Alex Ovechkin can be recognized as a great goal-scorer, now that he has 501, instead of just 499, but he's on a roll (12 goals in 12 games) right now.

Key Injuries: D Brooks Orpik (lower body), D John Carlson (lower body), C Jay Beagle (upper body).

0-4-1 in the past five games knocks the Stars from top spot, and they've scored a total of four goals in the past three games. That doesn't sound like the fun and freewheeling Stars, does it?

Key Injuries: None.

One regulation loss in the past eight for the Kings, who maybe be slightly better with Vincent Lecavalier and Luke Schenn in the lineup, but maybe not $4-million cap space worth of better.

Key Injuries: D Matt Greene (shoulder).

With seven straight wins, the Blackhawks are looking a lot like a championship team, and some of their big guns, like Duncan Keith (11 points in the past 11 games) and Jonathan Toews (14 points in the past 12 games), have picked up the scoring pace.

Key Injuries: None.

The winning streak has reached 12 in a row, even as the Panthers have accumulated a total -- a total -- of 30 shots on goal in the past two games. There's something to be said for having the best goaltending tandem in the league.

Key Injuries: None.

The Blues have gone nine straight without a regulation win and had their lineup decimated by injuries after a couple of games in Southern California.

Key Injuries: LW Jaden Schwartz (ankle), D Jay Bouwmeester (upper body), G Jake Allen (knee), C Paul Stastny (upper body), D Carl Gunnarsson (upper body).

Only two wins in the past eight games, but the Bruins are up this week thanks to getting a couple of quality wingers -- Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak -- back in the lineup.

Key Injuries: C David Krejci (upper body).

Three losses in the past four games and missing two of their top three defencemen due to injuries, the Islanders are a decent team, but don't seem like they've hit their stride at any point this season.

Key Injuries: D Johnny Boychuk (upper body), D Travis Hamonic (lower body).

With four straight wins, the Red Wings are suddenly in second place in the Atlantic, and have a legitimate Vezina candidate in G Petr Mrazek, who has a .930 save percentage in 28 games.

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

Seven straight games without a power play goal is not ideal, and, even so, the Wild have a unit that ranks in middle-of-the-pack for efficiency.

Key Injuries: None.

Frustration may be mounting with the Habs, though they've split their past six games, which is a whole lot better than they had been through the month of December. If they're feeling frustration now, just wait and see how it feels after the next four with two against Chicago, and one each against St. Louis and Boston.

Key Injuries: G Carey Price (leg), RW Dale Weise (upper body), D Jeff Petry (lower body), D Tom Gilbert (lower body).

The Rangers have fallen on hard times, coinciding (not-so-coincidentally) with a slump for G Henrik Lundqvist, who has a .870 save percentage over the past month.

Key Injuries: LW Chris Kreider (hand)..

The Wild have won three of four, which counts as progress in this uneven season, but regression can hit hard, man -- ask the Triplets.

Key Injuries: None.

Acquiring Ryan Johansen might offer some long-term upside, but they have no regulation wins in the past six and that kind of drought can be trouble in the Central.

Key Injuries: LW Colin Wilson (lower body).

Only two regulation losses in the past nine games, so the Penguins are getting better, but they've been inching forward. They've improved their puck possesion under new head coach Mike Sullivan, near 53% of even-strength shot attempts in 13 games.

Key Injuries: RW Beau Bennett (upper body).

Destroyed the Leafs on Saturday night and, despite an inconsistent season, the Sharks remain alive in the playoff race thanks to the horrible Pacific Division. 

Key Injuries: LW Raffi Torres (suspension).

The Jets returned home from a five-game road trip to lose to the Buffalo Sabres in Evander Kane's return to Winnipeg. Tough loss when 44 shots on goal wasn't enough for more than two goals against Sabres rookie G Linus Ullmark.

Key Injuries: G Ondrej Pavelec (knee).

Over the previous four seasons, only the Tampa Bay Lightning scored on a higher percentage of 5-on-5 shots than the Ducks (8.75%). This year? A league-worst 4.64%.

Key Injuries: D Simon Despres (upper body), D Cam Fowler (knee).

Three straight wins has lifted the Flyers into contention for a playoff spot and, even better, there's reason to think that GM Ron Hextall knows what he's doing. It's not a huge difference-maker to get rid of Vincent Lecavalier and Luke Schenn, but the process suggests a team making smart incremental moves.

Key Injuries: None.

One regulation win in the past 10 games for a Sens team that is starting to find out what happens when you control 46% of the play at even strength. 

Key Injuries: LW Clarke MacArthur (concussion).

Of course, the Avalanche are still a terrible possession team, but they're 12-5-2 since the beginning of December. In that time, D Tyson Barrie has picked up his production, scoring 15 points (6 G, 9 A).

Key Injuries: None.

With one regulation loss in the past six games, the Hurricanes are starting to see what can happen with solid goaltending. They still don't score enough, but decent goaltending and strong possession stats makes for a competitive team.

Key Injuries: D James Wisniewski (knee), LW Nathan Gerbe (lower body), RW Phil Di Giuseppe (concussion).

One regulation loss in the past 10 games for the Coyotes, who have gotten healthier too, with Boyd Gordon and Martin Hanzal bolstering the middle of the ice. Rookie G Louis Domingue continues to kill it, with a .936 SV% in 10 games.

Key Injuries: G Mike Smith (lower body).

With Jiri Hudler out, the Flames have Micheal Ferland (three goals in 58 career games) skating on the top line with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, introducing an opposite-to-Hudler effect.

Key Injuries: RW Michael Frolik (upper body), RW Jiri Hudler (foot).

This is not a team that can afford to have injuries to the forward ranks and, yet, here they are, with four goals in the past four games.

Key Injuries: LW Patrik Elias (knee), C Jacob Josefson (lower body), LW Mike Cammalleri (upper body), LW Jiri Tlusty (upper body).

Just as it was looking like the Leafs were making some progress -- going 8-3-2 over a 13-game span -- they got drilled, 7-0, in San Jose Saturday and lost leading scorer James van Riemsdyk to a broken foot.

Key Injuries: LW James van Riemsdyk (foot).

It's easy to be down on the Canucks, and this ranking would qualify, yet they've suffered two regulation losses in the past nine games. They also went to the unusual step of putting out a release that they are trying to trade veteran winger Chris Higgins, who has struggled this season.

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

Snapped a six-game losing streak with Sunday's 4-2 victory at Winnipeg, though it required 42 saves from Linus Ullmark.

Key Injuries: G Robin Lehner (ankle), RW Tyler Ennis (upper body).

It's been 13 games since the Oilers' last regulation win, yet they're still within five points of a playoff spot. Yay, Pacific!  

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

One regulation win in the past nine games and a blockbuster trade to shake things up. Seth Jones could be really good for a long time, but he'll need to be to provide value for the departed Ryan Johansen.

Key Injuries: G Sergei Bobrovsky (groin), G Curtis McElhinney (ankle).