NHL Power Rankings - November 24, 2014

Lots of questions coming into the season about St. Louis' decision to go with Brian Elliott and Jake Allen in goal, but the early results have been good -- .942 save percentage at 5-on-5 (ranks second) and .924 save percentage overall (ranks fifth). All for $3.3-million.

Key Injuries: D Jay Bouwmeester (lower body).

Had lost once in the previous 11 games before coming up short twice against the Islanders over the weekend, as they try to get accustomed to life without Pascal Dupuis. 

Key Injuries: RW Pascal Dupuis (blood clot).

A year ago, D Seth Jones was playing 23-plus minutes per night for the Predators and it seemed too much, too soon, but now it's gone the other way, with Jones playing 17:36 per game this year as part of the Predators' supporting cast on the blueline. He's certainly getting the better of the shot share (54.4% Corsi) this year, compared to last (49.6%).

Key Injuries: C Mike Fisher (Achilles).

The early-season scoring woes are fading, even though the Blackhawks are shooting just 7.9% as a team (ranks 26th). That is better than the 5.0% mark they were hovering around for the first three weeks of the season, but continues to get better as they get offensive contributions from the likes of Kris Versteeg, who has 11 points (5 G, 6 A) in the past nine games.

Key Injuries: None.

Pressed into a more offensive role, especially with Victor Hedman out, D Anton Stralman has a dozen points (2 G, 10 A) in 22 games, one off last season's total in 81 games. He also remains a possession stalwart, rocking a 55.6% Corsi to lead the Lightning defence.

Key Injuries: D Victor Hedman (hand).

While the decision to take on RW Rene Bourque's contract was questionable, part of the reason that the Ducks could afford to move out veteran D Bryan Allen is that rookie D Josh Manson (1 A, 61.2% Corsi in 10 GP) has been a steady performer in 19 minutes per game since getting promoted.

Key Injuries: C William Karlsson (flu).

While the Islanders' 8-1 record in the past nine games includes three shootout wins, there is a lot to like about how they are getting their points, with a strong (and typically sustainable) possession game at the foundation.

Key Injuries: RW Michael Grabner (lower body).

While the line of Riley Sheahan, Tomas Tatar and Justin Abdelkader may not be especially glamourous, Tatar is on an offensive surge with 11 points (8 G, 3 A) in the past nine games and all three have better than 57% possession this season.

Key Injuries: C Pavel Datsyuk (groin), D Brendan Smith (hand).

Montreal fans look at a team atop the NHL standings and wonder how they could possibly be ranked so low. That the Habs have surrendered as many goals as they have scored this year (to say nothing of allowing more shot attempts) is the starting point for that difference of evaluation.

Key Injuries: None.

There isn't a single Flames player with positive possession numbers -- Paul Byron leads at 49.2% -- and that makes it highly unlikely that the first quarter success will continue, but it's a fun ride for as long as it lasts.

Key Injuries: LW Mason Raymond (upper body), C Joe Colborne (upper body), C Matt Stajan (knee), C Mikael Backlund (abdomen).

It's remarkable that LW Thomas Vanek has but one goal in 19 games for the Wild this season, but he's simply not creating chances. His 1.84 shots on goal per game is a career-low and his 16:31 average time on ice is his lowest since his rookie season.

Key Injuries: Jonas Brodin (mumps), LW Matt Cooke (lower body).

10-3-1 in the past 14 games, the Canucks have climbed up to second in the Pacific Division, though if D Dan Hamhuis is out long-term that will leave a gaping hole on Vancouver's once-formidable blueline.

Key Injuries: RW Alex Burrows (upper body), D Dan Hamhuis (lower body).

Had a three-game winning streak snapped by Saturday's loss in Dallas, but the Kings outshot the Stars 41-23 in that game and have better news coming with the league's decision that the Kings will be able to put Slava Voynov's contract on LTIR going forward, making it possible for the Kings to dress a full roster while Voynov's legal situation plays out.

Key Injuries: D Slava Voynov (suspension), D Alec Martinez (finger).

This is starting to look like a season in which the Bruins have to lean on their youth. They have been plugging holes on defence with call-ups from the AHL and have called up Alexander Khokhlachev and David Pastrnak (among others) to take forward spots in the lineup.

Key Injuries: D Zdeno Chara (knee), D Adam McQuaid (thumb), LW Brad Marchand (undisclosed), C David Krejci (hip).

The sky was falling after Tuesday's blowout loss at home to Nashville, but after back-to-back impressive wins against Tampa and Detroit, suddenly the heat has been turned down around the Maple Leafs. Hanging around a playoff spot is about what was expected from the get-go. 

Key Injuries: LW Joffrey Lupul (hand), D Roman Polak (ankle).

Two wins in the past eight games, facing a less-than-stellar calibre of opposition, is further indication that all is not right with the Sharks. They acquired D Brenden Dillon from Dallas, and it's possible that helps their blueline, but this team's troubles are likely issues beyond the control of a shutdown-style defenceman.

Key Injuries: Raffi Torres (knee).

The Jets need their offence to kick in, and soon, because they've been riding uncharacteristically strong goaltending to this point in the season. There's too much talent here to only have the Buffalo Sabres scoring fewer goals per game than Winnipeg's 1.96 goals per game. 

Key Injuries: None.

While he's putting up strong possession (54.8%) numbers, Alex Ovechkin isn't having the same impact on the power play so far this season. Last year, Ovechkin scored 24 goals in nearly 375 power play minutes (3.84 per 60 minutes), while this year, he has three goals in 63:30 with the man advantage (2.83 per 60 minutes).

Key Injuries: None.

RW Jakub Voracek has taken the league scoring lead with 29 points, 19 of which have come at even strength. Linemate Claude Giroux, with more ice time, has 13 points at even strength.

Key Injuries: D Kimmo Timonen (blood clots), LW Michael Raffl (lower body).

The Devils seem to have overcome that pesky "outshooting teams yet somehow still losing" problem by not outshooting teams so much any more.

Key Injuries: LW Ryane Clowe (concussion), D Jon Merrill (arm), D Bryce Salvador (lower body).

Say this: the Stars recognized that they wanted to make changes on their defence and acted. Calling up John Klingberg and Jyrki Jokipakka from the AHL, acquiring Jason Demers, trading away Sergei Gonchar and Brenden Dillon, and waiving Kevin Connauton leaves the Stars with a new look. Better than sticking with a group that clearly wasn't working.

Key Injuries: RW Valeri Nichushkin (groin).

G Henrik Lundqvist has recovered after a slow start, with much better numbers (1.82 goals against average, .935 SV%) in November.

Key Injuries: Ryan McDonagh (shoulder).

The Senators' only regulation win in the past seven games was Thursday at home against Nashville, a game in which they were outshot 35-19. This is a far cry from a team with better than break-even possession stats last season.

Key Injuries: C Marc Methot (back).

Roberto Luongo is playing great (.926 SV%) but goals remain hard to come by, with C Nick Bjugstad (who has seven) the only Panther with more than four goals in 18 games. 

Key Injuries: C Dave Bolland (lower body), LW Sean Bergenheim (lower body).

Three wins in the past four games could be progress, but with injuries piling up and continued shaky possession, it may not have much to do with the Avalanche's situation going forward in the short term.

Key Injuries: G Semyon Varlamov (groin), D Brad Stuart (hamstring), LW Jamie McGinn (back), LW Alex Tanguay (jaw).

Starting G Mike Smith is winless in his last six starts, not all of which falls on him, obviously, but that is creating more opportunity for Devan Dubnyk, who is bouncing back from his disastrous 2013-14 season.

Key Injuries: RW David Moss (upper body), C Martin Hanzal (lower body).

Not only have the Blue Jackets lost three straight, they've been outshot by an average of 13.3 shots on those three games. It's hard climbing out of this hole.

Key Injuries: RW Nathan Horton (back), C Brandon Dubinsky (abdominal), C Mark Letestu (groin), D Ryan Murray (knee), D Fedor Tyutin (lower body).

C Riley Nash is the surprise leading scorer for the Hurricanes, with 15 points, through the first 20 games. That's a positive sign for Nash, handling more responsibility, not ideal for the Hurricanes.

Key Injuries: C Jordan Staal (fibula).

With six straight losses, the Oilers are sinking into their typical lottery position, despite improved puck possession (up from 43.5% last year to 49.0% using score-adjusted Fenwick measures). Having a league-worst .883 save percentage is presenting a sizeable hurdle.

Key Injuries: LW Benoit Pouliot (foot).

Suddenly the Sabres have won three straight, outscoring the Maple Leafs, Sharks and Rangers by a cumulative score of 12-4, but they still have a ways to go to escape the basement.

Key Injuries: G Michal Neuvirth (lower body).