Stars stay on top of the NHL Power Rankings

Remember when C Jason Spezza was the pass-first playmaker? He's averaging a career-high 3.26 shots on goal per game even though his 16:34 average time on ice is his lowest since 2003-2004.

Key Injuries: None.

Had a six-game winning streak snapped with Saturday's overtime loss at Winnipeg, but the regulation losses remain few and far between.

Key Injuries: D Brooks Orpik (lower body).

The Habs have one regulation win in the past five games and have decided that they are moving on from RW Alexander Semin, the notorious underachiever who has one goal in 15 games, but has been made expendable by the performance of Sven Andrighetto, who has three goals in seven games and crazy puck possession stats.

Key Injuries: RW Brendan Gallagher (hand), G Carey Price (leg).

5-0-1 in the past six games, the Kings are controlling play better than any other team, with a 3.5% gap over the second-place team in score-adjusted possession.

Key Injuries: LW Dwight King (foot), D Matt Greene (shoulder).

Climbed to second spot last week and responded by scoring a total of three goals in a three-game winless stretch. 

Key Injuries: LW Patrik Berglund (shoulder), LW Jaden Schwartz (ankle).

The tide has turned on the Rangers from early in the season, as they've won two of the past seven games, and are relying much too much on goaltending.

Key Injuries: C Derek Stepan (ribs), D Kevin Klein (oblique).

The Bruins have gone eight in a row without a regulation loss, and have received eight goals in the past nine games for super-pest LW Brad Marchand.

Key Injuries: RW David Pastrnak (foot).

Sunday's win against Winnipeg was the Blackhawks' second regulation win in the past nine games, so they've shaken things up a bit, recalling Bryan Bickell from the AHL, where he had 14 points in 12 games, and waiving Viktor Tikhonov, who was promptly claimed by Arizona.

Key Injuries: None.

Seven straight games without a regulation loss for the Islanders, who may be trying to navigate the Travis Hamonic trade waters, or they're just continuing to play him big minutes, nearly 24 minutes per game since the beginning of November.

Key Injuries: None.

Eight of Detroit's past 10 games have gone to overtime or shootout but, as a result, they also haven't suffered a regulation loss in 10 games. Much improved since the start of the season.

Key Injuries: LW Johan Franzen (concussion), D Kyle Quincey (ankle).

Allowed a total of one goal in three straight wins last week, though G Devan Dubnyk suffered a minor groin injury in the process. It's been an interesting year for Dubnyk, who has surged up to a .918 save percentage thanks to a league-leading four shutouts.

Key Injuries: G Devan Dubnyk (groin).

Two wins in the last nine games for the team with the second-best score-adjusted possession numbers in the league. Shall we discuss Pekka Rinne's .906 save percentage?

Key Injuries: C Mike Fisher (lower body).

A couple of overtime wins against the Blackhawks and Islanders, quality opponents, do put a positive spin on a team that has gone five in a row without a regulation win. Well, that and the emergence of scoring star Mike Hoffman.

Key Injuries: LW Clarke MacArthur (concussion), LW Milan Michalek (finger).

A surprisingly punchless power play has played a part in Tampa Bay's struggles, but their is plenty of drama off the ice to wonder about, especially after head coach Jon Cooper was signed to a contract extension in the same week that the debate started up again about whether Steven Stamkos should play centre or wing. Lots of talk about Stamkos playing right wing as the Lightning won two of three in California, but not much mention that Stamkos had two shots, total, in three games.

Key Injuries: LW Ondrej Palat (lower body).

The Penguins have managed one regulation win in the past seven games, at the same that C Sidney Crosby is emerging from his early-season slump with nine points in the past eight games. 

Key Injuries: D Kris Letang (undisclosed).

The Devils have been one of the biggest -- if not the biggest -- surprises of the season, thanks in part to surprising finish from top scorers Mike Cammalleri, Adam Henrique, Kyle Palmieri and Lee Stempniak, who have combined for 41 of the team's 67 goals.

Key Injuries: C Travis Zajac (upper body).

So how long before G Connor Hellebuyck takes over as the Jets' best option between the pipes? His first three starts, all wins, suggest that he may be ready now.

Key Injuries: G Ondrej Pavelec (knee).

Sunday's loss at New Jersey snapped a five-game winning streak. They're not scoring, or possessing the puck, enough, so credit the goaltending duo of Roberto Luongo and Al Montoya.

Key Injuries: C Nick Bjugstad (upper body).

The season was looking up when the Sharks won six straight, but now they've dropped four of five and suddenly they are scrambling again. Fortunately, the Pacific Division allows this kind of flailing about without being too punitive in the standings.

Key Injuries: LW Raffi Torres (suspension), C Logan Couture (fibula).

The Ducks continue to have goal-scoring problems, but they have one regulation loss in the past five games, thanks to G John Gibson, who is pushing to be the goaltender of the present.

Key Injuries: D Simon Despres (upper body), LW Jiri Sekac (lower body).

Saturday's loss to Columbus was the Flyers' third regulation loss in the past 11 games. I'll point out that, perhaps not-so-coincidentally, rookie D Shayne Gostisbehere has played 11 games for the Flyers.

Key Injuries: D Mark Streit (pubic bone), D Luke Schenn (lower body).

Outscored 20-9 on a four-game losing streak, the Coyotes are falling back towards their expected level. They're not there yet, but it's coming.

Key Injuries: None.

With one regulation loss in the past six, the Blue Jackets are working their way towards respectability, but not without some tough love. C Ryan Johansen has taken shots from head coach John Tortorella, and now veteran LW Scott Hartnell was a healthy scratch after taking a bad penalty late in a loss to Montreal.

Key Injuries: None.

It looked like the Hurricanes were sinking, unable to score or stop the puck, but suddenly they scored eight goals in two games, both wins, and there may be a little hope. See how they feel after the next four on the road.

Key Injuries: D James Wisniewski (knee).

Don't look now, but the Sabres' third-leading goal-scorer, behind Ryan O'Reilly and Jack Eichel, who both have nine, is rookie Sam Reinhart, who has improved his shot and is up to seven.

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

One regulation loss in the past six games for an Oilers team that is finally getting competent goaltending from Anders Nilsson, who has -- for the time being, at least -- taken control of the crease.

Key Injuries: C Connor McDavid (clavicle), RW Nail Yakupov (ankle), LW Benoit Pouliot (lower body).

Winless in five, the Canucks appear to be in trouble because they don't have nearly enough help for the Sedins.

Key Injuries: C Brandon Sutter (abdominal).

Imagine the odds, coming into the season, that the Maple Leafs would have a goaltending duo of Garret Sparks and Antoine Bibeau by the first week of December. Sounds implausible, but (for the short-term) here we are.

Key Injuries: RW Joffrey Lupul (undisclosed), G James Reimer (lower body).

The Avs are still getting outshot on a regular basis, but if G Semyon Varlamov can re-discover his form, maybe that will help the Avs outpunch their weight. It's worked before.

Key Injuries: None.

The good news is that the Flames pulled out a shoot-out and overtime win against Dallas and Boston, respectively. The bad news is that the Flames still can't keep the puck out of their net.

Key Injuries: LW Lance Bouma (fibula), D Kris Russell (upper body).