The difference in the league's top two teams is razor thin, but this week theBlues take
Daniel Ponce De Leon Jersey advantage of theLightning losing two in a row to leapfrog Tampa Bay into the top spot in our power rankings.Keep an eye on the Islanders, Predators and Golden Knights, who all move up the list, and on the Senators, Ducks and Canucks, who head the opposite direction.Here is thecomplete breakdown of Sporting News'NHL power rankings for Week 8.PREVIOUS POWER RANKINGS: | || | | | NHL Power Rankings 8.01. St. Louis Blues17-6-1, 35pts(last week: 2)Back on top of the rankings after winning fourof five. Currentlyranked fifth among all teams both in team offense and defense.2. Tampa Bay Lightning17-5-2, 36pts(last week: 1)Snapped two-game skid with 2-0 shutout win over Sabres on Tuesday. Lost consecutive games only once this season. Second-highest scoring team in league with fourth-ranked defense.3. Toronto Maple Leafs16-9-1, 33pts (last week: 3)Started three-game trek to western Canada with 4-1 win in Calgary Tuesday. That comes after losing two of previous three.REPORT CARD:4. Winnipeg Jets15-6-4, 34pts (last week: 4)Spotted the Wild a 2-0 lead Monday then dropped seven straight goals on them. Ooofff. How about rookie Kyle Connor? Quietly with 15 points in 19 games, coming off first three-point game of his career.5. Columbus Blue Jackets16-8-1, 33pts (last week: 5)Won seven of last eight and got a victoryout of seldom-used backup goalie Joonas
Yadier Molina Jersey Korpisalo Tuesday night.METRO MAYHEM:6. Nashville Predators15-6-3, 33pts(last week: 7)In last 12 games have 10wins, one OT lo s and one regulation defeat. Safe to say, the Preds are rolling in the month of November.7. New York Islanders15-7-2, 32pts (last week: 9)Islanders have won four straight and seven of eight. Scored five goals or more in two of their last three and 11 times overall this season.8. Pittsburgh Penguins13-10-3, 29pts(last week: 6)Matt Murray injury really will test the defending champs. Rookies Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith step between the pipes.9. New Jersey Devils14-6-4, 32pts (last week: 8)Resilient Devils lost first one-goal game in regulation (9-1-4) Monday in 3-2 defeat at hands of Panthers. Brian Boyle fittingly scored a goal on Hockey Fights Cancer nightFriday.MORE:10. Vegas Golden Knights15-7-1, 31pts (last week: 15)More than a quarter ofthe way through the season, the expansion Golden Knights sit in first place in the Pacific Division. How about Bruins castoff Malcolm Subban? He is 4-1-0in five starts with a 2.09 GAA and .928 save percentage. His only lo s (Tuesday) came when the other goalie shut out Vegas.11. San Jose Sharks13-8-2, 28pts (last week: 11)Won three of last four, surrendering only two goals in those three victories. Have three more games remaining on four-game road trip. Sharks are 6-2-1 on road this season.12. Washington Capitals14-10-1, 29pts (last week: 12)Riding three-game winning streak and coming off impre sive 4-2 victory over Maple Leafs on Saturday. Incredibly, still own a minus-1goal differential on the season. Not so incredibly, Alex Ovechkin leads NHL with 18 goals in 25 games, including five in his last three games.MORE: 13. New York Rangers13-10-2, 28pts (last week: 13)Threw away their four-game winning streak and eight-game run on home ice with terrible defensive play throughout5-4 lo s to Panthers Tuesday. Mika Zibanejad is now hurt, though Ryan McDonagh could return from four-game absence Friday.14. Los Angeles Kings14-8-3, 31pts (last week: 14)Did you see that Jonathan Quick save in 4-1 win over Red Wings Tuesday? Two-time Cup winner has 2.28 GAA and .929 save percentage this season.15. Calgary Flames13-10-1, 27pts (last week: 10)Second-worst PK in the league nearly offset
Vince Coleman Jersey by 10th-ranked power play. Musical chairs with backup goalies behind Mike Smith as Eddie Lack is waived.RECORD CARD: 16. Chicago Blackhawks12-9-3, 27pts(last week: 19)Rookie Alex DeBrincat recorded . Patrick Kane sure looked happy to set up that third goal, didn't he?17.Dallas Stars13-10-1, 27pts (last week: 22), Ben Bishop 34-save shutout in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Vegas.18. Vancouver Canucks11-10-4, 26pts (last week: 16)One more game to go on long six-game road trip. Started with pair of wins, now 2-2-1 on the trip.19. Detroit Red Wings10-10-5, 25pts (last week: 20)Special teams are a boon. NHL's fourth-best PK and eighth-ranked PP.MORE: 20. Minnesota Wild11-10-3, 25pts (last week: 18)Lost two straight and four of last six.21. Carolina Hurricanes10-8-5, 25pts (last week: 23)Special teams costing 'Canes points in close games. Third-worst PK and 10th-worst power play.MORE: 22. Boston Bruins11-8-4, 26pts(last week: 26)David Backes,Brad Marchand, Ryan Spponer are finally back in the Bruins' lineup. However, David Krejci and Jake Debrusk are now sidelined with injuries.23. Ottawa Senators8-8-6, 22pts (last week: 17)What is worse than their current
Justin Williams Jersey six-game winle s streak (0-5-1)? The fact that the Senators embark on a two-week, seven-game road trip this week.24. Colorado Avalanche12-9-2, 26pts (last week: 24)The Avs are seventh in team offense, eighth-worst in team defense. Need to keep outscoring their mistakes.AWARDS WATCH: 25. Edmonton Oilers10-13-2, 22pts(last week: 25)Won two straight, three of four. Baby steps. But steps in the right direction nonethele s.26. Montreal Canadiens11-12-3, 20pts (last week: 28)The vibe sure changes quickly in Montreal when Carey Price returns from injury absence and plays great, allowing only one goal, in back-to-back victories.27. Anaheim Ducks11-10-4, 26pts (last week: 21)Rickard Rackell joins the ma sive Anaheim injury list. The Ducks have lost 143 man-games already to injury. Returns of Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler and Patrick Eaves not even on horizon.28. Florida Panthers10-12-2, 22pts (last week: 29)Good
Rangel Ravelo Jersey road win in New Jersey Monday. Followed that up with opportunistic 5-4 win at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. Offense finally waking up?MORE: 29. PhiladelphiaFlyers8-10-7, 20pts (last week: 27)Booed off home ice Tuesday as winle s streak reaches nine (0-4-5)30. Buffalo Sabres6-15-4, 16pts (last week: 30)Shut out last two after 3-1 win over Oile
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