Power Rankings: Week 17

1. New York Rangers… LW: 3
With 66 points in 47 games thus far, the Rangers lead the league in points percentage (.702) at the break.
2. Detroit Red Wings… LW: 2
The Red Wings are out-scoring opponents by a score of 88-39 at home this season, good enough for an NHL-best +49 home differential.
3. Boston Bruins… LW: 1
If you take out a remarkable November, Tim Thomas is 11-9-0 with a 2.27 GAA and .930 save percentage this year. Not bad, but not his usual dominant numbers, either.
4. Vancouver Canucks… LW: 5
Why have the Canucks been so tough to beat over the last two months? They jump out to a lead more times than not. Alain Vigneault’s club leads the NHL with a +24 goal differential in the opening 20 minutes.
5. Nashville Predators… LW: 6
Since Dec. 1, the Predators power play has been executing at a 30% rate (24-for-80). Over that time, the team is 19-7-0 and is now in the thick of the Central Division race.
6. Pittsburgh Penguins… LW: 8
If the red-hot Penguins want to win the Atlantic, they’ll have to improve on their 1-4-0 mark against the Rangers and Flyers this season.
7. St. Louis Blues… LW: 4
Of the 16 teams currently in playoff positioning, the Blues have the worst power play, coming in at 28th in the league. The unit is 2-for-29 (6.9%) over the last eight games.
8. Chicago Blackhawks… LW: 7
One area the ‘Hawks need to improve in is the penalty kill, a unit that is 25-for-34 (73.5%) in its last 12 games.
9. San Jose Sharks… LW: 9
In 13 January games, San Jose has scored 32 goals – a 2.46 per game average. Don’t be surprised if GM Doug Wilson looks to add some scoring at the deadline.
10. Philadelphia Flyers… LW: 11
Philadelphia’s power play has elevated to fourth in the NHL with their 12-for-48 stretch (25.0%) in the last 11 games.
11. Los Angeles Kings… LW: 12
Can the Kings catch San Jose for the division lead? They’ll have to overcome a road-heavy second half, and do well against the Sharks in three head-to-head contests, to do so.
12. Washington Capitals… LW: 13
I don’t think enough people realize how valuable Dennis Wideman has been to the Caps this season. He has 20 points in the last 22 games, helping to soften the blow in Mike Green’s absence.
13. Ottawa Senators… LW: 10
Craig Anderson has played in 19 consecutive games, posting a 12-5-2 record and 2.16 GAA in that time.
14. Colorado Avalanche… LW: 14
Colorado is 10-2-0 against the East, 16-21-2 against the West; 25 of their final 31 games will come against the West.
15. New Jersey Devils… LW: 15
Peter DeBoer’s Devils lead the Eastern Conference in overtime/shootout wins (11). If the NHL had an Olympic point system, the Devils wouldn’t be in the top eight because of the non-regulation wins.
16. Toronto Maple Leafs… LW: 18
Toronto is the only non-playoff team with a positive goal differential (+4).
17. Calgary Flames… LW: 16
Though the win and loss count wouldn’t show it, the Flames have been playing much better defense since Mark Giordano returned from injury and Michael Cammalleri was acquired.
18. Anaheim Ducks… LW: 17
Before his injury, Lubomir Visnovsky had four points and a minus-7 rating in 16 games. Since his return, Visnovsky has 13 points and a plus-5 rating in 19 games.
19. Florida Panthers… LW: 19
Three of Florida’s next nine games will be played against Washington. This upcoming stretch could tell us whether they’re serious about winning the division.
20. Minnesota Wild… LW: 22
Minnesota closed out the break with two straight wins, the first time they’ve done so in over a month. The Wild were 2-11-4 in the 17 games before that point.
21. Dallas Stars… LW: 24
Dallas has led the least amount of times after two periods, but is one of five teams with a perfect mark in that situation (13-0-0).
22. Montreal Canadiens… LW: 23
The Habs own the NHL’s top penalty kill and worst power play. The PK has been stingy over the last 16 games, going 53-for-57 (93.0%).
23. Winnipeg Jets… LW: 20
Andrew Ladd, who has 12 points in his last 28 games, is continuing to show that he isn’t a player that should be relied on for first- or second-line production.
24. New York Islanders… LW: 21
Does Evgeni Nabokov deserve to have a longer stay on Long Island? His recent has shown he deserves it.
25. Phoenix Coyotes… LW: 25
Most of the Coyotes’ peripheral numbers are comparable to the last two seasons, but inconsistent goaltending is keeping them out of the West’s top eight right now.
26. Tampa Bay Lightning… LW: 26
The Bolts have trailed going into the third period a whopping 27 times, which leads the league. It’s tough to win games when you have to consistently play from behind in the third period.
27. Carolina Hurricanes… LW: 27
Carolina is the lone NHL team without a shootout win this season.
28. Buffalo Sabres… LW: 28
The Sabres have an Eastern Conference-worst minus-30 goal differential. Not exactly what owner Terry Pegula envisioned, eh?
29. Edmonton Oilers… LW: 29
Tom Renney’s Oilers have not won two games in a row since Nov. 25. In that time, they are 6-18-3, going from preliminary playoff contender to lottery team – again.
30. Columbus Blue Jackets… LW: 30
The Blue Jackets are on pace for 54 points. Ouch.

Photo credit: Getty Images