NHL Power Rankings: Contenders, Pretenders at the All-Star Break

It is at the All-Star Break that the men are separated from the boys in the NHL.

As it stands right now, I still like my pre-season pick of Pittsburgh and Nashville in the Stanley Cup Finals.

It sounded crazy at the time to pick Nashville to win the Cup, but the Preds have only two losses in January and are in the thick of the Central Division race.

Despite playing in a small, non-traditional market and with a shoestring budget, the Predators have gone to the playoffs six of the past seven years, Last season, the team advanced to the second round for the first time.

In short: they are moving up in the hockey world

Pittsburgh looks like a dicey pick now, but they are currently No. 3 in a tough Atlantic Division despite all their injuries.

If this team can stay healthy and Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal return to form later in the season or during the postseason, this team will be tough to beat.

A Pittsburgh-Nashville Stanley Cup Final is far from a sure thing, but it would be foolish for someone to call it far-fetched.

There will be eight quality teams in the postseason in each conference this season and it’s always a dogfight in the playoffs.

Entering the All-Star Break I’m feeling pretty confident in my picks.

If you’ve got picks of your own or have something to say about mine, feel free to comment below.

For a look at who’s who in each division, click here.

30. Columbus Blue Jackets

Last week: 29

The Blue Jackets have lost their last four games and appear to be in a free fall.

Columbus is currently three games into a seven-game road trip.

Things can only get worse from here…

29. Buffalo Sabres

Last week: 28

The Sabres will play their final game on their current seven-game road trip on January 31.

Currently they are 1-5-0 on this trip. with the win coming in shootout.

They’ve been outscored 23-7 during those five losses.

Safe to say, Buffalo will be happy to return home for five of their next six games following the road trip.

28. Edmonton Oilers

Last week: 30

January has been a tough month for Edmonton.

The Oil have only three wins this month and have fallen out of the Northwest Division race.

27. New York Islanders

Last week: 23

The Islanders were riding a three-game win streak entering their home-and-home with Toronto.

Then they were swept by a combined score of 7-3.

26. Carolina Hurricanes

Last week: 26

The Hurricanes have a few impressive wins in January.

They topped division rivals Tampa Bay, Washington and Winnipeg, but also lost to the Islanders twice and an injury-riddled Pittsburgh team.

If Carolina is going to move out of the Southeast Division cellar, they must string together more wins.

25. Dallas Stars

Last week: 24

Dallas curbed a five-game losing streak with a 1-0 win over Anaheim at home.

The string of losses will make getting back into the playoff race difficult, as the Stars currently sit at 52 points, tied with Phoenix and six points behind Los Angeles, the No. 2 seed in the Pacific.

24. Winnipeg Jets

Last week: 21

The Jets have gone cold in January.

With only three wins and an 0-2 start on their six-game road trip, Winnipeg is in peril.

After their six-game road trip, the Jets only have one home game, against Toronto, before going on the road to Washington and Pittsburgh.

It’s do-or-die right now for this young Jets squad.

23. Florida Panthers

Last week: 25

The Cats looked like surefire favorites in the watered-down Southeast Division.

With only two wins in January and a red-hot Capitals squad breathing down their necks, that status looks to be in serious jeopardy.

22. Phoenix Coyotes

Last week: 27

With only three wins in January, the Coyotes have fallen out of the Pacific Division race.

Unless this team can have a sudden surge in February, the Yotes will most likely be jockeying for a playoff spot in March rather than a division title.

21. Calgary Flames

Last week: 16

The Flames have been inconsistent lately and have not done much to separate themselves in the Northwest Division.

Calgary is 5-4-1 in their last 10 and currently sits in fourth place in their division.

20. Montreal Canadiens

Last week: 22

Montreal has two impressive wins in their last two games.

They beat Toronto and Detroit by a combined score of 10-3.

Unfortunately, the Habs still have a hill to climb.

They are currently eight points out of a playoff spot in the East.

19. Anaheim Ducks

Last week: 17

By shutting them out in Dallas, the Stars ended the Ducks’ five game win streak.

Anaheim only has two losses this month.

Due to their slow start, the Ducks still remain a distant last in the Pacific, but a good month gives them something to build on for the remainder of the season.

18. New Jersey Devils

Last week: 14

The Devils had picked their play up recently, but were crushed by Boston and Philly by a combined score of 8-2.

They then lost in a shootout to Buffalo.

All three of those games were played in Newark.

17. Tampa Bay Lightning

Last week: 20

Tampa really hasn’t bothered to play defense and have abysmal special teams, but have shown signs of life lately.

After losing their first seven games in January, the Bolts have won their last four contests.

If the Lightning can ride this momentum into February, Florida and Washington will have a third contender for the Southeast Division.

16. Toronto Maple Leafs

Last week: 18

Currently No. 9 in the East, Toronto has as many points, 55, as Florida and New Jersey, who hold the No. 7 and 8 spots, respectively.

The Leafs are playing well lately.

They have won three of their last four, but must play a home-and-home with Pittsburgh that will begin in January and end in February.

15. Minnesota Wild

Last week: 19

With only three wins in January, the once-dominant Wild have fallen 11 points behind Vancouver in the Northwest Division.

Minnesota has strung together two impressive wins against the Stars and Avalanche, two teams that were playing well earlier in the season, and remain in the playoff hunt, despite a convalescing squad.

14. Los Angeles Kings

Last week: 15

Los Angeles still has limited offensive firepower, but remain in the Pacific Division race.

They’ll have to be on top of their game in February though.

The Kings begin the month with a warm-up against Columbus, but then go on a six-game road trip.

This trip is make-or-break for a team that wants to stay in the hunt in the Pacific.

13. San Jose Sharks

Last week: 12

The Sharks lead the Pacific Division, but are skating on thin ice.

San Jose ended a three-game losing streak (including a shootout loss to Edmonton) with a win over Calgary in the Saddledome.

Right now, the Pacific looks like a two-team race between LA and San Jose.

The Sharks must play more consistent hockey if they hope to stave off the Kings and win their fifth division title in a row.

12. Colorado Avalanche

Last week: 9

The red-hot Avs have suddenly cooled off.

Colorado is 4-5-1 in their last ten and have relinquished the No. 2 spot in their division.

11. Chicago Blackhawks

Last week: 5

Chicago strung together a series of three wins at home, but was recently swept in a home-and-home with Nashville.

Things don’t get any easier for the Hawks either.

They must play their next nine games away from home.

10. Philadelphia Flyers

Last week: 13

The Flyers have traded wins and losses over their last seven contests, but remain in competition with the hated Rangers for first place in the division.

Scheduling favors Philly in February: they will start the month off by playing five of their first six games at home.

9. Boston Bruins

Last week: 6

The mighty Bruins suddenly look mortal.

Boston still owns the league’s best offense, but they’ve traded wins and losses in their last eight contests.

To be fair, six of those eight games were played on the road.

The B’s have an opportunity to get back on track with three straight home games coming up.

8. Ottawa Senators

Last week: 11

A team on the rise, the Senators had a strong January.

Ottawa started their road trip off well with wins over Toronto and San Jose, but suffered three-straight losses to Anaheim, Los Angeles and Phoenix.

They play Boston on January 31 before returning home to face the Islanders.

7. Washington Capitals

Last week: 10

That looks more familiar.

The Capitals have stepped their game up in January and are currently tied for first place in the Southeast Division, and hold the tie-breaker with more wins.

Florida has struggled lately and Washington has a five-point cushion over Winnipeg.

The Caps are in position to take control of this division in February.

6. Vancouver Canucks

Last week: 8

A Top 10 team in offense, defense and special teams, Vancouver is playing solid hockey and have created a large buffer in the Northwest Division.

The Canucks have a tough stretch coming up though.

They must play Chicago and Detroit at home before going on a four-game road trip.

5. Nashville Predators

Last week: 3

The Preds have only two (count ‘em, two) losses in January.

Nashville’s recent play has put them in the thick of the Central Division race and, if they keep it up, will most definitely land them in the playoffs for the seventh time in eight years.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins

Last week: 7

Myriad injuries are no problem for this resilient Penguins squad.

After a bump in the road at the beginning of January, Pittsburgh is cruising along.

They’ve won their last seven games.

3. New York Rangers

Last week: 4

With only three losses in January, the Blueshirts have placed themselves atop the daunting Atlantic Division.

With a lot of young, homegrown talent complimenting Marion Gaborik and Brad Richards, the Rangers look like the real deal this season.

2. St. Louis Blues

Last week: 2

Owners of the league’s best defense, the Blues are in the Central Division race and look like a playoff team this season.

St. Louis has only lost two games this month, but entered the All-Star Break having lost in Detroit and to Pittsburgh at home.

1. Detroit Red Wings

Last week: 1

Behind a Top 10 offense and defense, the Red Wings have been humming along and sit atop the Central Division.

Their seven-game win streak was ended with a 7-2 loss in Montreal, however.

That’s probably not a good way to start a five-game road trip…