NHL Power Rankings: Detroit Red Wings Still No. 1, Chicago Blackhawks Fall

With the first two weeks of the second half in the books, we've seen plenty of teams in the bottom half of the NHL start playing better hockey. Maybe it's their star players auditioning for teams who will be wanting their services during the trade deadline. 

Whatever it is, teams like the Phoenix Coyotes, Calgary Flames, and Montreal Canadiens have been thriving as of late. 

From the teams at the top, the Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers continue to show that they're the teams to beat in their respective conferences. The Red Wings still haven't lost at home, while the Rangers have opened up a nine point lead in the Eastern Conference.

1. Detroit Red Wings (All-Star Break: No. 1)

They've won 21 in a row at home, setting an NHL record for most consecutive home wins. But you already knew that.

What you may have not known is during the home winning streak, the Red Wings have outscored opponents 87-32. Now that's domination.

One may argue that the Red Wings record should have an asterisk because we're no longer in an era of ties. However, Steve Ott of the Dallas Stars made a strong argument by saying how the streak is more impressive than the one the Red Wings broke because of the parity that exists in the league today.

The Red Wings were also tabbed to host the 2013 NHL Winter Classic at The Big House against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Gotta be a great time to be a Wings fan.

2. New York Rangers (All-Star Break: No. 2)

The Rangers are only one point behind the Red Wings with three games in hand. The Rangers also completely shut out the Boston Bruins, 3-0, proving that they're easily the best team in the Eastern Conference. So why are they not the No. 1 ranked team in these power rankings?

When evaluating both teams, the Red Wings defense stands out more than the Rangers defense. They have guys like Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall, and Jonathan Ericsson who have playoff experience and have seen it all. On the contrary, the Rangers defense is considerably younger.

This doesn't mean that they're not good. It just means that in a playoff scenario, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Rangers break and get upset by a team because of their inexperienced defense.

Couple that with the Red Wings unbelievable run at home, and this week the Red Wings barely take the spot at No. 1.

3. Vancouver Canucks (All-Star Break: No. 4)

What the Red Wings are doing at home, the Canucks are doing on the road. They've recorded at least a point in all but one road game in 2012. This is great for their confidence, considering they have a long road trip coming up next week. 

Ultimately though, the Canucks—and especially their goaltender—are going to be measured based on what happens in June. 

4. St. Louis Blues (All-Star Break: No. 6)

What's scary about this team is that they have two elite goaltenders. They don't really have a No. 1. Brain Elliott has had fewer starts than Jaroslav Halak, yet he was the All-Star. 

Combined, these goaltenders have 11 shutouts. 

They also have a solid, balanced scoring attack. 

It's all a great recipe for success, similar to last year's Boston Bruins team which also had a strong defense, double-headed monster in net, and a bunch of forwards who can score.

5. Boston Bruins (All-Star Break: No. 3)

The Bruins should be fine in the long run, but what's up with getting swept by the Carolina Hurricanes and losing 6-0 to the Buffalo Sabres?

It seems like they're just waiting for the playoffs to start. They didn't even get up for their tilt with the Rangers, a game which they dropped 3-0.

6. Pittsburgh Penguins (All-Star Break: No. 9)

Evgeni Malkin has seven points in the last two games and he just barely missed a hat trick on an empty net opportunity against the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

That said, the Penguins have major tests against the Flyers and the Rangers this week. Winning both of those games will be huge for the team if they want to win the Atlantic Division.

7. Nashville Predators (All-Star Break: No. 5)

It's been a pretty mediocre second half for the Predators; they're 3-2-2 thus far.

That being said, they're 13-2-2 against the Central Division, which is arguably the toughest division in the NHL.

8. Philadelphia Flyers (All-Star Break: No. 7)

Last season, the Philadelphia Flyers were 13th in the league in shots allowed. This year, they're seventh but their goaltending problems continue. In other words, their defense may have improved, but Ilya Bryzgalov really hasn't done much to make any use of the improvement.

As mentioned before, the team's youth and inexperience, loss of Chris Pronger and inability to stop pucks will catch up with them in the playoffs.

9. New Jersey Devils (All-Star Break: No. 14)

Looks like the Ilya Kovalchuk project is finally paying off. He scored his first hat trick with the Devils yesterday against Buffalo.

Better yet, the Devils are 6-1-1 in the second half and are hanging around with the big boys of the Atlantic Division. If they have a second half like the one they did last season, don't be surprised if the Devils even win the division. 

10. San Jose Sharks (All-Star Break: No. 10)

The Sharks still have three games in hand against the Los Angeles Kings. This means they can increase their three-point divisional lead to a nine-point lead. 

The team has a lot going for themselves, sporting three players with 20 goals or more. 

11. Florida Panthers (All-Star Break: No. 16)

Just when I wrote them out last week, the Florida Panthers decided to heat up again. They've won five of their last seven, and the demise of the Blackhawks and the lack of scoring punch from the Kings has propelled them to the No. 11 spot. 

Most importantly, they're leading their division again.

12. Chicago Blackhawks (All-Star Break: No. 8)

The reeling Blackhawks haven't won a game since January 20. They have exactly zero wins on their nine-game road trip thus far.

It's okay. Columbus is on the schedule this Saturday. 

13. Los Angeles Kings (All-Star Break: No. 11)

The Kings went just 2-3-1 on their six-game Grammy road trip. The scoring woes continued, too: In their four losses, they only scored three goals. Perhaps a trade for Rick Nash will revitalize this team. 

14. Phoenix Coyotes (All-Star Break: No. 20)

Wins against the Sharks, Blackhawks, and Red Wings during their six-game point streak have given the Coyotes the confidence to feel like a playoff contender once again. They've received clutch goaltending from Mike Smith, who has quietly raised his save percentage to .925.

The Yotes will rely on Smith's success if they want to make the playoffs.

15. Washington Capitals (All-Star Break: 12)

So much for Alex Ovechkin being the best player in the league. He's not even the best Russian player anymore. thanks to the domination of Evgeni Malkin.

16. Ottawa Senators (All-Star Break: No. 13)

The Senators struggled heading into the All-Star break, but with Jason Spezza scoring 10 points in the last four games, the Sens are showing signs of recovery.

17. Calgary Flames (All-Star Break: No. 20)

The Flames haven't lost in regulation in February and have had big wins against the Sharks, Canucks, Maple Leafs and Blackhawks. Because of their success, they only find themselves one point behind a playoff spot now. 

18. Toronto Maple Leafs (All-Star Break: No. 15)

Leafs fans can't help but sweat. All of a sudden, the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens are playing edging closer to a playoff spot. There's no doubt that they're praying for GM Brian Burke to pull off a deal for Rick Nash. 

It only makes sense. Phil Kessel really isn't a type of player who is the face of a franchise. Rick Nash is and by trading for him, they'll have a center piece that will absolutely jolt them into the playoffs during a down year for the East. 

19. Colorado Avalanche  (All-Star Break: No. 17)

The Avs have had a favorable schedule in 2012. Before their back-to-back set this past weekend, they hadn't had one since early January. Then, they had another three days off before they play Vancouver tonight. 

They really haven't taken advantage of the friendly schedule and are still on the outside looking in.

20. Anaheim Ducks (All-Star Break: No. 22)

The Ducks only find themselves eight points out of a playoff spot and they've been hot throughout all of 2012. They've recorded points in each of their last six games, and the way Teemu Selanne has been playing, it seems like he can play until he's 62. 

21. Dallas Stars (All-Star Break: No. 19)

The Stars hit the record books for the wrong reason on Tuesday night when they became the 21st consecutive victim to lose to the Red Wings at the Joe Louis Arena. Just another bad turn in an awful year. 

22. Montreal Canadiens (All-Star Break: No. 26)

The Canadiens take a deep breath and they smell the playoffs in the near distance. Somehow, they're only seven points out with 25 games to go. If they can get hot, they can easily make that up in a bottom-half of the Eastern Conference.

23. New York Islanders (All-Star Break: No. 25)

They've been playing .500 hockey ever since the All-Star break ended, which is a lot better than what they were doing earlier this season. Now that the team actually hit the .500 mark at 24-24-8, it's easy to say that the Atlantic Division is arguably the best division in the NHL. 

Perhaps the Central Division might have something to say about that claim, but imagine how much better the Isles would be if they played in the Southeast with a healthy diet of Winnipeg, Carolina, and Tampa Bay, rather than Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and the Rangers.

24. Winnipeg Jets (All-Star Break: No. 24)

It's really surprising how the Jets are just four points out of a playoff spot when their leading scorer is Blake Wheeler, with just 38 points. 

25. Minnesota Wild (All-Star Break: No. 18)

What's happened to the Wild is just sad. They've plummeted to 12th in the Western Conference standings and what's worse is that they lost twice to Columbus in one week.

One has to wonder where the confidence went for a team that looked like they were definitely going to make the playoffs in November.

26. Carolina Hurricanes (All-Star Break: No. 27)

They've recorded points in their last five games and find themselves nine points out of a playoff spot now. Too little, too late? 

27. Tampa Bay Lightning (All-Star Break: No. 23)

Off-season goal No. 1: Get a goaltender.

28. Edmonton Oilers (All-Star Break: No. 28)

No matter what happens this season, everyone will remember Sam Gagner's eight-point performance. Definitely a sliver of light and hope for what's to come for this young, talented bunch.

29. Buffalo Sabres (All-Star Break: No. 29)

They may be only eight points away from a playoff spot, but unlike Carolina and Montreal, they've failed to establish any sort of momentum or a streak to show that they'll be able to make a run.

30. Columbus Blue Jackets (All-Star Break: No. 30)

Trading Rick Nash and blowing up everything is the way this team will turn around in the future. They need to start building around Ryan Johansen. 

Power Rankings History: Dec 13-19 | Dec 20-26 | Dec 27-Jan 4 | Jan 5-11 | Jan 12-18 | Jan 19-26

Follow Andre Khatchaturian on Twitter.