NHL Power Rankings: February 1st Edition

Mark Jones' NHL Power Rankings: January 31st Edition

Like usual, the top 10 teams all have extra analysis, as well as any others where I have something to say about them.

1. San Jose Sharks (77 pts, 36-6-5)

Amazing what a four-game winning streak could do for this team that was playing great already. Despite the fact they did lose last night to Chicago, the Sharks have now opened up an eight-point lead in the Western Conference, with Detroit losing five straight. Nabokov posted back-to-back shutouts on the Avalanche (3-0) and Coyotes (2-0) last Tuesday and Thursday.

Carolina comes to town Tuesday night as the Sharks finish up a three-game home streak. Then the Sharks embark on a five-game East Coast road trip (Columbus, Boston, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and New Jersey).

2. Boston Bruins (78 pts, 36-8-6)

The Bruins are 7-1-2 in their last ten games, which is perfectly fine for a team that leads its division by 18 points, and the conference by 11 points. In fact, it's great!

Tuukka Rask posted his first NHL shutout yesterday in a 1-0 win over the NY Rangers, and the only goal was a lob from outside the blue line that was deflected into the net by Savard to give Boston the victory.

The Bruins last seven games have all been decided by one goal, and three of which have gone to overtime. Boston is 4-1-2 during that span.

3. New Jersey Devils (67 pts, 32-15-3)

What a run by the Devils! They're 9-1-0 in their last 10, and have won eight straight games. Only two of those eight games were at home!

They've outscored opponents 38-20 since Jan. 10, which has pulled them into third place (over Detroit) in these power rankings!

4. Detroit Red Wings (69 pts, 31-11-7)

The Red Wings have not been playing like the Red Wings recently! Five straight losses has never happened to the Red Wings in, what seems like, forever!'

They're also still lucky to be ranked ahead of Washington, after the Capitals beat them 4-2 yesterday. In fact, the only reason they are still ahead is because of their extra experience!

However, they do have a chance to turn it around in an upcoming three-game home stand against Western Conference opponents St. Louis, Phoenix, and Edmonton.

5. Washington Capitals (66 pts, 31-15-4)

The Capitals have been falling off a bit since they pulled way out in front of the dismal Southeast Division earlier in the year. Washington is just 5-4-1 in their last 10 games, and they have fallen to third place in the conference. However, yesterday's victory over Detroit was a thriller, and it may help get this team back on track.

Today's game against Ottawa will be a big game for the Caps. Last I checked, it was 4-1 Caps. I guess they're not so bad after all!

6. Calgary Flames (64 pts, 30-14-4)

The Flames continue to play well, and they're 3-0 since we last discussed them. Detroit's recent slump has given Calgary an opportunity to overtake them.

The Flames swept the season series with Nashville on Friday, and now they're headed out to the Rockies to play Colorado tomorrow.

7. Montreal Canadiens (62 pts, 28-15-6)

The Canadiens, Blackhawks, and Rangers are all jammed in spots 7, 8, and 9, and I had quite a difficult task sorting them out. I'm going with the Canadiens because I think they've had more recent success than the other two, but it's very close.

However, Montreal is just 5-5 in their last 10, which is probably not where they'd like to be. Boston comes to town this afternoon, though, which could be a big chance to get back on a hot streak.

8. Chicago Blackhawks (62 pts, 27-13-8)

Saturday night's 4-2 upset over the Sharks was huge for this young team. But they are just 5-4-1 in their last ten games, and need to get better if they want to become a real Cup contender.

The Blackhawks' schedule isn't going to get much easier. They will play eight of their next nine games on the road, including the five-game road swing coming up. The good news— all but one of those teams have fewer points than them (so far)!

9. New York Rangers (62 pts, 29-18-4)

This team is one hot streak away from moving into a high spot in the Eastern Conference standings. But they've been so for quite a while now, and just haven't been able to get on that hot streak. In fact, they've lost two straight, and are just 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. But they can change that as the struggling Thrashers come into the city on Tuesday.

10. Buffalo Sabres (57 pts, 26-19-5)

Most would disagree with me putting the Sabres over the Flyers here, but I think Buffalo is one of the most underrated teams in the NHL today. Last night's 2-0 shutout of Phoenix marks one of the Sabres high points of the season, and I expect them to climb even higher soon.

11. Philadelphia Flyers (61 pts, 26-14-9)

This team has looked shaky recently. Their "Last 10" record has been hovering just above .500 for a while now, and the team hasn't had any winning streaks in a long time. The 4-0 loss to St. Louis was just terrible. However, their inconsistency could change at any time. Just stay tuned!

12. Carolina Hurricanes (55 pts, 25-21-5)

Their 4-6 record in their last 10 games is misleading. Ever since their five-game losing streak, they've gone 4-1, their only slip up a 3-2 loss to the Rangers. They also had two shutouts during that time.

The last team in the NHL to score a shorthanded goal also has two shorthanders in two games. Not bad!

13. Dallas Stars (53 pts, 23-18-7)

This team has really opened up recently. They've won four straight games, and are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games. All this good play has gotten them a playoff spot, but they are just one point away from falling all the way back down to 11th.

14. Florida Panthers (54 pts, 23-18-8)

At spot number 14, we encounter another underrated team that has been fairly hot recently. The Panthers are also 6-2-2 in their last ten games.

But Saturday's 3-1 loss at the New York Islanders wasn't envisioned. Losing to the Islanders is bad in itself, and trailing to them 3-0 with less than two minutes remaining is even worse.

15. Pittsburgh Penguins (53 pts, 24-22-5)

16. Edmonton Oilers (53 pts, 25-20-3)

Edmonton was getting really hot before the All Star break, but since then they've cooled off a bit. Souray did have two goals for the West, though. Still, they're 6-4 in their last 10 games, and can get back on the hot streak this afternoon in their matchup with the Predators.

17. Columbus Blue Jackets (53 pts, 24-21-5)

Steve Mason has been a star of late. The 7-3 loss to Dallas is certainly not a plus mark on his season record, but still, he's been respectable. The Blue Jackets have been sort of "blah-blah" for the last few seasons. I think they're trying to send a message this season!

18. Anaheim Ducks (55 pts, 25-22-5)

I'm still not very sure on this team's situation. The Ducks are currently in fifth, but they are a measly three points away from falling all the way down to 11th. Their 4-7 record since January 8th sure could improve!

Buffalo is in California on Monday night in a big game for both teams.

19. Minnesota Wild (53 pts, 25-21-3)

20. Phoenix Coyotes (53 pts, 24-22-5)

Huh. I thought this team (and Gretzky) might be catching on. I guess not. They've fallen back down to a mediocre 5-5 record in their last 10 after losing three straight.

21. Vancouver Canucks (52 pts, 22-20-8)

This team has been amazingly bad recently. They're also amazingly lucky to be just a point out of a tie for sixth. That single point could be hard to get, though—they're 1-5-4 in their last 10.

22. Tampa Bay Lightning (44 pts, 17-23-10)

This is another team that could have success around the corner, but hasn't been able to get to it yet. The Lightning did have a good stretch of games for a little while, but back-to-back losses have pulled them down to 12th.

23. Nashville Predators (47 pts, 21-24-3)

24. Colorado Avalanche (47 pts, 23-26-1)

The 3-7-0 record in their last ten is disappointing for a team with possibility. Edmonton comes to Colorado on Monday night. Who knows, it could be a big victory for the Avalanche!

25. Toronto Maple Leafs (46 pts, 19-23-8)

Yesterday's 5-4 win over Pittsburgh might be enough to get this team back on the right track. I guess we'll just have to see!

26. Los Angeles Kings (47 pts, 20-21-7)

The loss to Montreal was a heart breaker! They lead 3-2 with under three minutes remaining in regulation, but couldn't even get a point out of it! Just another so-so team trying to prove themselves, I guess.

27. St. Louis Blues (44 pts, 20-24-4)

Despite still ranking last in the Western Conference, the Blues have actually been pretty good of late. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10, and just beat the Flyers 4-0 yesterday. This team could rise up in the standings, and do so quickly! Western Conference, watch out!

28. Ottawa Senators (41 pts, 17-23-7)

29. New York Islanders (35 pts, 15-29-5)

Oh my God! It's a miracle! The Islanders are no longer last in the power rankings! Actually, they're still last in the league in points, but their three-game win streak, along with Atlanta's four-game losing streak, has pulled New York up to a spectacular 29th in the power rankings.

30. Atlanta Thrashers (39 pts, 17-29-5)

They have some talent, but don't know what to do with it.