NHL Power Rankings: The Most Dangerous Teams, Ranked 1-30, Going into Next Week

The NHL is a league where it's extremely hard to maintain a power ranking. With long, tiring games sometimes day after day, it's hard to stay in a No. 1 spot in the Conference and Power Rankings for more than a week.

Some sleepers, like Pittsburgh and NY Rangers, have been climbing up the rankings. Some declining teams, like Montreal and Chicago, are slipping down in the Rankings fast. Who has the Number one ranking in my list? Let's Find out:

30. New York Islanders

New York's star Goaltender, Rick DiPietro, has been plagued by injuries for the last few years. They'll be better next year if he can stay healthy, but this year I, and everyone else, don't see it happening. 

29. Los Angeles Kings

A young, rebuilding team, the Kings are fighting to become a contending team again. This year, though, the Kings will be sitting on their couches at home watching the playoffs, ending their season at 82 games with an unimpressive performance all season long. 

28. Colorado Avalanche

A dissapointing year nearly behind them, the Avalanche have given up on this season. They have an impressive Roster, but no one on their team has stepped up this year, leaving them at the near bottom of the list. 

27. Phoenix Coyotes

An unbelievable coach in Wayne Gretzky and a team leading star in Shane Doan, the Coyotes just can't find a way to put the points on the board that they need to win. Looks like the playoff drought isn't ending any time soon. 

26. Tampa Bay Lightning

Much like the Avs, no one can figure out why Tampa isn't performing, as they have a great Roster. Vincent Lecavelier and Martin St. Louis not enough to kick start this fading club, Tampa finds itself at the bottom of the list just four years after winning the cup. 

25. Toronto Maple Leafs

A former power club, the dying leafs have nothing left in them after the loss of Mats Sundin, and can't lift off again. They find themselves at No. 25, and with no hope for the future. 

24. Atlanta Thrashers

Impressive lately with two straight wins against power clubs without Kovalchuk and the emergence of Brian Little, Atlanta finds itself in no different position then before : the bottom of the rankings. 

23. Dallas Stars

Brendan Morrow, Mike Madano, and Marty Turco seem not to be able to get the stars back into the playoff position they were in last year. Brett Hull seems incapable of doing anything about it, and everyone in Dallas has given up. What does this all add up to? A disappointing season for the once hopeful stars. 

22. Minnesota Wild

They were tied for the last place in the playoffs a few weeks ago. But a disappointing record last week (3-4-3) has shattered any hopes of coming back. The Wild can't come back without new Devil Brian Roloston leading the way. 

21. Anaheim Ducks

Although the Ducks' performance has been impressive, nothing seems to be moving them into the playoff race. With time working against them, the Ducks have to start moving their tail feathers to make the playoffs for the fifth straight year. 

20. Ottawa Senators 

With an impressive winning streak last week, signs of hope are gleaming through the bleak composition of Ottawa. The question is, can they keep on going and earn themselves a last minute playoff spot?

19. Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton is on the verge of becoming good again. They're tied with the Blues for the eighth playoff spot in the West, and own the tie breaker. The thing is, they're not the club you really want to stay away from, as Detroit or San Jose is their fate for the first round (if they can win).

18. St. Louis Blues

A last second run to get into playoff position behind them, the Blues are tied with Edmonton for eighth seed in the West. The big question is, will they crack under the pressure?

17. Nashville Predators

Nashville has a loosening cling on a playoff spot, only one point away from being out of the race. A few stars have been shining for the Predators, but the question remains as to whether they can hang on to that spot. 

16. Montreal Canadiens 

Young all-star goalie Carrey Price is losing confidence quickly, resulting in the Canadiens dropping down the standings fast. They're also just one point in the race, and are in danger of losing playoff position if they don't pull it together. 

15. Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo is on a roll. They're on a three game winning streak, and it just looks to get better as Buffalo looks to make the late push they need to make the playoffs. 

14. Florida Panthers

Some surprising wins under their belt, Florida is sitting one point out of the playoffs. Players like Bouwwesster, Anderson, and Voukun playing well, the Panthers are looking powerful, and just might make it to the playoffs. 

13. Columbus Blue Jackets

Rick Nash's incredible performance has finnally paid off in Columbus. Steve Mason playing tremendously lately, they ride on his back as they stand surprisingly in a #5 spot in the West. 

12. Chicago Blackhawks

A three game winning streak under their belt, the blackhawks won't win their division, but are looking to keep the fourth place in the West. But with pressure setting in on young stars Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, people are questioning whether they'll have a little lower seed than that. 

11. New York Rangers

With Marcus Naslund playing well along with Scott Gomez and Chris Drury, the Rangers seem to be able to climb a little in the standings over the last couple weeks. 

10. Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver has been playing very well lately, winning seven of their last 10 games. They are working on catching the Calgary Flames for their division title, and if the Flames continue to play as poorly as they have been, it's possible. 

9. Carolina Hurricanes 

All-star Eric Staal leading the way, the surprising Hurricanes have been on fire lately, winning their last six games in a row. They haven't made the playoffs since winning it all in 2006, but look to clinch their playoff birth in the next few games, sitting in fifth place in the East. 

8. Calgary Flames

Although the Flames have been playing poorly the last 10 games, going 4-6 and almost letting the Canucks catch them for the Division Title, they are still a powerhouse team going into the playoffs. Iginla and Kipprusoff lead the way for Calgary as they look to get on a good streak before the playoffs begin. 

7. Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers beat the lsat place Flyers in a shootout by the skin of their teeth. Although they didn't look like the fourth place in the East team in that game, the Flyers have earned the hearts of millions of people and respect of the world heading into the playoffs. 

6. New Jersey Devils

Martin Broduer leading the way for the Devils, they have been looking like the team they were a few years ago, winning and winning and winning some more. With Brendan Shannahan and Brian Roloston helping them rebuild, NJ will be even better going to the playoffs. 

5. Pittsburgh Penguins

After a terrible start this year, the Penguins are back to the way they looked last year, beating teams they lost to badly earlier in the year.

Healthy Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Sergi Gonchar are three stars Pittsburgh is expecting to take the drivers seat in the next few games as they look to claim fifth place in the East and face a team in the first round that they beat in the Eastern Finals last year. 

4. Washington Capitals

Making his first playoff appearance last year, Alexander Ovechkin is leading the league in scoring (and creative celebrations if you ask me). He leads a talented team, co-starring Alex Semin and Mark Green, into the playoffs as a No. 2 seed, barring a meltdown on their part. 

3.San Jose Sharks

An incredibly talented San Jose team starring Captian Patrick Mareleau and Assistants Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo are the head honcho in the West, reclaiming the first spot in the Western Conference. However, with the pressure on, Thornton and the Sharks might give it back to the high flying Wings. 

2. Boston Bruins

Ready to clinch the East, a surprising Bruins team features  big man Zdeno Chara as they look to take their game to the next level and make a run through the playoffs. An impressive record of 5-4-1 in their last 10, Boston is on a great note going to the playoffs. 

1. Detroit Red Wings

The Wings have always been one of the best teams in the West, fighting off different enemies each time heading into the Playoffs. This time, Lidstrom leads Detroit in a fight with San Jose for the first seed in the West.

With a single win parting them from taking it over, the Hungry Wings look to repeat last year's glory and send a message to the leaugue: "We are the Detroit Red Wings!"