NHL Power Rankings: Where Every Team Ranks Behind Streaking Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are the class of the NHL right now. Not only have they navigated the entire first half of their shortened-season schedule without dropping a game in regulation, but the amount of talent on their roster is unmatched, and it's built for playoff success.

It doesn't matter how you analyze it, nobody can touch them. Recent play? They have won 11 straight. Goal differential? They are a plus-32, almost double any other team. And all three of their losses came in a shootout, meaning no team has beat them without a skills contest to decide the game.

So it's no surprise Chicago tops the power rankings. Furthermore, it would take an extended run of poor play from the Blackhawks before another team even came within striking distance of knocking them out of the No. 1 spot.

Here's a look at where the rest of the teams check in. A deeper dive into a trio of teams to watch in the second half is denoted by italics.

1. Chicago Blackhawks (21-0-3)

How long before the discussion about Chicago going the entire regular season without dropping a game in regulation begins in earnest? Sure, it remains an extreme long shot, but the Hawks are halfway there.

2. Anaheim Ducks (16-3-3)

While the gap between the top two teams is large, the Ducks are the best of the rest. The emergence of Viktor Fasth between the pipes has really helped Anaheim increase their stock since the season began.

3. Pittsburgh Penguins (15-8-0)

Any team with two top-notch talents like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin is dangerous. It's the play of guys like James Neal and Chris Kunitz that's helping the Penguins push toward the top of the East.

4. Montreal Canadiens (14-5-4)

Although the Canadiens don't feature nearly as much star power as the other teams near the top of the rankings, they continue to earn points. A couple more strong weeks and the doubters will begin to fade.

5. Boston Bruins (14-3-3)

The Bruins continue to be one of the league's toughest teams to play. They are tied for the lead in goals against and don't shy away from the physical side of the game, a tough combo in the short season.

6. Los Angeles Kings (12-7-2)

After a slow start, the Kings have already worked their way back up to No. 4 in the West. The defending champions still aren't playing up to the level they were during their postseason run, but they are moving up the standings anyway.

Sooner or later the key players from that run, most notably Jonathan Quick and Dustin Brown, are going to pick up their level of play. That's when Los Angeles will truly get dangerous, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see it happen right around playoff time.

Other than that, the Kings are getting solid contributions from Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter. There should be enough depth on the roster to keep them in good shape until everybody is back playing at their peak.

7. Carolina Hurricanes (13-8-1)

Eric Staal is on pace to have a tremendous season with 28 points in 22 games, and Alexander Semin was a great impact addition in the offseason. It will be interesting to see how they fare without Cam Ward.

8. Toronto Maple Leafs (15-9-0)

A lot like their Northeast Division rivals from Montreal, the Leafs are still trying to prove their strong start isn't a fluke. Nazem Kadri is one of the biggest surprises so far with 24 points in as many games.

9. Vancouver Canucks (11-6-5)

The Sedin brothers are carrying the offensive load, as usual, and both netminders are playing really well. Vancouver will need to start getting some secondary scoring to move toward the top five, though.

10. Detroit Red Wings (11-8-4)

Detroit came within two minutes of ending Chicago's streak over the weekend before Patrick Kane saved the day. Still, points in four of their last five games show the Red Wings are trending up.

11. San Jose Sharks (11-7-4)

Patrick Marleau had 14 points in his first six games. He's tallied just four in the past 16. The Sharks need him to get back on track to jump-start the offense. The defense and goaltending have been strong.

12. Ottawa Senators (12-8-4)

The Senators came flying out of the gates after the lockout but have cooled down considerably. They have dropped four straight and will need to end the slide soon before it puts their playoff spot at risk.

13. New York Rangers (11-8-2)

Henrik Lundqvist rebounded after a slow start, and offensive depth has allowed the Rangers to remain above .500 despite some pedestrian numbers from their projected top scorers.

14. Phoenix Coyotes (11-9-3)

Phoenix has stayed in the hunt despite two troubling signs. Goalie Mike Smith is struggling to match his great numbers from last season. Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson is tied for the team lead in scoring.

15. Dallas Stars (11-9-2)

Derek Roy is starting to look more comfortable in his new surroundings after being traded to Dallas in the offseason. It comes not a moment too soon with the Stars needing more production up the middle.

16. Philadelphia Flyers (11-12-1)

Right now, the Flyers are No. 9 in the East, one point behind the final playoff spot. Even though it's not an ideal position, Philadelphia should have more than enough time to solidify its spot in the postseason.

The biggest key is going to be Danny Briere and Sean Couturier. Two players at the opposite ends of their careers, both hold similar value to the Flyers this season. And both are struggling to match expectations.

If they are both able to improve in the second half, it will give the Flyers the necessary depth up front, and everything else should fall into place. It would also make the worrisome goaltending situation less of a concern.

17. Minnesota Wild (11-9-2)

Minnesota ranks 26th in the NHL in scoring, which isn't a good sign for a team that spent a lot of money on Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to bolster the offense. Dany Heatley must pick up the pace, too.

18. St. Louis Blues (11-9-2)

The Blues are supposed to be a team that's built on a strong defensive foundation. Instead, they rank 24th in goals allowed per game. None of their three goalies has a save percentage above .900.

19. New Jersey Devils (10-8-5)

Although New Jersey currently sits at No. 7 in the East, its subpar goal differential would suggest the team has overachieved so far. Their recent six-game skid is starting to level that out.

20. Calgary Flames (9-8-4)

There's no doubt Calgary features enough offensive depth to make a run at the playoffs, but the defensive play leaves a lot to be desired. It would help if Miikka Kiprusoff found his old form.

21. New York Islanders (10-11-2)

The combination of John Tavares and Matt Moulson has helped the Islanders stay in the playoff race. Few of the duo's teammates are chipping in consistently enough to make a major push, though.

22. Winnipeg Jets (10-11-1)

It would be much easier to have some faith in Winnipeg if it had some stability in net. Neither Ondrej Pavelec or Al Montoya have provided that, however, and it's been too tough to overcome.

23. Tampa Bay Lightning (10-12-1)

The Lightning continue to show the importance of depth. They have enough top-end talent to be a threat in the East, but the lack of support of Steven Stamkos is holding Tampa Bay back.

24. Nashville Predators (9-9-5)

Nashville has dropped three straight games and is 3-6-1 over its past 10. Yet the Predators are still just one point behind the final playoff spot. It's no guarantee they'll be able to rebound, though.

25. Washington Capitals (9-11-1)

The Capitals are finally starting to show some signs of life. They have won seven of their last 10 games, including two straight in order to keep themselves alive in the playoff race. A couple more weeks of poor play, and they would have been toast.

Alex Ovechkin has been a major reason for the turnaround, to nobody's surprise. The dynamic winger has seven points in the last five games. When he's scoring at an elite level, Washington is a playoff contender. He wasn't at the start of the season.

As long as Ovechkin continues to play like the superstar he is, the other major issue for the Capitals will be on defense. The team needs its blue liners to step up on both ends of the ice, especially with Mike Green on injured reserve after a shaky start.

26. Edmonton Oilers (8-9-5)

It's another year of waiting for fans of Edmonton. There's plenty of young talent on the roster to get excited about for the future, but the group just isn't ready to compete quite yet.

27. Florida Panthers (7-11-5)

A surprise playoff team last season, the Panthers have fallen back down to Earth in the shortened season. They just don't have enough star power to carry them in key moments.

28. Colorado Avalanche (8-10-4)

The return of Ryan O'Reilly should provide a boost for Colorado. It would take an extended hot streak from both him and the team as a whole in order to get back in the playoff mix, though.

29. Buffalo Sabres (9-13-2)

Probably the most disappointing team in the NHL over the past two seasons. Ryan Miller is doing his best to keep the team afloat, but the terrible play on defense has left him out to dry far too often.

30. Columbus Blue Jackets (7-12-4)

It's going to take some time for Columbus to get through the rebuilding process. There simply isn't enough talent on the roster right now. High draft picks will eventually rectify that problem.