Power Rankings: Week Ending December 25, 2009

So sorry for not providing the power rankings, earlier this week—something about a big holiday, going on.

With that, here are the power rankings for the week ending December 25:

1. New Jersey   Winners of nine of their last ten games, they find ways to win, even when record-breaking goaltender Martin Brodeur gets pulled, against Atlanta.  Talk about a rebound effort for Brodeur—career shutout No. 104—Congrats! 

2.  Pittsburgh A record of 12-3-1, over the past month.  Being shut out, against the Devils, aside, a team poised for a high playoff seed.  Their only blemish, otherwise, are those puzzling losses to Carolina and the NY Isles.

3. Chicago Winners of five of their last six games, once again, the 'Hawks do it with defense, surrendering only seven goals in those six games.  The have staked a claim as the new Detroit Red Wings of the Central Division.

4. Nashville The 'Preds have gone 6-1-1, recently, and, via the offense.  Can somebody please polish up that BEYOND long overdue Jack Adams award to Barry Trotz, please? 

5. Washington Tough team to figure out, particularly as it relates to holding leads—and this is with Ovie on their team.  Although Michal Neuvirth has begun to play well, the return of Simeon Varlamov will certainly help. 

6. San Jose Winners of their last three games, the Sharks certainly look like the rest, from the scheduling quirk (only one game, over an entire week), has done them well. 

7. Los Angeles This week, it was the Kings who enjoyed the nine-day, San Jose-esque holiday break.  The hope is that they benefit from the rest, and not come out flat, as some teams do.

8. Phoenix The NHL's best kept secret?  For a while, it was the LA Kings, but, no more—it's these "desert dogs," winners of four of their last five. 

9. Colorado While not the best kept secret in the league, truly its biggest surprise.  In doing in the right way—an infusion of youth vs. last season's attempt to go retro '90s, certainly has helped their quick return from the scrap heap. 

10. Calgary Not a December to remember for the Flames, going 4-4-2 since the beginning of the month.  They could really use some scoring support, from their forwards—beyond Jerome Iginla, there's no real secondary scoring. 

11. Buffalo The Sabres have flatten, a bit, the past week, or so, going 2-2-1 in their last five game, after that torrid winning skein.  Dear goal-scoring support:  Any time you're ready.  Signed, Ryan Miller.

12. Vancouver The 'Nucks, who began their eight-game homestand by winning the first three games, have stalled by splitting their last four games.  Again, their lack of secondary scoring is needed for them to ascend in the Northwest Division. 

13. Dallas   The Stars went 2-1, this past week—all three of which were at home, and really need to capitalize in having three of their next four games, at home.  There is no room for error in the Western Conference. 

14. Boston An up and down team, but, losses to the likes of Isles and Flyers cannot occur if they wish make the playoffs.  They must also covert on their Power Play (PP) opportunities, having gone 0 for 10 during their four-game losing streak. 

15. Minnesota Now, this team has had a December to remember, going 8-4, for the month.  Then again, throw out that dreadful 3-9 start, and November wasn't too bad, either. 

16. Detroit The injuries—the latest to Henrik Zetterberg—mount; that's seven regulars out, either for the season, or for an extended period of time.  Although help is on the way—they play the Blue Jackets the next two games—their lack of goal-scoring is trouble, big time. 

17. Atlanta Struggling a bit, but, if they can withstand this brutal seven-game road swing, and attempt to resolve the Ilya Kovalchuk contract situation, this team can still make the playoffs.  Now, about that attendance... 

18. St. Louis They're starting to catch fire, with three straight wins, and on the road, no less.  With four upcoming home games, after tonight's road game against the Wild, they can perhaps start to ascend to where most believed they would be, this season. 

19. Ottawa The good news: Pascal Leclaire is back.  The bad news: he returned against the Pens—in a word, Ouch!  Having both Spezza and Alfie out doesn't help their chances.

20. New York Rangers With four wins in a row, and with four winnable games, upcoming, the Broadway Blueshirts have a chance to start to live up to that bloated team salary.  On second thought, I'm not sure that's possible, Marian Gaborik and Hendrik Lundquist, aside.

21. Montreal Yes, they've won three in a row, and yes, like the Rangers, they have a chance to get rolling, with four winnable games in a row, but, the Habs have to find scoring from past their first line. 

22. Florida Although it was a bit of an up and down week for the Panthers, they sure could benefit from the hopeful return of Cory Stillman and David Booth.  They could also give some defense support to Tomas Vokoun, as this is not a team who has the offense to give up over three goals a game.

23. Anaheim They've started to win, but, they have to decide which goalie to go with.  For now, that appears to be Jonas Hiller. 

24. Tampa Bay Showing some signs of goal-scoring life, now, if they can put something together, beyond Stamkos and Malone, this team could get rolling, before it's too late.

25. New York Islanders The wild inconsistencies continue—every victory is generally followed by a blowout loss.  Their faithful still have to be pleasantly surprised. 

26. Toronto With the return of Jonas Gustavsson, the Leafs must get rolling, after almost making up for that horrid 1-7-1 start.  No more sudden stops—it's starts, or bust.

27. Philadelphia Except for the next team on the list, the most disappointing.  Blow it up and start all over again—wait, with their burgeoning cap mess, that's not gonna happen. 

28. Edmonton Well, that five-game win streak was fun, while it lasted.  Losers of five straight, it may be time to plan for next season. 

29. Columbus The freefall continues in Columbus.  Given their fragile state, it may be time for their faithful to plan for the June draft party—the ritual returns. 

30. Carolina Unlike the two teams above them, given their injury situation, at least they're trying.  It's nice to see Eric Staal back—unfortunately, too many other key cogs have been lost for extended amounts of time.