NHL Power Rankings: Maple Leafs and Oilers Continue to Win; Are They for Real?

The Oilers own the league’s best power play, lead the Northwest Division and are in position to be the class of the West.

The Maple Leafs are scoring goals, but need to patch up every other element of their game in order to win consistently.

Are these teams for real?

Come December, we’ll know.

30. Columbus Blue Jackets

Last week: 30

The Blue Jackets have lost their last two games by a combined score of 13-3.

They only have two wins all year.

29. New York Islanders

Last week: 26

The Islanders lost six straight before beating Washington.

New York may be in trouble, however.

Their upcoming three-game road trip pits them against Boston, Colorado and Vancouver.

28. Calgary Flames

Last week: 27

Vancouver came to town and rolled over Calgary 5-1, and Buffalo bested them 2-1 in Western New York.

The Flames were, however, able to take advantage of a reeling Red Wings club, beating Detroit 4-1 in Michigan.

Things don’t get easier for Calgary. They play three of their next four away from Alberta.

27. Winnipeg Jets

Last week: 29

The Jets remain in the Southeast Division cellar despite a shootout win over Florida and a 3-0 win over the Islanders.

26. Ottawa Senators

Last week: 16

If only the Senators played defense…

After a red-hot finish to October, when the team won six straight to end the month, the Sens have lost three-straight to begin November.

25. New Jersey Devils

Last week: 25

They’re killing penalties, but the Devils are going to have to do more if they want to win consistently.

They did, however, pick up wins over Philadelphia and Winnipeg in recent contests.

24. St. Louis Blues

Last week: 23

The Blues have lost three of their last four.

They play their next five games in St. Louis, however, presenting this team an opportunity to turn things around.

St. Louis has playoff potential if they don’t let things get out of hand too early in the season.

23. Vancouver Canucks

Last week: 21

Their road trip began with a 5-1 win over Calgary, but Vancouver needs to be concerned after losing to Minnesota and St. Louis in consecutive games.

The Nucks have stops in Chicago, LA and Orange County before returning home.

It could be a long road trip for Vancouver.

22. Anaheim Ducks

Last week: 17

With only one win on their road trip, a 3-2 win over Minnesota, the Ducks are moving in the wrong direction.

Anaheim went to Detroit to play a Red Wings team that had lost six straight and was pummeled, 5-0.

Fortunately, the Ducks have three games in the OC to turn things around.

21. Florida Panthers

Last week: 18

The Panthers have lost their last two games in overtime.

Have they regressed?

A challenging five-game slate of Tampa, Toronto, Winnipeg (OK, one freebie), Philly and Dallas will determine that.

Three of those five games will come on the road.

20. Detroit Red Wings

Last week: 15

Detroit won their first five games, then lost their next six.

Then snapped their losing streak with a 5-0 win over Anaheim.

It’s hard to determine what this team will do this year.

19. Carolina Hurricanes

Last week: 19

The Hurricanes are all over the place.

They crushed Chicago 3-0, lost to Philly 5-1, beat Tampa 4-2 and were destroyed by Washington 5-1.

This team needs some consistency if they are going to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

18. Colorado Avalanche

Last week: 9

The Avs may own the league’s best power play, but they need work on other aspects of their game.

Colorado has been struggling recently. They were crushed by Phoenix at home last week.

17. Montreal Canadiens

Last week: 22

Montreal had a four-game win streak, including two wins against Boston, before losing 5-3 to the Rangers in the Garden.

Things are starting to look better for Montreal.

16. Minnesota Wild

Last week: 20

Stingy defense, but not much else, has allowed the Wild to win their last four games.

Their wins are nothing to sneeze at: Detroit (twice), Vancouver and St. Louis all fell to Minnesota.

Fans in The State of Hockey will see their team following the Wild’s five-game road trip, which starts on Tuesday in Calgary.

15. Boston Bruins

Last week: 28

A 7-0 win in Toronto over a division rival has to be welcoming for a Bruins team that has not gotten off to the start they wanted to.

They also picked up a 5-3 victory over a hot Senators team. The win snapped a three-game losing streak.

Boston has a five-game homestand against a rather mediocre band of teams. Buffalo is the only squad that should give them trouble.

14. Buffalo Sabres

Last week: 7

After tough losses to Florida and Philadelphia, Buffalo has gotten things going in the right direction, with wins against Calgary and in Ottawa.

13. Toronto Maple Leafs

Last week: 6

The Leafs are struggling in every department other than offense and were exposed in a 7-0 loss to Boston.

Toronto has some holes to fill if they’re going to continue to win.

12. Los Angeles Kings

Last week: 10

If only the Kings could get their offense going…

In their last eight games, the Kings have scored more than three goals only once.

Their last four contests have resulted in losses.

11. New York Rangers

Last week: 24

Since crushing San Jose 5-2 at home, the Rangers have won three straight and appear to be moving in the right direction.

10. Phoenix Coyotes

Last week: 13

The Coyotes are playing well…offensively?

Phoenix is scoring 2.9 goals (sixth in the league).

Behind their new-found offense, the Yotes have won four of their last five.

9. Nashville Predators

Last week: 14

The Preds have not lost a game in regulation since losing to the Sharks on Oct. 25.

Nashville is 4-1 in their last five games, including an OT thriller in San Jose.

This team is beginning to look like a serious threat in the Central Division.

8. Philadelphia Flyers

Last week: 11

Owners of the NHL’s most potent offense, Philadelphia hung nine on the lowly Blue Jackets in their most recent win.

NHL fans around the country should expect a shootout when the Flyers travel to Tampa on Wednesday. The game will be on Versus.

7. Tampa Bay Lightning

Last week: 12

An OT win over the powerful Blackhawks, which included a Stamkos hat trick, indicate that the Lightning are back on track.

A recent loss to Carolina and a 1-0 squeaker against Winnipeg have created question marks around the team, however.

6. Edmonton Oilers

Last week: 8

Owners of the league’s best defense, the Oil are first in their division and in position to challenge for the Western Conference lead.

Their 4-2 loss to Phoenix is shameful, but they had a six-game winning streak going before the loss in Glendale.

Edmonton will be tested on their road trip, which features four more games.

They will face Montreal, Boston, Detroit and Chicago before returning home.

5. San Jose Sharks

Last week: 1

Despite having an abysmal penalty kill, the Sharks continue to accrue points.

They looked rusty in their first game at the Tank, but managed to scrape together a win.

Then, they lost in overtime to the Predators.

4. Washington Capitals

Last week: 3

Until their 5-3 loss to the lowly Islanders, Washington looked like one of the best teams in the league.

If the Caps can beat the red-hot Stars and the lowly Devils in a home-and-home, the Islanders game will be written off as a small blemish.

3. Dallas Stars

Last week: 5

Dallas continues to roll.

They were tested by Colorado, but were able to win 7-6 in overtime.

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Last week: 4

Behind a stellar offense and penalty kill, the Hawks have climbed to the top of the Central Division.

Chicago had a three-game winning streak going until losing in overtime to Tampa Bay.

The Blackhawks do need to get the power play going, however.

1. Pittsburgh Penguins

Last week: 2

Without Sidney Crosby, the Penguins have won six of their last eight games.

Their losses came to the Leafs, who have been playing better recently, and to San Jose in a shootout.

Imagine what’s going to happen when he returns.