NHL Power Rankings: Bruins Rise in the East, Stars Fall in the West

Things don’t look good in Dallas.

They’ve lost five straight and dropped from the apex of the Pacific to the cellar this month.

It’s easy to put them in the same category as the Islanders: a team that gets off to a hot start, but ends up out of the playoffs when all is said and done.

Remember, the Stars were expected to experience a collapse after losing Brad Richards to free agency last season.

They can’t be written off so soon, however.

Expect LA and San Jose to compete for the division, but I see a race between Dallas and Phoenix for the No. 3 spot in the Pacific, which could be a late seed in the playoffs.

On the other hand, the Bruins have bounced back from a rough start.

The offense is clicking, and the result is a eight-game win streak.

Boston is a bona fide contender in the East.

30. New York Islanders

Last week: 28

The Islanders have only won two contests in November and were routed by Boston on Saturday.

It’s been a tough year for the Islanders…again.

29. Carolina Hurricanes

Last week: 24

Carolina is struggling.

They have only two wins in November.

Their wins came against Tampa and Pittsburgh, two playoff teams from last season, so they can compete with good teams.

The Canes have to use the rest of the month to prove that their losing ways are an anomaly, rather than a trend.

28. Anaheim Ducks

Last week: 23

Penalty killing has become this team’s strong suit; their 86.1 percent rate is seventh in the league, but otherwise, things are going the wrong way for the Ducks.

They’ve lost three straight and have only one win this month.

27. Columbus Blue Jackets

Last week: 29

An overtime win over Nashville, a division rival, is nice, but does little to convince me that this team is turning things around.

Their upcoming schedule isn’t too bad. They face Calgary on Monday and New Jersey on Wednesday.

26. Calgary Flames

Last week: 27

In order to turn things around early in the year, the Flames must use their 5-2 win over Chicago to create momentum going into their road trip.

The first of the four games will come against Columbus, a winnable game, but they’ll have to face Detroit, St. Louis and Minnesota—three teams that have played good hockey lately.

25. Dallas Stars

Last week: 3

Uh oh…

The Stars have lost five straight by a combined score of 21-4.

Was Dallas’ early season winning simply just that—a quick startor is this team for real?

They’ve got to use the rest of this month to answer that question.

24. Winnipeg Jets

Last week: 30

The Jets have won three straight against three quality opponents—Tampa, Washington and Philly.

It’s certainly worthy to noting it, but I see a blip rather than a trend here.

They can prove me wrong with their next road trip that takes them to Washington, Carolina and Boston.

23. Montreal Canadiens

Last week: 21

Good defense usually merits consistency.

Not in Montreal.

They shut out Carolina and New York, a solid team, but lost to the Islanders 4-3.

I’m not sure where this team is going.

22. Tampa Bay Lightning

Last week: 12

Things are getting ugly in Tampa.

They’ve lost three of four.

The single win came against Pittsburgh (4-1).

The three losses came against St. Louis, Winnipeg and New Jersey.

It’s difficult to tell what’s going on in Central Florida.

21. Washington Capitals

Last week: 16

Washington has lost their last four games and have only scored one goal in the last three.

Fortunately, the Caps come back from their three-game road trip knowing they play six of their next seven at home.

The time is now to turn this around.

20. Ottawa Senators

Last week: 26

The offense and power play is clicking in Ottawa, but defense has been this team’s Achilles Heal.

They are giving up 3.4 goals per game (28th in NHL) and only killing 79.3 percent of their penalties.

They have won three-in-a-row on the road, however, so the Sens cannot be written off this season.

19. Edmonton Oilers

Last week: 7

A four-game skid had to be hard to watch for the people of Edmonton, Alberta, but the Oilers made a statement with their 9-2 victory over Chicago on Saturday.

Perhaps the big win will create some momentum the team can carry over into their upcoming road trip.

They will face Dallas, Nashville, Minnesota and Colorado—four beatable teams.

18. Colorado Avalanche

Last week: 25

The Avs own the league’s second-best power play, but need to improve other areas of their game in order to win consistently.

A 3-0 win over Dallas, a surprise team this season, can easily cure the ails from the three-game losing streak they snapped.

Maybe things will turn around for Colorado.

17. Buffalo Sabres

Last week: 10

Quality special teams have vaulted the Sabres to the top of the Northeast Division.

They have lost three of their last five, however, and Boston is hot.

Their game against Boston on Wednesday is going to be a defining contest for both teams and this division.

16. Vancouver Canucks

Last week: 18

The Canucks own the league’s best power play and the seventh-best defense, but they’re struggling on defense, and it’s shown up in the standings.

They’ve had an up-and-down November: four wins, four losses—all in regulation.

There was a lot of preseason hype around the Canucks, and right now, they’re not living up to those expectations.

15. Toronto Maple Leafs

Last week: 19

A 7-1 win over Washington is meaningful, but the Maple Leafs lost the previous three games and are terrible on defense.

They are giving up 3.4 goals per game (29th in NHL) and can’t kill penalties (74.3 percent).

They need to use their upcoming road trip—Carolina, Tampa and Dallas—to prove that they can continue to hold on to their Northeast Division lead.

14. New Jersey Devils

Last week: 15

Owners of the league’s best penalty kill, the Devils have found ways to win games.

They don’t look like they can compete with the juggernauts in the Atlantic Division (read: everyone but the Islanders), however.

It can’t be overlooked that this team has won three of four on the road, but it’s hard to say they’re in the same class as the Rangers, Flyers and Penguins.

13. Chicago Blackhawks

Last week: 5

They may have the league’s third-best offense and be leading the Central Division, but Chicago has been routed in their last two contests following their four-game win streak.

A loss in Calgary 5-2 looks bad and, while Edmonton has been playing good hockey, they shouldn’t be able to beat the Hawks 9-2.

After a good start to their six-game road trip—Chicago beat Vancouver 5-1—the Blackhawks need to get it together.

They face all three California teams before coming home to face Phoenix.

12. Pittsburgh Penguins

Last week: 1

Sid the Kid is returning on Monday.

The presumption is that this team will only get better with Crosby,

The Flyers are breathing down their necks, however, and sometimes, teams struggle to integrate a player—even when they’re playing well.

Pittsburgh has suffered two losses to both Florida teams. They’re hoping Crosby is the jolt they need to continue their winning ways.

11. Los Angeles Kings

Last week: 17

OK, the 4-1 loss to Detroit was ugly, but LA had won four of the previous five contests they’ve played in and have ascended to co-leaders in the Pacific.

They’ve got a Tuesday contest on Versus for anyone interested in watching this team play.

10. Florida Panthers

Last week: 11

What is going on in South Florida?

Florida is leading the Southeast Division (the one with Tampa and Washington).

Their stat line reads: ninth in goals per game, ninth in goals against, fifth on the power play and, well, 17th on the penalty kill.

Blip or trend?

Come December, we’ll know.

9. Detroit Red Wings

Last week: 20

Detroit’s fourth in their division, which is bad, but Columbus seems planted at No. 5, Chicago’s moving in the wrong direction, and both St. Louis and Nashville are good, but beatable.

The Wings quickly clipped a two-game skid with a 4-1 win in LA.

They’ll get two games against struggling opponents, Anaheim and Calgary, before having to face the red-hot Bruins, Nashville and Tampa to finish off the month.

8. St. Louis Blues

Last week: 20

Strong defense has kept the Blues in the pack, and they won three in a row before losing to Minnesota in a shutout.

St. Louis has a big-time contest against LA on Tuesday (Versus) and have to face Pittsburgh and Washington before November ends.

7. Nashville Predators

Last week: 14

A loss to Columbus is hard to swallow, but the Predators remain at second in the Central Division.

The Preds have a Tuesday contest against Edmonton before a tough five-game road trip—an escapade that could be season defining for Nashville.

6. Minnesota Wild

Last week: 22

Stingy defense, as always, has propelled the Wild to No. 1 in the Northwest.

Minnesota, who’s giving up 1.9 goals per game, has won their last four and only has two losses in November.

5. Phoenix Coyotes

Last week: 9

The Yotes have won three of four and are first in the Pacific Division.

Their wins have come against quality teams: Edmonton, San Jose, Toronto and Buffalo.

Phoenix needs to use the rest of November to prove they are for real.

Right now, it looks like they are.

4. Philadelphia Flyers

Last week: 13

The Flyers own the league’s best offense and are co-leaders in the Atlantic Division.

In short, this team could really make a good run this season.

That said, they can’t have games like their 6-4 loss in Winnipeg.

3. San Jose Sharks

Last week: 8

The Sharks are co-leaders in the Pacific and had their way with the Stars in Dallas on Saturday.

Penalty kill is this team’s weak spot—they are 29th in the league.

They have won four of their last five, but have to fix their PK in order to continue to win.

2. New York Rangers

Last week: 6

Behind savvy D, the Rangers won seven straight.

Then lost to 4-0 in Montreal.

My guess is that game is an isolated dud, rather than a harbinger of doom for the Blueshirts.

1. Boston Bruins

Last week: 4

The B’s are playing great hockey.

They have the league’s second best offense (3.4 goals per game), fourth best defense (2.2 goals against) and are 10th on the penalty kill.

Boston’s power play, which is ranked 17th, is this team’s only weak point.

The result? Eight straight wins.

This team hasn’t lost in November.