NHL Power Rankings: Flyers claim top spot, but Giroux, Pronger injuries cast a shadow

Tarik El-Bashir assesses the top teams in the National Hockey League this week (Dec. 16). Records are through Thursday’s games.

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1 (3 last week): Philadelphia Flyers; 20-7-3

The Flyers are the NHL's hottest team, having won seven in a row. But the question must be asked: Do they possess enough depth to stay on top minus Claude Giroux, the league's leading scorer, and Chris Pronger, the team's imposing captain and top defenseman? Giroux is out indefinitely with a concussion; Pronger is out for the season with the same injury.

Richard Wolowicz / Getty Images

2 (2 last week): Minnesota Wild; 20-8-4

The NHL-leading Wild (44 points) followed a seven-game winning streak by going 0-1-1, including a 4-3 shootout loss to Central Division leading Chicago. Right wing Pierre-Marc Bouchard (broken nose) says he thinks he avoided another concussion; the Wild had better hope he's right. Wednesday's crowd of 19,254 was the biggest of the season at Xcel Energy Center and sixth biggest in the team's 11-year history.

Tom Olmscheid / AP

3 (1 last week): Chicago Blackhawks;19-8-4

If you haven't seen Patrick Kane's shootout-clinching goal against Niklas Backstrom and the Wild, stop what you're doing immediately and go watch it. I'm not usually a proponent of the shootout, but Kane's goal was both mesmerizing and hilarious -- and likely humiliating for Backstrom. The Blackhawks, by the way, have won three straight.

John Smierciak / AP

4 (4 last week): Boston Bruins; 20-9-1

Behind goaltenders Tim Thomas, the Bruins have won three in a row and are tied with St. Louis for the lowest goals against average in the league at 2.00 per game. Thomas, the reigning Conn Smythe and Vezina Trophy winner, boasts a .940 save percentage (second best) and 1.93 goals against average (fourth). Injured defenseman Zdeno Chara, meantime, could return Saturday from a suspected knee sprain.

Elise Amendola / AP

5 (6 last week): Detroit Red Wings; 19-10-1

A 3-4 loss in Nashville on Thursday halted the Red Wing's three-game winning streak. Pavel Datsyuk (six goals, 14 assists in past 13 games) and Co. welcome Los Angeles on Saturday to The Joe, where they have won nine in a row. After that, however, the Wings play nine of the next 11 on the road.

Frederick Breedon / Getty Images

6 (8 last week): St. Louis Blues; 18-9-3

With the exception of Minnesota's meteoric rise, has there been a better story than the Blues' turnaround under Ken Hitchcock? They're 12-2-3 since he took over Nov. 8. Goalie Brian Elliott, meantime, still leads the league in goals against average (1.43) and save percentage (.948), which is making up for the Blues' 23rd-ranked offense (2.5 goals per game).

Jeff Roberson / AP

7 (5 last week): Pittsburgh Penguins; 17-10-4

The Penguins have been without concussed stars Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Zbynek Michalek -- and it's starting to show. They've lost three of their past four, scoring a total of four goals in the defeats. G Marc-Andre Fleury can become the fifth fastest goalie in the modern era to 200 wins if he starts -- and wins -- Friday in Ottawa.

Keith Srakocic / AP

8 (9 last week): New York Rangers; 17-8-4

The Blueshirts have lost two in a row and are 2-3-1 in their last six, including Thursday's 4-1 setback in St. Louis. Good news: Concussed defenseman Marc Staal, sidelined all season, is reportedly starting to show signs of progress. On a personal note, I renewed my subscription to HBO just for "24/7". John Tortorella's rant directed at Marian Gaborik on the bench made it worth every penny.

Jeff Roberson / AP

9 (10 last week): Vancouver Canucks; 18-11-2

The Canucks followed an impressive four-game winning streak with a pair of defeats, including Thursday's 4-3 loss to lowly Carolina. Still, Henrik and Daniel Sedin -- 35 and 34 points, respectively -- and teammates boast the NHL's top power-play unit (25.4 percent) and third best goals-for average (3.23).

ELLEN OZIER / Reuters

10 (not ranked last week): Dallas Stars;18-11-1

The Stars return to the ranking on the strength of three consecutive one-goal wins, which has them atop the Pacific Division by two points over San Jose. In all, Jamie Benn (team-leading 26 points) and his mentally-tough teammates are 11-2-1 in games decided by one goal.

Bruce Bennett / Getty Images

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