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NHL Power Rankings: Ovechkin, Capitals back in top 10 after four straight wins Tarik El-Bashir assesses the top teams in the National Hockey League this week (Dec. 30). Records are through Thursday’s games.
1 (1 last week): Boston Bruins; 26-10-1
Goalie Tim Thomas and the Boston Bruins kicked off 2012 with a pair of dominant wins, crushing New Jersey, 6-1, and embarrassing Calgary, 9-0. Through 37 games, the defending champs have scored a whopping 135 goals and yielded a scant 68. Wow.
Bill Kostroun
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AP
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2 (4 last week): New York Rangers; 25-9-4
The NHL leading Blue Shirts have won eight of their past nine games, including Monday's thrilling 3-2 victory over the Flyers in the Winter Classic. Now that they've got consistent scoring (provided by Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards) to go along with world-class goaltending (provided by Henrik Lundqvist), they're a legit threat to go deep this spring.
Matt Slocum
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AP
3 (3 last week): Vancouver Canucks; 25-13-3
Last year's finalists are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games but are facing a challenging four-game road trip that begins Saturday in Boston. Veteran goalie Roberto Luongo is 10-2-2 in his 14 starts and celebrated his 700th career game with a shutout, 3-0 over the Wild on Wednesday.
Darryl Dyck
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AP
4 (5 last week): Detroit Red Wings; 25-13-1
With a 4-1-0 mark in their last five games, the Winged Wheel is making a move on the 'Hawks, who are now clinging to a one-point lead in the Central Division. Goalie Jimmy Howard leads the league with 24 wins -- five more than anyone else.
LM Otero
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AP
5 (2 last week): Chicago Blackhawks; 24-12-4
The 'Hawks are off to a chilly start in 2012, having dropped one-goal games to Edmonton and Philadelphia. But the long-term outlook remains strong because of forwards Marian Hossa, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane, who are a combined plus-63.
Jonathan Daniel
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Getty Images
6 (8 last week): St. Louis Blues; 23-12-5
Isn't amazing Coach Ken Hitchcock was unemployed when the season began? Captain David Backes and the Blues are 15-5-5 since he was hired Nov. 6 and 2-0-0 in 2012. They own a league-best 16 wins on home ice (location of six of their next seven games) and are 18-0-0 when scoring three or more goals.
Dilip Vishwanat
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Getty Images
7 (6 last week): Philadelphia Flyers; 23-11-4
Since opening December with a seven-game winning streak, the Flyers have won only two of their last six (2-4-2), including setbacks against the rival Penguins and Rangers in the past week. Of concern: Chatty goalie Ilya Bryzgalov has yielded four or more goals in four of his last five starts.
Tim Shaffer
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Reuters
8 (10 last week): San Jose Sharks; 22-11-4
With a 3-0-0 start to the new year, Joe Thornton and the Sharks sit atop the Pacific Division, clinging to a one-point lead over surging Los Angeles (6-0-3 in last nine games). Thornton has nine points in his last 10 games and on Thursday became the 10th player to suit up for 500 games in San Jose.
Jonathan Hayward
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AP
9 (7 last week): Pittsburgh Penguins; 21-13-4
Good teams can withstand injuries to key players. The question in Pittsburgh is for how long. With captain Sidney Crosby and top defenseman Kris Letang sidelined indefinitely with concussions, the Penguins have dropped two straight, are 5-6-0 in last 11 and have lost valuable ground to the Rangers and Flyers in the Atlantic Division. Pittsburgh play its first game in six days tonight vs. the Rangers.
Bill Kostroun
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AP
10 (not ranked): Washington Capitals; 21-15-2
With all apologies to Ottawa, Los Angeles and Colorado, it's hard to argue that the Caps aren't among the NHL's hottest clubs. Mike Green is back from a 23-game absence, Alex Ovechkin has five goals in his last three games, and they've yielded two or fewer goals seven of last their nine. Crucial (and perhaps telling) road trip starting Saturday in San Jose.
Jay LaPrete
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AP
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