NHL power rankings: Bruins, Canucks back on top

Tarik El-Bashir assesses the top teams in the National Hockey League this week (Jan. 13). Records are through Thursday’s games.

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1 (1 last week): Boston Bruins; 28-11-1

Despite Saturday's 4-3 home loss to Vancouver, the defending champions remain the league's best team. Overall, they've won 11 of their past 13 games behind All-Star Game starter Tim Thomas, who sports a 1.95 goals against average and .939 save percentage.

Elsa / GETTY IMAGES

2 (3 last week): Vancouver Canucks; 28-14-3

Last season's runners up have won four of their past five games, are 10-3-1 since mid-December, and sit atop the league standings. League leading scorers Henrik and Daniel Sedin - 52 and 49 points, respectively - and the Canucks own the top power play (23.6 percent) and fourth ranked penalty kill (87.1).

SARAH CONARD / REUTERS

3 (2 last week): New York Rangers; 27-10-4

After winning 10 of 11 to seize control of the Atlantic Division, the Rangers suffered a rare defeat Thursday, falling to surging Ottawa 3-0 at home. The power play has only three goals in its last 33 chances, dropping to 22nd in the league (14.8-percent).

RAY STUBBLEBINE / REUTERS

4 (4 last week): Detroit Red Wings; 27-15-1

Inconsistency has crept into the Red Wings' game as they beat the Blackhawks but lost to the woeful Islanders minus all-Star center Pavel Datsyuk, who was sidelined with lower body injury. Datsyuk, though, returned for Thursday's 3-2 win over the Coyotes. Overall, the Wings are 6-4-0 in their last 10.

Gregory Shamus / GETTY IMAGES

5 (7 last week): Philadelphia Flyers; 26-12-4

Winners of four of their past five, they've closed to within two points of the Atlantic-leading Rangers. Backup goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has won two in a row, potentially igniting another netminder controversy on Broad Street.

Paul Bereswell / AP

6 (5 last week): Chicago Blackhawks; 26-13-5

After dropping their first four games of 2012 and losing 20-goal scorer Patrick Sharp for a month with an injury, the 'Hawks have steadied themselves, scoring a combined 10 goals in wins over Columbus and Minnesota. Slumping center Dave Bolland has four goals in the past three contests.

Jonathan Daniel / GETTY IMAGES

7 (6 last week): St. Louis Blues; 25-12-6

After closing 2011 with three straight losses, the Blues are back, winning four of five (4-0-1) to open 2012 and pull to within a point of the Blackhawks in the Central Division. Goalie Jaroslav Halak is 7-0-3 in his last 10 starts after a rocky start to the season.

Paul Chiasson / AP

8 (8 last week): San Jose Sharks; 24-11-5

All-Star Game coach Todd McLellan and the Pacific Division-leading Sharks have opened 2012 by winning five of six (5-0-1). They've allowed 1.6 goals per game during that stretch and rank fifth overall in that category with a season average of 2.3.

FRED GREENSLADE / REUTERS

9 (not ranked last week): Ottawa Senators; 24-15-6

A season after finishing 13th in the Eastern Conference, a resurgent Jason Spezza has the Senators on a roll. The All-Star Game hosts are 10-1-2 in their last 13 after Thursday's 3-0 romp over the East-leading Rangers. Spezza, 28, is on pace for 81 points, which would be his highest total in five seasons.

Frank Franklin II / AP

10 (not ranked): Nashville Predators

Despite the lowest payroll in the league, they've won 12 of 16 games dating to Dec. 8 and own the 10th highest point total in the NHL, an effort led by All-Star defense Shea Weber and Ryan Sutter. Goalie Pekka Rinne has yielded 14 goals in his last seven starts (6-0-1).

Mark Humphrey / AP

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