NHL power rankings

Tarik El-Bashir assesses the top teams in the National Hockey League. Records are through Feb. 9.

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1. Detroit Red Wings, 36-17-2. Last week: 1

After dropping back-to-back games in Edmonton and Phoenix, they extended their winning streak at Joe Louis Arena to 18 gameswith a 4-2 win over the Oilers on Wednesday, the first of a six-game home stand. With two more victories, the Jimmy Howard-less Wings can tie the NHL record

Ross D. Franklin / AP

2. New York Rangers, 34-13-5. Last week: 2

After getting shut out 1-0 by the Devils on Tuesday, the Rangers rebounded against Tampa Bay on Thursday, winning 4-3 in overtimeon a goal by Brad Richards, who scored for just the second time in 13 games. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist is 3-1-0 in his last four starts with a 0.74 goals-against average and a .970 save percentage.

RAY STUBBLEBINE / REUTERS

3. Vancouver Canucks, 34-15-5. Last week: 4

The Northwest Division leaders are 6-0-2 in their last eight games, including 3-0 on a road trip that wraps up Saturday in Calgary. Daniel Sedin has scored four of the Canucks' last six games, while twin brother Henrik is riding a six-game points streak in which he's amassed a goal and five assists.

M. J. MASOTTI JR. / REUTERS

4. St. Louis Blues, 32-14-7. Last week: 5

Since suffering a 3-1 setback in Nashville on Saturday, the Blues closed out a three-game road trip with wins in Ottawa and New Jersey to pull within three points of league-leading Detroit. Although St. Louis ranks No. 1 in goals-against (1.94 per game), they're a surprising 21st in goals scored (2.47).

BLAIR GABLE / REUTERS

5. Nashville Predators, 32-18-5. Last week: 7

After winning 11 of 13 games in January, they're 1-2-1 this month following Thursday's sloppy 4-3 loss in Ottawa. Since the all-star break, one of the NHL's top defensive units has yielded four goals three times, three goals once and yielded the first goal in four of the five contests. Defensemen Ryan Suter and Shea Weber rank third and fifth in average ice time at 26:39 and 26:20, respectively.

BLAIR GABLE / REUTERS

6. Boston Bruins, 33-17-2. Last week: 3

Since their 5-3 loss in Washington on Jan. 24, the defending champs are 2-3-0 after getting shut out, 6-0, in Buffalo on Wednesday. Overall, the Bruins are 5-6-1 in their last 12 contests and have fallen five points behind the Rangers in the race for the Eastern Conference's top seed.

Winslow Townson / AP

7. Philadelphia Flyers, 31-16-7. Last week: 6

They ended a season-long three-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over Toronto on Thursday. Winger Brayden Schenn has scored four of his six goals this season in the past seven games, while Claude Giroux trails Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin by one point in a crowded race for the Art Ross Trophy.

Paul Bereswill / GETTY IMAGES

8. New Jersey Devils, 31-19-4. Last week: unranked

Although their five-game winning streak ended Thursday with a 4-3 shootout loss to St. Louis, Zach Parise and the Devils are up to fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Parise has six goals and nine points during the team's 5-0-2 run.

RAY STUBBLEBINE / REUTERS

9. Pittsburgh Penguins, 30-19-5. Last week: 10

Since closing out January with an eight-game winning streak, the Sidney Crosby-less Penguins are 1-2-1 and have fallen eight points behind the Rangers (and one behind New Jersey) in the Atlantic Division. Crosby (neck, concussion) has resumed skating, fueling speculation that he will return before the playoffs.

Winslow Townson / AP

10. San Jose Sharks, 29-16-6. Last week: 8

The Sharks have dropped two straight and are 3-4-1 in their last eight. Despite the downturn, they remain atop the weak Pacific Division (although their 64 points are fewer than all but one team in the Central). Captain Joe Thornton, meantime, is heating up, posting three goals and seven points in the past four games.

TONY AVELAR / AP

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