NHL Power Rankings: Blues closing in on division leaders despite injury bug

The Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks remain the hottest teams in the league. However, the St. Louis Blues are joining the conversation, closing in on the Central Division leaders despite a banged-up roster.

Here are this week's NHL power rankings:

1. Washington Capitals
(Last Week: 1)

The Capitals became the fastest team to 44 wins in NHL history on Monday. With a matchup against the Canadiens on Wednesday, something tells us they'll be the fastest team to hit the 45-win mark too.

2. Anaheim Ducks ▲
(Last Week: 5)

Remember when the Ducks went 1-7-2 in October? They're 30-12-6 since, 12-1-1 in their last 14 games, and four of their next five contests are against the struggling Sabres, Oilers, Canadiens, and Coyotes.

3. St. Louis Blues ▲
(Last Week: 4)

Brian Elliott went 12-3-2 in 17 games during Jake Allen's absence, but the Blues just can't seem to shake the injury bug - placing the red-hot goalie and his vintage mask on long-term injured reserve. You're up, Jake.

4. Chicago Blackhawks ▼
(Last Week: 3)

The Blackhawks lost their second consecutive outdoor game - and third of four overall - on Sunday, getting embarrassed 6-1 by the Wild. To no one's surprise, Patrick Kane scored Chicago's lone goal, putting him 15 points clear of Jamie Benn in the Art Ross Trophy race.

5. Dallas Stars ▼
(Last Week: 2)

The Stars have dropped three of four games, giving up 18 goals in the process. You can only get so far with a potent offense, and general manager Jim Nill must make landing a top-four defenseman at the deadline a priority.

6. New York Rangers ▲
(Last Week: 9)

The Rangers are 4-1-1 in six games without their captain, thanks in large part to the suddenly unmovable Keith Yandle. The pending unrestricted free agent has a point in six of his last seven games.

7. Florida Panthers ▼
(Last Week: 6)

Enough said.

8. Tampa Bay Lightning ▲
(Last Week: 14)

After falling out of a playoff position, the Lightning have won four games in a row, clawing their way up the standings and putting pressure on the Atlantic-leading Panthers.

9. New York Islanders ▲
(Last Week: 11)

Thanks to their captain, the Islanders are 6-1-1 in their last eight games.

Tavares' impressive numbers should only get better: New York's next four games are against the Flames, Oilers, Canucks, and Jets.

10. Los Angeles Kings ▼
(Last Week: 7)

Anze Kopitar scored the game-winner in his return to the lineup Tuesday. The Kings have 11 goals in their last six games, and Kopitar has five of them despite missing over 100 minutes of action during that span. Note to Jeff Carter: Four goals in 31 games since Dec. 1 isn't good enough.

11. San Jose Sharks ▼
(Last Week: 9)

The Roman Polak era begins in San Jose on Wednesday. Adding to the excitement, the Sharks joined the Capitals as the only teams to clinch a winning road record this season.

12. Detroit Red Wings ▲
(Last Week: 13)

Red Wings legend Nicklas Lidstrom got a firsthand look at the kids carrying the torch in Detroit on Tuesday. Petr Mrazek got back on track with an impressive 28-save performance, while 21-year-old Andreas Athanasiou scored a beautiful shootout winner.

13. Nashville Predators ▲
(Last Week: 15)

Ryan Johansen's recorded just one assist in his last seven games, but that hasn't stopped Nashville from picking up critical points: The Predators haven't lost in regulation during his cold stretch.

14. Boston Bruins ▼
(Last Week: 10)

With seven goals in his last seven games, Loui Eriksson is certainly giving the Bruins something to think about ahead of the trade deadline.

15. Pittsburgh Penguins ▼
(Last Week: 12)

Gino's return can't come soon enough. The Penguins sit just one point up on a playoff spot heading into a massive tilt with the Bruins on Wednesday.

16. Minnesota Wild ▲
(Last Week: 25)

The Wild put on a show in front of 50,426 fans Sunday. They're finally playing good hockey again, winning four in a row - while scoring 20 goals - to jump back into the playoff race with their new bench boss.

17. Carolina Hurricanes
(Last Week: 17)

The Hurricanes are still alive with points in seven of 10, snapping Shayne Gostisbehere's record-setting point streak in the process.

18. Ottawa Senators ▲
(Last Week: 21)

Is a 21-3-3 run to end the season possible two years in a row? Winners of four straight, the Senators sit just four points back of a playoff spot with 21 games to go.

19. Colorado Avalanche ▼
(Last Week: 16)

The Avalanche have come back to earth after going 18-8-2 from Dec. 1 to Jan. 27, putting together a 4-5-1 stretch since the All-Star break.

20. New Jersey Devils ▼
(Last Week: 18)

Pretty much.

21. Philadelphia Flyers ▼
(Last Week 19)

With 34 points in 41 games as a rookie, Gostisbehere has been the lone bright spot in yet another disappointing season in Philadelphia.

Elite company.

22. Columbus Blue Jackets ▲
(Last Week: 23)

John Tortorella's Blue Jackets are playing themselves out of the Auston Matthews sweepstakes, going 7-2-4 for points in 11 of their last 13.

23. Buffalo Sabres ▼
(Last Week: 22)

The Sabres head west to take on the Ducks, Sharks, and Kings without leading scorer Ryan O'Reilly. Good luck with that.

24. Arizona Coyotes ▼
(Last Week: 20)

After going 3-6-1 in their last 10 games ahead of Monday's trade deadline, the Coyotes might want to rethink this strategy, and fast:

25. Montreal Canadiens ▲
(Last Week: 26)

P.K. Subban's response to Michel Therrien's ridiculous postgame comments? Back-to-back 30-minute performances to get the Canadiens three of four points. Fans certainly have reason to be upset with their star player, though: Montreal would already have locked up a top-three pick without him.

26. Calgary Flames ▼
(Last Week: 24)

The Flames dropped back-to-back games to the Ducks and Kings, giving them the second-worst road record in the NHL at 9-17-3.

27. Vancouver Canucks ▲
(Last Week: 28)

The Canucks surrendered five goals in four consecutive games over six days last week, leaving us all thinking the exact same thing:

28. Winnipeg Jets ▼
(Last Week: 27)

Andrew Ladd has likely played his last game in Winnipeg. With four straight losses and the Stars, Penguins, Panthers, and Islanders - all currently playoff teams - on the horizon, the Jets appear primed to add to their impressive prospect pool.

29. Toronto Maple Leafs ▲
(Last Week: 30)

They aren't winning on the ice, but Rich Clune and the Maple Leafs are certainly making headlines off of it - and a pair of second-round picks for Polak and Nick Spaling was an absolute steal.

30. Edmonton Oilers ▼
(Last Week: 29)

Five losses in a row make the once-laughable thought of Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews on the same team much less funny.