NHL Power Rankings: Islanders inch into top 5, Canucks continue free fall

1. Dallas Stars
(Last Week: 1)

The Stars have not tasted defeat in back-to-back outings, as they improved to 8-0 following a loss Tuesday in what was hardly a fair fight with the Jackets.

2. Washington Capitals
(Last Week: 2)

In 24 starts, Braden Holtby is two thirds of the way toward Carey Price's pre-All Star workload from last season. As you'll see, he stacks up quite well.

3. Los Angeles Kings
(Last Week: 3)

Tyler Toffoli's Hockey Canada campaign has lost a little steam. He broke out of a personal seven-game slide with his first goal in three weeks in Ottawa on Monday.

4. New York Islanders ▲
(Last Week: 6)

Remember last year, when the Islanders' 26th-ranked team save percentage worked to undermine the fantastic things they were doing offensively?

Well, their goaltenders have been on par with that of the Canadiens' so far this season.

5. Minnesota Wild ▲
(Last Week: 8)

Darcy Kuemper filled in admirably for the injured Devan Dubnyk, stopping 100-of-106 shots face across five appearances and helping the Wild to eight points.

6. Montreal Canadiens ▼
(Last Week: 4)

The Canadiens have scored at a Leaf-like pace since Brendan Gallagher went down, yet they are still one of two teams in triple digits and are just six goals behind the league-leading Stars.

7. St. Louis Blues
(Last Week: 7)

Ryan Reaves might have beaten Cam Newton to the dab, but it took him more than two months to score his first of the season.

8. New York Rangers ▼
(Last Week: 5)

What's worse than a regulation loss to Vancouver? Having just three wins over the last 10 games to go with it.

9. Detroit Red Wings
(Last Week: 9)

The Red Wings are winning without Mike Babcock, and the Grand Rapids Griffins are winning without Jeff Blashill. Athanasiou, Mantha, and Co. are riding an 11-game win streak.

10. Chicago Blackhawks
(Last Week: 10)

All told, it was 16 goals, 24 assists, an even 40 points, and one massive jump start in the Hart Trophy race for Patrick Kane, whose 26-game point streak came to an end.

11. Boston Bruins ▲
(Last Week: 13)

The Bruins, who recently had Landon Ferraro rotate in for Brett Connolly on their top line, have scored at least two goals in all but one game this season.

12. Ottawa Senators ▼
(Last Week: 11)

Mike Hoffman trails only Alex Ovechkin, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Rick Nash in goals per unit of timed measurement in his first two seasons in the league.

Elite sniper status.

13. Nashville Predators ▼
(Last Week: 12)

The holiday season represents gut-check time for the Predators. They have the Blues (twice), Wild, Canadiens, Red Wings, Rangers, and Stars before the calendar turns to 2016.

14. Tampa Bay Lightning ▲
(Last Week: 16)

Stammer mania was a bit much, especially for you Toronto. Besides, this is a player with just three more points than Sidney Crosby ...

15. New Jersey Devils ▲
(Last Week: 17)

It's the unexpected offense that has New Jersey in postseason position, but don't lose sight of what props this team up night in, night out. Cory Schneider has allowed two of fewer goals in 84 percent of his starts.

16. Florida Panthers ▲
(Last Week: 18)

The flu-ridden Panthers executed a perfect rope-a-dope Tuesday, stealing a win from the Islanders - previously unbeaten in regulation across 10 games - despite being on the wrong side a 44-24 Corsi score.

17. San Jose Sharks ▼
(Last Week: 14)

With two points in Toronto on Thursday, the Sharks will have 75 percent of their wins achieved on the road. Where does that rank in this season's NHL oddities?

18. Pittsburgh Penguins ▼
(Last Week: 15)

Mike Sullivan may have never had a chance. But without Marc-Andre Fleury (or with Trevor Daley on a top pair, for that matter), he surely does not.

19. Colorado Avalanche ▲
(Last Week: 23)

Colorado took down three division kingpins in succession this week, emerging from the Central basement. Well deserved.

20. Anaheim Ducks ▼
(Last Week: 19)

Anaheim has scored 10 fewer goals than the league's second-most toothless attack. Astounding impotence.

21. Calgary Flames ▲
(Last Week: 28)

Are the Flames good at 3-on-3, or is Johnny Gaudreau just extraordinary?

He matched the single-season record for points in overtime 10 weeks into the season with his assist on Kris Russell's overtime winner versus the Predators.

22. Philadelphia Flyers ▲
(Last Week: 25)

While we're on the topic of overtime prowess, Shayne Gostisbehere has personally put an end to 33 percent of the overtimes he's participated in in his NHL career.

23. Edmonton Oilers ▲
(Last Week: 30)

Leon Draisaitl has been in on 44 percent of Edmonton's goals since his recall.

24. Winnipeg Jets ▼
(Last Week: 20)

There's not a less enviable position than last place in the Central. Suddenly, that's where the Jets are at.

25. Carolina Hurricanes ▲
(Last Week: 29)

The little things, like having an impeccable per-game shot ratio and the NHL's best percentage in the faceoff circle, are starting to pay major dividends for the Hurricanes.

They have scored 26 goals over their last six games, outpointed in regulation only by the Stars.

26. Arizona Coyotes
(Last Week: 26)

Arizona is hanging tough, but is also three points from dead last in the West. The Coyotes are now prepared to roll with Anders Lindback and his 60th-ranked save percentage for the next 8-10 weeks.

27. Buffalo Sabres
(Last Week: 27)

Don't panic, but Jack Eichel has five points over his last 17 games.

28. Toronto Maple Leafs ▼
(Last Week: 22)

A victim of inactivity, on these rankings at least, but a league-low 10 wins in 10 weeks and none against a divisional opponent can't be put on scheduling.

29. Vancouver Canucks ▼
(Last Week: 21)

John Tortorella's former club.

30. Columbus Blue Jackets ▼
(Last Week: 24)

John Tortorella's current club.