NHL Power Rankings: Jets soar past Lightning for top spot

theScore's NHL Power Rankings are published every other Monday. Our fifth installment is put together by editors Josh Wegman, Josh Gold-Smith, Flip Livingstone, and Cory Wilkins.

1. Winnipeg Jets (17-6-4) ▲

Previously 3rd

With a decisive 5-0 win over the Senators Sunday night, the Jets tied the Lightning for the most points in the league, but became the first team to surpass them in theScore's power rankings. They've received stellar goaltending, the defense has stayed healthy, and the offense is firing on all cylinders. It has all come together for the Jets. - Wegman

2. Tampa Bay Lightning (18-6-2) ▼

Previously 1st

A 3-4 record in their last seven games saw the Lightning fall out of the top spot in the NHL standings, and more importantly, theScore's power rankings. No need to worry, Bolts fans, as the club has seemingly already guaranteed themselves home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs in a weak Atlantic Division. - Wegman

3. Nashville Predators (16-7-3) ▲

Previously 4th

The Predators are 9-2-1 since the Kyle Turris-Matt Duchene three-way trade. Their new center has racked up eight points in the 11 games he's played. - Wegman

4. Los Angeles Kings (17-8-3) ▲

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Previously 10th

The Kings are proving to be one of the league's streakiest teams. After a blazing hot start, they lost seven of eight games, but have since bounced back by winning five in a row, including four straight on their most recent road trip. - Wegman

5. Toronto Maple Leafs (17-10-1) ▼

Previously 2nd

The Maple Leafs's potent offense is usually what drives the team, but Frederik Andersen with his 2.14 goals-against average and .938 save percentage in the month of November has helped the Buds remain in the top five. - Wegman

6. New York Islanders (15-8-2)

Previously 6th

At 3.72 goals per game, the Islanders boast the league's best offense. However, they'll need to find consistency in the crease if they're ever to be considered a true contender. - Wegman

7. Columbus Blue Jackets (17-9-1)

Previously 7th

The Blue Jackets sit atop the Metro Division, but it's worth noting that eight of their 17 wins have come in overtime or shootout. While grabbing the additional point in the extra frame is crucial, they'll have to start closing teams out in regulation to move up. - Wegman

8. St. Louis Blues (17-8-2) ▼

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Previously 5th

The Blues are losers of three straight, moving them slightly down this list. With Jay Bouwmeester and Patrik Berglund both making their season debuts in the last six games, they should be trending upwards in no time. - Wegman

9. San Jose Sharks (14-9-2) ▲

Previously 15th

The Sharks shut out the Jets a couple of Saturdays ago, and lost narrowly to the Ducks and Golden Knights. Throw in an overtime win over the Coyotes on Sunday, and perhaps reports of their demise were premature. - Gold-Smith

10. Washington Capitals (15-11-1) ▲

Previously 18th

Back-to-back victories over the high-flying Lightning and Leafs earned the Capitals some major credit, as did a win over the Blue Jackets Saturday. Washington could be on the verge of hitting its stride. - Gold-Smith

11. Pittsburgh Penguins (15-10-3) ▲

Previously 13th

Tristan Jarry has played well in relief of the injured Matt Murray, but he's only faced the struggling Sabres and the floundering Flyers since the Penguins' unquestioned starter got hurt. Let's see how he does against the Rangers, Islanders, and Leafs this week. - Gold-Smith

12. Dallas Stars (16-10-1) ▲

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Previously 19th

Sweeping a home-and-home with the Blackhawks was a big statement for the Stars, who are beginning to look like the team many thought they'd be after making several significant offseason additions. - Gold-Smith

13. Boston Bruins (12-8-4) ▲

Previously 22nd

Tuukka Rask is back, and not a moment too soon for the Bruins, despite Anton Khudobin's strong play in his absence.

Rask has won two of three contests since returning, including a shutout of the Flyers Saturday afternoon, and while he hasn't been this good all season, he does make Boston better when he's healthy. - Gold-Smith

14. New York Rangers (14-10-2) ▲

Previously 20th

The Blueshirts have reeled off four wins in the five games since our last edition of the rankings, and five victories in their last six contests overall. Are they turning the corner? - Gold-Smith

15. Vegas Golden Knights (16-9-1) ▼

Previously 8th

Three straight losses before Sunday's 3-2 overtime win over Arizona suggest reality might be starting to set in for the Golden Knights. - Gold-Smith

16. New Jersey Devils (15-7-4) ▼

Previously 9th

The Devils are 4-2-1 since our last edition, and six of those seven games were decided by one-goal margins, but New Jersey was dismantled 5-0 by the lowly Coyotes Saturday night, and that just can't be ignored. - Gold-Smith

17. Calgary Flames (14-11-1) ▼

Previously 11th

Just when you thought the Flames were starting to figure it out, they allow the offensively challenged Oilers to hang a seven-spot on them. Calgary needs to win with more consistency to be considered a real Cup threat. - Livingstone

18. Montreal Canadiens (13-12-3) ▲

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Previously 29th

Don't look now, but the Canadiens are racking up Ws. Carey Price is up to his usual tricks, the team is scoring goals in bunches, and general manager Marc Bergevin is temporarily fending off calls for his job. - Livingstone

19. Chicago Blackhawks (12-10-5) ▼

Previously 12th

Corey Crawford going down with injury is the salt in the wound for a Blackhawks team looking like a shell of its former self. Patty Kane and Captain Serious can only carry a team so far on their own. - Livingstone

20. Minnesota Wild (13-10-3) ▼

Previously 17th

Two ugly losses followed by two big wins seems fitting for a Wild club struggling to string victories together. Allowing 26 goals over their last seven contests is also not a good look. - Livingstone

21. Vancouver Canucks (13-10-4) ▲

Previously 26th

We admit it, the Canucks are a lot better than we expected, as young guns Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat are making Vancouver a tough team to play against up front. A big home win Saturday over the Maple Leafs sees the Canucks on the come up. - Livingstone

22. Edmonton Oilers (11-14-2) ▲

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Previously 28th

A lot of Stanley Cup predictions have already been thrown out the window thanks to a shockingly bad start by the Oilers. Victories in three of their last four contests finally have Edmonton trending in the right direction, though. - Livingstone

23. Anaheim Ducks (11-11-5) ▼

Previously 16th

The Ducks have lost six of their last 10 games and continue to be plagued by injuries to key players. Thursday's band-aid acquisition of Adam Henrique should help in the short term, but Anaheim will need to get healthy, and quickly, if they want to hang with the big boys in the West. - Livingstone

24. Colorado Avalanche (12-11-2) ▼

Previously 23rd

Huge props due if you were one of the (very) few who expected the Avalanche to take a step forward this year, as Colorado finds itself a .500 club. But, after last year's dumpster fire of a season, there really was no way but up. - Livingstone

25. Ottawa Senators (9-10-6) ▼

Previously 21st

It's still early, but the Senators don't look like the same team since the big trade to bring in center Matt Duchene from the Avalanche, having won just three of nine games. - Wilkins

26. Arizona Coyotes (7-18-5) ▲

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Previously 30th

The Coyotes continue to find positives after a slow start to the season. The recent stretch saw new netminder Scott Wedgewood post a shutout against his former club, the Devils. - Wilkins

27. Carolina Hurricanes (11-9-5) ▼

Previously 24th

More was expected from the Hurricanes this season, but the team hasn't made much progress in recent weeks, winning just two of their last five. - Wilkins

28. Florida Panthers (10-13-3) ▼

Previously 25th

While goaltender Roberto Luongo has been impressive - he owns a .928 save percentage on the season - the Panthers have been limited by their inability to find offense. - Wilkins

29. Detroit Red Wings (10-12-5) ▼

Previously 14th

The Red Wings were on the wrong side of an ugly 10-1 score against the Canadiens, marking the team's seventh-straight game without a win. - Wilkins

30. Philadelphia Flyers (8-11-7) ▼

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Previously 27th

The temperature continues to be turned up on coach Dave Hakstol, as the Flyers are winless in 10, picking up just five loser points in the process. - Wilkins

31. Buffalo Sabres (6-17-4)

Previously 31st

Shut out three straight times and then mustering just one goal in their fourth outing, the Sabres are a better team on paper than they are on the ice. - Wilkins