NHL Power Rankings: Rangers Take Over Top Spot; Flyers Break Into Top 10

It's hard to believe it's been three decades.

The New York Rangers were a memorable Stanley Cup champion in 1994, riding on the back of captain Mark Messier to win their first title in 54 years.

The 30-year anniversary of their "Canyon of Heroes" parade will come this spring and coach Peter Laviolette and Co. would like nothing better than an encore.

The modern-day Rangers are first in the Metropolitan Division amid a three-game winning streak and a 7-3 run in their last 10 games, which yielded a sweep of first-place ballots and a No. 1 ranking in this week's B/R's Power Rankings.

New York's closest pursuer in the Metropolitan, the Philadelphia Flyers, are 7-0-2 in their last nine games and climbed five spots into the top 10, grabbing the No. 9 position after starting the season at No. 30.

Joining the Rangers in the top five for a second straight week are the Los Angeles Kings (up from third to second), the Boston Bruins (down from second to a tie for third), the Vegas Golden Knights (down from first to a tie for third) and the Vancouver Canucks (steady at fifth).

Scroll through to see where your favorite team wound up and drop a thought of your own in the comments.

NOTE: Votes were tallied from the B/R hockey staff before games on Wednesday, Dec. 20.

Previous Ranking: 30

Overall Record: 9-20-3

The struggle bus has returned to San Jose as the Sharks have stumbled into a 1-3-1 stretch after a 4-1 home loss to Los Angeles on Tuesday. They've been outscored 11-3 in their last three games, had just 15 shots against the Kings and are last in the league with a per-game average of 2.09 goals.

Previous Ranking: 32

Overall Record: 10-20-1

The Blackhawks have shown intermittent signs of life in the early going, and another arrived on Tuesday when they stopped a four-game slide to beat one of the league's heavyweights, the Colorado Avalanche. Connor Bedard's two assists yielded his fifth multi-point game, which is tops in the NHL among rookies.

Previous Ranking: 23

Overall Record: 11-16-0

It wasn't exactly a warm welcome for returning coach Jacques Martin, who oversaw a 4-3 loss at Arizona in which the Senators blew a 3-0 lead. Martin coached Ottawa from 1996-2004 and was playing a front-office adviser role when he was plucked to replace D.J. Smith. ""It's going to be a process," he said, "it's not going to happen all in one day."

Previous Ranking: 31

Overall Record: 12-19-0

It doesn't erase the sting of losing 13 out of 14 games, but winning two in a row is still a welcome occurrence for the Ducks, who won back-to-back contests against New Jersey and Detroit while scoring nine goals. They hadn't scored more than three in a game since a 4-3 win over Colorado on December 2.

Previous Ranking: 28

Overall Record: 11-17-5

The Blue Jackets broke out the offensive weapons on Tuesday night in Buffalo, scoring a season-high nine goals that included a natural hat trick from Kirill Marchenko. Included for the 23-year-old Russian winger were a pair of second-period goals just 18 seconds apart, setting a team record for the fastest pair.

Previous Ranking: 26

Overall Record: 13-17-3

It's getting to be uncomfortable for the Sabres, of whom much was expected but little has been delivered. They were blown out 9-4 by visiting Columbus on Tuesday to fall to 3-7-1 in their last 11 games, with both Devon Levi (four goals on 18 shots) and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (five goals on 16 shots) struggling. "It just has to be an everyday thing," captain Kyle Okposo said.

Previous Ranking: 28

Overall Record: 11-14-9

The injury bug bit the Kraken in a 4-3 OT loss at Dallas on Monday, and the team will be without forwards Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Jared McCann because of lower-body injuries. McCann's 14 goals in 33 games lead the team and have him on pace to score 35. The 6'1", 191-pound winger scored a career-high 40 in 2022-23.

Previous Ranking: 27

Overall Record: 13-14-5

The return of goaltender Jacob Markstrom came not a moment too soon for the reeling Flames, who'd gone just 2-4-1 during his seven-game absence after suffering a fractured finger in a December 4 practice. "He was great," forward Mikael Backlund said, referring to Markstrom's 3-1 win over Florida on Tuesday. "He played really well, really solid."

Previous Ranking: 15

Overall Record: 13-15-1

It's air-out-of-the-balloon time once again for the Oilers, who've followed up an eight-game win streak with three losses. They dropped a 3-1 decision to the New York Islanders on Tuesday to begin an eastern swing that'll include games with the Rangers and New Jersey Devils. Edmonton then visits San Jose, Los Angeles and Anaheim to close 2023.

Previous Ranking: 24

Overall Record: 15-15-1

The Blues opened Drew Bannister's reign with home wins over Ottawa and Dallas but were routed 6-1 in their initial road contest at Tampa Bay in which Jordan Binnington was pulled after allowing five goals on 23 shots. "You've got to find a way to tilt the ice and stop the bleeding early," captain Brayden Schenn said, "and we weren't able to do that."

Previous Ranking: 25

Overall Record: 13-13-4

It was an inconsistent start for the Wild, but they're finding what appears to be at least a temporary groove these days, stretching a recent run to four wins in five games after an OT triumph at Boston. Minnesota is 8-3 since John Hynes was hired on November 27 to replace the fired Dean Evason.

Previous Ranking: 22

Overall Record: 14-13-4

The Canadiens are showing tangible signs of progress under coach Martin St. Louis, having earned a point in four of five games (3-1-1) after an OT defeat at Winnipeg. It was goalie Jake Allen's first win after an 0-6-1 stretch since October 28. "I feel like we're locked in right now," St. Louis said. "I really do feel that way. It's the most organized that we've been."

Previous Ranking: 21

Overall Record: 14-13-3

The Penguins had some up and down moments in a 4-3 defeat of Minnesota on Monday, blowing a three-goal lead before Sidney Crosby's late winner. Pittsburgh has won three of four games but arrived to the Wild game having lost a 7-0 decision at Toronto. "We've got to figure it out," coach Mike Sullivan said. "We've got to do our job as a coaching staff."

Previous Ranking: 19

Overall Record: 15-13-5

Nikita Kucherov was already playing like an All-Star, but he's ramping things up into early-season MVP territory. The 10th-year winger has five goals and 10 points in his last five games and leads the NHL with 54 points. He scored twice in a Tuesday defeat of St. Louis to register his 16th multi-point game of the season.

Previous Ranking: 12

Overall Record: 15-13-4

The arrival of future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane hasn't provided quite the boost expected, instead seeing the Red Wings reel to a 1-6-1 record in eight games. Kane has two goals and four assists and has gone pointless four times. Worse news? Goalie Ville Husso left Monday's loss to Anaheim with a lower-body injury.

Previous Ranking: 17

Overall Record: 16-12-2

An OT loss to visiting Philadelphia was particularly painful for Jack Hughes, whose OT giveaway led directly to the winning goal. Hughes had four turnovers and just one shot in the game and is minus-2 in his last two games. "There's an amount of growth that Jack needs to operate in," coach Lindy Ruff said.

Previous Ranking: 20

Overall Record: 16-13-2

A third straight win was not without drama for the host Coyotes, who were down 3-0 after one period before showing their mettle with a rally for a 4-3 win. Goalie Karel Vejmelka replaced Connor Ingram and made 16 stops, boosting his save percentage to .903. "That was huge," coach Andre Tourigny said.

Previous Ranking: 13

Overall Record: 16-9-4

The Capitals are playing .600 hockey and find themselves in contention for an Eastern Conference playoff spot, but it's not because of the offense, which entered Wednesday's games ranked 30th overall with 2.39 goals per game. Alex Ovechkin is in a career-high 14-game scoring drought and 67 goals behind Wayne Gretzky.

Previous Ranking: 15

Overall Record: 18-14-0

The Predators stretched a win streak to four with defeats of Carolina and Washington before it ended roughly in the form of a 5-2 loss to visiting Vancouver on Tuesday. Juuse Saros was pulled after allowing five goals on 24 shots. "I didn't think mentally we were sharp," coach Andrew Brunette said, "and we didn't have the energy either."

Previous Ranking: 18

Overall Record: 17-12-3

It was an embarrassment of offensive riches for the Hurricanes when they hosted Vegas and scored six times on 38 shots, including three times on three power-play opportunities. Carolina has scored 11 goals in its last two victories and is 3-0-2 in its last five, moving to 14th in the league with 3.28 goals per game.

Previous Ranking: 11

Overall Record: 15-8-9

It's not every team's strong suit, but the Islanders have been particularly dangerous to opponents while playing in short-handed situations. Simon Holmstrom has a league-best five short-handed goals in 30 games, which is two off the team's single-season record of seven that was established by Bob Bourne in 1980-81.

Previous Ranking: 9

Overall Record: 18-11-2

The Panthers fell 3-1 at Calgary to end a five-game road trip in which they went 2-3, scored 11 goals and were shut out twice. They open a run of five games in Florida—four at home and one at Tampa Bay, on Thursday. "It's time to get back home," forward Sam Reinhart said, "reenergize, and get ready for two big ones before Christmas."

Previous Ranking: 7

Overall Record: 19-11-2

Colorado can't win them all, but that doesn't mean Nathan MacKinnon can't play like it. The 28-year-old former No. 1 overall pick has eight goals and 28 points in a career-best 16-game point streak that's the second-longest in the league this season. It's also tied for the fifth-longest in the Colorado/Quebec franchise's history.

Previous Ranking: 14

Overall Record: 18-10-3

At some point, it'll be time to start taking the Flyers seriously. That point seems to have gotten closer through Tuesday night's win at New Jersey, which lifted the team to 7-0-2 in its last nine. It was also the fourth straight start for Samuel Ersson, who has a .927 save percentage in that stretch and is 7-0-1 in his last eight.

Previous Ranking: 6

Overall Record: 16-7-6

It had to end sometime for the red-hot Maple Leafs, who'd gone 6-0-3 across nine games before a 5-2 home loss to the New York Rangers on Tuesday. Auston Matthews appeared against the Rangers after missing a game with an illness and scored for the fifth straight game in which he's played, lifting his season total to a league-best 25.

Previous Ranking: 9

Overall Record: 19-9-3

An overtime loss to visiting Montreal was a home blemish for the Jets, but they've still won three of four and are 7-1-1 in December while racking up a plus-15 goal differential. Winnipeg will play three of its next five at home before leaving on a three-game western swing to San Jose, Anaheim and Phoenix.

Previous Ranking: 8

Overall Record: 18-8-4

The Stars gave up a late regulation goal against Seattle but rallied to defeat the Kraken in overtime to prolong a streak that's seen them earn a point in five of six games (4-1-1). Scott Wedgewood got the start in goal, made 35 saves and improved to 7-1-2. He'll get extra work with starter Jake Oettinger sidelined with a lower-body injury.

Previous Ranking: 5

Overall Record: 22-9-2

The Canucks are beginning to resemble this year's version of the New Jersey Devils, with a surprise charge out of the gate that looks like it may last a whole season. Vancouver is 8-2-1 in its last 11 games and had Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson join J.T. Miller as 40-point scorers this season, the most of any team in the league.

Previous Ranking: 1

Overall Record: 21-7-5

The Golden Knights surged to the top of the rankings on the strength of a stretch that reached 7-1-1 in nine games, before a 6-3 loss at Carolina on Tuesday. Goalie Adin Hill left in the first period of a 6-3 win over Ottawa on Sunday and is unlikely to play for the remainder of a road trip that'll include games at Tampa Bay, at Florida and at Anaheim.

Previous Ranking: 2

Overall Record: 19-5-6

The Bruins may not get paid extra for overtime, but they're working it anyway, having gone past 60 minutes in four straight games in a 1-0-3 stretch. A home loss to Minnesota on Tuesday was the most recent single-point result and came after Brad Marchand's goal with 66 seconds left in regulation prompted extra play.

Previous Ranking: 3

Overall Record: 18-7-4

Another trip, another record for the road warrior Kings, who defeated San Jose on Tuesday to raise their away-from-home record to 13-1-1. It's an all-time NHL-best for wins through 15 road games in a season and comes soon after they began the season with 11 in a row. "We play a simple team game on the road," coach Todd McLellan said.

Previous Ranking: 4

Overall Record: 22-7-1

Revenge was particularly sweet for the streaking Rangers on Tuesday night when they traveled to Toronto to defeat the Maple Leafs exactly a week after they'd lost a 7-3 decision. That four-goal blemish remains their lone loss in five games. "We had it circled and we thought we owed them one," defenseman Braden Schneider said.