NHL Power Rankings: Golden Knights take game to next level

This is the 13th and penultimate edition of theScore's 2018-19 NHL Power Rankings, which are published every two weeks during the regular season.

1. Tampa Bay Lightning (55-13-4)

The Lightning have won six of their last seven games and potted at least five goals in five of those contests. Nikita Kucherov also added to his historic campaign by picking up his eighth four-point night of the season in a comeback victory over the Red Wings. The Bolts just need two more points to clinch the Presidents' Trophy.

Previously: 1st

2. San Jose Sharks (43-21-8) a-^2

The Sharks began March with six consecutive wins before losing two straight on home ice. Goaltender Martin Jones has posted his best month of the season with a .917 save percentage and a 2.28 goals-against average, while the offense continues to hum with 35 goals over the past 10 games.

Previously: 5th

3. Calgary Flames (44-21-7)

The Flames responded to their recent four-game slide with a three-game winning streak that saw them explode for 20 goals. Johnny Gaudreau's incredible six-point effort (3G, 3A) against the Devils stands as the best statistical game by any player this season.

Previously: 3rd

4. Washington Capitals (42-23-7) a-^2

The defending Stanley Cup champion Capitals are playing their best hockey at the right time with eight wins in their last 10 games. Alex Ovechkin is just two goals shy of hitting 50 for the eighth time in his career, which would move him one shy of tying Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy for the all-time record of nine.

Previously: 6th

5. Boston Bruins (43-20-9) a-1/4

The Bruins predictably fell back down to earth after snapping their 19-game point streak, losing three straight. Overall, roster depth has played a pivotal role in Boston staying afloat while five key players are out with injuries, and sniper David Pastrnak's return to practice Saturday is a nightmare for the rest of the league.

Previously: 2nd

6. Toronto Maple Leafs (43-24-5) a-1/4

The Maple Leafs have seen their defensive depth exposed following injuries to Jake Gardiner and Travis Dermott, and the team's tendency to float through first periods has resulted in chasing games. Toronto's allowed 23 goals over its last four contests, with three of those duds coming against teams currently outside the playoff picture.

Previously: 4th

7. Vegas Golden Knights (40-27-5) a-^2

The addition of Mark Stone has taken an already dangerous Golden Knights team to the next level. Vegas has posted an 8-1 record since the trade deadline and has allowed just 13 goals over its last seven contests. Marc-Andre Fleury's been sensational in the month of March, going 5-0-0 with a .975 save percentage.

Previously: 11th

8. Carolina Hurricanes (39-25-7)Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / Getty

The Hurricanes keep inching closer to ending the NHL's longest playoff drought. They're 7-2-1 in their last ten contests, haven't lost consecutive games in regulation since Jan. 18, and hold the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Previously: 8th

9. Pittsburgh Penguins (39-24-10) a-^2

With spring fast approaching, it's officially Sidney Crosby season. The longtime Penguins captain is on a tear with eight goals and 19 points over his last 12 games. However, Pittsburgh endured a rough weekend, getting run over by the Blues on Saturday, blowing a lead and falling to the Flyers in overtime Sunday, and then losing Evgeni Malkin to a week-to-week injury.

Previously: 10th

10. Winnipeg Jets (42-25-4) a-1/4

After going 5-3 during a tough eight-game stretch against current playoff teams, the Jets are battle-tested ahead of the postseason. Blake Wheeler continues to lead by example with seven goals over his last seven games, while Patrik Laine is showing signs of life at the right time.

Previously: 9th

11. New York Islanders (42-23-7) a-1/4

The Islanders have struggled to find the net lately, mustering two goals or fewer in seven of their last 11 contests. Robin Lehner's potential return to the crease this week is a promising development, although Thomas Greiss has done an excellent job in his absence. New York's final 10 games won't be easy, with six coming on the road and eight against potential playoff teams.

Previously: 7th

12. Arizona Coyotes (36-30-6) a-^2Norm Hall / National Hockey League / Getty

The Coyotes have seven wins in their last ten games, and it's been a complete team effort by Rick Tocchet's squad. No player on the roster's even hit the 20-goal mark this season, and only Clayton Keller has broken 40 points.

Previously: 17th

13. Nashville Predators (41-27-5) a-1/4

The Predators have traded wins and losses since the All-Star break, failing to put together a winning streak longer than two games. But with five of their next six contests coming against current playoff teams, the Preds have an excellent chance to up their game and build some momentum for the postseason.

Previously: 12th

14. Dallas Stars (37-29-6) a-^2

The Stars have won five of their last eight contests, largely thanks to Ben Bishop's outstanding work between the pipes. Before departing with an injury last week against the Wild, Bishop had pushed his ongoing shutout streak to a franchise-record 230 minutes, 53 seconds.

Previously: 19th

15. Columbus Blue Jackets (40-28-4) a-^2

Matt Duchene's scored two goals in his last three games for the Blue Jackets, who've earned points in four of their past five. Columbus also has the inside track for the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot, but seven of the club's final 10 games will be on the road.

Previously: 18th

16. St. Louis Blues (37-27-8) a-1/4

The Blues have dropped four of five contests, including matchups against the Senators, Sabres, and Coyotes. Those defeats could come back to haunt them as they try to maintain their grip on a postseason position.

Previously: 13th

17. Philadelphia Flyers (35-29-8) a-1/4

The Flyers remain alive in the playoff race, and getting rookie goaltender Carter Hart back from injury should help, but it will still be a tall task to punch a postseason ticket. Philadelphia sits six points out with just 10 games left.

18. Montreal Canadiens (37-28-7) a-1/4

Things are not going well in Montreal right now. Andrew Shaw called out teammates on Thursday night, and the Canadiens have now dropped four of their last five.

Previously: 15th

19. Florida Panthers (32-28-12) a-^2Eliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / Getty

The Panthers saw their four-game winning streak snapped Sunday, but rookie goalie Sam Montembeault has shown something in his first six NHL appearances. Another hot streak would help Florida's playoff chances, but this team might be running out of time.

Previously: 21st

20. Minnesota Wild (34-30-9) a-1/4

Minnesota's still hanging around in the Western Conference wild-card race, but with the Coyotes and Blackhawks coming on strong, and the Avalanche not going away, the pressure's squarely on the Wild to keep up. Losing four of their past five games didn't help.

Previously: 14th

21. Chicago Blackhawks (32-30-9) a-^2

Corey Crawford's stellar play has helped Chicago reel off five straight wins, and the veteran goaltender has allowed only three goals combined over his last four appearances. Here come the Hawks, indeed.

Previously: 23rd

22. Edmonton Oilers (32-33-7) a-^2

Connor McDavid's heroics lifted the Oilers to a big win over the Coyotes on Saturday night, but Edmonton couldn't keep up with the Golden Knights on Sunday. The Oilers' season isn't over, but they'll need quite a run over the final 10 games to have any shot at the postseason.

Previously: 24th

23. Colorado Avalanche (31-29-12) a-1/4

Head coach Jared Bednar publicly roasted his Avalanche after a crushing loss to the lowly Ducks on Friday, and they responded with a much-needed victory over the Devils on Sunday. However, Colorado still has work to do.

Previously: 20th

24. Buffalo Sabres (31-32-9) a-1/4

The Sabres snapped a seven-game losing streak with a shootout win Sunday, but they failed to score a single goal in three consecutive contests during the skid and have been in a downward spiral for months.

Previously: 22nd

25. Vancouver Canucks (30-32-10) a-^2Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

Elias Pettersson and Jacob Markstrom have provided Canucks fans with some optimism of late, but it's of the long-term variety. Vancouver remains near the basement of the Western Conference and would need to leapfrog several teams to make the playoffs.

Previously: 26th

26. Anaheim Ducks (30-35-9) a-^2

The Ducks are on a 6-3-0 run and have gone 9-9-0 since general manager Bob Murray fired head coach Randy Carlyle and took over behind the bench. Anaheim probably isn't playoff bound, but there have been positive signs down the stretch.

Previously: 30th

27. New York Rangers (28-31-13) a-1/4

Pavel Buchnevich has shown promise with five goals in his last eight games, while four of them have come at even strength. Beyond that, though, the Rangers have just one win in their last 10 contests and are essentially playing out the string.

Previously: 25th

28. New Jersey Devils (27-37-9) a-1/4

With the Devils sitting in the basement of the Metropolitan Division and near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, it's somewhat surprising that they haven't ruled out a return for Taylor Hall before season's end. On the other hand, fans in New Jersey could use a reason to tune in.

Previously: 27th

29. Los Angeles Kings (25-38-8) a-1/4

The Kings entered Sunday's action with the worst goal differential in the NHL, and they've won only two of their last 10 games. There's not much hockey to be excited about in Southern California these days.

Previously: 28th

30. Ottawa Senators (25-41-6) a-^2

Sometimes, a squad without anything on the line plays looser than a contender, and that was evident in Ottawa's win over Toronto on Saturday. However, the victory was only a small consolation for the NHL's worst team.

Previously: 31st

31. Detroit Red Wings (25-37-10) a-1/4

Red Wings fans don't have much incentive to watch their team's final 10 games, especially now that top prospect Filip Zadina has been sent back to Grand Rapids. At least they can look forward to the draft lottery.

Previously: 29th

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