NHL Power Rankings: Golden Knights still riding high, Flames scorching hot

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

1. Vegas Golden Knights (29-10-3)

Previously 1st

The expansion darlings have won three of their last four games since the calendar flipped to 2018, and that eight-game run that started in December proved they're for real. - Gold-Smith

2. Washington Capitals (28-14-3)

Previously 2nd

The Capitals split a home-and-home with the Hurricanes last week. They've taken two of three from Carolina since our last edition and slid past the Blues and Canucks to punctuate a five-game win streak. - Gold-Smith

3. Boston Bruins (24-10-7) a-^2

Previously 8th

The Bruins are once again a force to be reckoned with. They blew out the Islanders and Hurricanes, lost an overtime thriller to the Penguins, then beat the Canadiens in a shootout Saturday. Boston is 8-0-2 in its last 10, and still has three games in hand on the first-place Lightning. - Gold-Smith

4. Toronto Maple Leafs (25-17-3)

Previously 4th

The Leafs haven't won in regulation since last year - OK, Dec. 28, 2017 against the Coyotes, to be exact - but they did pick up a couple of shootout victories and nabbed a point in an overtime loss to the Blue Jackets. - Gold-Smith

5. Winnipeg Jets (26-13-7)

Previously 5th

Back-to-back losses to Central Division foes in Chicago and Minnesota sting, but Winnipeg basically did what it was supposed to do before that, knocking off the Sabres twice and earning a convincing win over the Sharks. The Jets have largely remained on course. - Gold-Smith

6. Nashville Predators (25-11-6) a-^2

Previously 9th

The Predators' rise here is more a reflection of other teams slipping than their own success, but Nashville has won two straight games over the Kings and Oilers, respectively. - Gold-Smith

7. Los Angeles Kings (24-14-5) a-1/4

Previously 3rd

The bye week didn't seem to help the Kings - at least not immediately - as they dropped one to the Ducks on Saturday after losing to the Flames and Predators before their break. - Gold-Smith

8. Tampa Bay Lightning (31-10-3) a-1/4

Previously 6th

Victor Hedman's absence is really going to test the Lightning, who've lost three of six since our last rankings update, including the crushing 5-1 defeat to the Flames in which their anchor on the back end was injured. - Gold-Smith

9. New York Islanders (22-18-4) a-^2

Previously 16th

The Islanders bounced back impressively against a couple of regional rivals after dropping three straight to begin the calendar year, eking out a shootout victory over the Devils, then destroying the Rangers behind Mathew Barzal's second five-point game of the season. - Gold-Smith

10. Edmonton Oilers (20-23-3) a-^2

Previously 14th

Edmonton looked like its old self Saturday night in a big road win against the Golden Knights in overtime, and any team with the reigning Hart Trophy winner is always a threat, regardless of the rest of the roster's flaws. - Gold-Smith

11. San Jose Sharks (22-13-6) a-1/4

Previously 7th

The Sharks inability to score is a cause for concern as the team enters the stretch drive. Only Montreal, Arizona, and Buffalo have scored fewer goals than San Jose. - Wilkins

12. Dallas Stars (24-17-3)

Previously 12th

Alexander Radulov has caught fire, tallying seven points in his last four games, making his signing look like a shrewd move by general manager Jim Nill. - Wilkins

13. Minnesota Wild (24-17-5) a-^2

Previously 18th

The top line of Jason Zucker, Mikko Koivu, and Mikael Granlund is running hot, doing its part to pull Minnesota into a wildcard position in the West. - Wilkins

14. New York Rangers (22-17-5) a-1/4

Previously 11th

The Broadway Blueshirts are having trouble finding the back of the net in recent weeks, and that's bad news in the super-competitive Metropolitan Division. - Wilkins

15. Colorado Avalanche (23-16-3) a-^2

Previously 23rd

The Avalanche are the comeback kids after a disastrous season a year ago. Nathan MacKinnon could join the conversation for MVP consideration. - Wilkins

16. St. Louis Blues (26-17-3) a-1/4

Previously 13th

With starter Jake Allen struggling - he owns a 6.42 goals-against average in his last two outings - backup goaltender Carter Hutton is providing an intriguing option for the Blues. - Wilkins

17. Philadelphia Flyers (20-15-8) a-^2

Previously 24th

After a slow start to the season, the Flyers are making noise. The playoffs are once again a possibility in Philadelphia. - Wilkins

18. Anaheim Ducks (20-15-9) a-1/4

Previously 17th

Netminder John Gibson has been a wall in the new year, owning a .933 save percentage through three January appearances. - Wilkins

19. Pittsburgh Penguins (24-19-3) a-^2

Previously 21st

The back-to-back Stanley Cup champions are finally showing signs of life, holding down a wildcard position and striking fear into the teams at the top. - Wilkins

20. Chicago Blackhawks (22-17-6)

Previously 20th

Already a top scoring team, the Blackhawks could have another weapon in their arsenal if they can unlock the offensive potential from newly acquired forward Anthony Duclair. - Wilkins

21. Columbus Blue Jackets (25-18-3) a-1/4

Previously 15th

Sergei Bobrovsky can't do it all. Just six Blue Jackets have scored in the team's past six games. - Wilkins

22. Calgary Flames (25-16-4) a-^2

Previously 30th

An offseason favorite to compete for a Cup, Calgary is finally starting to look like a team that should be in the mix come June. Seven straight wins see the Flames heating up once again. - Livingstone

23. New Jersey Devils (22-12-8) a-1/4

Previously 10th

New Jersey is still clinging to third in the Metropolitan Division, but just by a thread. Losses in six of their last 10 contests have the Devils slipping out of contention. - Livingstone

24. Carolina Hurricanes (20-17-8) a-1/4

Previously 19th

The see-saw season continues for Carolina. And until the Hurricanes can find some consistency between the pipes, the up-and-down campaign should continue for Bill Peters and Co. - Livingstone

25. Montreal Canadiens (18-20-5) a-^2

Previously 26th

Despite sitting firmly outside of a playoff spot, the Canadiens still have a pulse, as points in three straight games have breathed a bit of life into a club struggling to find its identity. - Livingstone

26. Florida Panthers (18-19-6) a-1/4

Previously 22nd

Just when it looked like the Panthers were rounding into form by winning five in a row to end December, they reeled off four losses in their last five to start January. - Livingstone

27. Detroit Red Wings (18-18-7) a-^2

Previously 28th

A tidy shutout victory over the Blackhawks Sunday has the Wings trending in the right direction once again. And, with five home games out of its next six, Detroit has an excellent chance to continue that trend, as the Wings have points in 16 of 23 games at Little Caesars Arena. - Livingstone

28. Ottawa Senators (15-18-9) a-^2

Previously 31st

Massive victories over the Lightning and Maple Leafs have Senators fans feeling optimistic for the first time in weeks. However, Ottawa allowed an eight-spot to the Blackhawks in between those wins. The Sens still have a lot of work to do if they want to be seriously considered as a playoff threat. - Livingstone

29. Vancouver Canucks (18-21-6) a-1/4

Previously 25th

Bo Horvat's injury has hindered Vancouver's ability to put in the puck in the net, as the Canucks have scored more than two goals in a game only twice in the past six contests. Expect Vancouver to continue its fall back to earth until Horvat returns. - Livingstone

30. Buffalo Sabres (11-24-9) a-1/4

Previously 27th

Buffalo has already allowed a staggering 25 goals this month and they've only played six games. Quite simply, nothing has gone right this season for the lackluster Sabres, as the team has easily been one of the biggest disappointments of the 2017-18 campaign. - Livingstone

31. Arizona Coyotes (10-28-7) a-1/4

Previously 29th

The Desert Dogs have points in five of their last 10 contests, but until they can string wins together with any kind of consistency, the club will remain firmly entrenched in the bottom few spots on our list. - Livingstone

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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