Equipped with Martin Brodeur and the NHL's stingiest defense, the New Jersey Devils leap to the top of the Eastern Conference standings and are suddenly threatening San Jose for the top spot. The Sharks continue to play strong however, and are still unbeaten in regulation on home ice.
NHL Power Rankings, Week 7: Devils’ Defense Has N.J. Nearing Top Spot
Surprise of the week: After spending last week off the list, the Chicago Blackhawks ride a four-game winning streak all the way up to No. 4 in our Top Ten rankings.
PLEASE READ: Western Conference rankings are determined by votes from Western Conference bloggers, Eastern Conference bloggers for Eastern rankings. The Top 10 Power Rankings are determined by a separate vote of Western and Eastern Conference bloggers.
| NHL Top Ten Power Rankings | |||||
| Rank | Last Wk | Team | Record | Comments | |
 | 1 | 1 | San Jose Sharks | 14-4-4 | The Sharks are still the NHL's hottest team, unbeaten in regulation in their last ten games (7-0-3) |
 | 2 | 7 | New Jersey Devils | 14-5-0 | The New Jersey Devils are the NHL's best road team, having lost just one game (9-1-0) away from home. |
 | 3 | 3 | Washington Capitals | 12-4-4 | The return of Ovechkin should help the Capitals return to form after they went 4-2-0 in his absence. Oh, the horror!! |
 | 4 | - | Chicago Blackhawks | 12-5-2 | Winners of four straight, the Blackhawks look to be a team that has rebounded from a poor start in net. |
 | 5 | 5 | Calgary Flames | 12-4-2 | The Flames keep finding ways to win, powered by a suddenly hot Jarome Iginla. |
 | 6 | 9 | Buffalo Sabres | 12-4-1 | The Sabres continue to be stifling on defense and in net, and are just behind New Jersey in goals allowed per game. |
 | 7 | 6 | Philadelphia Flyers | 11-5-1 | The Flyers have one of the NHL's best goal differential at +19. |
 | 8 | 2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 14-7-0 | Malkin returned against the Bruins but injuries continue to mount as four defensemen and three forwards sit on the shelf. Wins won't be pretty and they won't come easy. |
 | 9 | 4 | Colorado Avalanche | 12-5-3 | After a hot start the Avs have cooled off a bit, going 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. |
 | 10 | 8 | Los Angeles Kings | 13-7-2 | The Kings continue to win despite allowing nearly three goals per game. |
Western Conference
Biggest Winner: Detroit Red Wings(+6)
Biggest Loser: Colorado Avalanche (-3)
| Western Conference Power Rankings | ||||
| Rk (Prv) | Team | Record | SB Nation Blog | |
| 1 (1) | San Jose Sharks | 14-4-4 | Fear The Fin |
| 2 (5) | Chicago Blackhawks | 12-5-2 | Second City Hockey |
| 3 (2) | Calgary Flames | 12-4-2 | Matchsticks and Gasoline |
 | 4 (10) | Detroit Red Wings | 10-5-3 | Winging It In Motown |
| 5 (4) | Los Angeles Kings | 13-7-2 | Battle of California |
| 6 (3) | Colorado Avalanche | 12-5-3 | Mile High Hockey |
 | 7 (7) | Phoenix Coyotes | 11-9-0 | Five For Howling |
 | 8 (8) | Dallas Stars | 8-5-6 | Defending Big D |
 | 9 (6) | Columbus Blue Jackets | 11-6-2 | The Cannon |
 | 10 (9) | Vancouver Canucks | 11-10-0 | Nucks Misconduct |
 | 11 (12) | Nashville Predators | 9-8-1 | On the Forecheck |
 | 12 (13) | St. Louis Blues | 6-8-4 | St. Louis Game Time |
 | 13 (11) | Edmonton Oilers | 8-10-3 | The Copper & Blue |
 | 14 (15) | Minnesota Wild | 7-11-2 | Hockey Wilderness |
 | 15 (13) | Anaheim Ducks | 6-10-3 | Battle of California |
Eastern Conference
Biggest Winner: Atlanta Thrashers (+5)
Biggest Loser: Ottawa Senators (-4)
| Eastern Conference Power Rankings | ||||
| Rk (Prv) | Team | Record | SB Nation Blog | |
| 1 (4) | New Jersey Devils | 14-5-0 | In Lou We Trust |
| 2 (1) | Washington Capitals | 12-4-4 | Japers' Rink |
| 3 (5) | Buffalo Sabres | 12-4-1 | Die By The Blade |
| 4 (3) | Philadelphia Flyers | 11-5-1 | Broad Street Hockey |
| 5 (2) | Pittsburgh Penguins | 14-7-0 | PensBurgh |
 | 6 (11) | Atlanta Thrashers | 10-6-1 | Bird Watchers Anonymous |
 | 7 (6) | New York Rangers | 11-8-1 | Blueshirt Banter |
 | 8 (9) | New York Islanders | 8-6-7 | Lighthouse Hockey |
 | 9 (8) | Boston Bruins | 8-8-4 | Stanley Cup of Chowder |
 | 10 (10) | Tampa Bay Lightning | 8-4-6 | Raw Charge |
 | 11 (7) | Ottawa Senators | 8-6-3 | Silver Seven |
 | 12 (12) | Montreal Canadiens | 9-11-0 | Habs Eyes On The Prize |
 | 13 (14) | Florida Panthers | 7-9-2 | Litter Box Cats |
 | 14 (13) | Toronto Maple Leafs | 3-10-5 | Pension Plan Puppets |
 | 15 (15) | Carolina Hurricanes | 3-12-4 | Canes Country |
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