NHL Nhl Power Rankings

Losing Alex Ovechkin for two weeks didn't stop the Washington Capitals from winning games, and he picked up right where he left off in his return, scoring his 15th goal of the season in a 4-2 win against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night. With that, the Caps take over the top spot in this week's NHL Power Rankings, while another team reclaims its familiar spot at the bottom of the pile.

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We have a new team at the top of our power rankings as the San Jose Sharks take over the No. 1 spot. Meanwhile, a red-hot Eastern Conference team breaks into the top three, while the losses continue to mount for one club that's stuck in the basement.

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Even with their 5-2 loss in Los Angeles on Thursday, the Penguins re-claim the top spot in this week's power rankings, taking it over from the Colorado Avalanche. Also, a new entrant break into the top three, and for the first time this season we have a new team in the basement which is good news for Toronto ... but bad news for someone else.

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The Colorado Avalanche, owners of the best record in hockey, take over the top spot for the week in our power rankings, but how long will their success continue? Also, the Maple Leafs continue to occupy the basement, while the Sharks make the biggest jump of the week.

With the best record in the NHL, and coming off their best performance of the season on Tuesday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins take the top spot in our power rankings for the week. How does the rest of the top 5 shake out? Check out our latest rankings:

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Thanks to six straight wins the New York Rangers find themselves at the top of our power rankings, followed closely by some teams we expect to see, and one surprise team that continues to impress despite some low expectations entering the season.

Ranking the teams after two weeks -- and a handful of games -- leads to some bizarre results, especially when, like us, you're ignoring a team's reputation, preseason hype and what happened in the previous season.

In our first power rankings of the season we take a look at the power of small sample sizes and how they can turn this thing upside down. The important thing to keep in mind: It's still very, very early.

In our final installment of this season's power rankings, we take a look at how the teams might finish in the NHL standings. The San Jose Sharks have yet to claim the President's Trophy, but a win in their regular season finale, or one loss by the Boston Bruins, will give the Sharks the best record in the NHL for the first time in franchise history.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the standings, the New York Islanders are hoping that all of this losing will mean a big win in June.

For the third time in three weeks we have a new team on top of our power rankings, as the NHL-leading San Jose Sharks take over the top spot.

The Devils take a fall thanks to their recent six-game losing streak, while Anaheim continues to climb the rankings.

The defending champs claim the top spot in this week's power rankings, while the Anaheim Ducks and Carolina Hurricanes make jumps of their own as they look to earn playoff berths in their respective conferences.

There's also a new team taking over the basement, thanks to a pair of blowout losses on home ice in the past week.