NHL Power Rankings, Week 7: Devils' Defense Has N.J. Nearing Top Spot

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NHL Power Rankings, Week 7: Devils' Defense Has N.J. Nearing Top Spot

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.

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