Flames ascend into top 10; Rangers, Sabres slip

BIGGEST CLIMB: Calgary (17 to 6)
BIGGEST FALL: New York Rangers (9 to 17)

Note: All statistics and records are through Sunday.

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NHL Power Rankings Rank LW Team 1 1 Detroit Red Wings (32-8-3) They've had some great teams in their storied history (1954-55, 1995-96 and 2001-02 are but three that come to mind). But is this season's version the strongest yet? Powered by a home-and-home sweep of the Stars, the Motown Boys earned their 31st win -- the most after 42 games in the franchise's 82-year history. Strong goaltending, stingy defense, solid forward depth. There really aren't any weaknesses in Detroit. Last Week: 3-1-0 2 2 Ottawa Senators (27-10-4) They would be in the midst of a five-game win streak if not for those stubborn Capitals. Alex Ovechkin and Co. have handed Ottawa three of its 10 regulation losses. In those setbacks, the Sens have allowed 18 goals, including a season-high eight on Dec. 29. In case Sens fans were wondering, the two teams meet again on Jan. 15. Last Week: 2-1-0 3 5 San Jose Sharks (23-12-6) I came very close to inserting them into the No. 2 slot, but couldn't pull the trigger. It's hard to figure what's more amazing: 10 straight wins on the road or Evgeni Nabokov's ironman streak -- starting 47 straight games since March 24. Of course, that could come back to bite the Sharks in the butt (no pun intended) this spring. Last Week: 2-0-1 4 4 Vancouver Canucks (23-14-4) Scott Gomez and Jaromir Jagr entered Thursday's game against them as two of the hotter players in the league, both riding point streaks of at least eight games. That didn't seem to impress Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows and Byron Ritchie. The trio shut down New York's top line and everyone else in a 3-0 victory over the Blueshirts. Last Week: 1-1-0 5 6 New Jersey Devils (23-15-3) It's too bad, at least for the Devils, that the Flyers are on the schedule only three more times this season. Friday's impressive 3-0 victory was New Jersey's fourth straight over rival Philly and 14th in the past 16 games. The Devils have also pocketed 11 straight at home over the Flyers. Now all they have to do is figure out how to score more first-period goals (25th at 0.68) Last Week: 2-1-0 6 17 Calgary Flames (22-14-7) Reader Jeremy S. likes to remind me that no team is hotter than the Flames. Well, Jeremy, I may have to agree with you. A perfect week against the likes of the Canucks, Rangers and Sharks warrants a huge leap. It's only fitting that Calgary's run coincides with Jarome Iginla's surge. During their five-game win streak, the captain had seven goals and 10 points. Last Week: 4-0-0 7 3 Dallas Stars (23-16-4) Last week was a measuring stick, and they failed the test miserably. I also found it interesting that coach Dave Tippett went with Mike Smith over Marty Turco for Saturday's showdown with Detroit. The Stars have lost four straight for the first time since the 2003-04 season, when they dropped five consecutive. Last Week: 0-4-0 8 7 Minnesota Wild (23-16-2) I have nothing against them -- honest. But I'm beginning to think they may be a pretender rather than contender. How do you blitz the Stars 6-3 and then come back two nights later and fall 4-1 to the Predators? Nothing against Nashville, but if the Wild see themselves as a top-shelf team, they should easily handle teams like the Preds. Just more proof that the Northwest will come down to Vancouver and Calgary. Last Week: 1-2-0 9 13 Pittsburgh Penguins (23-16-2) This is more like it. My preseason pick to win the Cup is looking better, eh? Of course, not many expected Pittsburgh to string together a season-high six-game win streak with Ty Conklin between the pipes. But what amazed me more was that it took ultra-gifted Evgeni Malkin 118 games to notch his first NHL hat trick. Last Week: 3-0-0 10 10 St. Louis Blues (20-14-5) Just when it looks like they are ready to fold, they bag a huge win. Behind ex-Wing Manny Legace, St. Louis blanked Detroit, 3-0. The last Blues goalie to pitch a shutout at Joe Louis Arena was Guy Hebert in 1993. In fact, in his last three starts, Legace has allowed a grand total of one goal. But coach Andy Murray better fix that ranked-last power play. Last Week: 2-0-1

Read on for teams 11-20 ...

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