NHL Power Rankings: Predators suffer free fall, Rangers up to No. 2

1. Tampa Bay Lightning (Last Week: 4)

For Tampa Bay, silence has been golden. 

Even-keel and absolutely dominant on home ice, the Bolts have wrestled the league's top home record (and top spot on these rankings) from the Predators, having won 15 of their last 17 games on their own sheet.

2. New York Rangers (Last Week: 6)

Cam Talbot is 10-2-3 with a .930 save percentage and two shutouts since taking over for the injured Henrik Lundqvist. A profitable bounce, there.

3. St. Louis Blues (Last Week: 2)

The Blues gassed a second-period lead and lost in regulation for just the second time in the past two seasons Thursday versus Philadelphia. They were a stupid 58-1-6 in that scenario prior.

4. Chicago Blackhawks (Last Week: 5)

Even when catching up on Homeland with a broken collar bone, Pat Kane is making his mark.  

After his captain netted No. 20, he and Jonathan Toews became just the third duo in NHL history to each score 20 goals in their first eight seasons together.

5. Montreal Canadiens (Last Week: 3) 

They've been singing the Canadiens' song for bringing in Jeff Petry at cost, but pairing him with an old Oilers' teammate, really? 

Old habits don't die hard. Montreal is 1-3 since Petry found Tom Gilbert.

6. Pittsburgh Penguins (Last Week: 8)

With an extra-time triumph in Los Angeles, Marc-Andre Fleury became the first goaltender to shut out the defending Stanley Cup champions twice in the same season since Martin Brodeur blanked his Penguins back in 2009-10. 

7. Nashville Predators (Last Week: 1)

That Maple Leaf stink is only intensifying in Nashville. 

The Predators are 2-6-1 since Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli were green-lit for green cards.

8. Minnesota Wild (Last Week: 9)

Devan Dubnyk hasn't just played the Wild out of the Western Conference gutter - he's played himself into contention for an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas. 

Including his time in Arizona, here's how he stacks up against the contenders for the third Vezina Trophy nomination behind Carey Price and Pekka Rinne:

9. Anaheim Ducks (Last Week: 10)

Give Bob Murray full marks. He took on two downright vile contracts in Eric Brewer and Rene Bourque, but managed to snip both from the payroll at the deadline and improve his team in the process. 

10. Detroit Red Wings (Last Week: 7)

Detroit had avoided consecutive regulation losses through 62 games until finally dropping back-to-back contests this week. It's a remarkably efficient run, but also astounding that they only compiled the Eastern Conference's sixth-best record in the process. 

11. New York Islanders (Last Week: 11)

Having achieved the league lead in points, John Tavares is set to receive the support necessary to maintain it. Kyle Okposo - who was in on more than half of the captain's production before he suffered a detached retina - is expected back on the team's current road trip.

12. Los Angeles Kings (Last Week: 12)

Drew Doughty is on track to win the NHL's first SAT derby, but boy, you wouldn't know it by the way Sidney Crosby handed him his lunch Saturday night.

13. Washington Capitals (Last Week: 13)

With his 50th this year, Nicklas Backstrom claimed a share of the Capitals' franchise record for assists with No. 618. Michal Pivonka, who remains a fifty-fifty partner for now, required five-plus more seasons to reach the total. 

14. Boston Bruins (Last Week: 17)

Brad Marchand steadied the vessel in three minutes, 35 seconds.

His equalizer and overtime winner versus the Flyers and shorthanded tally in the opening minutes against the Red Wings an afternoon later could prove to be the turning point - across five shifts - for the Bruins.

15. Vancouver Canucks (Last Week: 15)

Eddie Lack has given up 15 goals in his five starts since Ryan Miller went down to injury, but his three wins have helped the Canucks keep their neck above water in the Pacific. 

Here, he does the same for his mother - for whatever reason.

16. Winnipeg Jets (Last Week: 14)

There's no Byfuglien-sized Band-Aid. 

It's going to be a significant challenge for the Jets to hang on in the wild card without their 260-pound rover for the next 2-4 weeks.

17. Ottawa Senators (Last Week: 18)

When you're the first goaltender in history to shut out the Kings and Ducks in consecutive nights, you can wear these socks to the beach, if you're so inclined.

18. Calgary Flames (Last Week: 16)

The Flames rattle off three straight and nearly a miraculous fourth after losing Corsi Rel King Mark Giordano for the season. They've baffled us all season, and we really shouldn't be surprised anymore.

19. San Jose Sharks (Last Week: 20)

Peak Patty Marleau: 

20. Colorado Avalanche (Last Week: 22)

Tyson Barrie has quietly enjoyed a brilliant season in Colorado. He ranks eighth in league scoring among blue-liners and owns a 4.8 Corsi Rel - tops for Avalanche defensemen.  

21. Philadelphia Flyers (Last Week: 19)

The Wayne Simmonds feels. 

He has carried the team through portions of the year, but committed a real tough penalty late in Saturday's loss to the Bruins - an infraction that could prove to derail the Flyers' season.

22. Florida Panthers (Last Week: 21)

Florida, too, has our pity. In the heat of the playoff race, the Panthers became the first team in a half century to lose both goaltenders in one game and are now having an untimely flu saw through the locker room.

23. Dallas Stars (Last Week: 23)

Tyler Seguin's knee is a joint of utmost importance for the Stars. Why risk it 10 points out?

24. New Jersey Devils (Last Week: 25)

Where would the Devils be without Cory Schneider?

He has significantly outperformed the starters for the other seven teams well out of a postseason spot:

25. Carolina Hurricanes (Last Week: 24)

Alexander Semin scored from his stomach? Funny, he's spent most of the season on his ass.

26. Columbus Blue Jackets (Last Week: 27) 

This week, David Savard became just the third blue-liner in the Blue Jackets' 13-year history to reach double-digit goal totals.

It was something James Wisniewski was brought in for $33 million to provide but hasn't yet accomplished into his 11th season, which is now being played elsewhere.

27. Toronto Maple Leafs (Last Week: 26)

Spring forward, young Nazem.

28. Edmonton Oilers (Last Week: 28)

Shhhhh.... The Sabres still have more wins than Edmonton through 66 games. 

29. Arizona Coyotes (Last Week: 29)

Resounding winners at the trade deadline and a reminder of better (ish) days in their retro Kachina. It was a great week for the Coyotes. 

30. Buffalo Sabres (Last Week: 30)

The good news is, there are just 16 games left. The bad: It's Anders Lindback from here on out.