NHL Power Rankings: Rangers take rightful position atop throne

1. New York Rangers (Last Week: 2)

The Rangers - who have allowed no more than a single goal in regulation over their last seven games - are clear front-runners in the seven-horse race for the Presidents' Trophy.

They are the only team over the 90-point plateau that's won the trophy twice since its 1986 introduction.

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

Pending restricted free agent Vladimir Tarasenko is expected to secure $6-7 million per season in a multiyear deal with the Blues this summer. If his command in the boardroom is as strong as it is in the offensive zone, he's going to be a rich, rich man.

3. Tampa Bay Lightning (Last Week: 1)

Jonathan Drouin was a +225 favorite for the Calder Trophy before the puck dropped on his rookie season, having averaged more than two points per game in his final two years in junior.

He's been sitting on two goals for three months now. 

4. Chicago Blackhawks (Last Week: 4)

With all their firepower, the Blackhawks have been middling offensively all season. The difference? A team save percentage quietly coming second in the NHL.

5. Minnesota Wild (Last Week: 8)

Despite their miraculous run, the Wild can't afford to take their foot off the pedal in the slightest. With the Predators, Capitals, Blues, Islanders, Kings, Rangers and Red Wings down the stretch, they own the league's toughest remaining schedule. 

6. Montreal Canadiens (Last Week: 5)

Remember when Carey Price and P.K. Subban had the kibosh placed on the triple-low-five win celebration? The dude just took a selfie with a fan midgame.  

Go ahead, Michel Therrien. Raise an eyebrow. 

7. Anaheim Ducks (Last Week: 9)

Like a rich man's Flames, the Ducks have seized a league-best 11 wins and own a better winning percentage trailing after two periods than the Oilers and Sabres do starting the game tied.

8. Nashville Predators (Last Week: 7)

The Predators swept the three-game season series with Los Angeles and have won five straight contests against the Kings dating back to the fall of 2013. 

They wouldn't welcome a first-round matchup with the defending champs, would they?

9. Pittsburgh Penguins (Last Week: 6)

Those bemoaning Daniel Winnik's production really shouldn't - he's the same player. His three points in seven games represent the identical 0.43 point-per-game average he brought to the Penguins, who have maintained their fifth-ranked penalty kill with him on board.

10. Detroit Red Wings (Last Week: 10)

Unlike Winnik, Marek Zidlicky is a new man in Detroit. In his seven games, he's collected more than a quarter of his point total this season, netting three goals and seven points. 

11. New York Islanders (Last Week: 11)

Just a single goal off the rookie lead with 23, Anders Lee is generating zero Calder Trophy buzz. Nor is the leader, Mike Hoffman.

And they don't have any business being in the conversation - that's how good this rookie crop has been.

12. Boston Bruins (Last Week: 14)

The Bruins opened the scoring in 11 straight games before being shut out by the Capitals on Sunday, an effective means of locking down that eighth seed, and nothing more.

13. Los Angeles Kings (Last Week: 12)

What's costing Anze Kopitar more sleep: his newborn, Neza, or the very real possibility the Kings miss the playoffs?

14. Vancouver Canucks (Last Week: 15)

Still waiting for the Canucks to slip? Don't. Vancouver has the highest percentage of home games left and has a very manageable seven-game run before a four-game trip through the Central Division beginning in late March.

And if they can tread water through to the second-to-last game, they'll finish the season with the Coyotes and Oilers.

15. Washington Capitals (Last Week: 13)

Barry Trotz called it. With their backs against the wall, the Capitals played good hockey once more Sunday, controlling the game in a shutout of the red-hot Bruins.

16. Calgary Flames (Last Week: 18)

With Johnny Gaudreau getting all the love, let's extend a warm embrace to Sean Monahan. His 27 goals are more than that of Sidney Crosby, Phil Kessel, Jamie Benn, Pavel Datsyuk and Ryan Getzlaf. 

Pretty, pretty good. 

17. Ottawa Senators (Last Week: 17)

With two goals in ten games, Matt Puempel's been OK, we guess. This kid seems a touch too easily influenced, though. 

18. Winnipeg Jets (Last Week: 16)

The Jets reduced the Lightning - who control over 54 percent of shot attempts on home ice - to just 15 attempts directed at Ondrej Pavelec in the final two periods Saturday. As such, Pavelec earned his first win in five weeks. 

19. San Jose Sharks (Last Week: 19)

Four points out with just three (!) games left at the SAP Center.

The optics (not including the Doug Wilson-Joe Thornton spat) look bad, but it might be oddly beneficial for the Sharks, who have as many wins away from the Tank in seven fewer starts.

20. Colorado Avalanche (Last Week: 20)

Nathan MacKinnon's March: 

1. Broken nose
2. Landlord (Max Talbot) traded to Boston
3. Broken foot
4. Watches team win four of five

Bumpy ride.

21. Florida Panthers (Last Week: 22)

Dan Ellis is the latest netminder brought out of obscurity during their team's health crisis. But his 1.95 goals-against average and .929 save percentage won't be enough, as the Panthers have actually lost ground since his authoring of a 3-1-1 record.

22. Dallas Stars (Last Week: 23)

The Stars are the second-highest scoring team in the league, averaging 3.07 goals per game. But from Benn, Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza down, the next highest-scoring forward (Cody Eakin) has 32 points. Not good.

23. Philadelphia Flyers (Last Week: 21)

In hanging seven, the Flyers put an exclamation point on their tenth straight win over Detroit on home ice. The Red Wings haven't beat the Flyers in Philadelphia since Game 2 of the 1997 Stanley Cup Final and have been outscored 44-17 in the process. 

24. New Jersey Devils (Last Week: 24)

Top-six minutes, top-six skill from Jordin Tootoo. This is some expert finish:

25. Columbus Blue Jackets (Last Week: 26)

It wasn't what Scott Hartnell had in mind, but he's finding a way to cope in the fountain of youth.

Since joining forces with rookies Alexander Wennberg and Marko Dano, the trio have combined for 17 points and a plus-9 rating in seven games.

26. Carolina Hurricanes (Last Week: 25)

Bill Peters' special-teams effect on the penalty kill was immediate, and now it's showing up with the man advantage. The Hurricanes are tops on the power play since the All-Star break and have maintained the league's fourth-best kill.  

27. Toronto Maple Leafs (Last Week: 27)

Phil Kessel is willing, but the rest of the Maple Leafs aren't inclined to stick up for their captain. Check out Brandon Bollig casually turning and gliding away after spilling Dion Phaneuf into James Reimer with a dangerous push from behind:

28. Edmonton Oilers (Last Week: 28)

This couldn't be more accurate. This also couldn't be more sad. 

29. Arizona Coyotes (Last Week: 29)

The Coyotes boasted (!!) of a $16.6-million loss in the fiscal year Friday. This is good, when the initial goal is to lose $20 million.

30. Buffalo Sabres (Last Week: 30)

Anders Lindback has been stopping pucks at a rate landing somewhere in between Cory Schneider and Braden Holtby since joining the Sabres. 

This is amazing.