NHL Power Rankings Week 10: Scorching Hot Blackhawks Take Top Spot, Canadiens Sinking Fast

Dec 3, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) with the puck during the second period against the St. Louis Blues at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) with the puck during the second period against the St. Louis Blues at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 3, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Kris Versteeg (center) is congratulated for scoring by right wing Patrick Kane (left) and center Jonathan Toews (right) during the third period against the St. Louis Blues at the United Center. Chicago won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing Kris Versteeg (center) is congratulated for scoring by right wing Patrick Kane (left) and center Jonathan Toews (right) during the third period against the St. Louis Blues at the United Center. Chicago won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

After winning six straight and nine of their last 10 games the Chicago Blackhawks move up from the No. 2 spot to No. 1 in this week’s NHL power rankings while a pair of Central Division foes take a small step back

Heading into the second week of December it looks like the Central Division is going to have a dogfight in store to determine who will win the division this year between the Blackhawks, Predators and Blues separated by one point while last year’s champion, Colorado, is mired in last place as one of the league’s biggest disappointments.

The Central is getting competition from the Pacific where the Calgary and Vancouver are off to surprising starts in the first third of the year, but if there’s a division to rival the Central as the league’s best it will be the Atlantic where Detroit and Tampa Bay are tied for the best record in the Eastern Conference and if Montreal can get out of their recent funk they’ll make the chase for the top spot an interesting battle come spring.

The Blackhawks are the hottest team in the NHL so let’s see how their ascension to the top spot has shaken up this week’s NHL Power Rankings.

After reading through the list, please leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

The NHL Power Rankings are a weekly staple for the FanSided NHL section and will be published every Monday morning so be sure to bookmark the page so you can stay on top of all the daily coverage as well as weekly features like power rankings and Wednesday’s player rankings.

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