NHL Power Rankings: Central division trio, Ducks vie for No. 1 ranking

Previous: 5th. Tampa Bay Lightning. 5. team. 23. <p>The Tampa Bay Lightning are in first place in the East with 64 points and a plus-29 goal differential. Keeping that top spot will be imperative for Steven Stamkos, Tyler Johnson and Ben Bishop considering they have the best home record in the NHL with a 19-4-1 record at Amalie Arena vs a 11-10-3 record on the road.</p>. (30-14-4)

94. <p>The Chicago Blackhawks were my preseason pick to win the Stanley Cup over the Lightning and have the best goal differential at the break with a plus-40. But the Blackhawks struggled leading into the break with a 5-5 record to lose their stranglehold on the top spot in the power rankings. The Hawks could be getting back on track with back-t0-back wins, including a shootout winner against Pittsburgh as they continue a seven-game road trip when the second half gets underway.</p>. (28-15-2). Previous: 4th. Chicago Blackhawks. 4. team

<p>The Nashville Predators held the top spot in the power rankings but then immediately saw Vezina front-runner and potential Hart Trophy finalist Pekka Rinne suffer a knee injury that will keep him out for three-five weeks. The Predators hold a tenuous three-point lead over Chicago and St. Louis for the Central division lead and could soon be passed up if Carter Hutton can’t play well in relief of Rinne. He’s 1-1-1 in three starts since Rinne’s injury. Helping his cause is a strong group of leaders led by Shea Weber, James Neal and Mike Fisher.</p>. (30-10-5). Previous: 3rd. Nashville Predators. 3. team. 151

Anaheim Ducks. 2. team. 105. <p>The Anaheim Ducks lead the NHL with 68 points and are tied with the Islanders with 31 wins, but their plus-15 goal differential gives me concern about making them the favorite to win the Cup or even make it to the Western Conference finals in a loaded field that could see them face the Kings in the first round or the Blackhawks in the second. The Ducks have overcome a lot of adversity in the first half and have a Hart Trophy candidate in Ryan Getzlaf, but goalie Frederik Andersen isn’t going to intimidate anyone in the postseason despite his 26-6-5 record thus far.</p>. (31-10-6). Previous: 2nd

(29-13-4). Previous: 1st. St. Louis Blues. 1. team. 99. <p>The St. Louis Blues took the top spot in the power rankings in the last week before the All-Star break and come out of the break in the top spot with 62 points in 46 games. The Blues are third in the West standings but are playing their best hockey of the year with wins in seven of their last eight games to coincide with the return of All-Star goalie Brian Elliott. The Blues are one of the deepest teams in the NHL and that rings even more true with breakout star Vladimir Tarasenko in the top-10 for points with 47. The Blues are sixth in goals per game, third in goals against and own the best power play in the game. In a possible conference finals preview the Blues host the Predators on Thursday.</p>