NHL Power Rankings: Contenders and Pretenders

Nov 10, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk (21) and defenseman Jake Gardiner (51) and defenseman Matt Hunwick (2) and center Leo Komarov (47) celebrate Gardiner scoring the game winning goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period at the American Airlines Center. The Maple Leafs defeat the Stars 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

NHL Power Rankings: Contenders and Pretenders

We are now two months deep into the NHL regular season, and the teams have shaken off the rust.  We are seeing some great hockey, with a lot of parity throughout the first two months.  Some teams have gotten off to scorching hot starts, and have established themselves as undoubted contenders.

Other teams are merely staying afloat, in the middle of the pack in their respective conferences.  While other teams have found themselves at the bottom of their conferences, which, even with a ton of hockey left to play, is never a good place to start your season.  Now that the 2nd month of the season has wrapped up, let’s take a look at our updated NHL power rankings:

KEY: Ranking. Team Name (Season Record) (Change from previous ranking)

NHL Power Rankings: December Edition

30. Columbus Blue Jackets (11-17-2) (-1)

Dec 8, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Ryan Johansen (19) controls the puck against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

The Jackets have been playing better hockey as of late, there is no question about it.  Under Coach John Tortorella the team has gone 11-10-2 and they are finally starting to resemble a hockey team.  However, being in such a large hole to start the season will likely hamper this team until the end.  Ryan Johansen continues to lead the Jackets in scoring.  Columbus also finds themselves in the middle of the league in PP% as well as on the verge of cracking the top 10 in PK%, so the special teams aren’t the issue.  However, most teams are going to find it difficult to succeed when most of their top players are playing with a negative +/- rating.  Those ratings combined with their special teams stats, prove that this team’s major weakness is playing 5-on-5, which typically is not a recipe for success in the NHL.  Can Columbus recover from their abysmal start, or will they continue to sink into the basement of the standings?  My guess, the latter.

29. Toronto Maple Leafs (10-13-5) (+1)

The Leafs are also seemingly playing better hockey over the past month as well, earning points in 10 of 15 contests since our last rankings.  However, they seem to be facing the same issues that Columbus faces.  Middle of the pack special teams units coupled with many of their best players having minus ratings, shows a team struggling with 5-on-5 play.  The uncertainty in the goaltending position is also not helping this team.  James Reimer seemed to establish himself as the number one goalie, especially with Jonathan Bernier struggling mightily to begin the year.  But Toronto decided to call up touted netminder Garret Sparks to see what he could do.  In his first career game he posted a shutout at home against Edmonton, which would be even more impressive, if he hadn’t allowed six goals in his next game on the road at Winnipeg.  Sparks could be the future of this team, and the Leafs seem to be eager to find out.

28. Vancouver Canucks (11-11-8) (-10)

Dec 9, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin (22) celebrates with Canucks forward Henrik Sedin (33) after scoring against New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist (not pictured) during the third period at Rogers Arena.The Vancouver Canucks won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Easily the most disappointing team so far in the early season, I must admit I did not see these type of struggles coming out of Vancouver.  I had them ranked 12th in the preseason rankings, and they certainly have not lived up to that ranking in the least.

The Canucks have won just five of their last 17 games since our last rankings were released, and they are struggling in all aspects of the game.  While the Sedin twins are more than carrying their weight for a couple of aging vets, it’s the rest of the team that is the cause of this slide for Vancouver.

The Canucks struggle with puck possession and turnovers, which as we all know is not a great recipe for success.  The injury of Brandon Sutter has also hampered this team more than originally thought, and it seems like it will continue to do so as Sutter will miss an additional 4-6 weeks with a sports hernia surgery.  With the Canucks season in the pits at the moment, if this play continues, it will be interesting to see if Vancouver does a little shopping of guys like Ryan Miller.  Only time will tell.

27. Calgary Flames (12-14-2) (+1)

Another team that I picked to have a great year, was the Calgary Flames.  So far, this team looks to have taken a step back from the playoff team of last year.  The acquisition of Dougie Hamilton has not paid immediate dividends, and while the Flames are thinking long-term with Hamilton, his struggles this season were probably not what either side expected.  Karri Ramo seems to have established himself as the number one goalie on the team.  Romo is a tough read as a goalie, because while he has the uncanny ability to make highlight reel saves on a nightly basis, he also has the tendency to let in soft goals.  It seems like Ramo has earned the trust of coach Bob Hartley for the time being.  The one bright spot for the Flames has been Johnny Gaudreau, who has been a goal-scoring machine the past few games.  Hopefully his play can lift the rest of the team.

26. Colorado Avalanche (12-16-1) (+1)

Dec 9, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (9) celebrates his first period goal with teammates against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado was another team that had high hopes for the season when the year began, but have struggled to maintain any consistency in their play.  Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon have paced this team, as expected, but they haven’t really gotten a whole lot out of their other forwards.  And, again, the theme continues with their top players having negative plus/minus ratings.

Jarome Iginla is showing signs of his age posting only eight goals and eight assists with a -10 rating so far this season.  The Av’s still appear to be figuring out whether Semyon Varlamov or Reto Berra will be the team’s #1 going forward, or they may just continue to split starts.  Either way, Colorado needs more consistency from their netminders to be successful.

Next: 25-21

Dec 10, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (55) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

25. Edmonton Oilers (12-15-2) (-1)

The Oilers have been trying to find their way without rookie sensation Connor McDavid.  But no matter which way you look at it, McDavid’s absence is a big loss of this team.  Taylor Hall, once again leads this team in scoring by a wide margin, and it has again brought up recent rumblings that Edmonton might trade the talented winger.  That decision is going to be a tough one for new GM Peter Chiarelli to make.  Does he want to wait it out, and see if his current collection of first round picks can gel and build something over the next 50 games?  Or will Chiarelli sell high on Hall when his trade value is seemingly at its highest.  The talent is still obviously there, however it just hasn’t translated to on-ice success yet.  Cam Talbot has struggled in his share of starts this season, while Anders Nilsson has shined in his opportunities.  The playoffs are certainly not out of the question yet for Edmonthon given the talent on this team and the fact that there is more than half a season left to play.  But the window is getting a little smaller day by day.  Luckily, McDavid seems to be recovering from his clavicle injury faster than anticipated, so he will hopefully be getting back on this ice sooner than previously thought.

24. Carolina Hurricanes (10-14-4) (-1)

Nov 22, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defensemen Justin Faulk (27) skates with the puck against the Los Angeles Kings at PNC Arena. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-3. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

The Hurricanes are a team that seems to be stuck in mediocrity.  They have problems all over the ice.  When your team’s leading scorer is a defenseman, who also clocks in at a -9 rating, you know your team is just not very good.  The ‘Canes really don’t have one thing going well for them at the moment.  Their power play and penalty rank in the bottom three of the league; 28th and 29th respectively.  Captain Eric Staal is having a rare down year in a contract year nonetheless, which has once again lit the fire concerning a possible trade.  Maybe a trade to a contender is just what the doctor ordered for Staal, and if the ‘Canes continue to play like this, we may just find out.  Their goaltending situation is a mess.  Eddie Lack has been atrocious posting a .863 SV% while allowing 3.5 goals a game.  That is not what Carolina expected when they acquired Lack this offseason.  Cam Ward has the majority of starts, and hasn’t fared much better.  The ‘Canes management have a lot of decisions to make about where they want their organization to go, and they may have to make those decisions fairly soon.

23. Buffalo Sabres (11-15-3) (-1)

The Sabres are definitely a better team than last year, not by a major margin, but they are absolutely showing signs of improvement.  Ryan O’Reilly seems to have shaken off some off-ice issues to have a very strong start to the year, leading his new team in points.  Matt Moulson is having a very disappointing season so far, and this Buffalo team relies on his two-way play to be successful.  The return of Evander Kane has definitely provided a little spark for the Sabres, but they need to be more consistent if they want to take that next step as a contender.  Goalie Robin Lehner continues to recover from his leg injury, and Chad Johnson has been very average in his stead.  If Lehner can come back soon and provide any stability in net, it will provide a huge boost to the Sabres.  Buffalo still needs work on the defensive end, and that is shown by their special teams.  Their powerplay is one of the best in the league, so the offensive skill is clearly there.  But their penalty kill is at the bottom of the rankings, displaying a major flaw in their defensive game.

22. Philadelphia Flyers (12-11-6) (+3)

Dec 10, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Philadelphia Flyers celebrate defeating the St. Louis Blues 4-2 at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The Flyers have been playing better hockey as of late, but their stats are bit concerning.  Their powerplay and penalty kill rank in the bottom third of the league.  Their captain Claude Giroux has been carrying his weight, but the same can not be said about the rest of his team.  Wayne Simmonds and Jakub Voracek have been brutal.  Simmonds has posted seven goals and nine assists with a -10 rating, while Voracek has been even worse tallying only 1 goal with 14 assists and a -9 rating.  The Flyers need more production from those two players, and they especially need them to be better defensively if they want to improve.  If Simmonds and Voracek can’t improve their two-way games, it could be another long season in Philly.  Giroux can’t do it all himself.  The goaltending situation is a bit strange as well.  Steve Mason has gotten more starts the Michal Neuvirth, despite Neuvirth having much better statistics and results than Mason.  Neuvirth has accumulated 2 more wins than Mason in 5 less starts.  It will be interesting to see if Philly sticks with Mason or if they give Neuvirth a rightful shot at being the #1 netminder.

Oil On Whyte

21. Anaheim Ducks (11-12-5) (+5)

The Ducks are a team I predicted would be a cup contender from day one.  After earning only one win in their first 10 games of the season, Anaheim has begun to turn things around, while showing that they still have what it takes to be a dangerous team out west.  The problem with the Ducks so far this year has been their offense, and that is displayed by having only six skaters with double-digit point totals so far in the year.

The problem in Anaheim has never been defense, proven by the Ducks boasting the leagues best penalty kill at the moment. And while Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf lead their team in points, they need to do even more for this Anaheim team in order to catapult them up the standings.  Another player that needs to step up is Carl Hagelin.  Hagelin came over from New York and was supposed to provide an offensive scoring touch that was lost when Matt Beleskey left for Boston.  But Hagelin has not come through posting just two goals and five assists for a -8 rating this season.  John Gibson seems to have taken over as backup to Frederik Andersen, and both netminders have been solid in net for Anaheim.  If the offense can start to piece things together, the Ducks could be a dangerous team in the second half of the season.

Next: 20-16

Dec 10, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Ben Bishop (30) is congratulated by defenseman Anton Stralman (6) as they beat the Ottawa Senators at Amalie Arena. Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Ottawa Senators 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

20. Winnipeg Jets (14-13-2) (-11)

The biggest drop in the rankings for this month’s edition belongs to the Winnipeg Jets.  Over the past month, the Jets have gone 6-9 and have erased an excellent start to the year with their performance.  Blake Wheeler is having a career year, and Bryan Little is right behind him in points.  But again, those two players have negative plus/minus ratings.  This theme of teams with negative players obviously means something.  You can put up all the points you want, but if you don’t defend, your team will not succeed.  We are seeing an example of that in Winnipeg.  The goalie rotation of Ondrej Pavelec (injured) and Michael Hutchinson has not really helped matters, so the Jets called upon Connor Hellebuyck who has won the first 4 games of his career.  Will the rookie continue to earn starts over his veteran counterparts?  If he stays undefeated, I’d be hard pressed to say no.  The Jets can still work through this slump to make up for ruining their great start, but they need to turn things around in the defensive end.

19. Arizona Coyotes (13-14-1) (+1)

Dec 4, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Arizona Coyotes center Max Domi (16) celebrates his goal against the Buffalo Sabres with Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (23) during the third period at First Niagara Center. Buffalo beat Arizona 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Up until a four-game losing streak on the road to start the month of December, the Arizona Coyotes were one of the hotter teams in the NHL.  They had been scoring goals and earning points while slowly climbing up the standings.  But again, the issue with some of these younger team looking to take that next step, is consistency.

Max Domi is still playing lights out hockey and is in the running for the Calder Memorial Trophy for the league’s top rookie.  However if you look at the rest of the team, guess what you’ll see.  That’s right, a lot of minus ratings.  The defensive side of the puck is what is keeping the Coyotes from maintaining that consistent winning attitude that is so hard to attain.  It proves that defensive minded hockey teams are the teams that will be most successful.

Mike Smith and Anders Lindback haven’t been terrible in net, but they haven’t been great either.  Right now the Coyotes are playing like an average hockey club and it shows with their almost .500 record.

Bolts by the Bay

18. Tampa Bay Lightning (14-12-3) (-4)

Another team looking to shake off a disappointing start has been the Tampa Bay Lightning.  A big strength of this team in recent years has been their special teams, which have struggled so far this season.  They rank 23rd in powerplay percentage, and 24th in penalty kill percentage, which could explain this team’s early struggles.  Steven Stamkos has had a very pedestrian start to the year by his standards only scoring 21 points so far this year with a -3 rating.

Other players that have needed to step up such as, Ryan Callahan, Tyler Johnson, and Jonathan Drouin have yet to do so, so it’s no surprise Tampa has played poorly so far this year.  Ben Bishop is playing like a man possessed, and is doing everything in his power to keep his team afloat during this rough start.  But the once potent offense that would strike as quick as lightning (pun intended) has fizzled.  Bishop needs some help from his playmakers and goal scorers if the reigning Eastern Conference champions want to get back to the postseason.

17. San Jose Sharks (14-13-1) (-1)

Dec 8, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones (31) guards his net during the warmup period against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

The Sharks are a team with all the talent to be a threat but have yet to find that consistency that will move them up the standings.  The Sharks have winning streaks of four games and six games this year, but also have two losing streaks of three games in a row.  That type of streakiness is as bittersweet as it comes.  It makes you wonder, if the Sharks do make the playoffs, which team will we see?  Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns continue to lead the team in scoring, while surprise scoring machine Joel Ward also continues to produce.  However if the Sharks want to move up the standings and become more consistent they are going to need some more solid production from Tommy Wingels and Tomas Hertl.  Martin Jones has come down to Earth a little bit after his red-hot start to the year, which could also be attributed to the Sharks inconsistency.  San Jose has the potential, they just need to translate it on the ice.

16. Florida Panthers (14-11-4) (+5)

Florida has been playing some good hockey lately.  Since our last rankings were released, the Panthers have gone 8-5-1, and have started to mesh as a team.  A lot of that success can be attributed to the play of goalies Roberto Luongo and Al Montoya.  Both goalies have taken advantage of their starts, with both posting SV% above .920.  While the Panthers offense has been less than stellar, their defense and netminding is the reason they have been able to stay afloat this season.  Jaromir Jagr continues to somehow lead this team in points.  Aaron Ekblad is starting to come on as a rising defenseman in the league, posting six goals and seven assists with a +7 rating.  If Jonathan Huberdeau and Reilly Smith can elevate their play, watch out for the cardiac cats in Florida.

Next: 15-11

Dec 10, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35) is congratulated by Nashville Predators defenseman Seth Jones (3) after a win against the Chicago Blackhawks at Bridgestone Arena. The Predators won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

15. New Jersey Devils (14-10-4) (+2)

The Devils are another surprise through the two-month mark of the season.  After last year, most might have already written New Jersey off as basement dwellers for this season, but not so fast.  Mike Cammalleri continues to pace the Devils with his scoring touch, and he is getting help from guys like Adam Henrique, Lee Stempniak, and Kyle Palmieri, who all each have over 20 points.  The biggest factor to this team’s success, is the same as the Devils’ teams from the ’90’s: goaltending.  Just as legend Marty Brodeur was the MVP of the talented New Jersey teams from the 90’s and early 2000’s, Corey Schneider has been the MVP for the Devils this season.  The Devils need to pick it up a little offensively to support their netminder, and they could find themselves climbing up the standings sooner or later.

14. Pittsburgh Penguins (15-10-2) (-8)

Dec 9, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) skates in the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center. The Penguins defeated the Avalanche 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Penguins have struggled over the last month of the season, posting a 5-6-2 record since our last rankings were released.  The strange thing about this decline has been their special teams.  While the Pens have one of the best penalty kills in the league, their powerplay is among the worst.  Normally, those units are reversed.  Evgeni Malkin is having a great start to the year and is keeping his team in playoff picture.  Captain Sidney Crosby has looked nothing like himself, posting six goals and 13 assists with a -7 rating through the first 2 months of the year.  Can the kid turn it around?  He has to, he’s too good.  Marc-Andre Fleury is doing his best to keep the pucks out of the net and is having a sneakily good year so far.  The Penguins are still in good shape, in spite of the struggles of Crosby and new winger Phil Kessel.  If those two can turn it on, watch out for the Pens.  I’d also like to wish Pascal Dupuis the best of wishes as he was forced to retire recently due to a medical condition related to blood clots.  Dupuis is a leader in the Pens locker room, and while his production might be down, he will be sorely missed by the Pittsburgh Penguins players, coaches, fans, organization, and the NHL as a whole.

13. Nashville Predators (15-9-5) (-6)

The Predators aren’t scoring a ton of goals.  They aren’t getting incredible goaltending.  But they are doing the little things like winning puck battles, and maintaining puck possession that is allowing them to win games.  Pekka Rinne started hot but has cooled down a little bit now that the grind of the season is beginning.  Two of the top three scorers on the roster are defensemen, (Roman Josi and Shea Weber).  They play solid defense and they do the little things to win.  That’s what makes this team dangerous.  Nashville boasts one of the best powerplays in the league, and if they can shore up their bottom of the barrel penalty kill, the Preds will be tough to beat going forward.

12. Boston Bruins (15-9-3) (+7)

Dec 9, 2015; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Boston Bruins players celebrate their win against Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

The Bruins have been yet another streaky team that goes as their special teams units go.  When their number one powerplay is getting opportunities, they take advantage.  When they are taking bad penalties, their PK has been struggling.  Tuukka Rask’s play has improved which is why the Bruins ended the month of November on a five game win streak.  But the Bruins have also been playing more soundly on the defensive end.  David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron continue to pace this team as they normally do, and Loui Eriksson is showcasing the type of play that Bruins’ fans anticipated when he came to Boston.  The Bruins have been a dominant team on the road, and if they can start winning in their own barn at TD Garden, the B’s could make a jump in the standings.

11. Chicago Blackhawks (15-10-4) (+2)

Patrick Kane.  That is all.  But seriously, how about Kane?  Currently riding a 23 game point streak?  In today’s NHL?  That’s outstanding, and I don’t think it is something that will be truly recognized until it has ended unfortunately.  There aren’t many guys in the league that can do what Kane is doing night in and night out.  The Hawks are truly grateful for Kane’s production especially considering the tough start that captain Jonathan Toews is having in terms of scoring.

The Hawks and their fans have no need to panic because as long as they make the playoffs, they have got to be considered a favorite.  Corey Crawford is having a solid year due to solid play from defensive cogs Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith.  Chicago is in fine shape heading into the holiday season.  Can’t wait to see if Kane can keep the streak going into 2016.

Next: 10-6

Dec 10, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Justin Abdelkader (8) center Brad Richards (17) left wing Henrik Zetterberg (40) and center Pavel Datsyuk (13) celebrate after a goal during the third period against the Montreal Canadiens at Joe Louis Arena. Red Wings win 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

10. Ottawa Senators (15-9-5) (+2)

The Sens are firmly establishing themselves as a contender in the Eastern Conference.  They have gotten excellent production from leaders Erik Karlsson and Bobby Ryan, demonstrated by high point totals and positive plus minus ratings.  They also have excellent depth which is shown by Mark Stone, Mike Hoffman, and Kyle Turris all having 24 points or more to go along with Karlsson and Ryan.  It looks like Craig Anderson has reclaimed his goaltending spot for Ottawa and Andrew Hammond is going to have to earn his spot back despite having an unreal end of last season.  The Sens are going with the hot hand in net, and it is paying off.  Ottawa has a top power play and if they can improve on their penalty kill, which is in the bottom third of the league, they can continue to climb the standings.

9. Minnesota Wild (14-7-5) (+2)

Dec 7, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise (11) reacts to his game tying goal with center Mikael Granlund (64) in the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center. The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Minnesota Wild 2-1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

A lot has been going right these days in one of the best hockey cities in the country.  The Vikings are looking like a playoff team.  The Twins are hoping to build on a strong 2nd half of their baseball season.  The Timberwolves have a bright future ahead of them.  And the Minnesota Wild are playing some excellent hockey.  Teamwork is the key word here, as 10 players on this Wild team have scored double-digit points.

They have consistency up and down their line up, led by Ryan Suter, Mikko Koivu, and Thomas Vanek.  A big question mark looms in the goaltending area.  Devan Dubnyk has been great in net for the Wild, but has been bothered by a strained groin that could keep him out for an extended period of time.  Groin injuries are particularly tricky for goalies, obviously because their position requires an incredible amount of flexibility and sudden movements.  Next up in line is Darcy Kuemper who has been unimpressive so far in his limited play time.  Can the Wild overcome this injury bug?

8. Detroit Red Wings (16-8-5) (+7)

Arguably the hottest team in the league at the moment, the Red Wings are reminding everyone where Hockeytown USA is.  With a mixture of experienced vets and an insurgence of young budding stars, the Red Wings look like a genuine threat for a Stanley Cup so far this season.  Captain Henrik Zetterberg is leading the Wings in points which should catch no one by surprise.  Right behind him are up and comers Tomas Tatar, Gustav Nyquist, and Justin Abdelkader, which also shouldn’t really shock anyone either.

The biggest surprise by far, has been rookie Dylan Larkin.  The rook is 2nd on the team in points with 11 goals and 11 assists, and has compiled the best plus minus rating in the league at plus 20.  If this kid isn’t the leader for the Calder Memorial Trophy, I don’t know who is.  Jimmy Howard and Petr Mrazek have more or less shared starts this season, and it seems to be working smoothly.  Maybe the Wings can prove you can win with a 2 headed monster in net.  Either way, the Wings are on the right track.

7. St. Louis Blues (16-9-4) (-4)

Dec 5, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) in action during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scottrade Center. Toronto won the game 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports

While the Blues are still clearly one of the better teams in the West, they have been a tad off as of late.  Over the last month, the Blues have gone a pedestrian 6-5-3, and while they are still getting points out of their OT losses, they are not finding the tough ways to win those games.  Vladimir Tarasenko and Alex Steen are leading the team in scoring which is to be expected.  The Blues have a ton of scoring depth on their forward lines and can get scoring from any of the four lines.

Their defense, led by Kevin Shattenkrik and Alex Pietrangelo, has been excellent in front of goalies Jake Allen and Brian Elliot.  Shattenkirk is 4th on the team in points, despite missing 10 games this season with an injury.  The Blues are as complete a team as there is in the league, and every team goes through a midseason slump.  The Blues are likely just getting theirs out-of-the-way early.  I expect them to shake it off and have a much better December.

6. New York Islanders (16-8-5) (+4)

The Islanders are another team that has shown they can be a serious contender.  It all starts with their defense.  Their team has committed to being a defense first team, and it has shown with them allowing only 2.34 goals per game this season.

They don’t have incredible goaltenders, but their defense coupled with the confidence that Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss have gained throughout the year has made for quite the start in Brooklyn.  The Isles have all the ingredients to continue this type of play well into 2016 and beyond.  Another team with at least 10 players in the double digits scoring category, led by Kyle Okposo and John Tavares.  Strangely enough, both those players have minus ratings, but almost everyone else on the team has a positive plus/minus.  Kind of makes you wonder just how good this team can really be.

Next: 5-1