NHL power rankings: Nov. 4

Tarik El-Bashir assesses the top teams in the National Hockey League this week (records through Nov. 3).

5 Seconds

00:00

1 (1 last week): Washington Capitals (8-2-0)

The Capitals retain the top spot after rebounding from back-to-back losses in Edmonton and Vancouver with a come-from-behind victory over Anaheim. Coach Bruce Boudreau benched Alex Ovechkin for a shift late against the Ducks. A new era of accountability in the District? The league is watching.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

2 (2): Pittsburgh Penguins (8-3-3)

The Penguins hit a bit of a rough patch with one-goal losses on the road to sizzling Toronto and San Jose (in the shootout). Every day that passes means Sidney Crosby is another day closer to returning to a lineup that's every bit as deep as Washington's and has managed to score 40 goals (third-best) despite the captain’s absence.

Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP

3 (4): Dallas Stars (8-3-0)

In the Stars' only game since the last ranking, they defeated New Jersey, 3-1, to improve to 5-1-0 at home. The surprise of the season's first month, they're still getting superb goaltending from Kari Lehtonen, who has a league-leading eight wins to go along with a ridiculous .947 save percentage.

LM Otero / AP

4 (7): Chicago Blackhawks (8-2-2)

What's not to like about the way the 2010 Stanley Cup champions are playing? Led by Patrick Kane (12 points, plus-6), they've scored 36 goals in 12 games (fourth-best) and the penalty kill ranks third (91.9 percent effectiveness). Kane is also in the funniest commercial on television. "Peg-gy! Peg-gy!"

Joel Auerbach / Getty Images

5 (NR): Edmonton Oilers (8-2-2)

Since handing the Caps their first loss of the season, rookie Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (five goals, six assists) and the (mostly) youthful Oil have defeated Colorado, St. Louis and Los Angeles to extend their NHL-best winning streak to six games. Goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, 38, boasts a 0.98 goals against average and a .963 save percentage.

Bret Hartman / AP

6 (9): Toronto Maple Leafs (9-3-1)

Can't say we called this one. But can't deny the fact that Leafs might actually be good, either. Carried by Phil Kessel (10 goals, 11 assists), Joffrey Lupul (8 goals) and a resurgent Dion Phaneuf, they're scoring 3.38 goals per game. Yes, you read that correctly.

RAY STUBBLEBINE / Reuters

7 (10): Philadelphia Flyers (7-4-2)

Not quite sure what to make of Claude Giroux and the Flyers just yet. They’ll lose back-to-back games to scuffling Montreal and Winnipeg, then beat Carolina and Buffalo. What can't be denied is this: Giroux (eight goals, nine assists) and his teammates are filling up the nets (second-best 3.62 goals per game).

John Hickey / AP

8 (NR): San Jose Sharks (7-4-0)

Joe Pavelski and his teammates returned from a 5-1-0 road trip to continue their dominance over the NHL-leading Penguins at home Thursday. Their 4-3 shootout victory was their eighth in a row over Pittsburgh at the Shark Tank. Although Pavelski was shut out against the Pens, he has six goals in the past seven games.

Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

9 (NR): Minnesota Wild (6-3-3)

Warning: This one might be a reach. But the Wild's modest three-game winning streak (Detroit twice, Vancouver) can't be completely discounted. Interestingly, goalie Josh Harding (league leading .964 save percentage) was in net in the three victories, not Niklas Backstrom.

ERIC MILLER / Reuters

10 (3): Los Angeles Kings (6-4-2)

Everyone's allowed to have a bad week, right? Anze Kopitar (6 goals, 8 assists) and the Kings went a woeful 0-2-1 since the last ranking. But goalie Jonathan Quick (1.66 goals against average) and solid team defense have them permitting a scant 2.00 goals per game, which is tied for second best league-wide. Five of their next six are at Staples Center, too.

Bret Hartman / AP

Featured Photo Galleries

Paula and Clay Gustin become emotional as dozens of balloons float above during a memorial Wednesday, May 23, 2012, for their five-year-old son, Rhett, who died in an accident on May 20. (AP Photo/The Coeur D?Alene Press, Shawn Gust) MANDATORY CREDIT

Fleet Week, solar impulse plane, artificial heart, Air Force academy graduation and more in the day in photos

Fleet Week, solar impulse plane, artificial heart, Air Force academy graduation and more.

Red Panda Bears sleep in the Panda Bear enclosure at the Beijing Zoo on May 22, 2012. The zoo grounds were originally a Ming Dynasty imperial palace and finally opened to the public in 1908. The zoo's history states that during the WWII, most of the zoo's animals died of starvation with only 13 monkeys and one old emu surviving the war. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/GettyImages

Barn owls, pit bulls, red pandas, cheetah cubs and more in animal views

Barn owls, pit bulls, red pandas, cheetah cubs and more.

CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 24: Actress Macy Gray attend the 'The Paperboy' photocall during the 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 24, 2012 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Eye on entertainment

Macy Gray, Zac Efron, Philip Phillips, Fantasia Barrino, Neil Diamond and other celebrities.

‘Dancing with the Stars’

Season 14 of “Dancing With the Stars.”

May 21, 2012: Members of the Naval Academy freshman class (plebes) lock arms and form a human ladder while climbing the Herndon Monument at the United States Naval Academy on May 21, 2012 in Annapolis, Md. Each year members of the Naval Academy's freshman class (plebes) climb the lard covered 21-foot tall Herndon Monument to replace a plebe dixie cup hat with a midshipman's hat at the top of the obelisk.

Teamwork, discipline help plebes get to the top

At the U.S. Naval Academy, the freshman class attempts to climb the Herndon Monument.

The National Zoo has two new additions: the female cheetah cub, left, and her brother on the right.

The National Zoo’s new cheetah cubs

A dramatic rescue saved these two cheetah babies and their distressed mother giving birth.

JOPLIN, MO - MAY 19: Grace Goebel plays outside of the new Habitat for Humanity home of her parents that was built on the spot of a home that had been destroyed after a tornado hit the neighborhood almost one year ago on May 19, 2012 in Joplin, Missouri. Tuesday will mark the one-year anniversary of the EF-5 tornado that devastated the town. The tornado left behind a path of destruction along with 161 deaths and hundreds of injuries, but one year later there are signs that the town is beginning to recover. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Joplin, Missouri, one year after tornadoes devastate town

Reminders of destruction are everywhere in Joplin, Mo., a year after a killer tornado.

COLLEGE PARK, MD - APRIL 4: Pet acupuncturist Greta McVey puts needles in mixed breed 'Cashew' at her home office in College Park, MD on April 4, 2012. Cashew was rescued by his owner this past December and suffers from anxiety and fear of abandonment. McVey first licensed as an acupuncturist on humans then went on to be certified on animals. She hosts a variety of clientele, anything from birds, to guinea pigs but mainly treats dogs and cats. (Photo by Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

Washington’s ‘pet-u-puncture whisperer’

College Park’s Greta McVey is part of the growing industry focused on veterinary acupuncture.

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.

Sports

NHL power rankings: Nov. 4

Tarik El-Bashir assesses the top teams in the National Hockey League this week (records through Nov. 3).

Featured Photo Galleries