Burnside's Power Rankings: Surging Capitals climbing up ladder

In less than a week, we'll be into the National Hockey League's holiday break. But trust us, there's no break in the standings as rarely have we seen things as compressed as they are now, regardless of whether you're looking West or East.
Which makes assembling the Terrific 10 all that much more difficult. But that's what we signed on for.
Previous rankings: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2| Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10

1. Tampa Bay Lightning

Last week: No. 2
Okay, this one was a no-brainer. The Lightning have won seven in a row and, by any measuring stick, are the NHL's best team as we edge closer to the mid-point of the season. Tampa Bay's 11 road wins are tops in the NHL and their plus-43 goal differential dwarfs the competition.

2. Nashville Predators

Last week: No. 5
Preds have won three in a row and jumped to the top of the Western Conference standings. They've got Ryan Johansen back and imagine how good they're going to be when Ryan Ellis, who has started skating with his teammates, gets back in the lineup.

3. Washington Capitals

Last week: No. 9
The Caps have surged to the top of an impossibly tight Metropolitan Division. Alexander Ovechkin has pulled into a tie with Nikita Kucherov for the league lead in goals with 23. They're hopeful of getting winger T.J. Oshie back this week, which is good news for a Caps team that has shaken off its early-season doldrums with a 10-2 run in their past 12.

4. Vegas Golden Knights

Last week: No. 3
Our early New Year's resolution is to stop inserting "surprising" in every Terrific 10 column, or other content related to the expansion Golden Knights. The Knights get Marc-Andre Fleury back in time to beat his old team. And after whipping Florida on Sunday, are tied for first place in the Pacific with L.A. with games in hand. Playoffs or bust for the new kids on the block.

5. Los Angeles Kings

Last week: No. 1
The Kings have hit a bit of a sideways turn in their trip through the New York area (0-2-1 after an eight-game win streak), but Marian Gaborik is starting to go and the Kings lead all NHL teams in goals allowed per game. Everything old is new again for the stingy Kings.

6. New Jersey Devils

Last week: NR
The Devils have continued to stay in the mix for top spot in the Metropolitan Division in spite of injuries to Taylor Hall, Kyle Palmieri and Marcus Johansson, and are looking to get some of those key components back in the coming days. Let's not forget John Hynes and the works he's done when we're thinking Jack Adams.

7. Chicago Blackhawks

Last week: NR
The Blackhawks are firing on all cylinders with five straight wins, including an impressive 4-1 win over Minnesota on Sunday. Knew it was too early to be burying this team. Currently the top wild-card team in the west.

8. New York Rangers

Last week: NR
Did we mention how tight things are in the Metro? The Rangers are 5-2-1 in their last seven, are almost unbeatable at home and have snuck into the top wild-card spot in the east. Need to address middling 5-7-0 record on the road to assure themselves of a postseason berth, though.

9. San Jose Sharks

Last week: NR
San Jose has been a kind of forgotten team in the Pacific with Vegas and Los Angeles garnering most of the headlines and accolades. But the Sharks are second in the league in goals allowed per game percentage points behind the Kings. The status of key offensive cog Logan Couture bears watching this week after a head injury.

10. Winnipeg Jets

Last week: NR
First real wobble from the Jets, who have gone 2-4-1 in their last seven. Nice bounce-back win over the Blues on Sunday, and they still own a top-10 winning percentage in the NHL, so they stay in the Terrific 10 -- for the time being.

Frigid Five

27. Florida Panthers

Last week: No. 28
The Panthers are like a team swimming in quicksand. Small progress followed by more flailing. Like Sunday's disheartening 5-2 loss to Vegas.

28. Ottawa Senators

Last week: No. 31
The Sens come up with nice win outdoors against Montreal, although the entire celebratory weekend in the Canadian capital was sullied by owner Eugene Melnyk offering vague threats of relocation.

29. Detroit Red Wings

Last week: No. 27
The Red Wings have two wins in their last 12 games. Enough said.

30. Buffalo Sabres

Last week: No. 30
The offense comes around and the defense goes missing. That's how you get to a minus-39 goal differential, 30th in the NHL. Not sure this is what the NHL had in mind when they included them in the Winter Classic against the Rangers.

31. Arizona Coyotes

Last week: No. 29
After a couple of weeks outside the basement, the woeful Coyotes return to their rightful place thanks to a five-game losing streak and league-worst minus-44 goal differential.
This story was not subject to approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club. You can follow Scott on Twitter at @OvertimeScottB, and listen to his Burnside Chats podcast here.