Super 16: Lightning ascend to top of power rankings

The Tampa Bay Lightning are No. 1 in the weekly Super 16 power rankings for the first time since the first week of the season.

The Lightning have moved up from No. 2 to take the top spot from the Nashville Predators, who were No. 1 for seven consecutive weeks. The Predators dropped to No. 2.
In addition, the Winnipeg Jets moved up three spots to No. 4 and the Calgary Flames four spots to No. 8.
To create the power rankings, each of the 13 participating staff members puts together his or her version of what they think the Super 16 should look like. Those are submitted and a point total is assigned to each.
The team picked first is given 16 points, second gets 15, third gets 14 and so on down to No. 16, which gets one point.
Here is latest Super 16, with some news and notes to follow for each team:

1. Tampa Bay Lightning (21-7-1)

Total points: 203
Last week: No. 2
Hit:The Lightning have won four in a row, scoring at least five goals in each game, including going 5-for-13 on the power play. In the feel-good story department, goalie Edward Pasquale made 19 saves in a 6-5 shootout win against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday for his first victory in his first NHL appearance after 259 minor league appearances, including 235 in the American Hockey League.
Miss:They've allowed 14 goals on 100 shots (.860 save percentage) during the four-game winning streak.

2. Nashville Predators (19-8-1)

Total points: 193
Last week: No. 1
Hit:The Predators have held opponents to one goal or fewer in eight of their 28 games and two goals or fewer in 16 games.
Miss:Defenseman P.K. Subban (upper body), and forwards Viktor Arvidsson (broken thumb), Filip Forsberg (upper body) and Kyle Turris (undisclosed) are all on injured reserve. They have combined for 63 points (29 goals, 34 assists), including 22 (14 goals, eight assists) for Forsberg, who is out 4-6 weeks.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs (20-8-0)

Total points: 188
Last week: No. 3
Hit:Auston Matthews has scored 15 goals on 50 shots in 14 games. He has five goals on 12 shots in three games since returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for 14 games.
Miss:Nothing. They've won five games in a row, scoring four or more goals in each of the games, and they have William Nylander back in the mix.

4. Winnipeg Jets (17-8-2)

Total points: 165
Last week: No. 7
Hit:The Jets have won four in a row, including the past three on the road, and have outscored the opposition 11-5 in the third period/overtime in the four games, 6-1 in their past two games.
Miss:They've allowed the first goal in each of their past three games.

5. Buffalo Sabres (17-8-4)

Total points: 141
Last week: No. 4
Hit:Jack Eichel has 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 11 games since Nov. 16.
Miss: The Sabres have lost four in a row (0-2-2) since winning 10 straight from Nov. 8-27.

6. Colorado Avalanche (16-7-5)

Total points: 140
Last week: No. 6
Hit:The Avalanche have scored at least one power-play goal in 21 of their 28 games. They have the best power play in the NHL (32.2 percent).
Miss: It's hard to nitpick here because the Avalanche had an 11-game point streak (9-0-2) end in a 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. However if we were to nitpick, we'd point out that Tyson Jost and Alex Kerfoot have combined for one goal in 10 games since Nov. 16.

7. Washington Capitals (15-9-3)

Total points: 130
Last week: No. 5
Hit:Alex Ovechkin has scored eight goals in nine games since Nov. 16. He needs one shot on goal to become the ninth player in NHL history with 5,000, joining Hockey Hall of Famers Ray Bourque (6,209), Jaromir Jagr (5,637), Marcel Dionne (5,363), Phil Esposito (5,166), Al MacInnis (5,157), Mike Gartner (5,090), Wayne Gretzky (5,088) and Brendan Shanahan (5,086).
Miss:The Capitals have been outscored 7-1 in the third period in their past two games, regulation losses to the Anaheim Ducks (6-5) and Vegas Golden Knights (5-3).

8. Calgary Flames (17-9-2)

Total points: 122
Last week: No. 12
Hit:The Flames have scored at least five goals in a period four times this season, the latest being the second period of their 9-6 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. They also did it Nov. 1 against Colorado, Nov. 19 against Vegas and Nov. 21 against Winnipeg. The only other teams who have done it even once this season are the Philadelphia Flyers (Oct. 16 vs. Boston Bruins), Vancouver Canucks (Nov. 8 vs. Florida Panthers) and the Panthers (Nov. 11 vs. Ottawa Senators).
Miss: Even with the six goals they allowed Tuesday, there's not much missing from the Flames right now. They've won three games in a row and have points in five straight (4-0-1). They're 7-1-1 with 42 goals for since Nov. 17.

9. Boston Bruins (14-9-4)

Total points: 88
Last week: No. 8
Hit:Tuukka Rask has a .934 save percentage in his past five starts (142 saves on 152 shots).
Miss: Injuries to key players might be catching up to the Bruins, who have lost three of their past four games in regulation and have two regulation wins in 10 games since Nov. 14. They are playing without center Patrice Bergeron (ribs), and defensemen Zdeno Chara (knee), Charlie McAvoy (concussion) and Kevan Miller (throat).

10. Columbus Blue Jackets (15-10-2)

Total points: 86
Last week: No. 9
Hit:Cam Atkinson has scored 13 goals, including two hat tricks, in 11 games since Nov. 10. He has points in all 11 games (13 goals, six assists). It's the longest active point streak in the NHL and the longest point streak of his NHL career.
Miss:The Blue Jackets have allowed at least four goals in four of seven games since Nov. 19. They are 3-4-0 in that stretch.

11. San Jose Sharks (14-10-5)

Total points: 74
Last week: No. 5
Hit:The Sharks have scored a power-play goal in five straight games (6-for-15) and in nine of 11 games (12-for-37).
Miss:Their 3-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday ended a six-game road losing streak (0-5-1). The Sharks are 5-7-3 on the road this season, having been outscored 53-40.

12. Dallas Stars (15-10-3)

Total points: 70
Last week: No. 15
Hit:Jamie Benn has scored five goals in his past six games, including one in each of his past three, all wins.
Miss: Julius Honka has been a healthy scratch in five of Dallas' past six games. He played 9:52 in a 3-2 loss to the Avalanche on Nov. 24. The defenseman, who was the No. 14 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, has struggled this season with three points, all assists, in 19 games.

13. Minnesota Wild (15-10-2)

Total points: 68
Last week: No. 10
Hit:The Wild lead the NHL in wins when allowing the first goal with 10.
Miss: They have allowed the first goal in 18 of their 27 games, tied for the most in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings.

14. Anaheim Ducks (15-10-5)

Total points: 43
Last week: NR
Hit:The Ducks have an NHL high 11 wins and 27 points earned (11-1-5) in games decided by one goal, including wins in their past five such games.
Miss: Ryan Kesler has struggled to make an impact on the score sheet with six points (four goals, two assists) and a minus-11 rating in 27 games. He had zero points and was minus-4 in 12 games from Nov. 7-30.

15. Vegas Golden Knights (15-13-1)

Total points: 28
Last week: No. 16
Hit:The Golden Knights have won six of seven games since Nov. 21 (6-1-0) and their penalty kill is 16-for-16 in their past six games.
Miss:Jonathan Marchessault has no goals in his past eight games and two in 12 games since Nov. 11.

16. New York Islanders (13-10-3)

Total points: 18
Last week: NR
Hit:Anders Lee, who scored 40 goals last season, is heating up with goals in three straight games and in four of his past six.
Miss: The Islanders are 0-for-17 on the power play in eight games since Nov. 18.

Others receiving points:Montreal Canadiens 8, Carolina Hurricanes 2, Arizona Coyotes 1
Dropped out: New York Rangers (No. 13), Carolina Hurricanes (No. 14)

HERE'S HOW WE RANKED 'EM

AMALIE BENJAMIN
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Toronto Maple Leafs; 3. Nashville Predators; 4. Winnipeg Jets; 5. Buffalo Sabres; 6. Colorado Avalanche; 7. Washington Capitals; 8. Calgary Flames; 9. Columbus Blue Jackets; 10. Minnesota Wild; 11. Boston Bruins; 12. San Jose Sharks; 13. Dallas Stars; 14. Anaheim Ducks; 15. Vegas Golden Knights; 16. New York Islanders
TIM CAMPBELL
1. Nashville Predators; 2. Tampa Bay Lightning; 3. Toronto Maple Leafs; 4. Winnipeg Jets; 5. Calgary Flames; 6. Buffalo Sabres; 7. Colorado Avalanche; 8. Minnesota Wild; 9. Boston Bruins; 10. San Jose Sharks; 11. Washington Capitals; 12. Dallas Stars; 13. Anaheim Ducks; 14. Columbus Blue Jackets; 15. Vegas Golden Knights; 16. Montreal Canadiens
BRIAN COMPTON
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Toronto Maple Leafs; 3. Nashville Predators; 4. Winnipeg Jets; 5. Buffalo Sabres; 6. Calgary Flames; 7. Washington Capitals; 8. Colorado Avalanche; 9. Anaheim Ducks; 10. Dallas Stars; 11. Boston Bruins; 12. Columbus Blue Jackets; 13. San Jose Sharks; 14. New York Islanders; 15. Vegas Golden Knights; 16. Minnesota Wild
NICK COTSONIKA
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Toronto Maple Leafs; 3. Nashville Predators; 4. Winnipeg Jets; 5. Colorado Avalanche; 6. Buffalo Sabres; 7. Calgary Flames; 8. Washington Capitals; 9. Boston Bruins; 10. Minnesota Wild; 11. Columbus Blue Jackets; 12. Dallas Stars; 13. Anaheim Ducks; 14. New York Islanders; 15. San Jose Sharks; 16. Montreal Canadiens
TOM GULITTI
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Toronto Maple Leafs; 3. Nashville Predators; 4. Colorado Avalanche; 5. Winnipeg Jets; 6. Calgary Flames; 7. Washington Capitals; 8. Buffalo Sabres; 9. Boston Bruins; 10. Columbus Blue Jackets; 11. San Jose Sharks; 12. Dallas Stars; 13. Anaheim Ducks; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. New York Islanders; 16. Montreal Canadiens
ADAM KIMELMAN
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Nashville Predators; 3. Toronto Maple Leafs; 4. Winnipeg Jets; 5. Colorado Avalanche; 6. Washington Capitals; 7. Buffalo Sabres; 8. Calgary Flames; 9. Columbus Blue Jackets; 10. San Jose Sharks; 11. Boston Bruins; 12. Minnesota Wild; 13. Dallas Stars; 14. New York Islanders; 15. Anaheim Ducks; 16. Carolina Hurricanes
ROBERT LAFLAMME
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Nashville Predators; 3. Toronto Maple Leafs; 4. Winnipeg Jets; 5. Washington Capitals; 6. Buffalo Sabres; 7. San Jose Sharks; 8. Boston Bruins; 9. Colorado Avalanche; 10. Calgary Flames; 11. Columbus Blue Jackets; 12. Dallas Stars; 13. Minnesota Wild; 14. Anaheim Ducks; 15. New York Islanders; 16. Montreal Canadiens
MIKE G. MORREALE
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Nashville Predators; 3. Winnipeg Jets; 4. Toronto Maple Leafs; 5. Buffalo Sabres; 6. San Jose Sharks; 7. Colorado Avalanche; 8. Boston Bruins; 9. Washington Capitals; 10. Columbus Blue Jackets; 11. Minnesota Wild; 12. Dallas Stars; 13. Calgary Flames; 14. Vegas Golden Knights; 15. Anaheim Ducks; 16. Montreal Canadiens
TRACEY MYERS
1. Toronto Maple Leafs; 2. Nashville Predators; 3. Tampa Bay Lightning; 4. Buffalo Sabres; 5. Colorado Avalanche; 6. Columbus Blue Jackets; 7. Washington Capitals; 8. Winnipeg Jets; 9. Calgary Flames; 10. Minnesota Wild; 11. Boston Bruins; 12. Dallas Stars; 13. Anaheim Ducks; 14. Vegas Golden Knights; 15. San Jose Sharks; 16. Montreal Canadiens
BILL PRICE
1. Nashville Predators; 2. Toronto Maple Leafs; 3. Tampa Bay Lightning; 4. Winnipeg Jets; 5. Buffalo Sabres; 6. Calgary Flames; 7. Colorado Avalanche; 8. Washington Capitals; 9. Columbus Blue Jackets; 10. Vegas Golden Knights; 11. San Jose Sharks; 12. Minnesota Wild; 13. Dallas Stars; 14. New York Islanders; 15. Boston Bruins; 16. Carolina Hurricanes
SHAWN ROARKE
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Nashville Predators; 3. Toronto Maple Leafs; 4. Winnipeg Jets; 5. Washington Capitals; 6. Calgary Flames; 7. Colorado Avalanche; 8. Buffalo Sabres; 9. Columbus Blue Jackets; 10. Boston Bruins; 11. Dallas Stars; 12. Minnesota Wild; 13. Vegas Golden Knights; 14. San Jose Sharks; 15. Anaheim Ducks; 16. New York Islanders
DAN ROSEN
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Nashville Predators; 3. Toronto Maple Leafs; 4. Winnipeg Jets; 5. Colorado Avalanche; 6. Washington Capitals; 7. Calgary Flames; 8. Buffalo Sabres; 9. Dallas Stars; 10. San Jose Sharks; 11. Columbus Blue Jackets; 12. Boston Bruins; 13. Vegas Golden Knights; 14. Minnesota Wild; 15. Anaheim Ducks; 16. Arizona Coyotes
MIKE ZEISBERGER
1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Nashville Predators; 3. Toronto Maple Leafs; 4. Winnipeg Jets; 5. Washington Capitals; 6. Colorado Avalanche; 7. Buffalo Sabres; 8. Calgary Flames; 9. Boston Bruins; 10. Dallas Stars; 11. Minnesota Wild; 12. Anaheim Ducks; 13. San Jose Sharks; 14. Columbus Blue Jackets; 15. Montreal Canadiens; 16. Vegas Golden Knights