Burnside's Power Rankings: Electric Lightning keep scoring -- and winning

Yeah, we know, Power Rankings are a Monday thing. Sue us. It's a terrible thing to get old and write something and then forget to send it. But the fact still remains the National Hockey League season is officially a month old. It's not as early as it might seem, as the weekly Terrific 10 and Frigid Five reveal.
Read on.
Previous rankings:Preseason | Week1 | Week 2| Week 3 | Week 4

1. Tampa Bay Lightning (3)The 11-2-2 Lightning might just be the best team in the NHL, and they are pouring goals in, led by the league's leading point-producer Steven Stamkos (25 points) and leading goal-scorer Nikita Kucherov (14). Oh, yeah -- Andrei Vasilevskiy leads league in wins with 11. Enough said.
2. St. Louis Blues (4) Wrestled with Blues vs. Lightning for top spot this week, and the Blues have been wildly impressive playing one of the most complete team games in the league, illustrated by their impressive 5-2-1 road record. Jaden Schwartz on fire with 20 points in 13 games, third in the league, for the 11-3-1 Blues.
3. Los Angeles Kings (1)Anyone who wondered whether this was the old Kings didn't see them erase three-goal, third-period deficit against Nashville on Saturday (they lost on a late overtime goal). Still, this team can play it any way, as witnessed by their 10-2-2 record (5-0-2 at home) and plus-17 goal differential, tied for tops in the league.
4. New Jersey Devils (5)The Devils continue to impress with the fourth-best winning percentage in the NHL and a sparkling 5-1-1 record on the road. Will the kids, Will Butcher, Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt, hit a wall? Maybe. But not yet.
5. Winnipeg Jets (-)The Jets (8-3-3 and 5-0-3 in their last eight after whipping the Stars in Dallas on Monday) have emerged as a force in the Central Division, and as long as Connor Hellebuyck continues to provide consistent starts in goal, there's no reason to think this well-constructed team is going to disappear.
6. San Jose Sharks (-)The Sharks (8-5-0) have quietly won four in a row and have the second-ranked penalty kill in the league. Marc-Edouard Vlasic, out with a head injury, is a key piece of the Sharks machinery.
7. Columbus Blue Jackets (8)If the Blue Jackets (9-4-1) fix their woeful power play (worst in the league), they might be a force.
8. New York Islanders (9)The Islanders beat Colorado Sunday as the Avs trade Matt Duchene mid-game, and the Isles have gone 7-3-0 in their last 10. Go figure.
9. Vegas Golden Knights (2)The Golden Knights are going through goaltenders like casinos go through free drinks, but kudos to Gerard Gallant's plucky bunch as they are keeping their heads above water at 9-4-1 and a tidy plus-9 goal differential. Goodbye, Vadim Shipachyov, we hardly knew you.
10. Vancouver Canucks (7)The Canucks have struggled at home (3-4-2, including a loss to Detroit on Monday), but Brock Boeser is a gem -- tied for second among rookie point producers with 13 points in 11 games -- and this team's surprising 7-5-2 record is a reflection of coaching and work ethic.

Frigid Five

27. Carolina Hurricanes (-)The 'Canes once again digging themselves an early season hole by not being able to close the deal in close games (they're 2-3 in one-goal games). Just three regulation/OT wins are second-fewest in the NHL.
28. Edmonton Oilers (27)The Oilers have the second-fewest points of any team in the NHL. Chew on that for a bit. Being a tepid 3-6-0 at home after being shutout Sunday by a very ordinary Detroit team doesn't help.
29. Florida Panthers (-)Something is way off in Florida, where the Panthers are 2-6-2 in their last 10. Roberto Luongo has returned from injury. Not sure it really matters.
30. Buffalo Sabres (30) Maybe it was watching the Sabres implode in person Saturday -- allowing four first-period goals en route to a 5-1 loss in Dallas -- but this is a team whose 4-8-2 record seems to flatter them.
31. Arizona Coyotes (31) Every week, we go right to the bottom and pencil in the Coyotes, who are now 2-12-2 with a desultory minus-23 goal differential. See no reason to stop that routine this week.
This story was not subject to approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club. You can follow Scott on Twitter @OvertimeScottB, and listen to his Burnside Chats podcast here.