1. Tampa Bay Lightning (1) Good on the New York Islanders for putting a brief bump in the road of the runaway freight train that 15-3-2 Tampa Bay represents. Still, the Lightning have it all going on, and it's not really close at this stage of the season.
2. Toronto Maple Leafs (3)The more the Leafs do things they shouldn't - like win with Auston Matthews banged up - the easier it is to imagine them on a long playoff run next spring. Winners of six in a row and keeping the heat on the Lightning in the Atlantic Division.
3. St. Louis Blues (2)The Blues continue to represent the surprise of the west - maybe the entire league, at this point - with a 15-5-1 record and exemplary 8-3-1 record on the road. Not bad considering both the power play and penalty kill have only been average.
4. Winnipeg Jets (7) The Jets have won four in a row and have the third-best winning percentage in the league. Seventh in the league in goals scored per game, but more importantly for the historically-leaky franchise, they are ninth in goals allowed per game. Sounds like a recipe for a postseason berth.
5. Vegas Golden Knights (6)The Knights get pounded by Edmonton, but bounce right back like one of those wobbly toys. Four different netminders have started games for the expansion team and they're still somehow 8-1-0 at home after Sunday's impressive win over Los Angeles - and a point behind the Kings for the top spot in the Pacific Division.
6. Nashville Predators (10)The Predators are scoring in quantity and are 6-1 in their last seven. Getting it done by committee as Preds are averaging more than three goals a game (11th in the NHL) but don't have anyone in the top 30 in scoring.
7. Columbus Blue Jackets (-)The Blue Jackets rejoin the Terrific 10 after an 0-3-1 slide, having won three in a row. They aren't getting the offense they need to sustain this, but that's why Sergei Bobrovsky gets the big bucks. Good for GM Jarmo Kekalainen to get the Cam Atkinson deal done (seven years, $41.125 million).
8. New Jersey Devils (4)The Devils have started to drift ever so slightly with a 4-3-3 record in their last 10. Still, they boast the fifth-best winning percentage in the NHL and are 6-2-2 away from home. Last season, the Devils were 12-23-6.
9. New York Islanders (-)We actually had the Isles several slots higher in their return to the Terrific 10, having won three in a row, but then they gave up three first-period goals to Carolina on Sunday. So there you have it. Mathew Barzal has moved into sole possession of the rookie scoring lead with an assist Sunday. The Isles are still undefeated in regulation at home: 6-0-2.
10. Detroit Red Wings (-)Dropped the Kings out of 10th spot after their loss in Vegas. Sorry about that. And a good chance to recognize a stretch of strong play from a Detroit team that still is a longshot to make the playoffs in our books. But credit to the Wings, who are 6-2-2 in their last 10, and woke up Monday in third place in the Atlantic Division.
