Burnside's Power Rankings: Kings, Lightning still setting league's pace

Here we go. In no particular order, Tampa Bay is back (as if they went anywhere), the Kings are rocking, Vegas continues to impress and look out for Boston, while the slippery slope continues for Ottawa, Detroit and Buffalo.
Let's get to it, shall we?
Previous rankings: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2| Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9

1. Los Angeles Kings

Last week: No. 3
We welcome the Kings to the top spot, thanks to eight straight wins. The mark of a good team is winning ugly when pretty doesn't show up.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning

Last week: No. 5
The Lightning nipped Winnipeg in overtime on Saturday night, and it's not a stretch to imagine that might be your Stanley Cup final next June. The Lightning have just six regulation losses, which is fewest in the league.

3. Vegas Golden Knights

Last week: NR
The Golden Knights continue to dazzle as they have four wins in a row after it looked like they might be hitting the wall. David Perron's return helps, and Marc-Andre Fleury is looking to get back into action later this week.

4. St. Louis Blues

Last week: NR
The Blues have put behind them a brief rough patch with four straight wins and jumped back into top spot in the Central, ahead of Nashville and Winnipeg. The Blues were without captain Alex Pietrangelo on Sunday, who is considered day-to-day, but the loss of Jaden Schwartz for up to six weeks with an ankle injury is huge.

5. Nashville Predators

Last week: No. 2
The Predators continue to pile up points, going 7-1-2 in their last 10, in spite of the loss of top center Ryan Johansen to injury.

6. Winnipeg Jets

Last week: No. 1
The Jets are fourth in goals per game and fourth on the power play, and as long as the goaltending holds up, they are a force.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs

Last week: NR
The Leafs have opened up a ton of breathing room in second place in the Atlantic Division, coming off exciting 1-0 win over Edmonton, with Curtis McElhinney giving Frederik Andersen a well-deserved rest in goal. Their 10 road wins are tied for the most in the Eastern Conference.

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8. Boston Bruins

Last week: NR
The Bruins have leapt over Montreal and into third spot in the Atlantic Division with an 8-2-0 run in their last 10. That's not insignificant as it's almost guaranteed that only three teams from the Atlantic will qualify for the playoffs.

9. Washington Capitals

Last week: NR
Remember when the Capitals were treading water a month ago? They're not treading anymore, and in fact, are within two points of first-place Columbus in hockey's toughest division, the Metropolitan. This in spite of the loss of T.J. Oshie to injury.

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10. Columbus Blue Jackets

Last week: No. 4
Speaking of the Blue Jackets, they continue to hang onto first place in the Metro in spite of the league's worst power play. They're the only team operating at less than 10 percent efficiency. Having the third-ranked penalty kill and Sergei Bobrovsky, who leads the league in shutouts with four, is a nice counterbalance.

Frigid Five

27. Detroit Red Wings

Last week: No. 29
Completely subjective, but Red Wings must lead the league in embarrassing losses as they were humbled 6-1 by St. Louis at home on Saturday. Wings are a desultory 5-6-1 in their new barn.

28. Florida Panthers

Last week: No. 28
The loss of Roberto Luongo pretty much seals fate for Panthers, who are dead last in the league in goals allowed per game.

29. Arizona Coyotes

Last week: NR
After a brief respite from the Frigid Five, the 'Yotes are back, thanks to their minus-37 goal differential -- worst in the Western Conference and one off the league-worst mark. Their three home wins are tied for fewest in league (with Buffalo, naturally).

30. Buffalo Sabres

Last week: No. 31
Just how much turnover will there be with this Sabres lineup by the trade deadline at the end of February? Challenging times for GM Jason Botterill, whose team is a miserable 7-17-6 and a league-worst minus-38.

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31. Ottawa Senators

Last week: No. 28
The Senators are in a complete freefall with one win in their last 12 games. Matt Duchene has two goals and is minus-11 in 14 games since the big trade from Colorado. Did this team really come within one goal of the Stanley Cup final last spring?
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.