NHL Power Rankings: Carolina Hurricanes Continue to Lead the Way

Tumult anyone?The league passed through the 100-games-rescheduled barrier as the week began, as teams scrambled to work the minor leagues and the waiver wire to have enough bodies to fill out their lineups.But some things haven't changed.The Carolina Hurricanes remain the class of the league.Rod Brind'Amour's team has lost just seven times in regulation through 33 games, has just four regulation losses in 18 road games and is allowing goals at a stingy 2.21-per-game rate that's a quarter-goal better than their nearest rival.It's no wonder, then, that Brind'Amour is pleased."It's been a pretty good effort so far, top to bottom," he told reporters. Ottawa Senators (Last Week: 29th)The Senators haven't played since Jan. 1 and haven't won since Dec. 14, but they are at least tentatively scheduled to play four times in the next eight days. Columbus Blue Jackets (Last Week: 25th)Columbus has won just once in five games, including a listless loss to Chicago on Tuesday, heading into Thursday's night visit to Carolina. Winnipeg Jets (Last Week: 16th)It's back to work Thursday for the first time in a week for the Jets, whose 7-1 loss at Colorado on Jan. 6 ended a three-game win streak. Dallas Stars (Last Week: 19th)Dalls' disjointed four-game win streak that ran from Dec. 18 through Jan. 8 finally ended with Sunday's loss at St. Louis, which was particularly frustrating because of what the Stars saw as a missed call. Boston Bruins (Last Week: 13th)Boston has won three straight following Wednesday's 5-1 defeat of Montreal, and Thursday's game with visiting Philadelphia should mark the return of goalie Tuukka Rask. Washington Capitals (Last Week: 6th)It's not been an auspicious new year for the Capitals, who have dropped four straight games by a 19-9 margin. 7. Pittsburgh Penguins (Last Week: 8th)The Penguins were the hottest team in the league with 10 wins in 11 games before adding another when Evgeni Malkin returned with two goals in a 4-1 win over Anaheim on Tuesday. Tampa Bay Lightning (Last Week: 4th)As with the Rangers, it's been feast or famine in the recent going for the Lightning, who have gone 6-3-1 in their past 10 games—scoring 28 goals in the wins and conceding 22 in the losses. 3. Toronto Maple Leafs (Last Week: 5th)It's been a long run of success—stretching back to Dec. 11—and despite Wednesday's loss to Arizona it's been five wins in seven games for Toronto, which scored 29 goals and is seventh in the league with 3.38 goals per game.