NHL Power Rankings Capitals stay on top Sharks plummet as season winds down

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After this, the real games begin.With only one week of the NHL regular season still on tap, the time is now for surefire contenders to finish strong and playoff hopefuls to come up big.The , despite a defeat at the hands of the (yes, for real) and a tough showdown with the on Sunday, have put their March hiccups behind them. A recent six-game winning streak has proven that, and the teams dominating year-long numbers back it up.The Caps, then, are still holding steady to the top spot in the league as the postseason draws closer. But those Blue Jackets, with their elite defense, are not to be taken lightly, either. Ditto for the , who have found their stride even more as the regular season nears its finale.  Things arent so peachy, though, for former top-fivers like the and --  Brandon Mashinter Men Jersey once-heralded powerhouses that have seen late-season slumps outweigh their solid numbers. Biggest Movers  4  Bruins  4  Senators RkTeams  ChgRcrd 1  The first team to 100 points, they're now the first to 110. Never mind their March stumbles and a hiccup vs. Arizona, because the Capitals are No. 1 heading into the playoffs, both on paper and thanks to their stout -- and score-happy -- defense.  --  35-37-10  2  Ladies and gentlemen, your conference leaders. If Patrick Kane continues his March tear into the postseason, look out. (By the way, Minnesota who?)  2  26-49-7  3  They're not just near Capitals territory when it comes to defense. They're *in* Capitals territory. Pit their plus-60 goal differential against the Pens offense in the playoffs and maybe Columbus won't have an early exit, after all.  --  25-48-9  4  Give them credit for maintaining such an elite record with so many injuries. But be wary of their fatigue ultimately overshadowing their headlining offense.  2  40- Nicolas Meloche Kids Jersey 31-11  5  Two overtime lo ses still netted the Rangers some points. Stats say the Canadiens have a little more momentum, but it's hard not to keep N.Y. pegged as a top-five contender out of the Metro.  --  47-22-13  6  It's safe to say they are for real. Four in a row heading into this week secured their push atop the Atlantic.  1  31-45-6  7  Let's mention Connor McDavid's name again, because there's no way we should talk about the Oilers without giving him another week's due. Edmonton has been an offensive force for awhile, but they're kicking things into high gear at the perfect time.  2  50-23-9  8  Before a string of overtime lo ses, the Ducks barely owned a double-digit lo s total at home. They certainly haven't been immune to good foes lately, but their performance over a 10-game stretch has still been top notch.  --  23-47-12  9  The plus-50 goal differential is a hard one to write off. But Minnesota has squandered absolutely every real shot to regain ground in the Western Conference.  3  46-25-11  10  Things have cooled down a bit in Calgary, even with Sunday's big game vs. Anaheim. Let's see how their momentum looks early in the postseason.  1  38-27-17  11  Abandon ship? They still have a defense just outside of the NHL's top five, but their atrocious late-year dive is nothing to glo s over.  1  22-44-16  12  Look who's back from the dead. Fresh off an abysmal losing streak Artemi Kniazev Kids Jersey , Bruce Ca sidy's bunch is once again rolling right along, padding a string of wins with a tight decision over the Blackhawks.  4  65-12-5  13  Who needs Kevin Shattenkirk? The Blues are 7-2-1 over their last 10 despite an overtime lo s to the Avalanche and are scoring/allowing goals at a clip similar to Toronto.  1  37-38-7  14  One of the better 90-point clubs as of late, the Predators rattled off seven wins over 10 games, including a shutout of the Wild, entering Sunday.  1  42-32-8  15  In the battle with Ottawa for second place in the Atlantic, the Maple Leafs have the upper hand in goals and recent Aaron Dell Jersey  succe s despite a measly shootout record of 1-8.  --  50-21-11  16  Apparently it's their turn to slump. Back-to-back defeats and three overtime lo ses in their last 10 have the Senators surrendering ground to Toronto at the wrong time.  4  39-35-8  17  It'll obviously still be a disappointment if the Lightning don't crack the playoffs, but of the potential wild-card losers, they are certainly one of the most intriguing late-season stories.  --  46-30-6  18  Speaking of late-year stories, the Canes have upheld their role as spoilers. Seven wins in their last 10 contests proves that.  2  52-21-9  19  John Tavares is likely done for the season. So are the Islanders.  1  42-31-9  20  At least the too-little, too-late year didn't end without a Gordie Howe hat trick from Jarome Iginla.  1  47-25-10  21  So now the Flyers want to play? Philly is on one of its better runs here, but defensive faults plagued them all season.  1  31-38-13  22  Their 4-2 victory over Ottawa on April Fool's Day was no joke.  2  46-33- Rourke Chartier Men Jersey 3  23  The Sabres have had an OK week, winning some and falling mostly to true contenders. Time to gear up for 2017-18.  --  42-33-7  24  Big movers over the course of the season, they've come back to Earth once again, dropping four straight and officially earning themselves a chance to *watch* the postseason.  3  42-32-8  25  A 12-23-5 mark on the road is almost as bad as it gets.  --  47-21-14  26  They can still take solace in closing the season with an undefeated mark in overtime games.  --  35-37-10  27  Any shreds of offense have up and vanished as the Canucks approach their finale pretty ungracefully.  --  38-37-7  28  One of the latest victims of the Flyers' resurgence, they've been awful at home, too.  --  52-22-8  29  Consider their 6-3 win over the Capitals one of the few highlights of a bumbling season.  --  28-40-14  30  Entering Sunday's showdown with the Wild, they had 45 points -- 65 le s than the Caps. Sixty-five.  --  51-24-7
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