from Scott Cullen of TSN,

The Washington Capitals have reached the top of the TSN.ca NHL Power Rankings, ahead of the Dallas Stars and Los Angeles Kings.

It's not merely that the Capitals have the league's best goal-scorer or top goaltender, but they have one regulation loss in the past 15 games. That stretch earned them top spot after the Dallas Stars' recent slump.

Among the teams climbing this week, the Detroit Red Wings have won four in a row and move from12 to nine, the Carolina Hurricanes are 5-2-2 in the past nine games and rise from 25 to 22 this week, while the Arizona Coyotes are getting healthier and are 4-0-1 in the past five games, resulting in a bump from 27 to 23.

Heading the wrong way, the Montreal Canadiens continue to spin their wheels, and slide from eight to 11, and the slumping Nashville Predators -- despite a blockbuster trade -- fall from 10 to 14. Injuries have hammered the New Jersey Devils' forward ranks, dropping them from 20 to 25.

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