Written by Chris Wassel | 30 January 2009

Hello everyone....our list will be simple unlike most lists that turn into long diatribes about each team. You want the best ten in the league...we will give them to you every week! As the playoffs gets closer....we will go with the top 8 in each conference.

Power Rankings (1/30) -- The Top 10

1. San Jose Sharks (36-6-5) -- Still the best. Despite the lack of a Cheechoo, the Sharks keep rolling along. Scary team still with questions abound for playoff time.

2. Boston Bruins (35-8-6) -- As great as it is for Boston to get all their guys back. They do have one small problem and I have noticed this. They are not as good defensively after Wideman and Chara to a point. Other question is will Tim Thomas wear down a bit before the playoffs. Other than that..a team with still more upside.

3. Detroit Red Wings (31-10-7) -- I was tempted to drop the Red Wings this week after losing to Columbus and Dallas. But not just yet! When Zetts gets back and Lidstrom gets healthy....Detroit will be just fine. Expect them to do better next week.

4. New Jersey Devils (31-15-3) -- Seven straight wins including a huge OT win last night in Boston! Jamie Langenbrunner is starting to score goals again (2 last night). Zach Parise is on his way to a possible Hart Trophy like season. Scott Clemmensen is more than holding the fort for the Devils and this team averages over 3.1 GPG folks! Look out!

5. Calgary Flames (29-14-4) -- Miikka Kiprusoff is the netminder that will guide this team to the end. But he is playing well under the circumstances. Obviously Iginla and Cammalleri carry this team even with the likes of Dion Phaneuf suffering from a sub-par season. They will need to do so or this lofty ranking will drop like Haley's Comet.

6. Chicago Blackhawks (26-13-8) -- This was tough and though they lost to LA last night...Chicago is a high flying team and they need to be if they want to challenge in the West with the big boys (SJ, DET, CAL). If Khabibulin and Huet can continue to keep the back end as tidy as a man eating Uno's Pizza uses towelettes...then they will be okay.

7. Washington Capitals (30-15-4) -- I expect to hear from Washington media for this one but the Caps are still a team that cannot quite battle the big boys in the East (NJ,BOS) just yet though they are close. Ovechkin and company have to be able to play better down low on the backend or they are going to get eaten alive by bigger, faster teams. They face some tests in the next week or so...let's see how they do.

8. Philadelphia Flyers (25-13-9) -- Inconsistency has plagued them all year in all facets of the game but if Jeff Carter and Mike Richards can inspire these guys just a bit more....all will be forgotten. The key is consistency. They have to play every night. They did not against Florida and lost...officiating or no officiating. Time to step it up and no there will not be a Forsberg sighting!

9. Florida Panthers (23-17-8) -- They are one of the hotter teams in the East and very quietly doing it as always. Bouwmeester is playing his best hockey of the year. Tomas Vokoun is finally getting it together after a horrid start. Weiss and Horton are healthy! All signs point toward playoffs if they can hold it together right Jacques Martin?

10. Montreal Canadiens (27-15-6) -- Though losing 4 in a row and Carey Price throwing F-bombs in the locker room...the Habs will get it together. They are too good not to. So as La Presse panics up there...I say...relax...and don't worry...be happy! They will turn the tide soon....with or without S.S. Lecavalier.


Teams just left out: New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres

Stay tuned next Friday to see where your team is. If you do not see them here...then well they are on the outside looking in!

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