These rankings see a return to form for the defending Eastern and Western Conference Champions. The Blackhawks lead the rankings thanks to an impressive 12 game winning streak. The Lightning enter the top 10 again after a couple months of bad hockey.
1. Chicago Blackhawks: 32-15-4
The Blackhawks have been on a roll ever since getting Conn Smyth winner Duncan Keith back. The once average looking defense is now ranked fifth in the NHL. Patrick Kane is heading straight for a Hart Trophy with his 30 goals and 72 points so far this season. Their 12 game winning streak may be over, but they are still the team to beat again this season.
2. Washington Capitals: 35-8-3
The Capitals have won seven of their nine games in January. Two of those wins have been against the Rangers, the team that the Capitals have replaced as the top team in the Metropolitan Division for about two months now. Evgeny Kuznetsov is torching opponents with two goals and 11 points in his last five games.
3. Dallas Stars: 30-14-5
January has been a month to forget for the Dallas Stars. They have lost eight of their ten games in January, and the offense right now is a shell of its former self. Tyler Seguin has a total of two points in his last five games, and needs to start producing if the Stars hope to maintain their top 5 spot.
4. St. Louis Blues: 28-15-8
In three games this week, the Blues have only given up four goals. They are currently the 9th ranked defense, but look for that to improve now that they are getting healthy.
5. Florida Panthers: 28-15-5
The impressive Florida Panthers managed to defeat Chicago and Tampa Bay in the same week. We will have to wait to see if this will springboard another massive winning streak for the young team.
6. New York Rangers: 26-16-5
The Rangers are getting closer and closer to re entering the top 5. Their last two games in January are against Ottawa and Buffalo, two very winnable contests.
7. Los Angeles Kings: 29-15-3
The Kings maintain their spot as the top team in Pacific Division despite their two game losing streak.
8. Detroit Red Wings: 24-16-8
Detroit is just five points out of the Atlantic Division lead, and get to face their top two competitors for the division in Tampa Bay and Florida in the beginning of February.
9. Tampa Bay Lightning: 26-18-4
Their seven game winning streak may be over, but they are once again in the middle of the Atlantic Division race. Their offense is flying high again, scoring three or more goals in six of their seven games during the winning streak.
10. New York Islanders: 25-15-6
They have won three of their last four thanks to masterful goaltending from Jaroslav Halak. His 2.11 GAA is sensational, and his team only gives up 2.4 GPG.
11. Colorado Avalanche: 26-21-3
The talented young team are finally showing their true colors during this four game winning streak. Carl Soderberg and Gabriel Landeskog gave the Avs the goals they needed to beat former Central leader Dallas.
12. Minnesota Wild: 23-17-8
The Wild are stumbling out of the Central division playoff picture, as they have lost nine out of their 12 January games.
13. Boston Bruins: 25-17-5
The Bruins have won four of their last five games thanks to impressive defense. The once bottom of the pack defense is now trending upwards, and the Bruins look like a serious playoff contender.
14. Pittsburgh Penguins: 23-17-7
They have won three of their last four games and get to face Metropolitan rival New Jersey in the hopes that they will continue to move up in the division after a slow start.
15. Nashville Predators: 22-18-8
Pekka Rinne hasn't been his usual self in these last five games, giving up 13 goals and posting a .895 SV%.
16. Montreal Canadiens: 24-20-4
Where to begin with this team? The former #1 team in these rankings followed a terrible December up with a miserable January. In worse news, Carey Price is behind schedule in his return to the team. Plus, their ice-cold power play is now 21st in the league.
17. New Jersey Devils: 25-19-5
The Devils just refuse to go quietly into the sunset. They have won four in a row to keep their spot in the increasingly competitive Metropolitan Division.
18. San Jose Sharks: 25-18-3
The Sharks have returned to second in the Pacific Division thanks to an impressive January. Martin Jones now has six straight wins in net for the Sharks, and is looking more and more comfortable in net.
19. Ottawa Senators: 22-20-6
The inconsistent Senators haven’t had a winning or losing streak longer than two games in January.
20. Philadelphia Flyers: 20-17-8
The Flyers blew two winnable games in the third period, and now have to face powerhouses Boston and Washington.
21. Arizona Coyotes: 23-19-5
The Pacific division has not been particularly competitive this year and the Coyotes are the worst team currently in the playoffs.
22. Anaheim Ducks: 21-18-7
An impressive couple of victories against Minnesota and Detroit are helping the Ducks slowly climb up the rankings.
23. Carolina Hurricanes: 21-20-8
Losses to the Rangers and Penguins hurt them, but January has been relatively successful for the struggling Hurricanes.
24. Vancouver Canucks: 20-18-11
The Vancouver Canuck’s 11 overtime losses are what is keeping them in the Pacific Division playoff race.
25. Calgary Flames: 21-21-3
January hasn't gone the way the Flames wanted it to, but they have a chance to make a big statement if they can defeat the Dallas Stars.
26. Winnipeg Jets: 21-24-3
The Jets are giving up way to much ground in the difficult Central Division race.
27. Toronto Maple Leafs: 17-20-9
Winning one of your last five games won’t let you move out of the bottom five of these rankings.
28. Buffalo Sabres: 19-25-4
The supposed “improved” offense has only managed 2.2 GPG this season.
29. Edmonton Oilers: 19-26-5
The Columbus Blue Jackets may be winning the race to the top pick right now, but you can never count out the Oilers when it comes to losing the most games.
30. Columbus Blue Jackets: 17-27-5
The Blue Jackets have such bad luck, they may miss their head coach next week due to him breaking ribs at practice.