Helene Elliott’s NHL rankings

Through Monday’s games

Rank Team Record Comment (previous rank)

1. Philadelphia 35-13-5 Flyers have won eight of 10 and lead the league in wins but they’re the only team that hasn’t recorded a shutout this season. Odd but obviously not holding them back. (1)

2. Vancouver 35-10-9 Canucks have won six straight but may have lost defenseman Keith Ballard to a leg injury. (2)

3. Pittsburgh 34-16-4 Evgeni Malkin likely to miss the rest of the season after tearing his right ACL and MCL. Sidney Crosby (concussion) still out indefinitely, but they’ve won eight of 10. (6)

4. Tampa Bay 33-16-5 Steven Stamkos briefly lost NHL scoring lead to Daniel Sedin but regained it with one-goal, three-assist effort in rally past St. Louis on Sunday. (5)

5. Detroit 32-15-6 Before beating the Rangers on Monday, the Red Wings had won only four of their last 10 games and were blanked by Columbus and Nashville in their last two despite total of 69 shots. (3)

6. Washington 29-15-10 Capitals getting their act together, with weekend wins over Lightning and depleted Penguins. Only worry: Mike Green missed third period Sunday after taking shot on the ear. (8)

7. Boston 30-16-7 Marc Savard’s season probably over after another concussion. Sad news for the Bruins, who were shut out by Sharks last Saturday for first time ever. (7)

8. Montreal 30-19-5 Canadiens’ three-game winning streak was ended Sunday by suddenly hot Devils. But Habs are 10-3-3 since Dec. 30. (9)

9. Dallas 30-18-5 Stars have lost three straight and five of their last six. Their scoring has dried up. Losing Krys Barch and Adam Burish to injuries suffered in fights takes away toughness. (4)

10. San Jose 28-19-6 Sharks are on a 7-0-1 run. Logan Couture has to be in rookie-of-the-year conversation with 23 goals, including seven game-winners. That ties him for NHL lead. (16)

11. Nashville 28-19-7 Predators were riding goalie Pekka Rinne’s success until they were overrun by Edmonton on Monday. (11)

12. Ducks 29-21-4 They’ve won seven of 10 to stay in top eight in the West. Only worrisome note is goalie Jonas Hiller’s dizziness, which kept him out of Saturday’s game at Denver. (13)

13. Kings 29-22-2 Shootout win at Calgary on Saturday was their first win at Saddledome in more than five years. Imagine what they could do if Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown were scoring. (19)

14. Calgary 27-21-7 The Flames are riding a 7-0-1 streak that has carried them into the top eight for the first time since late October. (18)

15. Phoenix 27-19-9 Goals have been hard to come by for the Coyotes, but goalie Ilya Bryzgalov has two straight shutouts. (14)

16. Chicago 27-22-4 Defending Stanley Cup champions have lost four of five and remain outside the top eight in the West. Patrick Kane’s troublesome ankle could become a factor. (10)

17. N.Y. Rangers 29-23-4 They’re winless in five, at 0-4-1, and 3-7-1 in their last 11. They’re rumored to be interested in overpaid, underachieving defenseman Sheldon Souray. (12)

18. Minnesota 27-20-5 Goalie Niklas Backstrom set a franchise record with a shutout streak of 157 minutes and 13 seconds. But allowing one goal to Phoenix on Saturday led to a loss. (17)

19. Carolina 26-21-6 The third time was the charm for the Hurricanes, who lost twice before finally beating Atlanta and moving into eighth in the East. (15)

20. Buffalo 24-22-5 Sabres’ sale to Pennsylvania billionaire Terry Pegula includes guarantee franchise won’t move. But Pegula isn’t expected to spend to the cap, either. (21)

21. New Jersey 19-30-4 The Devils are 9-1-2 in their last 12 and Ilya Kovalchuk has 17 goals, nine of them in the 20 games since Jacques Lemaire took over. (24)

22. Colorado 25-22-6 Peter Forsberg returns after three-year absence from NHL. How long will his much-injured foot hold up? Avalanche could use a lift, but he’s not likely to last. (20)

23. Columbus 25-22-5 The Blue Jackets have five wins in their last nine games, including a shutout of Detroit by Steve Mason. Kristian Huselius scores twice, a game after being benched. (26)

24. Atlanta 24-22-10 Thrashers have won only twice in their last 11 games and five in their last 21 (5-11-5). Dustin Byfuglien scored his first goal in 14 games. (22)

25. St. Louis 23-20-8 Blues’ league-worst road record of 7-12-5 is a key factor keeping them out of a playoff position in the West. (25)

26. Florida 23-23-6 GM Dale Tallon said last week he intends to be a buyer, not a seller. But Panthers were 3-3-4 in their last 10 and will need huge improvement to get last East spot. (23)

27. Toronto 22-26-5 Maple Leafs should be sellers at trade deadline but it’s impossible to predict what Brian Burke will do. (27)

28. N.Y. Islanders 17-28-7 No surprise Rick DiPietro was hurt in losing goalie fight with Pittsburgh’s Brent Johnson. He will miss six weeks with facial fractures and a swollen knee. (28)

29. Ottawa 17-29-8 Senators figure to be big sellers before Feb. 28 trade deadline. Chris Phillips and Mike Fisher are their best trade chips. (29)

30. Edmonton 16-29-8 Oilers have won only twice in their last 11. Their youngsters are learning the hard way. (30)