Sam McCaig’s weekly Power Rankings column will appear on Saturdays.

POWER RANKINGS: The NHL’s top 10 teams

The Penguins' biggest concerns are working in the new guys and getting healthy. (Reuters)1. Pittsburgh Penguins: It’s all about getting chemistry with the new guys – and getting a healthy Sidney Crosby and James Neal back in time for the playoffs – as the NHL’s top-heaviest team gears up for a run at the Stanley Cup.

2. Chicago Blackhawks: The ‘Hawks hit a rough patch a few weeks ago, losing five times in a nine-game stretch. The good news? Those were their only five regulation losses all season, and they’ve gone 6-0-1 since.

3. Anaheim Ducks: Inevitably the No. 2 seed in the West, the Ducks have defeated the Blackhawks and Kings in recent showdowns with the conference’s elite.

4. Boston Bruins: They beat up on a couple of non-playoff teams last week, but the Bruins have struggled to score for about a month. Still, they’re too deep and too talented for that to last. Plus, they got Jaromir Jagr so you know they’re good.

5. Montreal Canadiens: The Habs

Sam McCaig’s weekly Power Rankings column will appear on Saturdays.

POWER RANKINGS: The NHL’s top 10 teams

This has been a common sight at Blackhawks games this season. (Reuters)1. Chicago Blackhawks: After opening the season with a 24-game point streak, the ‘Hawks endured the indignity of back-to-back regulation-time losses against Colorado and Edmonton before stabilizing with a shootout win over Columbus. All in all, not a bad showing for their worst week of the season.

2. Anaheim Ducks: Everybody’s favorite runner-up, the Ducks have won five consecutive games – surrendering a total of four goals – and have 17 victories in their past 21 contests.

3. Boston Bruins: The B’s won three times in four outings, which is on par with their pace this season. No big surprise, but the Bruins look more playoff-ready than any other team in the East.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins: With Evgeni Malkin sidelined, The Crosby Show is playing to rave reviews. The Penguins’ team defense might be causing coach Dan Bylsma a few sleepless nights, but they’re scoring enough

Sam McCaig’s weekly Power Rankings column will appear on Saturdays.

POWER RANKINGS: The NHL’s top 10 teams

1. Chicago Blackhawks: It was a heckuva ride, but The Streak is over. (Long live The Streak!) But because of that incredible 24-game run to open the season, the 'Hawks can put it in cruise-control a bit in the second half and still make the playoffs in style.

Just because the Ducks deserve a little attention, too. (USA TODAY)2. Anaheim Ducks: You know, if the ‘Hawks hadn’t gone half-a-season without a regulation loss, we’d all be praising the Ducks’ incredible rise from the dregs of the standings last season.

3. Boston Bruins: They lost two in a row, but don’t worry – the last time that happened the B’s bounced back with six straight wins. Perhaps beating Toronto on Thursday night was the first step toward another six-game fun run.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins: First, the good news: They’ve won three in a row, five out of seven and eight out of 11. The bad news? The Pens have surrendered at least three goals in eight of their past nine

Sam McCaig’s weekly Power Rankings column will appear on Saturdays.

POWER RANKINGS: The NHL’s top 10 teams

1. Chicago Blackhawks: Running out of ways to describe the ‘Hawks and their stunning start. How’s this: They entered Friday’s game against Columbus fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.10) and second in goals against (1.70). Do the math, and they were plus-27 in goal differential through 20 games. The Ducks were the only other team in the West in double-digits (plus-16).

The Blackhawks aren't invincible, they're just playing that way. (AP) The Blackhawks aren't invincible, they're just playing that way. (AP)2. Anaheim Ducks: Thanks to their West Coast locale and Chicago’s record-breaking ways, the Ducks have been able to fly below the radar. Then you realize they’ve won 11 of their past 13 games, in large part due to a potent offense (3.33 goals per game, second overall) and a killer power play (29.3 percent).

3. Boston Bruins: Camouflaged by the fact they’ve played the fewest games in the league, the Bruins have the second-best point percentage (.824) behind Chicago. Boston boasts two scoring lines, but

Sam McCaig’s weekly Power Rankings column will appear on Saturdays.

POWER RANKINGS: The NHL’s top 10 teams

The Blackhawks have some very happy fans these days. (AP)1. Chicago Blackhawks: They just set an NHL record for the best start to a season, earning a point in their first 17 games (14-0-3) and counting. Who else would be No. 1?

2. Anaheim Ducks: Speaking of streaks, the Ducks are on a five-game run and have won nine of their past 10. They’re scoring (3.3 goals per game, T-2nd) and backup goalie Viktor Fasth was so good in his first nine games (8-0-0, 1.78 GAA, .933 SP) that Anaheim gave him a two-year extension.

3. Boston Bruins: The B’s are top-10 in goals for and goals against, and they’ve got the best PK in the league (51-for-54, 94.4 percent). They can play it playoff rough or Sunday matinee smooth.

4. New Jersey Devils: Nobody really expected the Devils to make the Stanley Cup final last season. Nobody really expected the Devils to shrug off the loss of UFA Zach Parise and have the best record in the East this season.

Sam McCaig’s weekly Power Rankings column will appear on Saturdays.

POWER RANKINGS: The NHL’s top 10 teams

The Ducks have leaned on first-year NHLer Viktor Fasth. (USA Today)1. Chicago Blackhawks: One day, the ‘Hawks will lose in regulation time. But with five straight home games on the schedule, it might not be anytime soon.

2. Anaheim Ducks: Viktor Fasth has been a revelation in net – especially with Jonas Hiller bruised and bumpy – but make no mistake, the Ducks are doing it with their offense. Only Tampa Bay scores more than Anaheim’s 3.4 goals per game, and the Ducks are dominant 5-on-5, outscoring opponents by nearly a 2-to-1 margin.

3. Boston Bruins: Take away the two losses to arch-rival Buffalo and the Bruins would be undefeated in regulation time, too.

4. New Jersey Devils: David Clarkson’s power forward prowess is (deservedly) the hot topic in Jersey, but 36-year-old Patrik Elias is leading the team in scoring (18 points in 14 games) and plus/minus (plus-10). Not to mention, the octogenarian goaltending tandem of Martin

Sam McCaig’s weekly Power Rankings column will appear on Saturdays.

POWER RANKINGS: The NHL’s top 10 teams

The Blackhawks have had a good time on the road this season. (Getty)1. Chicago Blackhawks: Their stars are scoring and goalie Corey Crawford’s stepping up like he did when he was a red-hot rookie (and not a slumping sophomore like last season). The ‘Hawks played nine of 11 games on the road, yet they were the only NHL team without a loss in regulation.

2. Boston Bruins: The Bruins surrendered one goal in two games since suffering their only 60-minute defeat of the season, a 7-4 grudge match against the Buffalo Sabres.

3. Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are starting to pile up points and the Penguins are riding a five-game winning streak that has vaulted them into first place in the East.

4. Anaheim Ducks: More important than their NHL standing, the Ducks grabbed California bragging rights after wins over Los Angeles and San Jose this week.

5. San Jose Sharks: The Sharks have sunk in the rankings due to a

Sam McCaig’s weekly Power Rankings column will appear on Saturdays.

POWER RANKINGS: The NHL’s top 10 teams

The Sharks were scoring nearly four goals per game. (USA Today)1. San Jose Sharks: Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, the Sharks emerge as the NHL’s last unbeaten team. How are they doing it? Well, red-hot Patrick Marleau was the first star in San Jose’s first four games, then it was goalie Antti Niemi in the past three games.

2. Chicago Blackhawks: Shootout losses to Minnesota and Vancouver have been the Blackhawks’ only blemishes. Special teams have been key as Chicago’s power play was clicking at over 20 percent and the penalty kill was in midseason shutdown mode at 30-for-31.

3. Boston Bruins: Despite a lopsided loss in a grudge game against Buffalo – Boston’s first defeat in regulation time – the Bruins have been the best team in the East in the early going.

4. St. Louis Blues: They’ve never won the Stanley Cup and haven’t been to the final since 1970. The times, they might be a-changin’.

5. Tampa