NHL power rankings: Top 10

With the Olympic break just under a month away, the NHL’s playoff picture is starting to take shape with teams falling and others soaring.

Here are the updated power rankings as we enter mid to late January.

Number 10: Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo has been one of the league's hottest teams over the last two weeks, with an 8-2-0 record over their last ten games.

They currently own the last wild card spot in a tight Eastern Conference playoff race. This is going to be a fun team to watch down the stretch.

Number 9: Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas is currently atop the Pacific Division with 54 points and has won four in a row after dropping five straight dating back to late December.

Keep an eye on the Knights as the trade deadline nears. They slot in at nine.

Number 8: Montreal Canadiens

Montreal is in the thick of a heated Atlantic Division race and are 7-2-1 over its last ten.

If the Canadiens can get some solid goaltending, they’re easily a cup contender. They crack number eight.

Number 7: New York Islanders

The Islanders continue to improve as the season progresses and currently sit five points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for first place in the Metro.

The emergence of rookie defensemen Matthew Schaefer and the stellar goaltending play from Sorokin and Rittich have the Islanders in a great spot.

Number 6: Detroit Red Wings

Detroit continues to climb as they sit as the Atlantic Division leader right now.

The Wings’ big dogs continue to lead the way on the score sheet night in and night out and have gotten pretty good goaltending from John Gibson and Cam Talbot.

The wings are 7-2-1 in their last ten games and have won four in a row heading into Tuesday night's action.

Number 5: Dallas Stars

The Stars have the second-best point total in the league with 63, but have dropped seven of their last nine games.

This is just a little cold streak in what has been a great season for Dallas so far and this is why they come in at five.

Obviously, they’re still at the top of the league, but this upcoming stretch is against some pretty good hockey teams.

Number 4: Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina is just consistently good every year throughout the regular season and they are once again atop the Metropolitan Division.

It’s always just a great collective effort by the Canes and they work hard.

28-14-4 has the Hurricanes fourth in the league's overall standings and they will stay in that upper echelon for the rest of the season.

Number 3: Minnesota Wild

The Wild slot in at three and continue to try to keep pace with the Stars and Avalanche in the league's best division.

Superstar Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy lead the way for this squad.

Minnesota is also loaded with Olympic talent, with eight players on their roster headed to Milan.

This squad will continue to keep pace in the Central and make the playoffs easily. They’re in the top three.

Number 2: Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning have, hands down, been the hottest team in all of hockey, winning 11 games in a row and 12 of 15.

They had a slower start to the year than normal, but head coach Jon Cooper has figured it out and has the Bolts absolutely rolling right now.

Tampa beat the Avalanche last week, handing them only their fourth regulation loss of the season, and is riding their 11-game winning streak into Friday’s affair with the Blues.

Tampa Bay has been absolute nails; they’re number two.

Number 1: Colorado Avalanche

The Avs have been unbelievable this season with only four… FOUR regulation losses in 45 games played. That’s just unfathomable.

Probably the most fun team to watch in the league, Nathan MacKinnon is world-class, Marty Necas has 57 points in 45 games and Brock Nelson is playing like he’s 26.

The depth up and down the roster is basically cheating, and the netminding has been great.

Easily number one are the Avalanche, and I expect them to continue this pace all the way into the postseason.

Austin Moran is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email acm6506@psu.edu.