Elite teams are separating themselves from the field

Note: All rankings, records and statistics are through Sunday.

NHL Power Rankings Rank LW Team 1 1 Detroit Red Wings (47-15-5) Simply put, the Red Wings have no weaknesses right now and seem to be getting stronger as the season winds down. On Saturday, Detroit blitzed the Canucks 7-3, scoring five goals before the second intermission. What made Saturday's showing impressive was the fact that in three previous meetings with Vancouver, the Wings had managed a total of five goals. Last Week: 3-0-0 2 2 Ottawa Senators (46-15-6) It's beginning to sound like a broken record, as Ray Emery continues to play stellar between the pipes for the Senators -- sporting a 9-1-1 mark since the Olympic break. While goaltending may be the biggest reason Ottawa hasn't faded since Dominik Hasek's injury, the play of Dany Heatley hasn't hurt. With 39 goals, the gifted winger is just three away from breaking his career high of 41 set in 2002-03. Last Week: 3-0-1 3 3 Carolina Hurricanes (45-16-6) Tuesday's win over the Rangers was big on a few levels. With the victory, the 'Canes earned their 44th victory, 27th home win and 94th point of the season -- surpassing three club records set in Hartford during the 1986-87 campaign. But this remarkable season will definitely cost Hurricanes fans, as the team will raise ticket prices next season for the first time since 2002-03. Last Week: 2-1-0 4 4 Buffalo Sabres (44-17-5) Attempting to take a division lead this late in the season for the first time since 1996-97, the Sabres had their eight-game winning streak halted by the Senators on Saturday. It was the longest win streak for Buffalo since winning 10 straight in January 1984. Despite their loss to the Sens, I'm sticking with the Sabres to come out of the East. Last Week: 2-1-0 5 5 Dallas Stars (45-19-3) Mike Modano reached the 25-goal mark for the 13th time in his career. The 35-year-old captain now owns at least a share of every major offensive record in team history. Equally impressive was that in Saturday's tilt, the Stars set an NHL record with their 10th come-from-behind win after trailing entering the third period. I'm getting ahead of myself, but it's looking like it could be the Stars and the Wings in the Western Conference final. Last Week: 3-0-0 6 7 Nashville Predators (40-19-8) If the Predators are going to be a factor in the playoffs, it'll be up to Tomas Vokoun, who has four shutouts this season and is 6-0-2 since the Olympic break. With Saturday's win, the 29-year-old won his 24th game, tying his career high set in 2003-04. Also keep an eye on Paul Kariya, who is on pace for an 82-point season, which would be his highest total since he had 86 in 1999-2000. Last Week: 3-0-0 7 6 New York Rangers (38-19-10) With his 42nd career four-point game Saturday, Jaromir Jagr reached 100 points for the fifth time in his career but the first in four seasons. He also became only the sixth Ranger to reach the plateau, and the first since Mark Messier and Brian Leetch did it in 1991-92. I'll be stunned if the MVP balloting is even remotely close considering what Jagr and the Rangers have done this season. Last Week: 2-1-0 8 8 Calgary Flames (38-21-8) After being spanked by the Predators 9-4 on Saturday, the Flames bounced back Sunday with a 3-2 win over the Wild. The victory gave Calgary its first win away from home since defeating the Sharks on Feb. 6. But if the Flames want to assure a win, just make sure Jarome Iginla has a multiple-point game, as Calgary is 10-0-0 in those contests. Last Week: 2-1-1 9 10 Philadelphia Flyers (37-21-10) Who has been the most impressive Flyer this season? Peter Forsberg? Simon Gagne? Both good choices, but I'll go with Antero Niittymaki, who became the fifth rookie netminder in team history to record 20 wins. "Feels good to get 20 wins the first year," Niittymaki told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "We still have games left, and I wouldn't mind having a few more." Last Week: 2-1-0 10 9 Colorado Avalanche (37-25-6) With an assist in Sunday's game, Joe Sakic pulled into a tie with Bryan Trottier for 15th on the NHL's all-time assists list with 901, and with Stan Mikita for 11th in career points at 1,467. Next up for the captain: Mikita is 14th with 926 assists while Paul Coffey is 10th with 1,531 points. Sakic might pass both by the All-Star break next season. Last Week: 0-2-0

Read on for teams 11-20 ...