Power Rankings: Flyers jump into top 10; Sharks hold on to top spot

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ESPN.com

As the world debates whether or not San Jose's incredible start will pay off in the postseason, we do know the Sharks are still tops in our weekly list.

So, San Jose didn't move, but other teams made jumps this week. The Flyers, who are 12-1-3 over their last 16 games, jump into the top 10, while the Rangers, Flames and Wild dipped in the Rankings.

As always, you can have your turn here.

-- By Joy Russo; posted on Dec. 15

2008-2009 Power Rankings: Week 8
	RK (PV)	TEAM	REC.	COMMENT
	1 (1)	Sharks	24-3-2	The Sharks tied the mark for the quickest team to reach 50 points in league history this past weekend, and they have yet to lose in regulation at home.
	2 (2)	Bruins	21-5-4	Phil Kessel is in the midst of a 15-game points streak, while the Bruins have dropped just two games in their past 13 contests.
	3 (3)	Red Wings	20-5-4	Chris Chelios is back!
	4 (6)	Capitals	18-10-3	Since no Web site producer from ESPN.com can be called up to serve as an NHL backup, Brett Leonhardt is now one of our heroes.
	5 (7)	Devils	16-9-2	The Devils are 9-2-0 in their past 11 games and have scored four or more goals in five of their past 11 games. Yes, this is New Jersey, minus Martin Brodeur.
	6 (8)	Blackhawks	15-6-7	The truck filled with outdoor goodness has made it to Wrigley and the countdown to Jan. 1 has officially begun!
	7 (4)	Penguins	16-10-4	Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby are still 1-2 in the NHL in points, but the Penguins are not winning (sorry, but that game against the Islanders is a gimme at this point), dropping four of their past five. The good news? Marc-Andre Fleury could return this week.
	8 (5)	Canadiens	16-8-5	Note to Alexei Kovalev: Your contract runs out at the end of THIS season. Scoring just five goals so far in 2008-09 doesn't help your team, its power play or your summer plans.
	9 (11)	Flyers	16-7-6	The Flyers have won five of their last six games as four of those tilts went into extra time. Regardless, Philly is adding some heat to the Atlantic Division race.
	10 (9)	Canucks	17-11-3	Roberto Luongo isn't giving a timetable for his return after experiencing pain during a recent practice, so the show still belongs to the Schneider-Sanford tandem.
	11 (13)	Ducks	17-11-3	While Anaheim couldn't do it this past week, it is one of the few teams that has beaten San Jose in regulation this season (albeit, it was back on Oct. 17).
	12 (10)	Rangers	20-11-2	The Rangers are loving that shootout, aren't they?
	13 (12)	Flames	16-11-3	Coach Mike Keenan mixed up his lines again over the past week and the net result wasn't too pretty.
	14 (18)	Sabres	15-12-3	Thomas Vanek is on pace to score 66 goals this season. In other news, Maxim Afinogenov has just one goal in 27 games.
	15 (16)	Oilers	14-12-2	As always, the Oilers are starting to make the Northwest race much more interesting.
	16 (14)	Wild	15-13-1	The Wild have lost five straight and been outscored 13-5 over that span.
	17 (15)	Predators	15-12-3	Scoring? Who needs scoring? Nashville's shutout against Dallas on Saturday was its fourth shutout in its past 10 games.
	18 (17)	Hurricanes	13-12-5	The Canes haven't lost in regulation in four contests, but that still doesn't change the fact they have just one regulation win in their past 10 games.
	19 (19)	Kings	13-12-4	Heading into Monday's action, the Kings were only one point out of a playoff spot in the West.
	20 (25)	Coyotes	14-13-3	Ed Jovanovski has 11 points in his past 10 games, and suddenly, the Coyotes are back in the playoff picture.
	21 (24)	Panthers	14-13-3	Craig Anderson and the Panthers are hanging tough as they are in the midst of a five-game road swing.
	22 (20)	Avalanche	14-14-1	Could things get any worse for Joe Sakic this season? The veteran forward deserves a better twilight of his career.
	23 (22)	Blue Jackets	13-14-3	Steve Mason continues his strong play in net for the Blue Jackets, but the team's inability to hold on to a lead could really hurt them as their schedule doesn't get any easier this month.
	24 (21)	Blues	12-14-3	Goalie controversy update: Manny Legace is out for a week as he recovers from a mild concussion.
	25 (23)	Senators	11-12-5	When Don Cherry is knocking your team's fashion sense, you know things aren't going well.
	26 (26)	Stars	11-14-4	Sean Avery isn't coming back, so now what?
	27 (29)	Maple Leafs	11-12-6	This past week, the Maple Leafs posted back-to-back wins for the first time since late October.
	28 (28)	Thrashers	9-16-4	The players had a closed-door meeting and some told local reporters afterward the team is at "rock bottom."
	29 (27)	Islanders	10-18-2	The Islanders have lost six straight games and have been outscored 30-11 over that span.
	30 (30)	Lightning	7-15-8	Another week spent in Chateau Bow Wow for the Lightning. Will coach Rick Tocchet's reported "boot camp" do the trick?