This is the seventh edition of theScore's 2018-19 NHL Power Rankings, which will be published every two weeks during the regular season. It was compiled by editors Sean O'Leary and Eric Patterson.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning (28-7-2) ▲
🎁: A nice, simple box of chocolates. What do you get somebody who already has it all? - O'Leary
Previously: 1st
2. Toronto Maple Leafs (25-10-2) ▲
🎁: A right-shot defenseman, though the Maple Leafs might have to wait a couple more months. - O'Leary
Previously: 3rd
3. Winnipeg Jets (24-10-2) ▲
🎁: The warmest jacket on the market so Mark Scheifele never cools down. Since Dec. 1, the 25-year-old ranks second in the NHL with 20 points in 12 games. - O'Leary
Previously: 4th
4. Washington Capitals (22-10-3) ▲
🎁: Pucks, pucks, and more pucks, since Alex Ovechkin will eventually just put them all in the opponent's net. - O'Leary
Previously: 5th
5. Calgary Flames (22-12-3) ▼
🎁: A shovel to fill Matthew Tkachuk's stocking with money. With 42 points in 37 games, he's going to break the bank on his next contract. - O'Leary
Previously: 2nd
6. Boston Bruins (20-13-4) ▲
🎁: Bubble wrap to protect Bruins heart and soul Patrice Bergeron, because they surely don't want to face life without him in the lineup again anytime soon. - O'Leary
Previously: 16th
7. Nashville Predators (22-13-2)
🎁: A full lineup sheet. The Predators are battling numerous key injuries, and it's making an impact in the Central Division race. - O'Leary
Previously: 7th
8. Columbus Blue Jackets (21-12-3) ▲
🎁: The nicest pens in the world, so superstars Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky have a little more incentive to put their signatures on fresh contract extensions. - O'Leary
Previously: 11th
9. San Jose Sharks (19-12-7) ▲
🎁: Whatever Erik Karlsson wants most. Locking him up long term should be priority No. 1 for the Sharks organization. - O'Leary
Previously: 12th
10. Montreal Canadiens (19-13-5) ▲
🎁: A case of beer. The Canadiens deserve to put their feet up and relax over the break after being one of the biggest surprises in the league this season. Word on the street is their owner has a hookup on a discount, too. - O'Leary
Previously: 15th
11. Vegas Golden Knights (20-15-4) ▲
🎁: Some lucky sticks. Despite overwhelmingly positive possession numbers, the Golden Knights rank 24th with a 7.4 shooting percentage at five-on-five. - O'Leary
Previously: 14th
12. Pittsburgh Penguins (18-12-6) ▲
🎁: Some swimming trunks. He's pulled off a couple of small trades this season, but general manager Jim Rutherford is always looking to make a big splash. - O'Leary
Previously: 17th
13. Buffalo Sabres (21-11-5) ▼
🎁: A playoff berth. Sabres fans have gone seven long years without postseason action, and this young, exciting outfit would provide fireworks in a matchup against any Atlantic Division adversary. - O'Leary
Previously: 9th
14. Colorado Avalanche (19-12-6) ▼
🎁: The first co-MVP award in NHL history. At this point, how do you choose between Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen? - O'Leary
Previously: 6th
15. Anaheim Ducks (19-14-5) ▼
🎁: A wheelbarrow. Really, anything to help John Gibson carry the weight of this Ducks squad would be well-received. - Patterson
Previously: 10th
16. Edmonton Oilers (18-15-3) ▼
🎁: A goal from Milan Lucic, which hasn't occurred since opening night. - Patterson
Previously: 13th
17. Dallas Stars (16-11-3) ▼
🎁: A spotlight to shine on rearguard Miro Heiskanen, whose sparkling debut season isn't getting much recognition. - Patterson
Previously: 8th
18. New York Islanders (18-13-4)
🎁: A moving truck. After rave reviews for the Islanders' return to Nassau Coliseum, who says no to packing up shop at the Barclays Center and heading back to Long Island?
Previously: 18th
19. New York Rangers (15-14-6)
🎁: A "Rebuilding for Dummies" book. For a team that wanted to hit the reset button, it doesn't look like the Rangers know how. - Patterson
Previously: 19th
20. Florida Panthers (15-14-6) ▲
🎁: Selke and Lady Byng Trophies for Aleksander Barkov. The Panthers' first-line center has taken one minor penalty this season and drawn a ridiculous 27 against while maintaining a point-per-game pace. - Patterson
Previously: 26th
21. Minnesota Wild (17-15-3) ▼
🎁: Bandages. Losers of four straight heading into the Christmas break, the Wild need to stop the bleeding. A healthy Matt Dumba would be nice too. - Patterson
Previously: 20th
22. Vancouver Canucks (17-18-4) ▲
🎁: A shield for their young stars. The Canucks can't have Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser trying to police themselves on the ice. They're easy targets and need to be protected. - Patterson
Previously: 30th
23. Ottawa Senators (15-18-4) ▼
🎁: An eraser. The story of the 2018-19 Ottawa Senators has been ugly so far, from the ongoing ownership issues to the Uber video scandal. Everyone in this organization would benefit from starting over. - Patterson
Previously: 21st
24. Carolina Hurricanes (15-15-5) ▼
🎁: Bigger nets. The Hurricanes lead the league in shots per game but have the second-fewest goals. This should also help provide owner Tom Dundon with more 5-4 games, which he really enjoys. - Patterson
Previously: 22nd
25. Detroit Red Wings (15-17-6)
🎁: A new social security number, because the identity of this Red Wings organization has been stolen. - Patterson
Previously: 25th
26. St. Louis Blues (14-16-4) ▲
🎁: Unlimited long-distance calling. Rumors are swirling about the Blues becoming major sellers as the trade deadline approaches. - Patterson
Previously: 27th
27. Arizona Coyotes (16-18-2) ▼
🎁: An offer sheet for Arizona native Auston Matthews. Dream big, right? - Patterson
Previously: 23rd
28. Philadelphia Flyers (15-16-4) ▼
🎁: Nothing. Christmas came early for the Flyers ... twice. Gritty is a gift that keeps on giving and unwrapping Carter Hart in mid-December is an early present that should tide Philly over until next year. - Patterson
Previously: 24th
29. Chicago Blackhawks (13-20-6) ▲
🎁: Chicago Bears tickets. It's the only way the Blackhawks will get a taste of the postseason in 2019. - Patterson
Previously: 31st
30. New Jersey Devils (12-16-7) ▼
🎁: A cloning device. How nice would another Taylor Hall be? Kyle Palmieri is having a career year attempting to match Hall's production, but the Devils need another superstar to help carry the offensive load. - Patterson
Previously: 28th
31. Los Angeles Kings (14-20-3) ▼
🎁: A horseshoe. The Kings will need the luck when the first overall pick is on the line during the draft lottery. - Patterson
Previously: 29th
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