NHL power rankings for start of January

By Rick Morris

Mid-December rankings in parentheses.

TOP TIER
1 San Jose (4)
2 New Jersey (2)
3 Chicago (5)
4 Washington (1)
5 Pittsburgh (3)
6 Buffalo (7)
7 Phoenix (10)
8 Colorado (8)
9 Calgary (9)
10 Nashville (11)
11 Vancouver (17)
12 Los Angeles (6)
13 Boston (13)
14 Dallas (18)
15 Detroit (12)
16 Ottawa (16)
17 Montreal (15)
18 NY Rangers (22)
19 Minnesota (26)
20 Tampa Bay (25)
21 Philadelphia (20)
22 Atlanta (14)
23 St. Louis (29)
24 NY Islanders (24)
25 Anaheim (27)
26 Florida (23)
27 Columbus (19)
28 Toronto (28)
29 Edmonton (21)
SECOND TIER
30 Carolina (30)

BIGGEST RISERS: Minnesota (7 spots), St. Louis and Vancouver (6 spots), Tampa Bay (5 spots), NY Rangers (4 spots), Phoenix and San Jose (3 spots)
BIGGEST FALLERS: Atlanta, Edmonton and Columbus (8 spots), Los Angeles (6 spots), Dallas (4 spots), Detroit, Florida and Washington (3 spots)