With half a week left in the season, the league's hierarchy is pretty much set in stone. And as has been the case for most of the season, two New York-area teams have been among the league's best, while one other has continued to flounder at the bottom of the pack.
The Real Clear Sports' power rankings reveal that the New York Rangers are the NHL's second-best team. For those who haven't followed all season long, RCS averages the ranks from six media outlets across the internet. The New Jersey Devils slot in at ninth place, while the lowly New York Islanders occupy the 26th spot.
The Rangers continue to be one of the most consistent teams in the NHL, as they've lost just twice over their last nine games, earning points in eight. Over the "new" week, they just beat the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-3, on Tuesday for the sixth time this season sweeping the series and locking up first place in the Eastern Conference. They currently have 109 points, two more than the NHL's second-best team, the Vancouver Canucks.
The Devils have also been streaking of late, after a lull, winning four straight games, the latest coming against the Islanders on Tuesday, 3-1. The Isles, meanwhile, continue to be maddingly inconsistent. After winning three straight, they've now lost three in a row.
All three locals have two games apiece left in their regular season, which concludes Saturday.