Brett Howden

Photo credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Trevor Moore stays hot for the LA Kings, the Flames are peppering opposing goalies and a first for the Kraken.

8. Seattle Kraken (15-27-4)

Last week: 8

The Kraken headed into the break off a 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins and a 3-0 win over the New York Islanders to split a four-game road trip. Philipp Grubauer didn’t have to work particularly hard against New York, facing just 19 shots, but he picked up the first shutout in franchise history. Meanwhile, Jordan Eberle picked up an assist in his return to Long Island.

This week: VS ARI, @ ANA

7. Vancouver Canucks (20-20-6)

Last week: 7

Also splitting a pair of road games before the break last week were the Canucks, who beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 on Monday before losing 4-2 to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.

Vancouver only has nine goals from its defensemen this season, so head coach Bruce Boudreau was pretty excited to see Luke Schenn score the clinching goal against Chicago, even if it was into an empty net.

This week: VS ARI, VS NYI, VS TOR

6. San Jose Sharks (22-20-4)

Last week: 6

San Jose capped off a 1-1-2 trip with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning last Tuesday. At least it was a much better effort than what was put forth in a 7-1 loss to Tampa Bay just over a week earlier.

Heading into the game with no goals and just two assists over his last eight games, Logan Couture scored one Sharks goal and assisted on the other against the Lightning, a performance they hope can help get him going.

This week: N/A

5. Anaheim Ducks (23-16-9)

Last week: 4

While there was a stretch recently where a lot of teams in the Pacific were struggling at the same time, it now seems like a lot of them are getting hot at the same time. So while it was a pretty good road trip for the Ducks, who went 3-0-2 for eight out of 10 possible points on it, a 2-1 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings to finish off the trip was enough to knock them down a spot this week.

I’m still trying to figure out how Trevor Zegras only got third place for this. Jon Hamm will answer for his crimes.

This week: VS SEA

4. Edmonton Oilers (23-16-3)

Last week: 5

The Oilers are slowly but steadily climbing back up the elevator shaft they spent nearly two months falling down. They climb a spot in our rankings this week, too.

They bounced back from a 3-2 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators last Monday with a 5-3 win over the Washington Capitals on Wednesday, improving to 5-0-1 over their last six games. Evander Kane potted his second goal with Edmonton on Wednesday and added an assist as well. Through three games as an Oiler, he’s scoring at a point-per-game clip.

This week: VS VGK, VS CHI, VS NYI

3. Calgary Flames (23-13-6)

Last week: 3

Down 3-1 to the Dallas Stars with less than six minutes to go in the third period last Tuesday, Calgary scored three goals in 3:37 to come away with a 4-3 victory. The next night they outshot the Arizona Coyotes 50-28 in a 4-2 win. The Flames have recorded at least 40 shots on goal in five of their last seven games.

This week: VS VGK, VS TOR, VS NYI

2. LA Kings (24-16-7)

Last week: 2

The LA Kings finished off a very good road trip with a 5-3 win over the Red Wings last Wednesday. They picked up points in all six games and got 10 out of 12 overall, going 4-0-2.

Trevor Moore picked up a pair of assists against Detroit. Since beginning the season with just two points in his first 21 games, Moore has 23 in his last 26, including 18 in 15 since the start of January.

This week: N/A

1. Vegas Golden Knights (27-16-3)

Last week: 1

Vegas headed into the break off a 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres last Tuesday. Brett Howden has been an unlikely source of offense for the Golden Knights as of late. He’s riding a three-game goal streak, as well as a four-game point streak in which he’s recorded six points.

This week: @ EDM, @ CGY

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