Despite the loss of two All-Star-caliber players, the Pittsburgh Penguins hold the top spot for a third straight week. But there's chaos below the surface. Here come the Sharks, Coyotes, Islanders, Predators and Red Wings. There go the Flames, Bruins and Ducks. Enjoy this week's NHL power rankings, courtesy of Dispatch reporter Aaron Portzline, with last week's rankings in ( ):

1. Pittsburgh (1): Loss of Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar is quite the 1-2 punch, as shown by a 2-1 loss to Minnesota.

2. San Jose (8): The Sharks play in Columbus on Wednesday with a bullet next to their name -- a five-game winning streak with a combined score of 18-7.

3. Washington (7): The Caps have earned points in eight straight games, but the late loss to the Blue Jackets yesterday will hurt.

4. Los Angeles (4): A six-game point streak is the Kings' longest since late in the 2006-07 season.

5. Colorado (2): Back-to-back losses for the first time this season. You know, the big pile of snow sliding down the mountain starts with a single flake giving way.

6. Phoenix (14): The 'Yotes have allowed 25 goals in 13 games. Heck, that's a four-game West Coast trip for a certain local club.

7. Buffalo (5): Caught napping Saturday in a 5-0 loss to the Islanders, the first real setback of '09-10. They get the Isles at home Wednesday.

8. Chicago (11): The Hawks are thriving on home ice (6-2-1); the real test comes later this month when they play six straight on the road.

9. N.Y. Rangers (6): Of course it was Henrik Lundqvist who threw the brakes on a 1-4-1 swoon with a 29-save shutout over Boston on Sunday.

10. Dallas (9): Nothing's easy for the Stars. Six of the 14 games have gone beyond regulation, only one of them resulting in a win.

11. New Jersey (13): That bright, shiny new building is going to waste. The Devils are 7-0-0 on the road, just 1-4-0 at home.

12. Vancouver (10): Trouble breathing, Canucks fans? Goaltender Roberto Luongo has missed three straight games with a cracked rib.

13. Calgary (3): Rene Bourque (5-10-15) tops the Flames in scoring. The last season Jarome Iginla didn't lead Calgary in points was 1999-2000 (Valeri Bure).

14. Columbus (16): Made major strides in their own zone against Pittsburgh and Washington. Now comes San Jose.

15. Edmonton (15): Three shutout losses in their past four games. The exception: a 6-5 shootout win over Detroit.

16. Philadelphia (12): Flyers captain Mike Richards would have "no comment" on his six-game drought without a goal.

17. Detroit (22): A 3-1 win in Calgary stands as the Red Wings' most impressive victory of the season.

18. Atlanta (19): The Thrash are dealing with a slew of injuries, not the least of which is a broken foot for captain and goal machine Ilya Kovalchuk.

19. Ottawa (17): Goaltender Pascal Leclaire has been so-so so far for the Sens: 4-3-1, with a .898 save percentage.

20. Nashville (25): Sure looks like Pekka Rinne has grabbed the pipes. The Preds take a three-game win streak into a four-game roadie.

21. Boston (18): The NHL's biggest disappointment so far this season. The Bruins have yet to win two straight games.

22. Montreal (20): One regulation win this season. Not kidding. And it came at home against the Islanders. Four of the Habs' seven wins are against the Leafs and Thrashers.

23. N.Y. Islanders (29): Three straight wins and a five-game point streak might be remembered as the highlight of the season.

24. Tampa Bay (24): Journeyman winger Alex Tanguay -- one goal, three assists in 11 games -- hasn't yet clicked with the Lightning.

25. St. Louis (21): Forwards David Perron, David Backes and B.J. Crombeen are not following up their strong 2008-09 seasons.

26. Minnesota (26): Back-to-back wins -- a first this season -- highlighted by a 2-1 victory in Pittsburgh.

27. Anaheim (23): Don't be surprised if grumpy Randy Carlyle is the first NHL coach to be dismissed this season.

28. Florida (28): Steve Reinprecht's natural hat trick gives him the Panthers scoring lead. Not really a good sign for the club.

29. Toronto (30): A four-game point streak -- one win, two OT losses and one shootout loss -- get them out of the gutter.

30. Carolina (27): Outscored 16-4 in three straight losses and playing like they want to get Paul Maurice fired -- again.