1. San Jose (1) -- Is the teal for real? We won't know until the playoffs, I suppose, but this is a mighty impresive run.

2. Detroit (2) -- The Wings have yet to allow more than three goals in a game in November, which explains the 7-0-1 mark.

3. Boston (3) -- Two unheralded players -- goalie Tim Thomas and points machine Marc Savard -- are fueling a 12-1-1 run.

4. Pittsburgh (6) -- Rookie defenseman Alex Goligoski has more power play goals (3) than ... you guessed it, Sidney Crosby (2).

5. Vancouver (8) -- Back-to-back wins since goaltender Roberto Luongo's groin started barking, but how long can they hold out without Louie?

6. Chicago (10) -- Rookie winger Kris Versteeg (7-13-20, plus-11) has emerged as Derick Brassard's top rival for the Calder Trophy.

7. Montreal (9) -- The pursuit for Mats "I Don't Know Yet" Sundin is starting to make sense: the Habs have scored two goals or less in six straight games.

8. N.Y. Rangers (4) -- With only two regulation wins this month, the bloom is quickly falling off the rose, and the boo-birds are nesting on Wade Redden's porch.

9. Washington (5) -- Ovie has a seven-game point streak, putting up 6-10-16 in that span; yes, one man can carry a team.

10. Minnesota (7) -- Jacques Lemaire has his wish. The Wild have allowed only 36 goals this season; nobody else has allowed fewer than 50.

11. Anaheim (11) -- Taking too many penalties, which is nothing new. But their penalty kill is struggling, allowing a league-high 26 power play goals.

12. Philadelphia (18) -- After a brutral start (0-3-3), the Flyers have quietly gone 9-3-1, including a current four-game winning streak. An easy schedule awaits, too.

13. New Jersey (19) -- Finally, the offense chimes in. The Devils have supported Martin Brodeur's replacements with 21 goals in the past four games, all wins.

14. Columbus (15) -- Two ugly home losses -- vs. Phoenix and Edmonton -- make it easy to forget the Blue Jackets' 6-3-2 run since Oct. 27.

15. Nashville (14) -- Early Norris Trophy candidate: Shea Weber leads the Preds in goals (10), points (21), plus-minus (+10), shots on goal (68) and ice time (24:02).

16. Calgary (17) -- The Flames have one quality win this month, a 7-6 thriller over Nashville. Big problem is the wild inconsistency of goalie Miikka Kiprusoff.

17. Edmonton (12) -- Thanks, boss. Goaltender Mathieu Garon, the Oilers' supposed No. 1, has been given only two starts this month -- vs. Pittsburgh and Detroit.

18. Carolina (22) -- Win over Montreal was only their second against an above .500 team all season. If they played in the West, they'd be a bottom-dweller.

19. St. Louis (27) -- After a six-game losing streak, the Blues have earned a point in four straight games, including back-to-back wins vs. Anaheim and Minnesota.

20. Los Angeles (23) -- Quietly, the Kings are playing very respectable hockey right now. We keep saying it, but watch out for these guys.

21. Buffalo (13) -- Life comes at you fast. The Sabres have plunged like the Buffalo temperature, going 1-6-1 since Nov. 7. Goaltender Ryan Miller is brutal right now.

22. NY Islanders (26) -- Joey MacDonald, late of the Red Wings, has started 10 straight games for the Isles, going 6-3-1. What do you think? Ten-year contract?

23. Toronto (21) -- Nothing like a 2-5-2 plunge to push Leafs fans back to the brink. The savior Brian Burke could join the fray as GM within days.

24. Phoenix (20) -- Desert Dogs? Try Dead Dogs. Since an eye-opening 5-2 rout of the Blue Jackets in Columbus, the Coyotes have dropped five straight.

25. Colorado (16) -- That decade of winning made it easy to be an Avs fans. Now that they're losing ... where is everybody? Only 14,536 on hand to see Calgary on Thursday.

26. Ottawa (28) -- Before a 4-1 win over the Rangers on Saturday, the Sens scored only seven goals during a six-game losing streak.

27. Atlanta (24) -- Lost six in a row; won five in a row; now they've dropped three straight. Four of their seven wins have come against Southeast opponents.

28. Tampa Bay (29) -- Bad news: a 7-3 loss at home to New Jersey. Good news: finally, a Radim Vrbata sighting.

29. Dallas (25) -- Latest blow to the biggest disappointment in the NHL: Captain Brenden Morrow (knee) is out for the season.

30. Florida (30) -- GM Jacques Martin has backed himself into a corner. This club is in an endless cycle of losing, and he's the last variable that hasn't changed.