Check out this weeks NHL power rankings. Get free NHL Picks by clicking each of the handicapper pages under the "Advisory Board" section of the left side bar.

As the trade deadline approaches on March 4 some teams have big decisions to make -- are they going to make any moves to make a run at Lord Stanley this season or are they going to start planning for the future? Some teams at the bottom of our power rankings don't have much of a decision to make but some teams may take on different identity after the deadline. Most teams have played about 60 games so far this season with about 21 remaining before the end of the regular season.

Stanley Cup Odds provided by Bodog.

1) San Jose Sharks
Previous Ranking: 1
Stanley Cup Odds: 3/1

The Sharks successfully defended their top spot in the Power Rankings with a 5-2 thrashing of the east-best Boston Bruins and are currently riding a three-game winning streak. San Jose has firmly cemented themselves as the team to beat in the NHL.

2) Boston Bruins
Previous Ranking: 2
Stanley Cup Odds: 6/1

No one is going to blame the Bruins for losing to the Sharks but they will for letting that loss start a stretch of four losses in six games. Boston is still allowing the fewest goals in the NHL (137) despite already having played more games than most teams.

3) Detroit Red Wings
Previous Ranking: 4
Stanley Cup Odds: 10/3

At home the Red Wings are nearly unbeatable but regardless of the vanue the Red Wings will score and score in droves. In February alone the Red Wings have scored at least three goals in all but two games, including and eight-goal outburst against the Oilers. The scoring has been there and it has come from many different sources.

4) New Jersey Devils
Previous Ranking: 3
Stanley Cup Odds: 8/1

The Devils continue their assault on the Atlantic Division as they have separated themselves from what was a tight race. New Jersey has an eight-point cushion over the Philadelphia Flyers. Scott Clemmensen continues to get it done in net in lieu of Martin Brodeur. Clemmensen has a GAA of 2.39 after 40 starts.

5) Washington Capitals
Previous Ranking: 5
Stanley Cup Odds: 9/1

Alexander Ovechkin helped solidify the Capitals Southeast Division title hopes and Player of the Year honors with a decisive 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins and his two closest competitors for the POY honor, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

6) Chicago Blackhawks
Previous Ranking: 7
Stanley Cup Odds: 12/1

The Blackhawks have won seven of their last 10 as they remain in striking distance of the division-leading Red Wings. The Blackhawks have only surrendered 143 goals this season, third best in the Western Conference.

7) Calgary Flames
Previous Ranking: 6
Stanley Cup Odds: 14/1

We know the Flames can get it done at home where they are 20-7-4 this season, but its been what they have done on the road (15-11-2) that has separated this Flames team from previous editions. Calgary has a comfortable grasp of the No. 3 seed in the West with an eight-point lead over the Canucks in the Northwest Division.

8) New York Rangers
Previous Ranking: 9
Stanley Cup Odds: 30/1

The Rangers are plummeting and it would not be surprising if they are on the outside looking in come postseason time. New York's "other" team, at least right now, has gone 2-5-3 in its last 10 games. This downfall is not exactly shocking, after all the Rangers have been outscored 170-151 this season despite having a winning record.

9) Florida Panthers
Previous Ranking: 12
Stanley Cup Odds: 40/1

The Panthers can fly under the radar no longer thanks to a 7-3 performance over their last 10 games that has them slowly removing themselves from the bubble in the Eastern Conference. Tomas Vokoun has been solid in net (2.41 GAA, 20-17-3) and his backup Craig Anderson (2.49, 10-4-5) has not been bad either.

10) Philadelphia Flyers
Previous Ranking: 11
Stanley Cup Odds: 18/1

The Flyers were catching fire with a three-game winning streak where they outscored their opponents 16-6. However, a late blown lead against the Penguins at home could have derailed any built-up momentum. A critical stretch of games awaits against the Capitals, Canadians and Devils as the Flyers close out February.

11) Vancouver Canucks
Previous Ranking: 21
Stanley Cup Odds: 20/1

What a month. A pair of four-game winning streaks in one month has vaulted the Canucks on the verge of our Top 10 in the power rankings. Mats Sundin broke Maple Leaf hearts in Toronto in a 3-2 shootout victory to help extend the Canucks latest win streak to four games.

12) Montreal Canadians
Previous Ranking: 8
Stanley Cup Odds: 20/1

Another free falling team in the Eastern Conference, Montreal thought it was playing to improve its seeding, now it is simply fighting for its playoff life. The Canadians came into February streaking and the month has done little to reverse that. Montreal is 4-11-1 in its last 16 games.

13) Buffalo Sabres
Previous Ranking: 13
Stanley Cup Odds: 33/1

Sabres fans continue to cross their fingers hoping the best for goaltender Ryan Miller (2.50 GAA, 29-16-5) and his high ankle sprain. Without him in net the Sabres have gone 2-7-1 this season.

14) Dallas Stars
Previous Ranking: 16
Stanley Cup Odds: 25/1

Loui Eriksson is one of the least known goal scorers in the league but he has quietly led the team with 27 goals while centers Mike Ribeiro (52 points), Brad Richards (48 points) and Mike Modano (37 points) continue to fuel a Stars offense that has the team back in the playoff picture.

15) Colorado Avalanche
Previous Ranking: 25
Stanley Cup Odds: 200/1

Continued strong play by the Avalanche has not been enough to lift them out of the Northwest Division basement, but a three-game winning streak that featured wins over the Red Wings and Capitals let the NHL know what this team is capable of when it's on its a game.

16) Pittsburgh Penguins
Previous Ranking: 15
Stanley Cup Odds: 20/1

Just when you think the Penguins have things turned around they look lethargic in a 5-2 loss at Washington. Still, they do look like an improved team from the product they put on the ice a month ago. However, the Penguins have a long way to go to get into the top eight in the Eastern Conference, especially with surging teams like the Panthers and Hurricanes standing in their way. Malkin and Crosby are currently first and second in the NHL in scoring but that has not translated to points.

17) Edmonton Oilers
Previous Ranking: 17
Stanley Cup Odds: 50/1

A three-game losing streak has the Oilers just outside of the top eight in the West by one point behind the Wild. The Oilers have been outscored this season, 182-165.

18) Carolina Hurricanes
Previous Ranking: 18
Stanley Cup Odds: 60/1

The Hurricanes have been getting the most out of its players and the team was not expected to be in this position right now. A three-game winning streak has the Hurricanes knocking on the door of the top eight in the Eastern Conference as they are only one point behind the Sabres and Panthers through 61 games.

19) Anaheim Ducks
Previous Ranking: 10
Stanley Cup Odds: 40/1

About as evenly spread out scoring as you are going to see in the NHL. Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan are tied for the team lead with 21 goals while Ryan Getzlaf has 20 and Teemue Selanne has added 18. Four other players are in double figures including Chris Kunitz, who has scored 16 goals this season.

20) Minnesota Wild
Previous Ranking: 20
Stanley Cup Odds: 50/1

What team has allowed the fewest goals this season? Bring up that question for a bar bet and you'll probably be drinking for free. The Wild, behind the goaltending of Niklas Backstrom (2.23, 28-17-3) and Josh Harding (2.14 GAA), have the NHL's top defense.

21) Los Angeles Kings
Previous Ranking: 27
Stanley Cup Odds: 100/1

The Los Angeles Kings are in danger of falling completely out of the playoff picture. Another average stretch of games in February and the Kings are standing pat in the No. 12 spot in the Western Conference. They still remain only five points out of the eighth spot but three other teams stand in their way with the Coyotes, Blues and Avalanche right on their tail.

22) Nashville Predators
Previous Ranking: 26
Stanley Cup Odds: 200/1

J.P. Dumont remains one of the more underrated players in the league. His 42 points (11 goals, 31 assists) leads the team. Jason Arnott (21 goals, 18 assists) and Martin Erat (14 goals, 21 assists) are one of the better tandem of right wingers in the NHL.

23) Toronto Maple Leafs
Previous Ranking: 24
Stanley Cup Odds: 500/1

The Maple Leafs have the ability to come up with the big win on any given night but their inconsistency has cost them any realistic chance of getting back in the playoff race. After a 3-3-4 stretch recently Toronto sits 14 points out of playoff contention.

24) St. Louis Blues
Previous Ranking: 22
Stanley Cup Odds: 250/1

In net for the Blues Chris Mason has the numbers (2.46 GAA) but his record is only 11-16-5 while Manny Legace has the record (13-9-2) but a dismal GAA of 3.18. The Blues continue to have an outside shot for the postseason but offensively they need better production out of anybody not named Brad Boyes (25 goals, 25 assists).

25) Phoenix Coyotes
Previous Ranking: 14
Stanley Cup Odds: 200/1

A recent 3-7 stretch dropped the Coyotes 11 spots in the power rankings. They are now back in the mix of teams battling it out at the bottom of the Western Conference. They have allowed 184 goals through 60 games this year, second worst in the conference.

26) Columbus Blue Jackets
Previous Ranking: 19
Stanley Cup Odds: 45/1

If the season ended today the Blue Jackets would be in the playoffs. They would probably get swept in four games, too.

27) Tampa Bay Lightning
Previous Ranking: 23
Stanley Cup Odds: 300/1

The Lightning flirted with mediocrity for a while but now they are back to being atrocious. A 3-7-2 run over 12 games sealed the fate of the Tampa Bay season.

28) Ottawa Senators
Previous Ranking: 28
Stanley Cup Odds: 200/1

Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson both with 50-plus points continue to excel in relative obscurity as the Senators latest three-game losing streak has them fighting for lottery odds with the bottom of the pack in the East.

29) Atlanta Thrashers
Previous Ranking: 29
Stanley Cup Odds: 1000/1

The Thrashers have a solid stranglehold on the 14th spot in the Eastern Conference but look out if the Islanders decide to make a run….

30) New York Islanders
Previous Ranking: 30
Stanley Cup Odds: 1000/1

The Islanders have the ability to beat the Penguins in a shootout and shutout the division leading Devils 4-0 but they also have the ability to lose to just about anyone in the league and that is why they remain in the basement of the Power Rankings.