NHL Power Rankings 2011: Dallas Stars Rising Early In Season

The Dallas Stars may be playing a brand of hockey some consider boring, but it has paid off for the team in the heart of Texas. The Stars rose in a number of power rankings this week, and now dwell in the top third of the league.

ESPN's NHL power rankings are the kindest to the Stars, boosting them three spots from eighth to fifth. Dallas is behind just dominant Washington and a few strong Western Conference teams — Detroit, Los Angeles, Colorado — in ESPN's eyes.

Over at FOX Sports, the Stars make their biggest jump of the week, moving up seven spaces from No. 17 to No. 10. Writer Jon Rosen wonders how often goalie Kari Lehtonen can be expected to turn away shooters when the Stars give up more than 30 shots per game, though.

And at The Hockey News, Dallas creeps up two spots to enter the top 10 at No. 9, with Adam Proteau noting that two of the three Stars losses on the season have come without Lehtonen between the pipes.

For more on the Stars, visit Defending Big D.