The rankings are determined using a system based on the submissions by 12 NHL.com staff members. The point values are assigned as follows: 16 points for a No. 1 ranking, down to one point for a No. 16 ranking.

The Montreal Canadiens, who defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-0 on Wednesday to get off to the best 10-game start in their history (9-0-1), take over the top spot in the NHL.com Super 16 this week, grabbing nine of a possible 12 first-place selections.

The Canadiens are ranked No. 2 by one staff member, Tom Gulitti. However, they are ranked as low as No. 6 by director of editorial Shawn Roarke, who has the Pittsburgh Penguins first followed by the Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks, New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning, who were No. 1 in the Super 16 last week.

The Penguins also appear first on Gulitti's rankings.

Video: PIT@ANA: Malkin rips a one-timer to open the scoring

Deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman has decided to ignore the fact that the Lightning lost three of four games since last week's rankings and is keeping them No. 1.

The Capitals are No. 2 this week, up from No. 4 last week, because they appear in the top four of all 12 rankings submitted.

Most agree the Minnesota Wild belong in the middle of the Super 16. They are ranked anywhere from No. 7 to No. 10 by 10 staff members. Editor-in-chief Bill Price has the Wild at No. 12. Deputy managing editor Brian Compton doesn't have them listed at all in his top 16.

The Edmonton Oilers continue to elicit a wide variety of opinions too. They are ranked as high as No. 3 by two staff members and as low as No. 13 by one. The St. Louis Blues are ranked as high as No. 2 and as low as No. 12.

Three teams that weren't ranked last week jumped into the Super 16.

Here's where they all landed:

Video: VAN@MTL: Price knocks away Eriksson's one-timer

1. Montreal Canadiens (9-0-1)

Total points: 182

Last week: No. 2

Hit: The Canadiens are outscoring the opposition 31-11 after the first period.

Miss: They have scored three goals in the first period.

2. Washington Capitals (6-2-1)

Total points: 166

Last week: No. 4

Hit: The Capitals have scored the first goal in eight of their nine games.

Miss: They've been outscored 9-4 in the second period, which also has been the period when they have their worst shot differential (plus-3, 83-80). Washington is plus-31 in shot differential in the first period (113-82) and plus-21 in the third (96-75).

3. Pittsburgh Penguins (7-2-1)

Total points: 165

Last week: No. 3

Hit: Goalie Matt Murray made 32 saves in a 5-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, his season debut. He broke his thumb in the World Cup of Hockey 2016.

Miss: Forward Conor Sheary has missed six consecutive games.

4. New York Rangers (7-3-0)

Total points: 154

Last week: No. 6

Hit: The Rangers lead the NHL with 40 goals, including 32 in seven home games. Balance has been the key. They have four players with five or more goals and eight with three or more.

Miss: Nothing. They're healthy and rolling. They've won two in a row by outscoring the opposition 11-1. They've won five of their last six games by a combined 23-7.

5. Chicago Blackhawks (6-3-1)

Total points: 134

Last week: No. 10

Hit: The Blackhawks penalty kill is improving after a difficult start. They are 9-for-10 on the PK in the past three games, all wins. They were 12-for-26 on the PK in their first seven games and went 3-3-1.

Miss: They are tied for 26th in shot differential per game at minus-3.4. Chicago is generating 28.0 shots per game and allowing 31.4.

Video: CGY@CHI: Kane scores after nifty stickhandling

6. Tampa Bay Lightning (6-4-0)

Total points: 133

Last week: No. 1

Hit: Rookie Brayden Point has been a pleasant surprise with his overall play and production. He has four assists and has played in all 10 games. He played a season-high 17:27 in a 6-1 win against the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

Miss: Center Tyler Johnson is doing a lot of things well, but he's not producing at his expected rate. Johnson has two goals and four points in 10 games. He has 42 points in his last 79 games after scoring 72 points in 77 games in the 2014-15 season.

7. Edmonton Oilers (7-2-1)

Total points: 117

Last week: No. 8

Hit: The Oilers are off to their best start (15 points through 10 games) since the 1985-86 season, when they were 8-2-0 to start the season.

Miss: They have scored two goals in losing back-to-back games, including 3-2 in overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday.

8. San Jose Sharks (6-4-0)

Total points: 115

Last week: No. 7

Hit: The Sharks have outscored the opposition 9-2 in the first period through 10 games.

Miss: They're getting outscored 22-16 after the first period despite a plus-33 shot differential (216-183).

9. St. Louis Blues (5-3-2)

Total points: 104

Last week: No. 5

Hit: Defenseman Jay Bouwmeester played in his 1,000th NHL game Tuesday.

Miss: The Blues have scored three goals in their past four games and are 1-2-1 in those games.

Video: LAK@STL: Schwartz sweeps in puck to open scoring

10. Minnesota Wild (6-3-1)

Total points: 84

Last week: No. 11

Hit: The Wild are 26-for-27 on the penalty kill this season for an NHL-best 96.3 percent.

Miss: Left wing Zach Parise has missed two consecutive games and is week to week with a lower-body injury.

11. Ottawa Senators (6-3-0)

Total points: 59

Last week: No. 15

Hit: Craig Anderson has been remarkable despite his wife, Nicholle, being diagnosed with cancer. He has made 91 saves on 92 shots in his past three starts.

Miss: The Senators have scored 10 goals in their past five games.

12. Detroit Red Wings (6-4-1)

Total points: 57

Last week: No. 9

Hit: Goalie Jimmy Howard has been excellent in the backup role. He is 2-1-0 with a 0.86 goals-against average and .973 save percentage in four games.

Miss: Forward Thomas Vanek (lower body) remains out. He has missed four consecutive games after scoring eight points in the first seven games.

13. Anaheim Ducks (4-5-2)

Total points: 45

Last week: NR

Hit: Center Rickard Rakell returned to the lineup in a big way with three points in his season debut Tuesday, when the Ducks defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-0.

Miss: Defenseman Hampus Lindholm, who signed a six-year contract on Oct. 26, still is not with the Ducks because of issues with his work visa that may not be ironed out until next week.

Video: ANA@LAK: Rakell goes five-hole to open scoring

14. Florida Panthers (4-5-1)

Total points: 32

Last week: No. 12

Hit: The Panthers are 11-for-12 on the penalty kill in five home games. They are 3-2-0 in those games.

Miss: They have lost four of their past five games and have five goals in the four losses. Center Aleksander Barkov has gone six straight games without a point.

15. New Jersey Devils (4-2-2)

Total points: 30

Last week: NR

Hit: The Devils' .936 save percentage is third in the NHL, a big reason why they're tied for second in goals-against per game (2.00).

Miss: Their 7.6 percent shooting percentage is tied for 26th in the League, a big reason why they're 25th in goals-per game (2.25).

16. Boston Bruins (5-4-0)

Total points: 16

Last week: NR

Hit: Goalie Tuukka Rask has allowed three goals on 122 shots in his past four games, including one on 58 shots since returning to the lineup after missing three games with general soreness.

Miss: Torey Krug, who is supposed to be the Bruins' best offensive defenseman, has no points through nine games.

Others receiving points: Nashville Predators 10, Buffalo Sabres 6, Dallas Stars 6, Columbus Blue Jackets 6, Calgary Flames 4, Vancouver Canucks 4, New York Islanders 2, Los Angeles Kings 1

HERE'S HOW WE RANKED 'EM

ARPON BASU

1. Montreal Canadiens; 2. New York Rangers; 3. Washington Capitals; 4. San Jose Sharks; 5. Edmonton Oilers; 6. Pittsburgh Penguins; 7. Chicago Blackhawks; 8. Tampa Bay Lightning; 9. St. Louis Blues; 10. Minnesota Wild; 11. Detroit Red Wings; 12. New Jersey Devils; 13. Ottawa Senators; 14. Boston Bruins; 15. Columbus Blue Jackets; 16. Anaheim Ducks

AMALIE BENJAMIN

1. Montreal Canadiens; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. Pittsburgh Penguins; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Chicago Blackhawks; 6. New York Rangers; 7. San Jose Sharks; 8. St. Louis Blues; 9. Edmonton Oilers; 10. Minnesota Wild; 11. Detroit Red Wings; 12. Florida Panthers; 13. Anaheim Ducks; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. New York Islanders; 16. Los Angeles Kings

TIM CAMPBELL

1. Montreal Canadiens; 2. St. Louis Blues; 3. Edmonton Oilers; 4. Washington Capitals; 5. Chicago Blackhawks; 6. Pittsburgh Penguins; 7. Minnesota Wild; 8. San Jose Sharks; 9. Tampa Bay Lightning; 10. New York Rangers; 11. Detroit Red Wings; 12. Ottawa Senators; 13. Anaheim Ducks; 14. New Jersey Devils; 15. Buffalo Sabres; 16. Boston Bruins

BRIAN COMPTON

1. Montreal Canadiens; 2. New York Rangers; 3. Edmonton Oilers; 4. Washington Capitals; 5. Pittsburgh Penguins; 6. Chicago Blackhawks; 7. Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. San Jose Sharks; 9. Ottawa Senators; 10. Detroit Red Wings; 11. Boston Bruins; 12. St. Louis Blues; 13. New Jersey Devils; 14. Buffalo Sabres; 15. Columbus Blue Jackets; 16. Florida Panthers

NICK COTSONIKA

1. Montreal Canadiens; 2. Pittsburgh Penguins; 3. Washington Capitals; 4. New York Rangers; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Edmonton Oilers; 7. San Jose Sharks; 8. St. Louis Blues; 9. Chicago Blackhawks; 10. Minnesota Wild; 11. Florida Panthers; 12. Nashville Predators; 13. Detroit Red Wings; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. New Jersey Devils; 16. Columbus Blue Jackets

TOM GULITTI

1. Pittsburgh Penguins; 2. Montreal Canadiens; 3. New York Rangers; 4. Washington Capitals; 5. Chicago Blackhawks; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. San Jose Sharks; 8. Minnesota Wild; 9. St. Louis Blues; 10. Edmonton Oilers; 11. Ottawa Senators; 12. Detroit Red Wings; 13. Anaheim Ducks; 14. Florida Panthers; 15. New Jersey Devils; 16. Nashville Predators

ADAM KIMELMAN

1. Tampa Bay Lightning; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. Chicago Blackhawks; 4. Pittsburgh Penguins; 5. Montreal Canadiens; 6. New York Rangers; 7. Edmonton Oilers; 8. St. Louis Blues; 9. Minnesota Wild; 10. San Jose Sharks; 11. Anaheim Ducks; 12. New Jersey Devils; 13. Calgary Flames; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. Dallas Stars; 16. Detroit Red Wings

ROBERT LAFLAMME

1. Montreal Canadiens; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. New York Rangers; 4. Pittsburgh Penguins; 5. Edmonton Oilers; 6. Chicago Blackhawks; 7. Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. Ottawa Senators; 9. Minnesota Wild; 10. San Jose Sharks; 11. New Jersey Devils; 12. St. Louis Blues; 13. Detroit Red Wings; 14. Boston Bruins; 15. Vancouver Canucks; 16. Buffalo Sabres

MIKE G. MORREALE

1. Montreal Canadiens; 2. Pittsburgh Penguins; 3. New York Rangers; 4. Washington Capitals; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Edmonton Oilers; 7. St. Louis Blues; 8. Chicago Blackhawks; 9. Ottawa Senators; 10. Minnesota Wild; 11. Florida Panthers; 12. Detroit Red Wings; 13. San Jose Sharks; 14. Anaheim Ducks; 15. Vancouver Canucks; 16. Boston Bruins

BILL PRICE

1. Montreal Canadiens; 2. Pittsburgh Penguins; 3. Chicago Blackhawks; 4. Washington Capitals; 5. New York Rangers; 6. San Jose Sharks; 7. Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. Anaheim Ducks; 9. Edmonton Oilers; 10. St. Louis Blues; 11. Detroit Red Wings; 12. Minnesota Wild; 13. Dallas Stars; 14. Nashville Predators; 15. Ottawa Senators; 16. New Jersey Devils

SHAWN ROARKE

1. Pittsburgh Penguins; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. San Jose Sharks; 4. New York Rangers; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Montreal Canadiens; 7. St. Louis Blues; 8. Chicago Blackhawks; 9. Minnesota Wild; 10. Anaheim Ducks; 11. Edmonton Oilers; 12. Florida Panthers; 13. Detroit Red Wings; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. Boston Bruins; 16. Nashville Predators

DAN ROSEN

1. Montreal Canadiens; 2. New York Rangers; 3. Pittsburgh Penguins; 4. Washington Capitals; 5. Chicago Blackhawks; 6. San Jose Sharks; 7. Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. St. Louis Blues; 9. Minnesota Wild; 10. Anaheim Ducks; 11. Florida Panthers; 12. Ottawa Senators; 13. Edmonton Oilers; 14. Detroit Red Wings; 15. New Jersey Devils; 16. Columbus Blue Jackets