NHL Power Rankings 2011: Minnesota Wild Surging

The Minnesota Wild are currently in the middle of a five-game winning streak that has helped put them just one point out of first place in the Western Conference's Northwest Division behind the Edmonton Oilers. (And as of writing this, they are tied 0-0 after a period of play against the San Jose Sharks.) 

The winning streak -- which features wins against the Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks, and St. Louis Blues --  has forced the rankings makers' hand, soaring the Wild to the upper echelon of the NHL in all of the major Power Rankings.

ESPN moved the Wild all the way up to the No. 8 spot from No. 22 a week ago, sitting between the Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Fox Sports moved the Wild up 14 notches all the way to No. 11, noting that Wild netminder Josh Harding only allowed three goals in the first four games of the aforementioned winning streak. Hockey News mentions the same stat while placing the Wild at No. 11 as well. 

After their Thursday night showdown with the Sharks, the Wild play the Kings on Saturday and the Ducks on Sunday.