MLS Power Rankings, Week 16: Montreal Impact's consistent play moves them way up

Note: Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. The Power Rankings are voted on by the editorial staff at MLSsoccer.com, and remarks are written by Senior Editor Matt Doyle. All times Eastern.

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Last: 4

Top on points, second on points per per game, third on goal differential. D.C. rarely seem dominant, but they are masterful at staying in the game and giving themselves a chance. And when Fabian Espindola is healthy, they take that chance more often than not.

• Last Week: Won vs. New England, 2-1
• Last Five: W-W-L-L-W
• This Week: Wednesday at Chicago (8:30 pm; MLS LIVE); Saturday at Toronto (5 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 1

Back in April when nobody but Oba/Deuce was scoring, Sigi Schmid said "No big deal." It's a big deal now. Seattle strung together some nice possession on Saturday, but had no end product to speak of.

• Last Week: Lost vs. San Jose, 2-0 
• Last Five: W-W-L-W-L
• This Week: Wednesday at Philadelphia (7 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 5

After a mid-spring lull they've now won three of their last four, including their last two on the road. Like D.C., they rarely produce dominant displays, but they keep getting points.

• Last Week: Won at New York, 2-1
• Last Five: L-W-L-W-W
• This Week: Saturday at New England (7:30 pm; TSN2/MLS LIVE)

Last: 2

The most shocking part of their loss to RSL was that there was no Sporting response to the physicality of the hosts. KC allowed themselves to be pushed around - something we haven't seen for years.

• Last Week: Lost at Real Salt Lake, 2-1
• Last Five: W-D-W-W-L
• This Week: Saturday vs. Colorado (8:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 7

Before everybody starts penciling them in as a juggernaut: It came at home against the league's worst defensive team, so there's an asterisk. Nonetheless, the Galaxy are starting to look like the Galaxy, and when Gyasi Zardes plays like that, they are a lot of fun to watch.

• Last Week: Won vs. Philadelphia, 5-1
• Last Five: W-D-L-D-W
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Portland (11 pm; ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN/TSN2); Saturday at San Jose (10:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last:: 9

They keep finding the defensive answers they've been looking for, even if the attack is more "opportunistic" than "rampant." Huge test on both sides of the ball Wednesday at LA.

• Last Week: Won vs. Houston, 2-0
• Last Five: L-W-W-W-W
• This Week: Wednesday at LA (11 pm; ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN/TSN2); Sunday vs. Seattle (7 pm; FOX Sports 1/FOX Deportes/FOX Sports GO/TSN2)

Last: 3

Ran into a hot goalkeeper and a coach with a good gameplan, but even so, that was a game TFC had to win to show that they're truly among the league's best. Two big ones coming up over the next five days to try to get well again.

• Last Week: Lost vs. NYCFC, 2-0
• Last Five: D-W-W-W-L
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Montreal (8 pm; TSN/RDS/MLS LIVE); Saturday vs. D.C. United (5 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 6

As much fun as it's been to watch the Revs send both fullbacks forward, it's becoming more apparent that doing so comes at a price defensively. When teams get into those gaps behind the overlap, New England don't scramble well.

• Last Week: Lost at D.C. United, 2-1
• Last Five: D-D-L-W-L
• This Week: Wednesday at Columbus (7:30 pm; MLS LIVE); Saturday vs. Vancouver (7:30 pm; TSN2/MLS LIVE)

Last: 15

Three Canadian teams in the top nine? Clearly the Power Rankings Politburo is on the Canadian Soccer Hype Train. Choo Choooo! Frank Klopas has done an underappreciated job of juggling his injury-ridden attack, and Laurent Ciman is well in the running for both Defender of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.

• Last Week: Won vs. Orlando City, 2-0 
• Last Five: L-W-W-L-W
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Toronto (8 pm; TSN/RDS/MLS LIVE); Saturday at Philadelphia (7 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 13

Have yet to put together a sustained run of either good or bad soccer, but they're very tough to beat and keep their defensive shape well. In other words: They look very much like a Dom Kinnear team. Watch out for them in September and October. Seriously.

• Last Week: Won at Seattle, 2-0
• Last Five: W-D-L-D-W
• This Week: Saturday vs. LA (10:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 8

We thought they'd skipped the spring swoon, but it turns out they just pushed it back a little bit. Now that the summer solstice has come and gone, perhaps they'll find their form once again.

• Last Week: Drew at Colorado, 1-1
• Last Five: L-L-D-L-D
• This Week: Friday vs. Houston (9 pm; UniMás/UnivisionDeportes.com/MLS LIVE)

Last: 11

Props to OCSC for staying with their preferred game plan, even on the road. They know who they are and who they want to be. But the fact that it led to a series of Montreal counterattacks was no bueno. A bit more pragmatism was called for.

• Last Week: Lost at Montreal, 2-0
• Last Five: D-D-W-W-L
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Colorado (7:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 10

Only five points separate No. 3 from No. 9 in the Western Confrence, so Friday's trip to Dallas could go a long way for Houston's long-term fortunes.

• Last Week: Lost at Portland, 2-0
• Last Five: W-L-D-W-L
• This Week: Friday at Dallas (9 pm; UniMás/UnivisionDeportes.com/MLS LIVE)

Last: 16

Played with a focus and ruthlessness that's been largely missing this season, and got actual goals from actual forwards. That had to be a nice change for the RSL faithful. 

• Last Week: Won vs. Sporting KC, 2-1
• Last Five: W-L-L-D-W
• This Week: Wednesday at New York (7:30 pm; MLS LIVE); Saturday vs. Columbus (10 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 14

Wil Trapp is reportedly a couple of weeks away from full training, and a subsequent return to the lineup. Columbus have suffered badly without him.

• Last Week: OFF
• Last Five: D-D-L-L-D
• This Week: Wednesday vs. New England (7:30 pm; MLS LIVE); Saturday at Real Salt Lake (10 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 17

Snatch-and-grab trip to BMO. It showed maturity and pragmatism, and they've suddenly climbed into the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

• Last Week: Won at Toronto, 2-0
• Last Five: L-D-W-W-W
• This Week: Sunday vs. New York (5 pm; ESPN/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN/TSN5)

Last: 12

Murphy's Law (or perhaps "Metro's Law) was at play. Two missed PKs, a red card, and a star attacker injured in the midweek Open Cup game. Not a great few days for RBNY, but the play of the kids - Anatole Abang, Manolo Sanchez, Sean Davis & Matt Miazga - gives reason for optimism.

• Last Week: Won vs. Vancouver, 2-1
• Last Five: D-L-L-L-L
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Real Salt Lake (7:30 pm; MLS LIVE); Sunday at NYCFC (5 pm; ESPN/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN/TSN5)

Last: 18

Safe to say the new signings - Kevin Doyle and Luis Solignac - haven't been the tonic for this team's struggling attack. Rapids fans are right to wonder how different this season could have been if Deshorn Brown was still around.

• Last Week: Drew vs. Dallas, 1-1
• Last Five: W-L-L-D-D
• This Week: Wednesday at Orlando City (7:30 pm; MLS LIVE); Saturday at Sporting KC (8:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 19

Since Shaun Maloney is out at least 2-3 weeks with a back issue, this gives Frank Yallop an excuse to use his best creator - Harry Shipp - as the team's No. 10, instead of shuffling him over to the wing.

• Last Week: OFF
• Last Five: D-W-L-L-L
• This Week: Wednesday vs. D.C. United (8:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 20

Bad, bad game. But here's a friendly reminder to the powers that be in Philly that D.C. stuck with Ben Olsen through some really, really bad times and have reaped the rewards for their patience over the last two seasons. Jim Curtin is still early on his learning curve, but he's shown promise as a head coach.

• Last Week: Lost at LA, 5-1
• Last Five: W-L-W-L-L
• This Week: Wednesday vs. Seattle (7 pm; MLS LIVE); Saturday vs. Montreal (7 pm; MLS LIVE)