NHL Power Rankings: Week 5
Beware, a very ornery Oilers fan is writing these power rankings. We sit 4 weeks through the season, the first of 8 ten-game segments have come and gone for all of the NHL teams and we start to look at where teams sit in the hierarchy. After a very convincing week, there is 1 top team and a decent drop down from there. The best part of this season is the incredible play by teams we didn’t expect to see perform. This has already been quite the season so far and its just heating up ladies and gents.
#16 Arizona Coyotes (5-5-1; 11 Pts)
Previously Unranked
My hipster pick of the week! Arizona is looking quite fun this year! Very good goaltending and positive on the possession and chances numbers. Plus they are a mean team, which is always fun! I think the days of crapping on the Yotes while they are down are over, for now. They are working their bags off, and finding ways to stay relevant in a division that seems like it might be up for grabs.
#15 New York Islanders (5-2-3; 13 Pts)
Previously #13
Isles have an even goal differential, surprise surprise. Goaltending has been nasty as always. I think that’s what is keeping them in my top though, they rely soooo much on goaltending. If teams can solve the netminders, the Islanders will be in trouble and fast.
#14 Florida Panthers (5-4-1; 8 Pts)
Unchanged
Florida sits with a .550 point percentage through 10 games. Without Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour (and not Gudas either). Goaltending has stepped up massively for this team and the team is finding ways to win or stay competitive every night! A -2-goal differential is a question mark but look, did I mention they don’t have their top 2 defenseman? I am quite impressed by the Panthers this season.
#13 Toronto Maple Leafs (5-4-2; 12 Pts)
Previously #10
Sorry but the Leafs are soft. Tough week for them but the biggest blunder was their reaction or complete lack thereof when their teammate gets hurt by non-other than Brad Marchand. The Leafs are always lackadaisical in October/November. But the new guys, who were brought in to bring a new culture, are FAILING.
#12 Anaheim Ducks (7-4-0; 14 Pts)
Previously Unranked…for a long time…seriously
You read that correctly. James’, Lu’s, and Jose’s Anaheim Ducks are a top team in the league at this moment in history. They are on the longest winning streak in the NHL. They have a whopping .940 SV% in 5 on 5 hockey. They are the fastest team to earning 5 come from behind wins in the 3rd period in league history. Most of the goaltending has been coming from rookie Dostal who I am projecting will win the Calder Trophy over Connor Bedard if he keeps this up. I sit here and am trying to figure out a trade for John Gibson…then again is he letting go the beautiful weather, Disneyland, and a winning stint to go to the tundra in Edmonton that is only hot because the team is a dumpster fire?
#11 Tampa Bay Lightning (5-3-3; 13 Pts)
Unchanged
Tampa will always just find a way to stay competitive. Their record is very bleh, with a .591 point percentage. But we have to remember that this team is older and playing without their HoF netminder for a couple months still! They still sit with a .917 Sv% 5 on 5. The problem is they are losing the possession and chances numbers. They still find ways to win and that’s what experienced teams do. The Bolts may not see much progression in rankings but that really doesn’t matter as long as they make it.
#10 Detroit Red Wings (7-4-1; 15 Pts)
Previously #8
The Wings continue to be the top of that “fun” tier of teams! They get out chanced, which scares me and they get out possessed as well. However, it’s a mushy conference and any way to find wins will put you in a position to make the playoffs. I like the Wings but they need to find another gear going into the second 10-game stint here.
#9 Carolina Hurricanes (7-5-0; 14 Pts)
Unchanged
2-1 week is a step in the right direction. The Hurricanes will be without Andersen for awhile, which is certainly tough. However, moments like this create adversity and a chance for a team to come together and find their new level. I do not subscribe to the idea that the Canes are this “meh”. This team is better than this and the crazy part of it is that its goaltending that is hurting them so much. I think we are going to see a nice rebound for this team and don’t be surprised if the Canes find the top 6 by American Thanksgiving.
#8 Vancouver Canucks (8-2-1; 17 Pts)
Previously #12
There is one happy team in Canada right now. It’s the team that has effectively broke the Edmonton Oilers in that opening night. The Canucks have not looked back, dropping just 3 games total, and sitting with a 3-game winning streak before they face the Oilers in their 3rd and last meeting of the season. A win tonight would most certainly stir the chaos and push it to amazing levels. Can we just give all the awards to the players of the Canucks? If Demko doesn’t win the Vezina, I don’t know what people are looking at.
#7 New Jersey Devils (7-3-1; 15 Pts)
Previously #6
The Devils are a very solid team and the loss of Jack Hughes, even if its short-term is a tough sight. I do not think that goaltending is good enough for this team to really be an elite threat all the way through, but they are a hard working and fast team that seems to just continue to gel and improve since that incredible season last season. Gotta find a bit more consistency in net.
#6 New York Rangers (8-2-1; 17 Pts)
Previously #4
Still need to find more scoring. It is crazy to see that the Rangers go down so far after not losing out on a point, but that’s how close these teams are right now. I love the goaltending numbers here but the shooting percentage is a question for me, especially 5 on 5. They need to find a way to finish!
#5 Los Angeles Kings (7-2-2; 16 Pts)
Previously #7
3 game winning streak. All with a measily .909 SV% while 5 on 5. But their scoring clip is quite good, uncharacteristic for Kings teams. They are also finding ways to create chances in their favor which most certainly helps the weaker goaltending issues. Should goaltending really take shape, this team could easily walk their way to playoffs and make a deep run.
#4 Colorado Avalanche (7-3-0; 14 Pts)
Previously #3
Split their week, but that loss to the Knights looked ugly. All that said, I am not panicking too bad. You guys know that the rankings at the top can be tough and you could argue a position or two in either direction. Avs need to find better goaltending on 5 on 5. That said, they are DOMINATING the chances for especially high-danger.
#3 Dallas Stars (7-2-1; 15 Pts)
Previously #5
This Dallas Stars team has a crap ton going for it. They are getting great goaltending from Oettinger and back-up Wedgwood, which saved them in their game against the Oilers last week. They are getting incredible production from their veteran Joe Pavelski and their stud Roope Hintz. They are winning games night in and night out, all while Jason Robertson looks bleh…imagine for a second that he pops off…woof.
#2 Boston Bruins (9-1-1; 19 Pts)
Previously #1A
I did have this team as the hipster pick last week. Sometimes I like to different you know? Makes me feel like I know my stuff…except that I don’t. Sure the Bruins have the better SV% 5 on 5 and better scoring chance data, but they don’t have that shooting percentage and simply don’t have the points yet. That’s not to say the Bruins are bad. They are incredible and it appears that the East will run through them yet again.
#1 Vegas Golden Knights (11-1-1; 23 Pts)
Previously #1B
Gee wiz, excuse me for disrespecting you Vegas. This is your best team in the NHL, and that drumming of the Avalanche this Saturday proved to me one thing, the path the Stanley Cup runs through Vegas. I don’t take too much stock in the first regulation loss to the Ducks on Sunday evening. Less on Vegas and much more on the incredible play by Anaheim.
In-Season Cup
With yet another 3rd period comeback, the Ducks keep the Cup for a few days longer. James is loving it as he sits tied for 2nd. I have yet to get out from the starting gate, but my next chance will be tomorrow when the Penguins come to Anaheim.