NHL Power Rankings: Week 26
We are 17 days away from the end of the 2024-25 NHL Regular Season. 4 teams have officially been eliminated from contention and 3 teams have already punched their ticket to the 2025 NHL Playoffs. The last 13 spots are still to be determined. It is crunch time folks.
#16 Calgary Flames (35-26-12; 82 Points)
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The Flames need a big week if they wish to close the gap with the Wild. They are realistically the only team with a chance to make it, but they don’t own their own destiny anymore. They just need to win and hope Minny falls off.
#15 New Jersey Devils (40-29-7; 87 Points)
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Likely an easy out given the Devils situation right now. Markstrom hasn’t been good enough and the injury to Hughes is just too much I think.
#14 Ottawa Senators (39-28-6; 84 Points)
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Ottawas isn’t officially in but likely will be going to the playoffs. Can we please get the Tkachuck Bowl?
#13 Minnesota Wild (41-28-6; 88 Points)
Previously #12
Ek and Kaprizov were full practice participants last week. They might be ready to go for playoffs…They need to find some wins to finish because the Flames are doing all they can to get there.
#12 St. Louis Blues (40-28-7; 87 Points)
Previously #13
St. Louis would be set to play the Jets in round 1 if the playoffs started today. I would likely pick the Blues to upset….Jim Montgomery has pushed himself into the discussion for coach of the year. Yes, the same Monty that was fired in Boston just months ago.
#11 Toronto Maple Leafs (45-25-4; 94 Points)
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I don’t know what to say about the Leafs anymore. However, this year is the first year (potentially) since 1967 that both of the Leaf’s rivals Red Wings and Bruins missed the NHL Playoffs. This happened to be the last time the Toronto Maple Leafs lifted the Stanley Cup…
#10 Edmonton Oilers (42-26-5; 89 Points)
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The loss against the Kraken was as much of a scheduled loss as you’ll see. I am going to give them a pass there. Leon Draisaitl might have won the MVP with his incredible performance on his first game back from injury. If you don’t have Leon winning the MVP, you better have a good argument otherwise because no skater is where he is right now.
#9 Tampa Bay Lightning (43-25-5; 91 Points)
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Kucherov will get flowers for his amazing performance this year. He will garner some MVP votes, as he should. This team is not a team I would want to play because they are locked in and ready to give anyone a hard series. It would be beneficial for either of Toronto or Florida to win the Atlantic.
#8 Colorado Avalanche (45-26-4; 95 Points)
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The Avs are deserved of a higher rank but the ranks in the top 9 are so close that no one should put much stock in their ranking. They are in the higher tier of teams, no doubt about it.
#7 Florida Panthers (44-26-3; 91 Points)
Previously #5
I have the Panthers high here because they are still the team to beat. The defending champs will always be for me. Matty Tkachuck is on his way back so they will become that miserable team again. Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, and Matty Tkachuck…objectively one of my favorite lines in hockey history.
#6 Los Angeles Kings (41-23-9; 91 Points)
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They are playing themselves into home ice advantage in Round 1 vs the Oilers. That will potentially be the dagger for the injury riddled Oilers. The Kings have their best chance as ever to vanquish the Oilers.
#5 Vegas Golden Knights (45-20-8; 98 Points)
Previously #7
6 in a row for the Knights and they are clicking at a high level now. Now they wait to see the battle for WC 1 between St. Louis and Minnesota. Methinks the Knights would rather face Minny….I know I would.
#4 Carolina Hurricanes (45-24-4; 94 Points)
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The Canes are likely getting to play the lowly Devils in round 1, which will be helpful for this team. They have a full goalie rotation going on and they are lighting it up. They are going to be a hard out.
#3 Dallas Stars (49-21-4; 102 Points)
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Dallas has been hot as hell. I admit that they didn’t look dominant in their game against the McDrailess Oilers. They were outplayed for 70% of that game, but Otter did his job. Jason Robertson has been electric lately and that is a massive sign for the Stars.
#2 Washington Capitals (47-17-9; 103 Points)
Previously #1
Tough week for the Caps but perhaps they are laying off the gas. They don’t’ really have to worry too much about the Canes catching up, at least for now. Ovechkin record watch is in full effect now.
#1 Winnipeg Jets (51-19-4; 106 Points)
Previously #2
The First time to make the postseason is coming in hot. Connor Hellebuyck has actual MVP consideration written all over him for this performance. As a goalie, he likely won’t win, but he will garner many many votes.