NHL Power Rankings: Week 20
Podcast was moved to Monday which means your favorite Power Rankings are moved to Tuesdays. I know, I am sorry, you’re not going to make it through your Monday evenings or Tuesday mornings. All jokes aside, we are officially in the 3rd trimester of the season. If your team is on the outside looking out, you better start planning for your offseason baseball watching. 3 weeks until the trade deadline and we shall see what teams will do. I think the trade market is being held up by Calgary who is still sniffing a spot. Once they make a decision, the flood gates will open.
#16 New Jersey Devils (28-22-4; 60 Pts)
Previously Unranked
The New Jersey Devils are back in the conversation. It seems like they are the only legitimate team on the outside that has any chance to make the postseason this late in to the season. They are coming together at the right time let me tell you. I will say the Flyers should be concerned.
#15 Philadelphia Flyers (29-20-7; 65 Pts)
Previously #13
Things are going a little sideways for the Flyers right now. They took the Leafs to OT and couldn’t stop the Devils in Metlife Stadium. They are too streaky and will need to go on another win streak if they want to keep their spot. I still like what this team has done and it’s foolish to think otherwise, but maybe it’s the start of the end.
#14 Tampa Bay Lightning (30-22-5; 65 Pts)
Previously #12
Tampa Bay is so mid…in the regular season. They are aging, goaltending is a little questionable, and who knows if they have the stamina to compete. But to count them out would be a foolish thing to do. Losing that bad to the Panthers is a problem but they beat the Avs and Bruins this week, impressive. Count this team out at your own peril.
#13 Detroit Red Wings (29-20-6; 64 Pts)
Previously #14
The Wings were .500 on the week but they are in a good spot to make the postseason. I’ll say this, with the Devils up and coming and the Lightning a friken cockroach, the Wings may need to be careful here. They need to string wins together and limit the consecutive losses.
#12 Los Angeles Kings (27-16-10; 64 Pts)
Previously #15
3 wins in a row after their horrid game last week. The Kings may or may not be back, but they are most certainly going to be playoff bound at this point. The Kings are a wait and see team right now.
#11 Toronto Maple Leafs (30-16-8; 68 Pts)
Unchanged
Winners of 4 straight without Morgan Reilly. They are more than treading water without their most important player. Auston Matthews is an absolute machine and I will say this and say it proud, he’s a better goal scorer than Ovechkin. He has literally 8 empty netters ever, but is still more than outpacing Ovechkin at this point in his career on a comparable basis. He’s also fairly good defensively…he’s a beast and entered my MVP talks.
#10 Vegas Golden Knights (32-17-6; 70 Pts)
Previously #8
Tough losses to the Wild and the Hurricanes. The put Jack Eichel on LTIR, yes everyone is getting pissed now, so they will need to find a way to keep winning happening without him. They are a team that just needs to get there at this point. Regular season is boring and a formality.
#9 Colorado Avalanche (34-18-4; 72 Pts)
Previously #10
Nathan McKinnon is an absolute beast. He has earned a point in every single home game this season. Though the worry continues to be the depth on the forward end and the goaltending question. Are they good enough to compete against the Jets and/or the Stars. The Central Division is so strong at the top and the Avs will need to find a way to take the top spot because they will be challenged in round 1 otherwise.
#8 Winnipeg Jets (33-15-5; 71 Pts)
Previously #9
The Jets are starting to stabilize a little bit. They beat the Canucks, hahaha! Sean Monahan finally got his first Jets point and that could open his flood gates. The Jets are set to try and make a play for tops of the division, but they are going to need to go on a run.
#7 Edmonton Oilers (33-18-1; 67 Pts)
Previously #8
The Oilers haven’t been the sharpest as of late, that loss to the Blues was by far the worst game they’ve played in a long while. But other nights, they are finding ways to win, even if it means having Connor McDavid get 6 assists in a game. The Oilers need to tighten up in the 2nd periods and goaltending needs to sharpen back up, but they wont’ be going away and they are as good as any team on any given night.
#6 Carolina Hurricanes (33-17-5; 71 Pts)
Previously #5
Woof, the Canes rattle off 3 wins after losing a game. This is a sign of a team that is finally really gelling. I know its weird to say all of this when I downgraded them, but it’s less of a indictment on this team as much as giving credit to where its due in the Rangers. The Hurricanes need to find even more winning ways in order to push their way to the top of the division, but I still think they are an elite team and playoff cup contenders.
#5 Boston Bruins (33-12-11; 77 Pts)
Previously #3
4-4-2 in their last 10 and the Bruins are starting to stumble for longer than I had though they would. Boston is fine and they will continue to be fine, but they aren’t as unbeatable as people think. They are probably the 3rd best team in the East. They have the goaltending that’s for sure, but is there enough depth to make a run at Florida or even New York at this point?
#4 New York Rangers (36-16-3; 75 Pts)
Previously #6
Is Quick the new number 1 in New York? It’s crazy to even think about but he’s been the savior here. Nonetheless, the Rangers are going crazy, winning 7 straight games, including the best outdoor game in NHL history. 5 players are at or near point-per- game pace and that’s a recipe for success. They are finding the support for their netminders, they just need Igor to really find his game.
#3 Dallas Stars (34-14-8; 76 Pts)
Previously #4
The best team in the Central gets another jump up the rankings. They are just 4 points from Vancouver and a game at hand and are looking so damn good. Two losses in OT are notable, sure but points in 10 of their last 11 is more notable. Jake Oettinger is still inconsistent, and they are doing this, they are giving themselves a chance to really dig in and be the best in the West.
#2 Vancouver Canucks (37-14-6; 80 Pts)
Previously #1
I can’t push the Canucks down too much after holding the top spot in the league by points and point percentage. But they haven’t been the hottest team in the last bit here. Giving up a touchdown and PAT in a single period is actually hilarious. I think the Canucks will be fine, but things may be starting to balance out, finally. Can they overcome the law of averages?
#1 Florida Panthers (36-15-4; 76 Pts)
Previously #2
Florida’s regular season last year was an anomaly, because what they have done since the playoffs started is eerily similar to their 2021-2022 season. They are dominant you guys. Winners of 5 straight, and 9 of their last 10. Sure they are the hotter of the top Eastern teams but there is something different about this team than others on this list. They are pricks, they know it, and they are going to make you remember it.
In-Season Cup
James finally let go of the Cup. Alex had it briefly and now it sits with Tyler, who hasn’t had it since last year. I am excited to see where it goes now because its not over yet folks.