NHL Power Rankings: Week 17
This week is a very short week. 6 games on tap and we get a nice break for the All-Star weekend. Players get their needed rest, and All-Stars get their needed time in the spotlight. I will not be giving you an up dated list next week; I can’t imagine 6 games will change much. So here are the weeks rankings through All-Star weekend before the final stretch. We have on milestone to hit after All-Star break…the trade deadline. Keep on the rumors and news from here on out.
#16 Washington Capitals (26-20-6, 58 Points)
Unchanged
The Caps are the final team in what I call the 4th tier teams. These teams can make the playoffs but they may need help to get there. They need big help if they wish to contend for the Cup. The Caps don’t look great. Dominated by the Leafs is no way to keep your spot. The Caps and Pens are literally giving the Sabres, Isles (who just added Bo Horvat), and the Panthers a chance to sneak into the playoffs. It makes for great drama but man what a waste of season that would be when you have an aging core. The windows is shutting fast.
#15 Pittsburgh Penguins (24-16-9, 57 Points)
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Spinning their tires. The Pens are just unable to gain major traction. And this bodes well for me, because the Buffalo Sabres are literally 1 point out from a playoff spot and knocking the Pens out. The Pens have games at hand on the Caps and have a little better “record” over this last stretch, but I am not high on either team right now. The Pens will need to refocus and may need to be active at the deadline if they wish to continue this “last dance”.
#14 Colorado Avalanche (27-18-3, 57 Points)
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The Avs are just 1 point out from the Central spots. And more impressively, are 6 points out from the 2nd spot with games at hand. The Avs are dangerous and will become more dangerous as the schedule marches to the April postseason time. The Avs could easily be higher but I give my respect to the teams who have performed well early on. Do not be shocked if the Avs march up the rankings and the standings by late February.
#13 Minnesota Wild (27-17-4, 58 Points)
Previously #12
Minnesota has many questions for me, and I worry about their ability to maintain their playoff spot. The Avs are right on their tail, their scoring ability is not great, and there are still questions at the goaltending position. 2 wins in a row is a nice spot to be going into the break.
#12 Los Angeles Kings (28-18-6, 62 Points)
Previously #13
The Kings are head of the 4th tier in my rankings. I could be disrespecting the Kings here, but their goaltending is still a huge problem. They just cannot fix their differential issue. I mean defense might be an issue too at this point. They are tied with Vegas and only 2 points ahead of their rivals in the North who have 2 games at hand. The Kings can make the playoffs but they really need to enhance their ability to keep the puck out of their net.
#11 Vegas Golden Knights (29-18-4, 62 Points)
Previously #9
The Knights are the final team in my 3rd tier teams. These are the teams that are on the fence of contending, they have questions but making the playoffs is not a big one…at this junction. Jack Eichel is really struggling which is a problem. 2-6-2 in their last 10 games. I give them a bit of leeway as I think they really are a solid team under the hood but need to find their footing. They could very well fall out of this tier but for now, we give them the benefit.
#10 Edmonton Oilers (28-18-4, 60 Points)
Previously #11
Points in 9 of their last 10 games. The loss to the Blue Jackets was a sloppy effort but you have to give credit to the Jackets, they were hungry. The Oilers responded with a touchdown and PAT against the Hawks, meanwhile giving a emergency back-up goaltender an lifetime experience, even for just 3 minutes. That’s what its about.
#9 New York Rangers (25-14-7, 57 Points)
Previously #10
The Rags handled their business against the Knights and took the Leafs to OT before ultimately dropping the game. Points are point though and regular season OT is not the best indicator of a team’s ability to compete in the post-season. I still have questions but they are trending well.
#8 Seattle Kraken (29-15-5, 63 Points)
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Solid week for the Krakheads. It has been very fun to watch this team perform and make the rest of the Pacific Division sweat. +26 goal differential, largely due to goal scoring is great but also an issue. Do they have the saves to give them a nice run? I think they are set to make playoffs, they lead the Pacific and look like a hard team to play against.
#7 Winnipeg Jets (31-19-1, 63 Points)
Previously #3
3 losses in a row is due to push a team down a few spots. The Jets head my 3rd tier teams in this list. 5-5-0 in their last 10 and they all of a sudden look a bit more of a beatable team. Don’t get me wrong, this is a good club with great goaltending and a solid D core. There is just something missing I think and that’s why I could see this team being active as well.
#6 Dallas Stars (28-13-10, 66 Points)
Previously #7
Dallas is the last team in what I consider the 2nd tier teams. The contenders but not super elite…yet. Dallas could very well win the Stanley Cup and I think everyone should be focused on this team going into the deadline. They could be very active. Finding a player to work with Seguin would completely transform this club. 3 OT losses in a row is tough but Dallas is fine.
#5 Toronto Maple Leafs (31-12-8, 70 Points)
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The Leafs look solid. Not fantastic but very very solid. A big congrats to John Tavares and his 1,000th game. That is such a feat that I know means a lot to his peers. Hitting that milestone is a big deal. Nice blow out win against the Caps to boot with a nice 2-point night.
#4 Tampa Bay Lightning (32-15-1, 65 Points)
Previously #6
Tampa handled business against the B’s and sit with the In Season Cup through All-Star Break. I give them the spot based on overall wins and higher goals for than their expected 1st round rival. Stamkos is such a great player and his journey has been nothing but incredible given the circumstances he faced injury-wise.
#3 New Jersey Devils (30-12-4, 64 Points)
Previously #4
New Jersey heads the 2nd tier teams in this list. New Jersey I think has the ability to do notable damage in the postseason, but their toughness is a question mark. We saw how long it took them to get out of their slump. They are dominant on the road, winning 19 of their 24 games in other teams’ barns.
#2 Carolina Hurricanes (32-9-8, 72 Points)
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Carolina is starting to really settle in. 5 game winning streak, with a dominant win against the Bruins. They did not get Bo Horvat which begs the question, Who will they target in the goal scoring department?
#1 Boston Bruins (38-7-5, 81 Points)
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You guys suck. 3 losses in a row. Woof. Trash team…😉
In-Season Cup
The Tampa Bay Lightning have saved us all from the gauntlet that is the Boston Bruins. Better yet, for me anyways, the Lighting take the Cup into the All-Star Break. I get free days while the Lightning sit on their ass. The race just got very interesting, but for Tyler, his road may be over soon. I do feel like he will get it on the last day for half of the pot and laugh all the way to the bank.