NHL Power Rankings: Week 27
And here we go. Only days left in the Regular Season. Playoff puck drop is a week from today and we still have many spots to be solidified over the next days. I want to thank you for reading these rankings all year long. This will be my last Power Rankings of the Season. I hope you all enjoy the NHL Playoffs. They are set to be absolutely incredible with some amazing storylines. It will serve the sport and the league well. Thanks for a great season TLDR Fans.
#16 New York Islanders (41-30-9, 91 Points)
Previously #14
The Isles take the 2nd Wildcard spot. Buffalo needs incredible things to happen, so we assume they are done after tonight. Pittsburgh may be starting to win games, but so are the Islanders and Panthers. The Isles control their fate. The Islanders can increase their chances of clinching massively by taking a win in the national capital. By tomorrow night, we could see the Penguins officially eliminated…the first time we won’t see Crosby or Ovechkin in the playoffs since they entered the league.
#15 Florida Panthers – x (42-31-7, 91 Points)
Previously #16
The Cats clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Leafs in regulation or overtime (not SO) and the Isles lose to the Capitals. Regardless, the Panthers control their fate, which is the best place to be. 6 straight wins from the Panthers has me thinking things are starting to come together. Do I like their chances against either the Bruins or Canes? Not particularly, but to save their season down the stretch is notable and dangerous for those teams in some way.
#14 Winnipeg Jets (43-31-3, 89 Points)
Unchanged
Winnipeg controls their destiny. They are the 8th team in the West. They sit 1 point ahead of the listless Calgary Flames with a game at hand. Winnipeg has the math to make this happen. Now we have seen this team fold up shop and give away games, so this is far from over. Nashville playing Calgary tonight is unbelievable because Nashville can nearly end the Flames chances and give them a chance to thwart the Jets. Regardless, I don’t like any of these teams chances in the 1st round.
#13 Seattle Kraken - x (45-26-8, 98 Points)
Unchanged
Congrats to Seattle for clinching a Playoff Spot for the first time ever. 2nd Season into the league, what a feat. Seattle with 4 straight wins to given themselves the ability to Krak a divisional spot. They have the game at hand over LA and they have the tie breaker over LA. They also have the power to play spoiler to Vegas and their attempt for 1st in the Division and Conference. I am a HUGE Seattle fan this week. Sorry James, business is business.
#12 Tampa Bay Lightning – x (45-29-6, 96 Points)
Unchanged
Don’t want to talk too much about this team. They are either really sick of the Regular Season or they are just burnt out. For me, until they are out of it, I can’t bet against them. To be fair, they have nothing to play for this week and didn’t last week. They can’t move up or down so why give a fuck?
#11 Minnesota Wild - x (45-24-10, 100 Points)
Previously #10
Minnesota has stemmed some of the bleeding we saw last week. I think the Wild will be a tough out, regardless of their recent play. They have a lot of work and need help to get home ice in the first two rounds but it’s not out of the realm. I like the Wild. I just don’t know if they have what it takes to overcome the Avs and Stars. That Stars/Wild matchup would be a fun one.
#10 Dallas Stars - x (44-21-14, 102 Points)
Previously #11
Dallas is playing great hockey going into the playoffs with a 3-game winning streak and a 7-2-1 split over the last 10. This team, on paper, has the makings of a deep run team. Goaltending? Check. Starpower? Check. Stud D-Man? Check. Depth? Check. Tough out for anyone. They are still in the mix for the top spot in the Division but will need help.
#9 Los Angeles Kings - x (45-22-10, 100 Points)
Unchanged
LA is battling some injury issues and goaltending is a little bit of a question mark, but much better than the first half of the season. They’re hot streak has largely been doused, dropping 3 games in a row now. They have a big game to right the ship tonight against the Canucks, which is also a huge game for the TLDR In-Season Cup Race. LA is hanging on to their divisional spot, but do not control their destiny as Seattle has a game at hand and owns the tiebreaker.
#8 Vegas Golden Knights – x (49-22-9, 107 Points)
Previously #5
Vegas has the math and controls their destiny in terms of where they land on the standings. If Vegas wins out, they will have home ice for the entire western run of the playoffs. They play the Seattle Kraken to finish their season, who’s ever so close to climbing into the divisional spot. Edmonton is on their heels.
#7 Edmonton Oilers - x (48-23-9, 105 Points)
Unchanged
The Edmonton Oilers could very well be a top 5 ranked team. The Oil are 9-0-1 in their last 10. First 7-game winning streak since 2001. The Oilers haven’t trailed an opponent in 358 minutes of play. Since Christmas, the Oilers haven’t lost in Regulation, going 22-0-2, when their goaltending delivers a 0.900 SV%. McDavid reached 150 points. Few of the wins as of late were against weak competition, but wins also include the Kings (x2), Vegas and Seattle. For once in a long while, the Pacific Division may be running through the Edmonton Oilers. 44 Regulation Wins, best in the West by an 8-win margin. Interesting test tomorrow against the Avalanche.
#6 Colorado Avalanche (49-24-6, 104 Points)
Previously #8
5 wins in a row give the Avs a legit shot at taking the Central Division. They sit 3 points out from clinching the Conference but have a game at hand. The Avs are getting healthier. The West runs through Colorado until it doesn’t. They are a force, they are the defending champions. Until proven otherwise, they are the team to beat.
#5 Toronto Maple Leafs - x (47-21-11, 105 Points)
Previously #4
Toronto’s goaltending at time is my question mark for this team. The noise around this team has been quiet for a while now. That is good, but people know that this team is not judged by their Regular Season showing. They are set with a home ice advantage in another repeat series with the Tampa Bay Lightning. They absolutely need to win this series. No question about that.
#4 New York Rangers – x (47-21-12, 106 Points)
Previously #6
New York can keep their hopes for home ice alive with a win tonight. They still have to battle the math and need help but the Rangers have been so good since they added the firepower. Shesterkin is going to be a force and could be the deciding factor for this team in the 1st Round at the very least.
#3 New Jersey Devils (50-22-8, 108 Points)
Unchanged
I really like this team and I think they are a full package type of club. Goaltending is a question mark going into playoffs, but I am impressed by this team’s resiliency, ability to score, and their solid enough defending ability. They are analytically fantastic. I am praying for that Devils/Rangers matchup. They clinch home ice if the Rangers lose today.
#2 Carolina Hurricanes - x (50-20-9, 109 Points)
Unchanged
The Canes had an expectedly great season. I wish the best for this team. They haven’t solidified the top spot as of writing this, however, math is in their favor. They can at least clinch home ice with a win tonight. If Buffalo beats the Devils tomorrow, the Canes will have the “easier” route to the 2nd Round.
#1 Boston Bruins – p (63-12-5, 131 Points)
Unchanged
Most wins in a season in NHL History. Just an absolute wagon of a hockey club. But does anyone really care about the Regular Season. Can they break the spell of those top performing regular season teams? Last historic season, we saw the Bolts get swept by the 8th seed Columbus Blue Jackets. Bruins still have a long way to go to finish their incredible trek.
In-Season Cup
Alex has clinched the most days in the In-Season Cup race and will walk away with half of our betting pot no matter what. Now we see who ends up with it after a long season. Each of us have 1 team left. The Canucks play the Kings tomorrow. A Kings win will ensure the Cup comes to So-Cal and James and I will face off in a freeway faceoff for the pot. If the Canucks win, they go on to play the Ducks tomorrow and the Coyotes on Thursday. James and I have the highest odds of winning this.
Weekly Draft Lottery Simulator
This week, the draft simulator shows Columbus winning the Connor Bedard sweepstakes as the team dead-last in the standings. San Jose climbs 2 spots to take the 2nd spot, there you go Kylie. There is a really awesome player going 2nd in the draft that just had a solid NCAA tourney. The Ducks fall 1 spot. Nashville moving 9 spots up is insane.