NHL Power Rankings: Week 6
This week we see just how fun the New Jersey Devils are. Kings and Avs are finding traction. Seattle Kraken are finding great success. Sure, it might be a bit of a mirage, but wins are wins and that’s enough to give your fanbase something to cheer about. Tanking for Bedard doesn’t seem to be happening right now, unless you are in California but outside LA. Columbus has had a bad bought here, this is a team that isn’t supposed to be bad but is just not having success. Losing Werenski for the season basically puts them out of any contention for a playoff spot.
#16 Montreal Canadiens (8-6-1, 17 Points)
Previously Unranked
3 in a row this week and Montreal steps into the sweet-16. Negative goal differential is questionable but hey, wins are wins guys. They are not world beaters on the 5-on-5 play but they are getting timely scoring and fairly decent goaltending. This is fun to see this team perform well.
#15 Seattle Kraken (8-5-2, 18 Points)
Previously Unranked
Seattle Kraken have arrived!!! The Kraken have kracked the top-16 for the first time in their time in the NHL. Matty Beniers is looking so damn good. Look at their 5-on-5 stats, they are damn good! They are very fast and completely beat up Soros this week. Andre Burakovsky is looking fantastic as well with a team leading 13 points in 15 games.
#14 Los Angeles Kings (6-4-2, 14 Points)
Previously Unranked
The Kings have arrived in the rankings. Winning 4 in a row will do that for you. Tough schedule this week facing the Alberta teams. Both of those clubs are struggling so you might be able to catch them sleeping but it will be a nice test. They need to find a fricken save though. Sub .900 team SV% is bad.
#13 Detroit Red Wings (7-5-3, 17 Points)
Unchanged
Still not sold on the Red Wings simply due to who they are beating. But wins are wins and that’s what matters. Negative goal differential is a worry, but this team is finding success for a city that really deserves it. You draw the Ducks and Sharks this week, nice week to find some points.
#12 Edmonton Oilers (9-7-0, 18 Points)
Previously #8
Oilers losing Evander Kane, to one of the scariest scenes we have seen in a while, is going to test the depth of this club. Oilers still need a top D. Nurse isn’t it and won’t ever be. Jack Campbell needs to be sat and Stuart Skinner needs to be playing nearly every game for a while. He is looking so good and if he continues to play this well, he could compete for rookie of the year.
#11 Toronto Maple Leafs (8-5-3, 19 Points)
Previously #14
Toronto did climb spots but not because they are looking better. Just the teams that were ahead are really struggling. I don’t like the Leafs right now. They just seem to be dropping games they shouldn’t and are not looking too interested right now. This team has so much talent but lack the will to win at times. +1 goal differential is not sexy by any means.
#10 Tampa Bay Lightning (7-6-1, 15 Points)
Previously #7
Tampa Bay is still in that slow start period and they are dropping games they probably should still win. Granted, this ranking is mostly a pedigree rank but that goodwill will start to run thin. The Bolts have played more hockey than any hockey team in the last 4 seasons and it might be catching up to them. Tampa Bay needs to start winning hockey games. But let’s be real, do the Bolts care where they end up in the standings as long as it’s a playoff spot? Are you betting against the Bolts?
#9 Florida Panthers (5-4-1, 11 Points)
Previously #12
Florida is hanging in there. Matthew Tkachuk should have been given a much bigger sussy but man he is making a difference on that team. He’s certainly making a bigger impact than Huberdeau is in Calgary. They were goalied against the Oilers, which you can’t say that often. Spencer Knight is slated to take the net from the $10MM Goalie Bob. What a fantasy pick-up by yours truly.
#8 Winnipeg Jets (8-4-1, 17 Points)
Previously Unranked
I really don’t like putting Winnipeg this high but they deserve the recognition for their solid play. Goaltending has been quite stellar as the team has a .924 SV% this year. They struggle possessing the puck so the goaltending is bailing this team out in most cases. But hey, the Jets are performing better than I expected. Wins are wins.
#7 New York Islanders (10-6-0, 20 Points)
Previously #15
The Isles are definitely better than last year. Goaltending has been red hot for this team. Does anybody think Matt Barzal could possibly earn over 60 points without scoring a goal. 0 goals and 16 assists for 16 points in 16 games. Pretty crazy. 42 shots on goal this season and nothing to show for it yet.
#6 Dallas Stars (9-5-1, 19 Points)
Unchanged
Oettinger’s injury has seemed to impact the Dallas Stars but I am not ready to jump ship yet. This lineup is very good and they are playing free and flowing. They are 5-on-5 darlings and that is enough to give me the good vibes about this team. Benn and Seguin are finally giving the team the production the team has needed for years now.
#5 Carolina Hurricanes (9-5-1, 19 Points)
Previously #3
Carolina is slowing a bit but man did they look good against the Oilers. They are still a low scoring team as a whole which does impact their goal differential, but their defense is still rock solid. They just dominate the puck in all zones.
#4 Colorado Avalanche (8-4-1, 17 Points)
Previously #6
Boys are back in North America and they are back in the top 4 rankings. A trip to Finland ended this teams hangover. 4 wins in a row and looking scary, enough said.
#3 New Jersey Devils (12-3-0, 24 Points)
Previously #4
This team is just straight up fun. They are a team that are analytical darlings, fast, and strong finishers. Nico Hischier is on his way to becoming a Selke Finalist. He has been that dark horse for so long and now it seems like he is finding his way into the conversation for good. Eric punching the air right now. Yes, they are better than the Red Wings, the Sabres, and the Rangers. All they needed to find a save.
#2 Vegas Golden Knights (13-3-0, 26 Points)
Unchanged
Vegas is the 1B class of the NHL right now. They dropped a game to the struggling Blues but still a close game. .923 team SV% and possession numbers look very good. The Golden Knights are finding great scoring from the top three centers. If you can get scoring consistently throughout the lineup and the game breaker Eichel continues to shine, you are slated for a very successful season. Feel really good for Eichel’s performance in Buffalo.
#1 Boston Bruins (13-2-0, 26 Points)
Unchanged
Boston has 2 losses on the season. 13-2-0 on the season. Yes I said this last week. They didn’t lose this week. Charlie McAvoy is back. The B’s are the class of the NHL right now.
In-Season Cup
Alex continues to dominate, thanks to the white-hot New Jersey Devils. 9 in a row is good to push Alex to 24 days with the In-Season Cup. I get my chance to take it for my first day if the Canadiens can find a way to stimmy this hot Devil team. Can I finally get out of the starting gate?
