NHL Power Rankings: Week 25
Good morning on the first day of the last 2 weeks of the NHL. The East officially has their teams, they just are vying for their matchups. The West has only four teams clinched as of this morning. I expect we will have a couple more by the end of the week. It’s been quite the end of the season here. I can’t wait for playoffs.
#16 Los Angeles Kings (40-27-10, 90 Points)
Unchanged
Oh boy. LA is very lucky the Oilers were ready to take on the Golden Knights this week. They still sit with a 4-5-1 split over their last 10 games. Not a great way to be ending your regular season. But again, this team is without Doughty and is playing with the house money right now. They are the most surprising team of the season. 2 wins this week and only 1 loss. 3 games against non-playoff teams this week, including 2 against their bitter rival the Ducks. Is this the week that LA can punch their ticket?
#15 Nashville Predators (43-28-5, 91 Points)
Previously #14
Nashville had quite a week. After taking their points from SJ, they get stomped against Edmonton. Turn around and beat another non-playoff Chicago team and then get stomped by the Blues. They are losing to playoff teams at this moment, by margins. Is this a blip in the radar? They are now making it interesting for the Knights. Games against Calgary, Tampa, and Minny…yes, all the teams who are just looking great right now. Does Vegas still have a chance then?
#14 Dallas Stars (43-27-5, 91 Points)
Previously #15
Points in all games this week including 1 goal wins over Tampa and San Jose. The Stars sit with a much better position that last week due to both Nashville and Vegas losing to Edmonton. They aren’t out of the weeds yet, but wins this week will most surely solidify their spot. They just have to take on the Western Canadian teams who are all looking quite solid right now. Their negative goal differential is a concern.
#13 Edmonton Oilers (44-26-6, 94 Points)
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Holy smokes what a week for the Oilers. After getting stomped in Minny on Tuesday, they turn around and give myself and my Bachelor Party an unbelievable dominant performance against Nashville. And then turn around in 2 days to do the same against the Golden Knights who absolutely needed something from that game. Mike Smith is looking incredible as of late, he now sits with a .911 SV%, after going for sub .900 all year. 5 game he’s been unreal. Keep it up Smitty.
#12 Washington Capitals (42-23-10, 94 Points)
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2 games at hand and only 3 points behind a divisional spot. The Caps have been sitting in this 2nd wildcard spot for awhile now but finally have closed the gap. 7-3-0 in their last 10 is great. Tough week for them though, Avs, Knights, Coyotes, and Leafs. Can they get that spot?
#11 Pittsburgh Penguins (42-22-10, 94 Points)
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Still 3-6-1 in their last 10 games. Pittsburgh won’t get home ice in the 1st round but still need to keep fighting for their divisional spot. They have 2 more games than Washington but only 3 points over them. Pens have Bruins, Wings, and Flyers this week.
#10 Boston Bruins (46-24-5, 97 Points)
Previously #8
Tampa Bay winning back-to-back makes it even tougher to escape the Wildcard hell. At this rate, I fully expect the Bruins to be that 1st wildcard team who will face the Carolina Hurricanes. That is a fun matchup, among basically every other 1st round matchup.
#9 Tampa Bay Lightning (46-21-8, 100 Points)
Previously #8
Is it boredom or is it exhaustion? Good news is they won their last 2 games and is this the time we see Tampa Bay kick it into their normal playoff selves? I honestly don’t know yet. I thought it was all boredom but then after some listening to other great podcasts, I wonder if exhaustion is factor here?
#8 Minnesota Wild (47-21-7, 101 Points)
Previously #9
Points in every game this week, though almost all in OT. Their game against the Blues was just a preview of what will otherwise be an electric 1st round matchup. Though Minny is behind the Blues here, it is so marginal, and we could see something a little different next week. The Blues are the better team, but I take this most recent win over them as something. I can’t wait for this playoff series.
#7 St. Louis Blues (46-20-10, 102 Points)
Previously #10
The Blues have moved up more than any team in the last 3 weeks. That’s what 9-straight wins gets you. 9-0-1 so they even have a point in all 10 of their last. +69 goal differential and their OT loss was to their probable 1st round matchup. Who will get the home ice though?
#6 Calgary Flames (46-20-9, 101 Points)
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Calgary is looking fine. 6-3-1 in their last 10. Had wins in every game this week. I think the Division is theirs to lose. Lower end playoff and non-playoff teams to end the regular season. They will be going into playoffs looking and feeling great. Still my pick for the best team in the West.
#5 New York Rangers (49-21-6, 104 Points)
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Lost to the expected winner of the Metro early in the week but turned in a nice back-to-back win. 7-2-1 in their last 10 and Sheshterkin is looking his old self again. You can’t expect to be amazing every single week and maybe Igor just needed a little rest. I like this team and am excited to see that 1st round matchup. However, do they have enough beyond their goaltending?
#4 Carolina Hurricanes (48-20-8, 104 Points)
Previously #3
4-5-1 in their last 10 games and have lost back-to-back. To make matters worse, Freddie is hurt for the foreseeable future, which is a huge blow for this squad who is finding a little bit of a rough stretch here. I still like this team in the Metro but this is a tough moment for them. Freddie dangling up ice in the neutral zone is definitely something you need to check out if you haven’t. Classic stuff.
#3 Toronto Maple Leafs (50-20-6, 106 points)
Previously #4
3 game winning streak and an 8-1-1 split over their last 10 games. This team is having quite a nice run going down the stretch. Currently slated to play the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champs, in what could be one of their toughest 1st round matchups. Auston Matthews is sitting at 58 goals. James said he will settle at 63. 5 goals in 6 games is quite a feat but definitely doable.
#2 Florida Panthers (54-15-6, 114 Points)
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10 of their last 10 games. This team is only behind the Avs by a game. They will clinch their Conference this week by my estimation. The most prolific scoring team we have seen with 28 more goals than the next team. League average is 234…let that sink in.
#1 Colorado Avalanche (55-14-6, 116 Points)
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9 of their last 9. Clinched the Western Conference and are vying for the President’s Trophy. Not much more to say other than wow. To have a .773-point percentage is unbelievable. I still have question marks but this has been one hell of a season.