NHL Power Rankings: Week 6
Teams continued to rise and fall. I admit it’s been tough to keep tabs on all of the divisions this season considering my team only plays in the Scotia North, and that division has been crazy in and of itself. Remember, every game matters here. Every game is a 4-point game, so you go on a little string of games (either losing or winning) it changes things fast. These rankings are getting harder and harder to decide. All records are of the night of 2.21.21.
#16 Minnesota Wild (8-6-0, 16 Points)
Previously outside Top 16
The Wild have seen a bit of a resurgence here, they have won their last 2 games and sit with a 5-5-0 record in their last 10 games. They have a positive goal differential and a .571-point percentage. I understand that there are couple teams ahead of them in the standings, but again point percentage is what matters to me. Wild have games at hand and could easily push the Coyotes and Kings back into the bottom 4.
#15 Chicago Blackhawks (9-6-4, 22 Points)
Previously #14
Don’t look now, but the Hawks are 3rd in the Discover Central, just ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Sure, they have a just above .500-point percentage, but hey they are on the dance floor. The Hawks have improved their goal differential to just -1. They are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and are looking damn good while doing it. Their last couple wins this week were against the lowly Red Wings, but they have beat teams they probably shouldn’t have.
#14 Pittsburgh Penguins (9-6-1, 19 Points)
Previously #15
Have won 4 of their last 5 games and seem to be finding a stride with the new management team holding the reins. Crosby made it to his 1,000th game and became the first Penguin to hit that milestone, which in an of itself is amazing. I would be concerned if I were a fan of a team in this division because the Penguins might be turning a corner for the better.
#13 Philadelphia Flyers (8-3-3, 19 Points)
Previously #12
Philly played one game this week against the NY Rangers and managed to get a point out of the affair. Its tough to put too much scrutiny on a team that hadn’t played a game for a while. They play 4 games in this week, so we will see if they learned some defense. This team has been so solid offensively.
#12 St. Louis Blues (10-6-2, 22 Points)
Previously #9
It might be weird that I have the Blues, who are first in their Honda West division so far down, even below their peers, but they do have the weakest point percentage of the top-3. They have a 5-4-1 record over the last 10 games and their differential has dipped, even from last week. They play a Kings team twice and end with the Sharks, some opportunity to gain some momentum here.
#11 Washington Capitals (9-5-3, 21 Points)
Unchanged
Won three games this week, ended 3-1 on the entire week. The Caps sit with a .618-point percentage and are starting to turn around their 10-game splits. They play the Pens twice this week and New Jersey twice more, so they have an opportunity to improve their record, differential, and maintain their 2nd place spot in the MassMutual East.
#10 Montreal Canadians (9-5-2, 20 Points)
Previously #8
They beat the Maple Leafs last Saturday and then lost this week in their only outing for the week. Maybe a little harsh continuing to push the Habs down the list week over week but hey, teams are progressing, and the Canadiens have been on a little bit of a skid. They are 5-5-0 in their last 10. They see the Senators twice and the Jets twice this week so we will see if they can find their groove again.
#9 Winnipeg Jets (10-6-1, 21 Points)
Previously #10
The “Goddamned Jets” just continue to play solid hockey here. 5-4-1 split over 10 games is not incredible but it has allowed them to post a .618-point percentage. They play the Habs twice this week and those games will see who is going to jockey for better placement in the divisional breakdown. The Habs cooling off has brought this division into even more contention. Dubois finally returns this week as well.
#8 Edmonton Oilers (12-8-0, 24 Points)
Previously #13
“Tradon your homer is showing!” Look, call a spade a spade, my Oilers are on fire. They are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and have won 6 of their last 7 games. They scored a TD and a PAT against the rival Calgary Flames on Saturday after beating them just 24 hours before. The timely arrival of Mike Smith has already helped noticeably. Don’t get me started on Connor McDavid. Congrats on 500 points my guy, and that natural hattrick on Saturday. We are just waiting to see when he gets called up from the NHL.
#7 Tampa Bay Lightning (10-4-1, 21 points)
Previously #3
Look, I won’t come here and tell you to panic in Tampa, this team is just fine I assure you. There are just so many teams in some respects exceeding expectations, and we all know that Tampa plays for the post-season, that’s what matters. They dropped their last 2 games, but there is nothing to worry about. They still sit with a +18-goal differential, a 7-3-0 split over 10 games, and are doing this without Kucherov. They are just fine.
#6 Florida Panthers (11-3-2, 24 Points)
Previously #7
Is there something in the water in Florida? They are killing it in all sports, covid stats and vaccinations, and population growth. The Panthers currently sit with a .750-point percentage, went 3-1 this week, beating the Bolts and the Hurricanes in the process. The highest point getter is Jonathan Huberdeau (imagine that) but only with 15 points, meaning the goals are coming from everywhere in the lineup. Also, they are sitting with a 2-1 split against their state rival the Bolts.
#5 Vegas Golden Knights (10-4-1, 21 Points)
Previously #4
The Knights dropped a couple games in a row here against the Colorado Avalanche. They do sit with a better point percentage than their division rival but this week the Avs were just better. They still sit with a healthy +11 goal differential and a 6-3-1 split over their last 10 games. Oh yeah, and Marc Andre Fleury est en feu…es en fuego… is on absolute fire.
#4 Colorado Avalanche (9-4-1, 19 Points)
Previously #5
They are 2-1 against the Golden Knights this week and managed to handle that long pause during their Tahoe game this past Saturday. Despite the 2-week pause due to covid, the Avs are still fast, Mackinnon is still top tier, and the are still one of, if not the best in their Honda West division. +15 goal differential and a 7-2-1 split across their last 10 games. Let’s see how they finish their Golden Knights series, and the potentially resurging Wild this week.
#3 Boston Bruins (10-3-2, 22 Points)
Previously #1
The B’s had a little quiet week this past week, amassing no points and dropping one game to the Devils, albeit a one goal game. I couldn’t disrespect them that bad by dropping them too much. They play in Lake Tahoe this evening and play the stingy Islanders, so we will see how they handle some solid competition. I won’t be the guy to write them off after one loss.
#2 Carolina Hurricanes (12-3-1, 25 Points)
Previously #6
Hurricane season is still here ladies and gentlemen, blowing past 4 teams in one week! The Hurricanes just went 3-0-1 this week and played some stingy teams. They amassed 19 goals for and 10 goals against. They sit with a .781-point percentage and are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. And yet, I still think Aho and Svechnikov have relatively underachieved. Scary to think about how this team will look when they are buzzing too.
#1 Toronto Maple Leafs (14-3-2, 30 Points)
Previously #2
Man, this was tough to analyze and write. The Leafs are my top 1 this week. It helps when you lead your division by a healthy margin, sit with a .789-point percentage, and a +21-goal differential. They didn’t miss a point this week, going 3-0-1. Auston Matthews is continuing to score at breakneck speed. 50 goals in 56 games? 18 goals In 18 games is incredible, I like to think its unsustainable but “scorers gonna score.”