NHL Power Rankings: Week 8
We are back for a Sunday edition of my Power Rankings. Crazy week this week. I have to admit, this gets harder and harder, but we are seeing some teams rise and fall every single week. No shortage of drama in this truncated season. Next week we enter the halfway point, and we sit just 5 weeks away from the trade deadline. However, given the covid quarantine protocols for Canadian teams, don’t be surprised if their unofficial deadline is within the next 2-3 weeks. All records are of the night of 3.7.21.
#16 Edmonton Oilers (15-11-0, 30 Points)
Previously #13
It was despair in Oil Country after getting completely waxed by the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 3-game series. The Oiler managed to come back and beat their bitter rival the Flames, in quite a colorful and drama filled game. Nurse taking on Lucic was a fun sight, two heavy weights. Connor did not go pointless over 4-games, something he has never done in his career still. He just won’t let that ever happen it seems. The Oilers have issues but they hang on this week, barely.
#15 Chicago Blackhawks (13-8-5, 31 Points)
Previously #12
The rebuilding Blackhawks hang on to their spot in the top 16, and it is a great sight to see. They split games with the Lightning, going 1-1-1, after putting up a TD and PAT against the Wings last Sunday. I like this teams chance to may be make the playoffs, though I don’t discount the pain and struggle that the Stars are going through. I think the Stars are a better team on paper, just are facing a weird start that we could see them catch fire. That said, the Hawks are fun to watch. Patty Kane, congrats on 400 goals. Best American-Born Hockey Player Ever.
#14 Pittsburgh Penguins (14-9-1, 29 Points)
Previously Outside Top 16
Pittsburgh is fighting and its great to see. They managed to improve to a .604-point percentage, a positive +2 goal differential, and have gone 7-3-0 in their last 10 games. Those wins were against their state rival as well as the New York Rangers just today. I think this team has the ability to make the playoffs, and we may well see the Flyers pushed out. Currently the standings say this is true but there is still plenty of hockey to go.
#13 Minnesota Wild (13-8-1, 27 Points)
Previously #9
Wild came to face the mighty Knights and dropped their two games, one did manage to go to OT. They split their 2 game series against the Coyotes after that. They face the same 2 teams in the same 2-game series this week and will be a huge opportunity for this team to tell us if they are as legit as they seem to be. I like to think the Knights are one of those benchmark teams, if you can beat them or play with them, you are a good team. +9 goal differential is very solid and they sit with a 7-2-1 split over 10 games. Quite solid still.
#12 St. Louis Blues (14-8-3, 31 Points)
Previously #15
Blue must read my Power Rankings because after I talked down on them last week, they turned around and didn’t miss a point this week, going 2-0-1. They beat some lower teams, but it doesn’t matter when you’re trying to get back into the swing of things. Blues have a .620-point percentage, but their +2 goal differential a little questionable for this team. Binnington could play a bit better as he sits with a .908 SV%. We still wonder if he was a one hit wonder back in 2019 or if he can get back to his fiery self. That said, he is a maniac and a hot head, and I freaking love it.
#11 Philadelphia Flyers (12-6-3, 25 Points)
Previously #6
The Flyers dropped 2 out of the 3 this week and have seen their goal differential numbers continue to suffer. They have a 5-4-1 split over their last 10 which is still .500, can’t dog them too much there. I think the defensive side of the game I mentioned a few rankings now is catching up to them, finally. They face the Capitals this week three times, including their loss today. Their loss puts them outside looking in the playoffs right now but I give the nod right now due to the point percentage.
#10 Colorado Avalanche (13-7-2, 28 Points)
Previously #11
Avs did not miss out on a point this week, going 2-0-1. Those splits were against the lowly Sharks and Ducks but nonetheless, winning is hard in the NHL. A +13-goal differential is very solid still and they remain a legitimate threat in this league. They still sit with a very healthy .636-point percentage. Rantanen and MacKinnon continue to lead their team in points, what’s new. Grubauer is having a solid season, recording a 2.06 GAA on the season.
#9 Winnipeg Jets (15-8-1, 31 Points)
Previously #10
Jets are playing very good hockey in a season that we did not know what we were going to get. They will make the playoffs and be a force to be reckoned with by these other teams that were expecting to make the playoffs. They have a solid +10 goal differential and 6-4-0 split over 10 games. They finally get to face the Leafs in a 3-game series starting Tuesday and we will see if they can fare better than the Oilers did. I will be tuning into this series for the most part.
#8 Washington Capitals (13-6-4, 30 Points)
Unchanged
The Capital sit atop the MassMutual East by points and have a very respectable 7-2-1 split over the last 10 games. They have a modest +1 goal differential but are positioning well to make the playoffs and be one of the top teams to compete for the cup. They beat the Flyers today and are set to play the Flyers against on Thursday with the Devils on Tuesday. This gives them some opportunity to set themselves apart.
#7 Boston Bruins (13-5-1, 29 Points)
Unchanged
Boston took the Caps to SO, lost but that was before turning around and beating the 5-1 in convincing fashion. Bruins have a +12-goal differential and sit third by points in the MassMutual East, though sit with the best point percentage in the division at .690. This team has only lost 5 games in regulation, among the top in the league. Boston is here to stay.
#6 New York Islanders (15-6-4, 34 Points)
Previously #14
Win games folks, win games and you get rewarded. The Isles went 4-0-0 this week alone and have a 5-game winning streak. They increased their goal differential by 10, improving to +17. 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, granted they were against the Sabres but still, winning is hard in the National Hockey League. Barzal is lighting it up with 22 points and their collective GAA is 2.12, which is fantastic. Big moves for the Isles this week.
#5 Carolina Hurricanes (16-6-1, 33 Points)
Unchanged
Carolina won their games this week and sit with a healthy +19-goal differential. They’ve won 4 games in a row and have a 6-3-1 split over their last 10 games, fantastic hockey. Look this team could easily be 4th, it is not indictment that they are 5th by any means. They are competing against crazy teams for those top spots. But what’s crazy about the Hurricanes sitting 5th in the League is that they are 3rd in their Division, with the other 2 sitting in my Rankings ahead. Folks, the Discover Central (at least at the top) is murder’s row and will be a hell of a battle come playoff time.
#4 Florida Panthers (15-4-4, 34 Points)
Unchanged
The Panthers just improved on their point percentage this week, improving to .739 on the season, ranking 3rd in the entire league. The Panthers have a crazy record after losses, 7-0-0. They have not strung two losses together the entire season. What’s even better, is they are actually legit enough to help facilitate a state rivalry between them and the Tampa Bay Lightning, something NHL fans have been waiting for since Miami brought the Panthers to the league. I think this is huge for the state of Florida (who is absolutely killing it in every sense for the last year), the Panther’s organization who’s struggled to bring fans into the building, and the NHL itself.
#3 Toronto Maple Leafs (18-6-2, 38 Points)
Previously #1
I only moved the Leafs down due to the last two losses to the Canucks as well as the fact that the teams above have been better as of most recent. Let’s look at what they did to the Edmonton Oilers. They outscored, outpaced, and legitimately outplayed the Oilers, outscoring them 12-1 over 3 games. They held the best scorers in Draisaitl/McDavid to a single assist all series. They dropped their next 2 to the Vancouver Canucks, a team who has been struggling. Maybe their high level, playoff caliber play has made them exhausted. Yes, this Oilers fan hopes they continue to drop games.
#2 Vegas Golden Knights (16-4-1, 33 Points)
Previously #3
I’ll be honest, we have another 1A/1B situation here. I nearly flipped a coin to figure out who should take the #1 and #2 spot this week, it came down to goal differential. The Golden Knights have won 6-straight games, with their last loss going back to the Lake Tahoe game. They have scored at a very high rate as well, nothing below 3 goals over the last 6 games. They with a +25-goal differential. Look I know half of the TLDR boys hate this team, but this is a team I envy if not because they have more heart/grit than any other hockey club and have since they joined the NHL. Way to continue to raise the bar for Seattle. I love the Golden Knights.
#1 Tampa Bay Lightning (17-4-2, 36 points)
Previously #2
Remember when I ranked Tampa 7th in the league a couple weeks ago because they dropped 2 games in a row? Pepperidge Farm remembers. This team has battled back. They went 3-0-1 this week and have a 7-2-1 split over their last 10 games and have a league’s best +35 goal differential. They sit second in both GF and GA, together in my mind making them the best team in the NHL, yes without Nikita Kucherov. What a dominant and complete hockey club.