NHL Power Rankings: Week 9
We are at the halfway point in the truncated season. Many teams have been rising and falling but we are really starting to see the final standings start to somewhat shape out. Tune into this week’s podcast as we will be discussing the NHL Division after half of the season. I have to admit, I am getting quite sick of seeing the same teams play each other, and still have to wait another half season and half post-season to see anything different. All records are of the night of 3.14.21
#16 Philadelphia Flyers (13-9-3, 25 Points)
Previously #11
The Flyers are dropping like flies and I could easily have given the nod to the Montreal Canadiens, if only because the Habs sit in a playoff spot. Philly does still have a respectable 5-5-0 record over their last 10 games, much better than the ladder. The Flyers are going to need to find their defense, because as I mentioned weeks ago, the lack of defense has finally caught up to the team. They have a net even goal differential and a 2-game losing streak. I would be worried about not making playoffs, with a surging Pittsburgh taking over.
#15 Chicago Blackhawks (14-10-5, 33 Points)
Unchanged
Congrats to the Chicago Blackhawks for taking advantage of a struggling Blue Jackets for maintaining their 4th place spot in the Discover Central. They have a 5-4-1 split over their last 10 games and have fallen to a -3-goal differential. I understand there are teams better that could be here (ahem Montreal) but Chicago still sits with a much better 10- game split. I am still waiting for the Dallas Stars to catch fire.
#14 St. Louis Blues (14-9-5, 33 Points)
Previously #12
On second thought, maybe I gave the Blues too much credit last week. The Blues didn’t win a game this week and one of those were against the lowly Sharks. They are 4-3-3 in their last 10 games, and they are only in these rankings, much like the previous 3 because they both have an above .500 point percentage and/or sit with a playoff spot. Not much to say other than they have a chance to get themselves back on track against the Kings and Sharks.
#13 Edmonton Oilers (18-12-0, 36 Points)
Previously #16
Wax on, wax off. Monkey See, Monkey Do. The Oilers were taken to the cleaners by Toronto and turned around and took the Senators to the same cleaners in a 3 game series, a series that I almost felt bad being on the Oilers side of things. Regardless, it was the lowly Senators so its not like they are taking on the best of teams. But remember, wins are wins. McDavid and Draisaitl have been reunited, and I will admit are making the doubter in me rethink some things. Don’t color me surprised if we don’t have the depth to play with the Jets if they keep them together though. A very tough fought battle against the Canucks, where the Oilers just ran into elite goaltending. McDavid leads the points race by 7 points and is 11 points ahead of a competitor that’s not his teammate. Sorry, but I will be keeping tabs on his race to 100.
#12 Boston Bruins (14-7-4, 29 Points)
Previously #7
The B’s are having a little bit of a weird run of games here, sitting 4-4-2 over their last 10 games. They are losing to some teams they shouldn’t but also beating teams they should. It’s an odd part of the season for the Bruins to say the least. They still sit with a .640 point percentage and a +10 goal differential on the season. Marchand is having a hell of season sitting with 31 piotns in 25 games. Halak has a strong .922 SV% over 11 games but Rask is having a bit of weaker .906 SV% through 14 games. The B’s will need more from their starting tendy if they wish to compete in playoffs this season.
#11 Pittsburgh Penguins (17-9-1, 35 Points)
Previously #14
Penguins had 6 points up for grabs this week and collected all 6. Granted those were against the Rangers and Sabers, but remember, wins are wins. You can’t play the Islanders and Capitals every game. Pittsburgh improved for a+10 goal differential and are sitting with a 5-game winning streak. They have a 7-3-0 split over 10 games, a recipe for rising up the rankings. They will make the playoffs with this type of play. I had them making the playoffs, and so far I am bang on.
#10 Colorado Avalanche (15-8-2, 32 Points)
Unchanged
Avs again didn’t miss out on a point this week, that’s two weeks in a row now. They have a solid +15-goal differential and are starting to bring back their dominant selves, after a little rough spell a couple weeks ago. They have a solid 6-3-1 split over their last 10 games. They do sit 4th in the division but have games at hand to the St. Louis Blues. Their .640-point percentage is 3rd in the division, and not too far from the 2nd place Wild. They’re currently playing their last game against the Kings this series before a 1-gamer against the Ducks and a 2-game campaign against the Wild, which will prove to be huge for this team. I look forward to this week for this team.
#9 Winnipeg Jets (17-8-2, 36 Points)
Unchanged
Winnipeg didn’t miss out on a point this week, going 2-0-1 against the Maple Leafs. And they were damn close at giving the Leafs their 4th straight loss. Jets are looking fast and resilient, and best of all, Pierre Luc Dubois is fitting in very nicely in Winnipeg. I didn’t know what to expect with that trade but its currently going very well for one team, and terrible for the other. Jets have a +13-goal differential and a .667-point percentage. They still sit 7-2-1 over their last 10 games. Montreal and Edmonton this week, for a chance to close the gap for 1st place.
#8 Minnesota Wild (17-8-1, 35 Points)
Previously #13
Ladies and gentlemen, the Minnesota Wild are a fun team to watch. They have won 4 games straight and sit with a strong 7-2-1 split over their last 10 games. Those wins included close wins against the Mighty Golden Knights, a confidence booster if I’ve ever seen one. Kirill Kaprizov is a sensation, sitting with 23 points over 25 games, as a damn rookie. Kaapo Kahkonen, rookie goaltender is lighting up the league with a .922 Sv% and 2.19GAA. I wonder what it feels like as a fan of a club who’s been spinning their tires for so long, to see rookies lead their team to a level that is worthy of watching. For the first time in a long time, the Wild are a fun team to watch.
#7 Toronto Maple Leafs (19-8-2, 40 Points)
Previously #3
The Maple Leafs forgot there were other teams in the league and division outside of the Oilers. The Leafs followed their 2 losses to Vancouver last week with a 1-2-0 split this week against the fairly good Winnipeg Jets. I won’t say they have fallen from grace, but they are facing some adversity, just as every team does during a season. They have an easier week against Ottawa and Calgary and quite a few days off over the next 2 weeks. I can’t say I am not happy about the current trajectory of the Leafs at this point.
#6 Washington Capitals (17-6-4, 38 Points)
Previously #8
Caps went 4-0-0 this week and sit with a very strong 8-1-1 split over their last 10 games. Their goal differential is a bit on the weaker side, mostly because they sit with a fairly rough GA stat on the season, but they sit at the top in GF. They sit with a 3-point cushion from their 3rd place rival the Penguins. They have a solid .704 point percentage as well. Nick Backstrom is once again quietly having an elite season, sitting with 30 points in 27 games. 3 guys are tied for the goal race on the team, at 10 goals, one of which includes the “Great 8”. They need better goaltending if they are wanting to compete in playoffs.
#5 Florida Panthers (18-5-4, 40 Points)
Previously #4
Florida is just so resilient, and they just haven’t seized to amaze this season. They sit just 3rd in point percentage this season and are the third team from the Discover Central to join the top 5 teams in the league. They don’t have the strongest differential, as they are getting mediocre goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky, but their new main guy Chris Driedger sits with a .920 SV% over 12 games played, not too bad for a 26-year-old tendy. Jonathan Huberdeau is having an elite season, sitting with 32 points in 27 games. Congrats to Keith Yandle on 1,000 games.
#4 New York Islanders (18-6-4, 40 Points)
Previously #6
Isles went 3-0-0 this week, after their 4-0-0 run last week. Folks, the New York Islanders have an 8-game winning streak, best streak in the National Hockey League. They have a very strong +21 goal differential, for a team that we were worried about finding the offense to compete. I could have given them the nod for a higher placement, but their point percentage keeps them down a few. Though, if you are ranking in my top 5, you just know its hard to place you because you all are great teams. Islanders sit 1st in the MassMutual East, and have the strongest differential in the division, by a long shot. Barzal has 24 points in 28 games played and they still sit in the top half for GF. Their GA is the shining stat, thank you in big part to strong goaltending.
#3 Vegas Golden Knights (18-6-1, 37 Points)
Previously #2
Vegas was only bumped down one spot because I had to give love to the Hurricanes winning streak. I don’t even consider it a downgrade too much because the Golden Knights have won their last 2 games, they have strong 8-2-0 split over their last 10, and sit second in goal differential. They have captured 74% of their available points this season, dominating the state in the Honda West. They are also one of the teams with the lowest number of games played in the division. When will their dominance end?
#2 Carolina Hurricanes (19-6-1, 39 Points)
Previously #5
Carolina Hurricanes have a 7-game winning streak. There’s not much more I can say than that. They are 7-3-0 over their last 10 games and sit with a +26-goal differential, good for 3rd in the league. Vincent Trocheck and Sebastian Aho are playing great, tied with 24 with total points. Goaltending as a whole sports a below 3.00 GAA, closer to 2.5GAA which is quite solid. They have the lowly Red Wings and struggling Blue Jackets to continue their tear.
#1 Tampa Bay Lightning (19-5-2, 40 points)
Unchanged
I’ve said this before and I will say it again, you can only hope your favorite team is built half as well as the Tampa Bay Lightning. They sit 1st in the league in points, point percentage, goal differential, and odds to winning the Stanley Cup. They are 8-1-1 over their last 10 and have only missed out on points in 5 games. +37 goal-differential. As a side note, I have 3 teams in the top 4 from the Discover Central. That division will be a blood bath come playoffs, and we are all better for it.