Wanna know what the “puck” is going on in the hockey world? We are back for another edition of the NHL Power Rankings!
1. Winnipeg Jets
DALLAS, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 29: Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets warms up before the game against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on February 29, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
It really speaks to how incredible the start of the year was for the Jets that they are still in 1st place. That said, they have lost 2 of their last 3 games, and 5 of their 6 total losses this year have come in their past 8 games. If they do not regain some of their prior momentum, they could lose their grip on the top spot.
2. Carolina Hurricanes
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MARCH 09: Martin Necas #88 of the Carolina Hurricanes scores a first period powerplay goal against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on March 09, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The Hurricanes have overtaken the Stars for 2nd. They won 2 of their last 3 games, one of which was against the Stars themselves, and the other was against the Rangers, who are also a top-10 team. Though the Carolina defense could stand to improve, it is still top 10 in goals allowed per game, and their offense is currently 3rd in goals per game.
3. Washington Capitals
VANCOUVER, CANADA – MARCH 16: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates during the first period of their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on March 16, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
Up 7 spots!!! The Capitals won all 4 of their games this past week. After losing Ovechkin, to say the rest of the team has stepped it up would be an understatement. The Capitals are 1st in goals per game by a wide margin and are performing well across the board. To respond this well in the face of adversity says a lot. There is little doubt in my mind that they will make the playoffs and go far this year.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO, CANADA – MARCH 02: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the New York Rangers at Scotiabank Arena on March 02, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
The Leafs only had 2 games this past week, and both were against good teams. They lost to the Panthers but beat the Lightning. They were playing very well even without Auston Matthews, and Matthews just returned in the game against Tampa Bay and got 2 apples.
5. Dallas Stars (13-6)
DALLAS, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 26: Logan Stankoven #11 of the Dallas Stars warms up before the game against the New York Islanders at American Airlines Center on February 26, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
Down 3 spots! Dallas has lost 2 of their 3 games this past week. Their defense has been slipping of late, as they went from allowing the least amount of goals per game last week to allowing the 5th least now.
6. Minnesota Wild
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 07: Kirill Kaprizov #97 of the Minnesota Wild looks on during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on February 07, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Up 2 spots! The Wild have won 3 of their last 4 games, and their loss was against the top-ranked Winnipeg Jets. One area of their game that needs improvement is their penalty kill percentage, which is currently the 6th worst in the NHL.
7. Florida Panthers
SUNRISE, FL – MARCH 16: Aleksander Barkov #16 of the Florida Panthers skates prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Amerant Bank Arena on March 16, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
The Panthers won 3 of their last 4 games, notably beating Carolina and Toronto. They would be ranked higher if not for a defense that is allowing the 8th most goals per game.
8. New York Rangers
DENVER, COLORADO – MARCH 28: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers tends goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period at Ball Arena on March 28, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Down 2 spots. The Rangers lost 3 of their 4 games this past week, 2 of which were against opponents ranked significantly lower.
9. Vegas Golden Knights
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 27: Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates his second-period short-handed goal against the Dallas Stars in Game Three of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on April 27, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Golden Knights won half of their games this past week. They have scored the 6th most goals per game in the league, but their defense is underperforming.
10. New Jersey Devils
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 13: General view of the New Jersey Devils jersey logo during the second period of the game against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on April 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Up a spot. The Devils won 2 of their 4 games this past week. This is a sneaky good team that could easily be ranked higher.
11. Colorado Avalanche
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 08: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche skates during the first period of the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on February 08, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Down 6 spots!!! After riding high last week, the Avalanche has come crashing back down the rankings and even further than they were before. Although their terrible start to the season is largely responsible for where they currently sit, at the end of the day, the Avs have allowed the 3rd most goals per game. An offense that is currently ranked 13th in goals scored per game is not going to be enough to make up for that.
12. Tampa Bay Lightning
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 19: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates his third-period empty-net goal against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on March 19, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
The Lightning won 2 of their past 4 games, and the 2 they lost were against #3 ranked Washington and #4 ranked Toronto. They are currently scoring the 4th most goals per game, and their arrow is still pointing up.
13. Edmonton Oilers
EDMONTON, AB – MAY 14: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates a goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 14, 2022 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
The Oilers won both of their games this past week. They have overtaken the Hurricanes in taking the most shots per game in the league, but they aren’t capitalizing on it nearly as much.
14. Los Angeles Kings
MONTREAL, CANADA – OCTOBER 17: A closeup view of the Los Angeles Kings crest during the first period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on October 17, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Up a spot. The Kings won 3 of their 4 games this past week, notably winning against Winnipeg but losing against San Jose. Their stingy defense is paying off.
15. Vancouver Canucks
VANCOUVER, CANADA – FEBRUARY 27: Elias Pettersson #40 of the Vancouver Canucks skates up ice during the first period of their NHL game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Rogers Arena on February 27, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)
Down a spot. The Canucks won 2 of their past 3 games, but all 3 were against relatively weak opponents.
16. Calgary Flames
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – FEBRUARY 6: Nazem Kadri #91 of the Calgary Flames skates against the Boston Bruins during the second period at the TD Garden on February 6, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images)
Calgary lost all 4 of their games this past week. They have cooled off as quickly and intensely as they heated up, but they will maintain their spot in the ranks for now.
17. Ottawa Senators
RALEIGH, NC – APRIL 04: Ottawa Senators logo prior to the second period the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on April 04, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images)***
Up 2 spots. The Senators won 2 of 3 games this past week. Their offense has been pretty good, but their defense is still holding them back.
18. Utah Hockey Club
KEARNS, UTAH – OCTOBER 07: A close-up of the Utah Hockey Club logo on practice jersey at Utah’s Olympic Oval on October 07, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Up 2 spots. The Hockey Club won 2 of their last 3 games, one of which was against the Golden Knights, and their loss to Edmonton was a close one.
19. Buffalo Sabres
BUFFALO, NY – JANUARY 14: A general view of the Buffalo Sabres logo on a jersey during the game against the Washington Capitals at KeyBank Center on January 14 , 2021 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)
Down a spot. The Sabres lost all 3 of their games this past week, 2 of which were shutouts.
20. Philadelphia Flyers
MONTREAL, QC – DECEMBER 16: A detailed view of the Philadelphia Flyers’ logo seen on a jersey during overtime against the Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell on December 16, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in a shootout. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Up 2 spots. The Flyers won 3 of their past 4 games and are moving in the right direction. Their defense is still weighing them down, however, as they have allowed the 7th most goals per game.
21. Boston Bruins
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 6: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Florida Panthers during the first period at the TD Garden on April 6, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins won 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
Down 4 spots!! The Bruins are still last in goals per game (tied now with the Predators) and have lost 2 of 3 games since the firing of Jim Montgomery. So far, the coaching change has not looked like the answer to Boston’s problems.
22. Columbus Blue Jackets
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 07: A general view of the Columbus Blue Jackets jersey logo worn by Elvis Merzlikins #90 during the second period of the NHL preseason game against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on October 7, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Up 2 spots, and their offense now ranks 7th in goals per game. Unfortunately, their defense is still poor and has allowed the 4th most goals per game.
23. Seattle Kraken
OTTAWA, CANADA – DECEMBER 02: Detailed view of the Seattle Kraken logo on Joey Daccord #35 of the Seattle Kraken jersey during the second period against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on December 02, 2023 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
Seattle lost 3 of their past 4 games, 2 of which were against the surprisingly surging San Jose offense, and the other was against Anaheim, who they had also beaten the previous game. Not too inspiring.
24. Pittsburgh Penguins
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 15: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates with the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period at the United Center on February 15, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Up a spot after winning 3 in a row. They are still bottom 10 in goals per game and dead last in goals allowed per game.
25. St. Louis Blues
Up 2 spots. St. Louis won 2 of their 3 games this week, with impressive victories against the Rangers and Devils. So far so good after the hiring of Jim Montgomery!
26. Nashville Predators
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MAY 03: Juuse Saros #74 of the Nashville Predators tends goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period in Game Six of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 03, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
Down 5 spots!! What on Earth is going on in Nashville?! The Predators are now on a 4 game losing streak and are dead last in goals per game. Unfortunately, even if their offense picks things up, their defense is still allowing the 9th most goals per game despite having the best penalty kill unit in the NHL. This feels like a team that could bounce back in a big way, but it’s getting too difficult to ignore just how bad they’ve been so far.
27. New York Islanders
MONTREAL, CANADA – FEBRUARY 11: A closeup view of the New York Islanders’ logo during the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell on February 11, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the New York Islanders 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Down a spot. The Islanders lost 3 of their 4 games this past week, beating only the lowly Red Wings.
28. Anaheim Ducks
ANAHEIM, CA – JUNE 22: The new logo of the Anahaim Ducks is presented at the unveiling of the new Anaheim Ducks logo and jersey at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim on June 22, 2006 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
The Ducks lost 2 of their 3 games this past week and are in last place in the Pacific Division. It’s not gonna get much better for them any time soon.
29. Detroit Red Wings
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 27: Patrick Kane #88 of the Detroit Red Wings controls the puck in front of Nicolas Aube-Kubel #96 of the Washington Capitals during the first period at Little Caesars Arena on February 27, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Up a spot. The Red Wings won 2 of their last 3 games, but their offense still isn’t very intimidating, and their defense is subpar. Interestingly, Detroit’s penalty play percentage is 4th best, while their penalty kill percentage is the worst in the league.
30. Chicago Blackhawks
NEWARK, NJ – JANUARY 05: Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) skates during a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and New Jersey Devils on January 05, 2024 at Prudential Center in the Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)
The Blackhawks won a game and lost a game with a big win against Dallas and a close loss against the Wild. Their defense is improving, and Chicago could move up these rankings if their offense can get going, too.
31. San Jose Sharks
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 04: The logo on the San Jose Sharks on a jersey during their game against the Vegas Golden Knights at SAP Center on October 04, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Up a spot after winning 3 of their last 4 games. While their defense is still allowing the 5th most goals per game, their offense has exploded, netting a whopping 22 goals during this small stretch. At the very least, the Sharks are making their waters dangerous for opponents.
32. Montreal Canadiens
MONTREAL, CANADA – OCTOBER 14: A close-up view of the Montreal Canadiens logo on a jersey during the second period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Bell Centre on October 14, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Montreal Canadiens 6-3. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
The Canadiens lost 2 of their past 3 games and seem to be mired at the bottom of the Atlantic Division.
