Wanna know what the “Puck” is going on in the hockey world? Well, here are this week’s NHL Power Rankings!
1. Winnipeg Jets
MONTREAL, QC – MARCH 04: A close-up detail of the Winnipeg Jets logo seen during the second period at the Bell Centre on March 4, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Winnipeg Jets defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
The Jets lead the league with 49 points. They are allowing the least amount of goals against per game played in the league while ranking 3rd in goals per game and 1st in power play percentage.
2. Washington Capitals
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 23: A general view of the Washington Capitals jersey logo during the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Capital One Arena on October 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Washington is ranked 2nd in goals per game while allowing the 4th least goals against per game. They’ve managed to do an incredible job in Ovechkin’s absence, and Ovi should be back after the holidays.
3. 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 three spots. New Jersey is tied with Vegas for 2nd in the NHL with 47 points. They are allowing the 2nd least goals against per game and have a top-10 offense.
4. Carolina Hurricanes
MONTREAL, CANADA – APRIL 01: A closeup view of the Carolina Hurricanes’ logo during the first period against the Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell on April 1, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Down a spot. The Hurricanes have a top-5 offense and a top-10 defense, ranking 2nd in shots per game.
5. Vegas Golden Knights
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 15: A general view of the Vegas Golden Knights jersey logo during the second period of the game against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on October 15, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
The Golden Knights are tied with the Devils for 2nd in the league in points and are 6th in goals per game.
6. Minnesota Wild
Down two spots. The Wild have lost four straight games, though 2 of those were against Florida and Winnipeg. Their defense, which has been their biggest strength this season, has been slipping of late.
7. Toronto Maple Leafs
SUNRISE, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 19: The Toronto Maple Leafs logo is seen on a jersey during the third period of a game against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on October 19, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
The Maple Leafs are tied with the Panthers and the Wild with 44 points. Auston Matthews just can’t seem to stay healthy, unfortunately, as he just re-injured his upper body.
8. Tampa Bay Lightning
Up a spot. Tampa Bay now leads the league in goals per game and ranks 5th in power play percentage. Lightning fans have to be ecstatic about how well their top line of Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point, and Nikita Kucherov are clicking.
9. Edmonton Oilers
MONTREAL, CANADA – FEBRUARY 12: A detailed view of the Edmonton Oilers’ logo during the third period against the Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell on February 12, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Edmonton Oilers 6-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Up three spots. Edmonton has both a top-10 offense and defense and is surging right now. Zach Hyman, Leon Draisaitl, and, of course, Connor McDavid have been 3 of the hottest players in the NHL. The Oilers have won 3 straight games and 8 of their last 10, as having the highest number of shots per game in the league has really started to pay off for them.
10. Florida Panthers
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 30: A detail of the Florida Panthers logo during the third period against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on October 30, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Up three spots. That’s four straight wins for the defending champs, with impressive wins against Edmonton, Minnesota, and Tampa Bay. They rank 4th in goals per game, and their defense has been improving.
11. 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)
Down a spot. The Kings are tied with the Hurricanes with 43 points and have allowed the 3rd least goals against per game despite having a middling offense.
12. Dallas Stars
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 15: A general view of the Dallas Stars jersey logo during the second period of the game against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on December 15, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Down four spots. The loss of Tyler Seguin has definitely impacted the Stars in a major way, as their previously dominant second line has been a shadow of itself without him. Dallas has at least remained good defensively, allowing the 5th least goals against per game so far.
13. Colorado Avalanche
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 23: Samuel Girard #49 of the Colorado Avalanche skates on the ice during a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on December 23, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Down two spots. The Avs are on a three-game win streak, though they were fairly soft matchups. Cale Makar certainly looks like the best offensive defenseman in the NHL, and Valeri Nichushkin has been exceptional since his return. Oh, and of course, Nathan MacKinnon has been awesome, leading the league by a large margin in apples with 43. Unfortunately, Colorado’s defense still ranks in the bottom 10.
14. 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 two spots. Ottawa was actually on a six-game win streak until losing to the red-hot Oilers. Ullmark has been the hottest goalie in the NHL but just went down with an upper-body injury. He appears to just be day-to-day right now, so hopefully, it’s nothing serious.
15. New York Rangers
Down a spot. The Rangers actually have the best penalty kill percentage in the league as well as the second-best face-off win percentage. Despite this, they have been mediocre both offensively and defensively and have lost 7 of their last 10 games.
16. Vancouver Canucks
MONTREAL, CANADA – NOVEMBER 12: A detailed view of the Vancouver Canucks logo during the third period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on November 12, 2023 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Down a spot. Vancouver is on a losing streak of 3 games, including losses to the Blues and the Bruins. They have been good offensively but not very good defensively this season, though that could change if former Vezina trophy runner-up Thatcher Demko rounds into form.
17. Calgary Flames
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 25: A detailed view of the jersey logo worn by the Calgary Flames during the game against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on November 25, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Calgary has been a bottom-10 team offensively and has been middling defensively. Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau have at least caught fire on the top line.
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 a spot. Forwards Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, and Dylan Guenther have been very good in particular for the Hockey Club. Utah has also been solid defensively this season, so they will be a team worth watching as their young offense continues to develop.
19. Boston Bruins
MONTREAL, QC – MARCH 21: A detailed view of the Boston Bruins’ logo is seen during the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell on March 21, 2022 in Montreal, Canada. The Boston Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Up two spots. Boston’s 40 points are actually tied with Colorado- both just outside the top 10 in the official standings. However, the Bruins have scored the 5th least goals per game and are merely mid-pack in goals against per game in the NHL.
20. 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)
Down two spots. The Kraken are on a five-game losing streak. They have a bottom-10 offense and defense.
21. St. Louis Blues
Down a spot. The Blues are on a three-game losing streak. That said, all three matchups were against teams ranked in the top 10 here.
22. Pittsburgh Penguins
MONTREAL, CANADA – OCTOBER 17: A detailed view of the Pittsburgh Penguins logo during the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at Centre Bell on October 17, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Up a spot. The Penguins still rank last in goals against per game, but their offense has been heating up.
23. 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 two spots. While the Blue Jackets have allowed the 2nd most goals against per game, their offense actually ranks in the top 10 for goals per game, tied with Edmonton.
24. 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)
Down two spots. The Flyers have allowed the 3rd most goals against per game and have been mediocre offensively.
25. 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)
Up a spot. The Islanders weirdly have the best face-off win percentage in the NHL but rank last in power play and penalty kill percentage. They have scored the 7th least number of goals per game and have been poor defensively as well.
26. Anaheim Ducks
MONTREAL, CANADA – DECEMBER 09: A closeup view of the Anaheim Ducks logo on a jersey during the third period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on December 9, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 in a shootout. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Up two spots. The Ducks had impressive wins against Winnipeg and Utah but lost to the Avalanche this past week. They have the 3rd least goals per game in the NHL, so that will need to improve if they hope to continue ascending.
27. 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)
Up four spots. The Canadiens are rocking a three-game win streak, but one win was against the hurting Sabres, and the other two were against the lowly Red Wings. Patrick Laine has been a revelation on the power play, and Lane Hutson is an assist machine on defense. The Canadiens still don’t look good, but they at least look better.
28. 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 four spots. The Sabres are on an extremely depressing 13-game losing streak. They now sit tied with the Blackhawks with 26 points at the bottom of the NHL standings.
29. Nashville Predators
MONTREAL, CANADA – DECEMBER 05: A closeup view of the Nashville Predators logo during the first period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on December 5, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Nashville Predators 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Nashville ranks last in goals per game and mid-pack in goals against per game. Though they have at least shown some signs of life over the past couple of weeks, they have dug themselves into a significant hole, and their 27 points are second worst in the NHL.
30. Detroit Red Wings
MONTREAL, CANADA – APRIL 16: A closeup view of the Detroit Red Wings logo during the third period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on April 16, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 in a shootout. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Down three spots. Detroit has a bottom-10 offense and defense and just lost twice to the Canadiens.
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)
Down a spot. The Sharks are on a four game losing streak, though they were all tough matchups. Their offense ranks in the bottom 10, and their defense in the bottom 5.
32. Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks have a bottom-five offense and a bottom-10 defense. At least they have Seth Jones back on defense now.
