NHL Power Rankings: Week 25
12-14 games away folks. We are getting so close to the Playoffs! We already saw two teams clinch their spot and 1 team get officially eliminated (sorry Vancouver). The sprint to the finish is here and it is getting tight in the West.
#16 Philadelphia Flyers (34-23-12; 80 Points)
Previously Unranked
Flyers swept California this week and looked good doing so. They were so bad in January that they likely won’t be able to climb back into the standings but man are they going to try.
#15 Utah Mammoth (37-28-6; 80 Points)
Previously Unranked
The Mammoth sit comfortably in the 1WC spot and will likely be able to hand on to that, especially because the Pacific division is so bad they have no true competition. They have a strong +25 goal differential. They haven’t been the greatest team in the last 10 games under the hood but the entire season they have been a dominant team on most nights. They play the right way most nights but they just don’t have the star power they will need.
#14 Detroit Red Wings (38-24-8; 84 Points)
Previously #12
Negative goal differential for the Wings. They are in desperate need of a run so they can stave off missing the playoffs yet again. Their injuries are tough. Yzerman’s seat has to be hot right now.
#13 Boston Bruins (39-23-8; 86 Points)
Previously #10
This team is the kind of teams I loathe…and James loves. Goalie bailing out every single fucking night. Excuse my French. Congrats Bruins on never dominating the puck, on scoring way above your expected goal generation, 20 saves above expected to bail you out, and no depth anywhere past David Pasta. They will find a way to steal a playoff spot from an Ottawa Senators team that lacked goaltending for a bit but dominated play. Just goes to show how important the goalie position can be…but we saw how teams like this look in the playoffs. Looking at you New York Rangers. Sorry for the irrational hate…
#12 New York Islanders (40-26-5, 85 Points)
Previously #9
Mattew Schaefer is so awesome. The Islanders are a team that relies on their goaltending far too much and Sorokin won’t be enough to bring this team to the ECF but man they will try. The Islanders under the hood are about as annoying as the Boston Bruins and I should be as irrational pissed off at them too but the Bruins just rub me the wrong way. The Islanders are creeping up the annoying ladder though and if the Blue Jackets and/or Senators don’t make it in…Ill be more than annoyed.
#11 Anaheim Ducks (39-27-4; 82 Points)
Previously #13
The Ducks chase the games most nights as they let their opponents draw first blood. But the Ducks have been resilient within games and it shows. They are top of the crappy Pacific but they look the best in the division, no doubt about it. They have consistently been the better side of the expected goal differential and its showing. The negative goal differential will be erased within 2 weeks, calling it now.
#10 Columbus Blue Jackets (37-22-11; 85 Points)
Previously #11
The Jackets need to keep up the momentum. They are playing so very well just miss out on key opportunities and points that could become pivotal down the final stretch here. I wonder if Rick Bowness could get the Jack Adams if they make playoffs and he’s coached less than 50% of games…
#9 Montreal Canadiens (38-21-10; 86 Points)
Previously #7
Cole Caulfield had a field week becoming the first 40 goal scorer for the Habs in over 30 years. The path to 50 is wide open for this guy. The Canadiens are a team that will make the playoffs likely but will have the misfortune of drawing the Tampa Bay Lightning.
#8 Ottawa Senators (36-24-9; 81 Points)
Previously #15
Guess who the top team in expected goal differential is over the last 10 and 20 games. Yep, you guessed right, the Ottawa Senators. They sit 3rd throughout the entire season and now are getting the goaltending and the wins to back up this incredible pace. The Ottawa Senator are probably the sneakiest and best team (especially right now) on the outside looking in. They have games at hand and if they make the playoffs look at them to upset the established order.
#7 Pittsburgh Penguins (35-19-16; 86 Points)
Previously #8
Sid is back and Geno is looking really fresh off his suspension. This team is looking to make a huge splash in the Spring and you wonder if this team can produce offense in crazy spurts like they have this week, they might be a sneaky team to push through to the ECF.
#6 Minnesota Wild (40-19-12; 92 Points)
Unchanged
The Wild seem to looking a bit better as of late and are enjoying a solid 55% expected goal differential over the last bit of play. Things might be rounding out for the Wild and their 1st round will be electric against the Dallas Stars. While it sucks that one of these teams will be gone early, we can’t deny the theatrics that a matchup like this will bring.
#5 Tampa Bay Lightning (43-21-5; 91 Points)
Unchanged
Much better week for the Bolts who righted the ship it seems. Points in all games this week. Kucherov’s incredible performance this week was highlighted by his massive against Connor McDavid and company. What a special player. 6-7-13 in just 4 games is wild stuff.
#4 Buffalo Sabres (44-20-7; 95 Points)
Unchanged
Points in every single game this week. The Sabres are a playoff team folks and it will likely be official as early as this week. The New York Jets will be the lousiest team in sports by the end of the week. The Sabres are also my sneaky pick to make a big splash this spring. They are dominating the score most nights but their expected goal differential is below 50%...might be a concern down the stretch.
#3 Carolina Hurricanes (45-19-6; 96 Points)
Unchanged
3-1 this week and 7-3 in their last 10 games. Goaltending has been the issue for this team and they’ve needed lots of goals to find those wins…which I wonder if it’s a blessing in disguise. Find a way to score at will now so when you need to score in the playoffs…
#2 Dallas Stars (43-16-11; 97 Points)
Unchanged
Dallas had a tough week despite beating the Avalanche. I think their hot streak was bound to end but we can thank them for at least making the President’s Trophy race fun…even for a little bit.
#1 Colorado Avalanche (46-13-10; 102 Points)
Unchanged
Triple digit points before April. The Avs had a resurgent week and what was I thinking they could be a #2 team…not these Avalanche. They separated ever so slightly from the Dallas Stars.