NHL Power Rankings: Week 2
Week 2 brought the resurgence of the Carolina Hurricanes. The Oilers are actually able to defend? The Senators are showing they don’t need Brady Tkachuk. Sid the Kid is not looking like a Kid anymore. The Ducks and Oilers are on a collision course of a long term rivalry. Philly is so bad that they can’t find any offense in any sport right now. This season will bring us some awesome storylines, I can already feel it.
#16 Pittsburgh Penguins (3-2-1, 7 Points)
Previously #3
Pretty even 1-1-1 week for the Pens. Crosby might be showing his age with one of his worsts starts in his career. They tend to carry the play most nights but their defensive game has a bit to be desired. As for Sid, I hate to say this as a kid who grew up loving this guy, Father Time is Undefeated. We will see if the Kid has it in him to turn things around.
#15 Winnipeg Jets (3-1-1, 7 Points)
Previously Unranked
I wanted to rank the Jets because I want to give appreciation to the human that is Stuart Skinner. Bro has a .920 SV% and just 8 goals against. Kyle Connor has done everything he can to show that American’s aren’t scared to play in Canada. He’s a true leader of this group and its showing. This group, like Ottawa, is looking at Connor Hellebuyck and saying, “we don’t need your ass to be a good hockey team.” Good for them man.
#14 Washington Capitals (3-2-0, 6 Points)
Previously #15
This will be Ovechkin’s last year and he finally got a goal on the board this season. The Caps depth up front is awesome because everyone has an ability to contribute, with no major superstars needing to take the spotlight. Tom Wilson continues to improve and is looking like one of the best in the league. Caps are a team to watch.
#13 Florida Panthers (2-2-2, 6 Points)
Previously #8
Maybe we all overestimated this Panthers teams. They are old and broken from all of those years of winning cups potentially. Barkov is out and now Marchand. Brady Tkachuk is without a point yet and Sam Reinhart hasn’t contributed a single point himself. They are even getting the saves which is the crazy part. Their start might put them out of contention completely and the longer we are without Barkov, the worse off the league is. The Panthers are in trouble.
#12 Dallas Stars (2-2-1, 5 points)
Previously Unranked
The Dallas Stars are a low event team. 5-2 goal differential on the week, managed to shut out both the Sharks and the Sabres this week. They have been elite in suppressing chances against and the stats show it. Plus they are getting saves above that expected level. The problem is that I don’t know that they generate enough chances. 1.99 expected goal for per game might not cut it when it matters most. Sure defense can win you games, but we find out it doesn’t win you championships.
#11 Ottawa Senators (5-1-0, 10 Points)
Previously #5
I will give my flowers to the Senators. However, now they have to deal with another injury in newly acquired William Ecklund. Tim Stutzle has elevated his game and for that the Senators faithful have to happy. Their expected goal % suggests they aren’t carrying play most nights but the +4 saves above expected definitely helps the situation bigly. PP% of 13.8% needs to be addressed!
#10 Boston Bruins (4-2-0, 8 Points)
Previously Unranked
Boston will get the recognition they deserve. Perfect week with a strong +9 goal differential this week. They are actually sitting with a positive expected goal % with a solid xGA/60 to allow their goaltending to shine! Jeremy Swayman is sitting 2nd in saves above expected and Pastrnak is doing all he can to keep this team dominating games. With McAvoy coming back this week, this team might actually be legit. Yes, I said it.
#9 New York Rangers (5-2-0, 10 Points)
Unchanged
Middle of the pack 5v5 is shocking but here we are! I will also give this team the grace of the fact that their goaltending has been elite. But its all over now, with Shesterkin out for the season. This is one of those teams that relies on their goaltending and special teams and now with the goaltending gone, what will this team be when its all said and done. Dylan Garland will try and make a name for himself. Time will tell.
#8 Anaheim Ducks (4-1-0, 8 Points)
Previously #10
The Ducks scored one of the prettiest PP goals against the Oilers I have ever seen. And then poof, they lost all momentum in the 2nd period. They struggled to generate a lot against the Oilers. But they bounced back big in a big win against the Flames. 5v5 I need to see more generation from this forward group. I would expect them to be much better in this department but there were times in the game against the Oilers that they didn’t look like the flying Ducks from last year. I am shocked to see their saves above expected is positive but nonetheless here we are! Hopefully Gauthier and Poehling are back playing as soon as possible!
#7 Minnesota Wild (4-1-1, 9 Points)
Previously #2
2-1-1 on the week for the Wild. The Wild worry me because they have that middle of the pack 5v5 game stats right now. They are middling in both generating and defending which I find quite interesting. They’re depth is getting tested. That said, they have a 95% PK which is just fantastic and a 41% PP% suggests this team is a special teams merchant at the moment. They have room to improve for sure.
#6 Colorado Avalanche (3-2-0, 6 Points)
Previously #1
1-2 this week is not a good look for the Avs. They ended up allowing 12 goals vs their 12 goals scored. They still carry the play based on their ability to generate and suppress teams. That is no surprise there. They were goalied against Stu Skinner the other night, with Blackwood allowing 3 goals on 19 shots and watching Skins stop 32/34. I have said I will give more grace to teams who have good goaltending but that means I need to be more critical of those who don’t, and right now the Avs don’t have solid tending.
#5 Tampa Bay Lightning (2-1-0, 4 Points)
Previously #13
They rebounded from #13 after starting at #5. That’s just the way good teams roll on a week-by-week basis. Perfect week with a +3 goal differential in their games. This team is top of the league in defense, which shows in their ability to string 4 wins together. Its amazing where Hedman is playing in the depth chart though, with his TOI suggesting he’s 5/6 D at this ripe age of 36. If that doesn’t point to the depth of this blueline, I don’t know what will. PP% is a putrid 10%, they need to figure that out fast. Nice Hatty Brandon Hagel!
#4 Utah Mammoth (4-2-0, 8 Points)
Unchanged
They were blown out by Boston this week, no doubt. However, beyond that, they have looked very good. They still managed a 64.4% expected goal share in that game. They are generating at a nice clip and top 5 in suppressing chances…that will result in winning hockey. They need to find a way to score on their chances. An 11.5% shooting % is not awful but a step forward will help a lot. I like this team a lot.
#3 Edmonton Oilers (4-0-1, 5 Points)
Previously #7
I am very weary to talk about this team, because I know their competition hasn’t been great. However, they have played teams that can score, especially those Ducks and Sharks teams that are all offense with a sprinkle (if that of Defense). These Oilers had a perfect week and haven’t lost in regulation yet. They are elite defensively, sitting 3rd in expected goal against per game, yes that is after that rough start. They haven’t given up a lot and it showed when I was in attendance. There was no rush chances against 5v5 which has plagued this team. What that does is makes goalies look so good, and they both have been! They still are fighting a severe negative saves above expected but that will improve with this play as they are impacted so much by the early games. Their PP is not great, PK% is very not good. But man they look like a defensive juggernaut so far. We shall see if it continues but this is a different looking Oilers team. Took the Oilers 4 games to win 3 in a row, it took them 76 games last year…
#2 Vegas Golden Knights (5-2-0, 10 Points)
Previously #6
Jack Eichel comes out strong with 12 points in just 6 games with 3 goals to boot. They had a strong 3-1 week. Their 5v5 numbers are as strong as ever with the ability to suppress chances quite well and generate at a solid clip. They are falling behind their expected goals and saves but they win games and that’s all that matters. A 25% PP is going to win you hockey games as well. Rasmus Andersson isn’t the Rasmus Andersson this Oilers fan remembers though when he was in Calgary.
#1 Carolina Hurricanes (5-1-1, 11 points)
Previously #12
Took the Canes 1 week to regain their top spot. I am not overly surprised in the slightest. 4 games, 4 wins, 22 goals for and 9 GA. 60% xGoal % and a generating 3.36 xG a game. The crazy part is they aren’t even scoring at their expected clip and getting the saves at their expected clip. The Hurricanes are here to stay. Which is ironic they come back in week both coasts had hurricanes run through their areas. You know where Helly could go and thrive? Yup…I know scary thought.