NHL Power Rankings: Week 16
Interesting week in the NHL but you’d be forgiven if you were too focused on the football this weekend. I think we are finally seeing teams start to separate a little bit. The East remains tight as all heck but the West is definitely forming some haves and have nots. The Pacific Division alone is seeing the top two usual suspects separating from the pack. The rest of the Division is also starting to show some separations. Seattle has been falling and the California Teams are starting to settle in. It is going to be a fierce fight between all three of them at this point which is insane to even say. Lots of hockey yet to be played.
#16 San Jose Sharks (25-20-3; 53 Points)
Previously Unranked since the start of this podcast
Okay. Here we go. The San Jose Sharks are going to get some flowers. Am I trying to earn brownie points with the wifey? Maybe. But I also think its time we just given them the love they deserve. Macklin Celebrini is fantastic and I do believe he is carrying this team. Underlying numbers are not good at all, but they are getting the goaltending, and this young lad is just willing his team into the mix. They are fun to watch and they just added Keifer Sherwood into the mix via a trade. Mike Greer is starting to build this team now and its awesome to see. I am actually thrilled for my wife and family that they finally get a fun team to enjoy this deep in the season.
#15 Philadelphia Flyers (22-17-8; 52 Points)
Previously #14
Bad week for the Flyers. They are on thin ice for their rankings right now. Why does this always happen to this team? THey have an amazing streak and everyone is on board and then BOOM back down to the depths…At least they can score unlike the Eagles.
#14 Boston Bruins (28-19-2; 58 Points)
Previously Unranked
Boston has been fantastic as of late. I still am not a huge fan of their numbers under the hood, but they are finding ways to win games and frankly that’s all that matters.
#13 Toronto Maple Leafs (24-16-8, 56 Points)
Previously #15
Toronto has been just rolling lately. 7-1-2 in their last 10 games and have a positive goal differential finally! Quite incredible how they’ve managed to pull themselves outta the depths…
#12 Pittsburgh Penguins (23-14-11; 57 Points)
Unchanged
Points in all games this week for the Pens. Stu Skinner has been fantastic as of late for the Penguins and you wonder if both teams may have won the trade? Im not too sure yet but we could actually legitimately see Skinner as being the better goalie at the end of the season. Good for Stu! I love seeing that.
#11 New York Islanders (26-17-5; 57 Points)
Previously #9
The only win this week was a 1-0 win over the Oilers where they needed their goalie to go all world. They were dominated up and down the ice and lose that game 9 times out of 10, but when you have the goalie looking toward the Vezina in Ilya Sorokin, you always have a chance. What a performance he had.
#10 Buffalo Sabres (26-17-5; 57 Points)
Previously #11
The Sabres season has really begun now. I know that sounds stupid but they had a terrible start and managed to have a huge streak to get them back into the race. From here on out, they will be challenged to end the streaky play. Manage the ups with the downs and win about 2 out of every 3 games on average. They manage this season now that things are starting to normalize and they will be playoff bound.
#9 Montreal Canadiens (27-15-7; 61 Points)
Previously #8
Solid week for the Habs. They aren’t a high caliber team, but they are such an overall sound team that they seem like a playoff bound team. They are getting the best out of their young core and its showing up in the standings.
#8 Edmonton Oilers (25-17-8; 58 Points)
Previously #1
Oilers grab 7 points out of a possible 10 points. That is more than good enough to push for the top spot in the division at this point. The Oilers are really starting to roll into form. They are unlocking a little bit of depth and looked dominant without Draisaitl. Nuge played his 1,000th game and the Oilers went back to back with no goals against with 2 different net minders. Tristan Jarry is getting pushed by Connor Ingram and the Oilers are starting to see goaltending they’ve never had before. I wonder if we have a tandem starting to form here.
#7 Minnesota Wild (26-11-9; 61 Points)
Previously #3
Minnesota still is pushing for that 2nd spot in the division despite a rough patch of games. Good thing the Stars are in the same boat right now. I need to see more consistent offense from their team. They are a very strong defensive team but that will only get you so far.
#6 Dallas Stars (27-13-9; 63 Points)
Previously #4
The Stars have been sputtering but they enjoy the fact that they have a crappy set of peers in their division (aside from the two we all know) and the fact that the Wild haven’t been great either. Both teams have had a chance to gain ground but have squandered it.
#5 Detroit Red Wings (30-16-4; 64Points)
Unchanged
Another very successful week for the Wings. They are sitting nicely in the Atlantic Division and given the circumstances, it is becoming clear that it will be their playoff spot to lose. Coach McClellan has this team rolling and its no surprise, he does that.
#4 Vegas Golden Knights (24-11-12; 60 Points)
Previously #7
The Knights are just rolling right now and to make matters better for them, they found a way to bring in Rasmus Andersson from Calgary. What an add and all of a sudden their D core looks so damn good. That was one of the few things that had me questioning this team’s future success in the playoffs.
#3 Carolina Hurricanes (31-15-4; 66 Points)
Unchanged
The Canes are a great team. Do I trust them in the playoffs? Not at all but they always play the right way and they are one of the best teams on any given night. The ability to turn around after losing a streak and pop off for another is exactly what the best teams do.
#2 Tampa Bay Lightning (30-13-4; 64 Points)
Unchanged
Always thought the East wasn’t able to compete with the top 3 teams in the Central. The Bolts may just be the most interesting team because they very well could be the team in the East that could have a legit push for the Cup in the East right now.
#1 Colorado Avalanche (34-5-8; 73 Points)
Unchanged
1-1-1 this week, something might be starting to buckle for this team. They just don’t seem like the dominant team we were accustomed to seeing…*sarcasm*