NHL Power Rankings: B/R Experts' Week 13 Poll
Three teams—the New Jersey Devils, Anaheim Ducks and Tampa Bay Lightning—played their 41st games of the season last week.
When this week ends, several other teams will reach the 41-game plateau.
The NHL is just about at the halfway point of the 2014-15 season.
And we are about halfway through a season of power rankings that featured very little movement last week, but perhaps that will change this time. Have the Chicago Blackhawks slipped enough to warrant removing them from the No. 1 spot? Have the red-hot Washington Capitals cracked the top 10 after falling short last week?
Our expert panel returns once again to solve those mysteries this week: Jonathan Willis, Steve Macfarlane, Allan Mitchell, Lyle Richardson, Carol Schram and myself. As you may know by now, all of the rankings here are based both on what's happened so far and what we expect to happen in the future and will not mirror the NHL standings exactly.
Read on to see where every NHL team sits this week.
Most news and statistics are courtesy of NHL.com and are current through the start of action on January 4.
30-26: Buffalo Sabres-Philadelphia Flyers
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30. Buffalo Sabres (Last week: 27): Welcome back, old friends. After inexplicably winning 10 of 13, balance has been restored to the universe. The Sabres have lost eight of nine and have allowed 10 power-play goals in their past seven games.
29. Edmonton Oilers (Last week: 30): This feels incredibly weird to type, but the Oilers have points in four consecutive games (2-0-2). If they can scratch out a point at home against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, it will be the Oilers’ first five-game points streak of the season.
28. New Jersey Devils (Last week: 28): The three-headed coaching trio of Scott Oateserello™ is 2-3-0 since the firing of Peter DeBoer. If you’re looking for signs of hope, the Devils are holding opponents to 26 shots per game under the hydra regime.
27. Carolina Hurricanes (Last week: 29): The Hurricanes have won two straight, both by 2-1 scores. That’s pretty much the only way Carolina can win, as it has scored more than two goals once in its past 17 games.
26. Philadelphia Flyers (Last week: 23): Time is running out for the Flyers. They have lost five in a row and sit 10 points out of a playoff spot as they approach the halfway point of the season. They are also 10 points from last, putting the Flyers at a crossroads for this season.
25-21: Arizona Coyotes-Columbus Blue Jackets
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25. Arizona Coyotes (Last week: 26): The year of the #rebrand has finally hit a positive note. The Coyotes have won four of five and with five straight home games on the horizon, this may be their last best chance to push toward a playoff spot.
24. Colorado Avalanche (Last week: 25): The Avs have won two of three and five of eight but remain far away from a playoff spot. Nathan MacKinnon is quietly having a sophomore slump with six goals in 38 games after scoring 24 in 82 games as a rookie last season.
23. Ottawa Senators (Last week: 24): The Senators are 5-4-2 under new coach Dave Cameron and within striking distance of a wild-card spot thanks to having games in hand on teams in front of them. Kyle Turris has five goals in his past eight games after scoring three goals in his first 29 games.
22. Toronto Maple Leafs (Last week: 16): Like a rocket going through re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, the Leafs are beginning to break apart. They’ve lost seven of nine and allowed at least 34 shots in nine of 11. They look a lot like last season’s team that lived dangerously for months before collapsing late.
21. Columbus Blue Jackets (Last week: 21): The Blue Jackets are getting healthy, and they got back to .500 this week by winning two of three games. They are still eight points out of a playoff spot, but they have new life heading into the second half.
20-16: Calgary Flames-Dallas Stars
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20. Calgary Flames (Last week: 22): The Flames have four wins in five games—two against the Kings, two against the Oilers. Johnny Gaudreau has been making a case for the Calder Trophy with seven goals in his past six games.
19. Minnesota Wild (Last Week: 18): The Wild can’t seem to put a string of victories together. They went 2-2 last week and haven’t won consecutive games since Nov. 16-20. With their next five games against San Jose, Chicago (twice), Nashville and Pittsburgh, the Wild could be in serious trouble.
18. Florida Panthers (Last week: 17): The Panthers entered the week looking like a team on the rise but lost three of four and saw goaltender Roberto Luongo leave Sunday’s game against the Capitals with an injury. Their next four games are on the road in Winnipeg, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.
17. Boston Bruins (Last week: 19): The Bruins have lost four of five but have points in four straight thanks to a win and three losses after regulation. They haven’t looked great this season, but there’s still plenty of time for them to turn it around.
16. Dallas Stars (Last week: 20): The Stars have been crackling hot and climbing the standings. Despite letting a win get away against Chicago on Sunday, the Stars are 8-1-1 in their past 10 games.
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15-11: Vancouver Canucks-Los Angeles Kings
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15. Vancouver Canucks (Last Week: 15): The Canucks went 2-1 last week and are 4-1-1 in their past seven games. It’s not a coincidence that Ryan Miller has a .950 save percentage during that stretch.
14. San Jose Sharks (Last week: 11): The Sharks have lost four of five and were drubbed at home by St. Louis on Saturday. Joe Thornton missed that game with an upper-body injury, ending his ironman streak at 319 consecutive games.
13. Winnipeg Jets (Last week: 12): The Jets ended a two-game slide by bludgeoning the Leafs 5-1 on Saturday. The top priority for the Jets right now is weathering all of their injuries. If they can tread water with Evander Kane and most of their back end missing, they should be a playoff team.
12. Detroit Red Wings (Last week: 7): After losing six straight, the Red Wings are 3-2-0 in their past five but went 1-2-0 last week. They are in the middle of the playoff picture, not too far from the conference leaders yet not too far from the teams just outside of the top eight. With five straight road games on the docket, this is a quietly pivotal stretch.
11. Los Angeles Kings (Last week: 8): The Kings went 1-2-1 last week and allowed seven goals in an overtime loss to the Predators on Saturday. According to The Associated Press (via The New York Times), "the Kings have been short-handed no more than three times in any of their last 12 games, but have allowed 10 power play goals during that stretch."
10. New York Rangers
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Last Week: 13
Recent Trend: The Rangers won two of three and 10 of 11. Outside of a win against the Penguins, however, there aren’t many impressive wins in that stretch.
Big Picture: The Rangers don't make their schedule, so there's no reason to punish them for beating the teams they should beat. Their next three games are in California against the Ducks, Kings and Sharks and will be a terrific indicator of the Rangers’ quality.
By the Numbers: The Rangers had three power-play goals in 2:32 against the Sabres on Saturday. Via Blueshirts United: "According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the Rangers registered three power play goals in a span of 2:32 or less was on Nov. 21, 1995 vs. Pittsburgh (three in 1:10)."
9. Washington Capitals
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Last Week: 14
Recent Trend: At 10-1-3 in their past 14 games, the Capitals have earned 23 of 28 points since early January. They went 2-1-0 last week, including an impressive win against Chicago in the Winter Classic.
Big Picture: Even with this hot streak, the Capitals aren't exactly cemented into a playoff spot. But with the way they've playing at five-on-five this season, a run toward the top of the Atlantic isn't out of the question.
By the Numbers: Braden Holtby has played in 14 consecutive games and is the biggest reason why the team is racking up points after a so-so start. Holtby has a .933 save percentage over that time.
8. St. Louis Blues
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Last Week: 9
Recent Trend: The Blues had an impressive 7-2 win in San Jose on Saturday, but it was just their second win in eight games.
Big Picture: This recent slide has taken them off the pace of Nashville and Chicago in the Central. With Brian Elliott healthy again, the Blues should be able to get things turned around.
By the Numbers: Through seven games, Martin Brodeur is 3-3-0 with a 2.87/.899 split. The Blues are carrying three goalies, but with Elliott healthy and Jake Allen needing to pass through waivers to go to the AHL, that may be Brodeur's final stat line with St. Louis.
7. Montreal Canadiens
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Last Week: 10
Recent Trend: The Habs have won six in a row and nine of 10. Their past five wins have all come on the road.
Big Picture: They are probably not as good as their 26-11-2 record indicates, but they are banking points and sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference. Their possession game needs to improve, otherwise too much will be asked of Carey Price to keep the wins coming.
By the Numbers: Price had a .937 save percentage in December. Having one of the best goalies in the world can help mask possession issues (49.5 percent Fenwick, per Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com), but if Price slips even a little and the five-on-five play doesn't improve, the Habs will slip too.
6. Tampa Bay Lightning
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Last Week: 4
Recent Trend: After a bit of a hiccup in mid-December, the Lightning have won four of five.
Big Picture: The Lightning are battling with the Canadiens for the top spot in the East and have a showdown with Montreal on Tuesday. The top seed in the conference and perhaps a Presidents' Trophy are within Tampa's reach.
By the Numbers: Goaltender Ben Bishop has allowed four goals on 15 shots in two games against the Penguins and was yanked in both. Consider this fair warning that if the Lightning and Penguins meet in the conference final, you will hear this stat a lot before the series begins.
5. Pittsburgh Penguins
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Last Week: 6
Recent Trend: The Penguins split their four games last week and were held to two goals or fewer three times. The acquisition of David Perron from the Edmonton Oilers for Rob Klinkhammer and a first-round pick should provide an offensive boost from a team that's been hurt by injuries.
Big Picture: It's business as usual. The Penguins are near the top of the East and counting down the days until the postseason.
By the Numbers: Sidney Crosby has played 118 minutes with Nick Spaling, 58 minutes with Blake Comeau, 53 minutes with Bryan Rust and 43 minutes with Steve Downie, all at five-on-five, according to Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com. That's a lot of fourth-line wingers seeing a lot of time with the game's best center.
4. Anaheim Ducks
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Last Week: 3
Recent Trend: Anaheim went 2-1-0 last week and is 12-3-1 in its past 16 games.
Big Picture: The Ducks have played more games (41) than anyone in the West, which inflates their point total a little more than that of their rivals. They are still among the best in the conference, and their 11-point lead in the Pacific is commanding.
By the Numbers: The Ducks are 20-0-6 in one-goal games. It's difficult to explain how amazing that is through a half-season, so just know the Avalanche led the league last season in one-goal wins with 28. The Ducks are on pace for 40.
3. N.Y. Islanders
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Last Week: 5
Recent Trend: The Islanders had their three-game winning streak snapped Sunday in Edmonton. It was the Islanders' second regulation loss in their past 10 games.
Big Picture: The Islanders are one of four teams within one point at the top of the Eastern Conference. They have four more road games up next, but after that, 23 of their final 39 games will be played at home.
By the Numbers: If there is one area the Islanders must fix, it's their penalty kill. At 76.1 percent, the Islanders rank 27th in the league. Only Arizona, Buffalo and Philadelphia have been less efficient at killing penalties.
2. Chicago Blackhawks
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Last Week: 1
Recent Trend: The Blackhawks have won three of four with their only loss coming to the Capitals in the Winter Classic on Thursday. They've cooled a bit of late, relatively speaking, going 6-3-1 in their past 10.
Big Picture: They are the best team in the league (they lost the top spot in our power rankings by a single point), fighting for the top spot in the conference and league, yada yada yada, same as it's been for months.
By the Numbers: Corey Crawford continues to struggle since returning from injury two weeks ago. His save percentage over his past six starts is .889, but the Blackhawks are such a good offensive team that they are 3-2-1 in those games. Crawford's save percentage for the season is .919, which is 22 points lower than the combined numbers of backups Scott Darling and Antti Raanta.
1. Nashville Predators
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Last Week: 2
Recent Trend: What a crazy 2-0-2 week for the Predators. They let a lead slip away in Chicago before falling 5-4 in a shootout; squeaked past St. Louis 3-2; won a wild game in Los Angeles 7-6 in overtime after the Kings scored three times in the final two minutes to force overtime, then let another late advantage evaporate before losing in a shootout to the Ducks. The Predators are 8-2-2 in their past 12 games.
Big Picture: The Predators are second in the West but lead the league in points percentage at .711. They are nine points clear of ninth in the West and in the thick of the race for the top spot in the league.
By the Numbers: Defenseman Ryan Ellis has a goal and three assists in two January games; he had a goal and two assists in his previous 15 games.
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