NHL Power Rankings: Where Every Team Stands Ahead of Thanksgiving
It may not matter much to the Boston Bruins.
Or at least the most intense members of their fanbase.
Given the team's implosion after last year's record-setting regular season, you'll forgive those supporters if they aren't over the top with glee that the Bruins are off to yet another torrid start that's seen them earn better than 85 percent of possible points through 17 games.
But it hasn't changed the minds of the weekly voters for B/R's Power Rankings, who've unanimously put Boston atop the list for the second consecutive week.
The Bruins and their 13-1-3 run earned a sweep of the first-place ballots, and coach Jim Montgomery's team is followed in the top five once again by the Vegas Golden Knights, New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks, while the Los Angeles Kings sub in this week to replace the Dallas Stars.
Elsewhere on the list, the Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning each jumped six spots from a tie for 19th to a tie for 13th, while the Anaheim Ducks took the biggest dive while plummeting seven spots from No. 14 to No. 21.
Scroll through to see where your favorite team wound up and drop a rankings thought of your own in the comments.
32. San Jose Sharks
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Previous Ranking: 32
Overall Record: 3-14-1
It's been 20 days since the first of two straight games in which the Sharks gave up 10 goals apiece, and, though San Jose is still just 3-6 for the month, coach David Quinn is seeing the positives. "We've come a long way in two-and-a-half weeks, and we're getting there," he said.
31. Columbus Blue Jackets
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Previous Ranking: 30
Overall Record: 4-11-4
As if nine games without a win (0-7-2) weren't enough, the issues have spread to the top of the payroll. Patrik Laine, the third-highest-paid player on the team, was scratched for a Sunday loss to Philadelphia. "It's probably the most embarrassing thing that's happened to me," Laine told The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.
30. Chicago Blackhawks
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Previous Ranking: 28
Overall Record: 5-11-0
Coach Luke Richardson is turning things inward in the search for a remedy to the team's latest skid, which went to four with a home loss to Buffalo on Sunday. "The only way we're getting out of it is for the group in there themselves to get us out of there by winning one," he said.
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29. Edmonton Oilers
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Previous Ranking: 31
Overall Record: 5-11-1
A two-goal lead in the first 10 minutes and a one-goal lead in the second period weren't enough for the Oilers, who dropped the second of two on a Sunshine State trip with a 5-3 loss at Florida. "There's lots of fight. I don't think the resiliency is gone," captain Connor McDavid said. "I think you're seeing lots of fight."
28. Minnesota Wild
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Previous Ranking: 27
Overall Record: 5-8-4
The skid has extended to five in a row (0-4-1) for the Wild, who lost both games in the Global Series in Sweden—dropping a shootout to Ottawa on Saturday before losing to Toronto in overtime on Sunday. "Obviously, we want more, need more," goalie Marc-Andre Fleury said, "but I think it is a step in the right direction."
27. Nashville Predators
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Previous Ranking: 29
Overall Record: 7-10-0
It's not been an ideal start to the season for the Predators, but they struck a blow for resilience Monday by scoring twice in the final 38 seconds to defeat Colorado 4-3. It was the first time in team history they scored a tying and winning goal in the final minute of regulation. "That was a big one for us," forward Filip Forsberg said.
26. Montreal Canadiens
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Previous Ranking: 21
Overall Record: 7-9-2
An overtime win against league-leading Boston on November 11 seemed a catalyst for bigger things for the Canadiens, but it's gone the opposite way with four straight regulation losses, including a 5-2 defeat by the Bruins on Saturday. Montreal has scored two goals or fewer in three of the losses and has allowed 18 overall.
25. Calgary Flames
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Previous Ranking: 26
Overall Record: 7-8-3
The Flames overcame a deficit in the third period, won in overtime and extended a point streak to four games on Monday at Seattle. It was Calgary's first win in a game past regulation after three straight shootout losses and kept the team unbeaten (6-0-0) in six visits to Climate Pledge Arena since the Kraken joined the NHL.
24. Buffalo Sabres
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Previous Ranking: 22
Overall Record: 8-9-1
Rasmus Dahlin scored a goal in Buffalo's 3-2 win at Chicago on Sunday, snapping the team's three-game skid and climbing the franchise's scoring list for defensemen. He's sixth among Sabres in all-time goals by a blue liner and is third-fastest to hit 50 goals (373 games), trailing only Phil Housley (148) and Jerry Korab (326).
23. New York Islanders
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Previous Ranking: 24
Overall Record: 6-6-5
A 6-2-2 run through 10 games quickly dissolved into a 0-4-3 stretch over the next seven for the Islanders, but they stopped the bleeding with a shootout win at Calgary on Saturday. "It was unbelievable," winger Oliver Wahlstrom said. "It feels really good. All the guys are happy. Go home with two points. We've been battling."
22. Seattle Kraken
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Previous Ranking: 25
Overall Record: 7-8-5
The Kraken lost both a game and perhaps their starting goaltender against Calgary on Monday night, when Philipp Grubauer left after allowing two goals on seven shots in the first period. It was the second time in nine days that the 31-year-old exited after 20 minutes, and it kept him winless in his career against Seattle.
21. Anaheim Ducks
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Previous Ranking: 14
Overall Record: 9-9-0
It's four straight games with fewer than four goals and three straight with only one or two for the Ducks, who've dropped three straight while being outscored 13-4. Anaheim is tied for 23rd in the league with 2.83 goals per game and its leading scorer, Frank Vatrano, is just 39th in the league with 17 points.
20. Arizona Coyotes
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Previous Ranking: 18
Overall Record: 8-8-2
The Coyotes are running into some adversity—to the tune of three losses (1-2-1) in four games—and at least some of it has to do with a suddenly stagnant power play that was 0-of-6 in Monday's 4-1 loss to Los Angeles. Arizona was 0-of-2 in a loss to Winnipeg on Saturday as well and has dropped to sixth-best in the league.
19. Ottawa Senators
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Previous Ranking: 23
Overall Record: 8-7-0
The wins were nice, but the team-building might have been even better for the Senators, who won two straight as part of the Global Series in Sweden and three straight overall. "The guys have had some fun and obviously with four points getting out of here," goalie Anton Forsberg said, "it couldn't have been better."
18. New Jersey Devils
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Previous Ranking: 17
Overall Record: 8-7-1
The Devils held the fort by going 2-3 without Jack Hughes after his upper-body injury, and the former No. 1 overall pick returned with a goal and an assist against the New York Rangers on Saturday. He had 14 shot attempts and eight shots on goal in 22:40 of ice time.
17. Pittsburgh Penguins
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Previous Ranking: 16
Overall Record: 9-8-0
It was a successful welcome back for goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, who was activated from long-term injured reserve, started for the first time since October 24, and posted his first shutout since April 2022 with a 3-0 defeat of visiting Vegas. "A little chaotic, a lot of travel, but fun," he said. "It was nice to get back out there."
16. St. Louis Blues
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Previous Ranking: 13
Overall Record: 9-7-1
Consecutive 5-1 losses at San Jose and Los Angeles weren't the ideal way to start a western swing, but the Blues bounced back Sunday with a 3-1 win at Anaheim. "We had a chance to get some sleep, come out and fix things, and I thought we did that," winger Jake Neighbours said.
15. Detroit Red Wings
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Previous Ranking: 11
Overall Record: 8-6-3
It was a long way to travel for a pair of one-goal losses for the Red Wings, who dropped a 5-4 decision to Ottawa on Thursday and a 3-2 verdict to Toronto on Friday as part of the Global Series in Sweden. The game with the Maple Leafs was the Detroit debut for goalie Alex Lyon, who signed as a free agent in July.
13. (Tie) Tampa Bay Lightning
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Previous Ranking: 19
Overall Record: 9-6-4
The Lightning leaned on drama while extending their win streak to three, scoring with five seconds left to force overtime against Boston before winning it at 1:19. It was Tampa Bay's first OT win after four losses. "The effort level from the guys these last few games," coach Jon Cooper said, "they're being rewarded for it."
13. (Tie) Philadelphia Flyers
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Previous Ranking: 19
Overall Record: 10-7-1
Positivity is breeding success for the Flyers, who've won five straight after a 5-2 home defeat of Columbus on Sunday. It's their longest win streak since they won nine straight in 2020. "It's just the belief in the locker room is the biggest thing for us," center Ryan Poehling said, "and it's fun to just keep moving forward."
12. Carolina Hurricanes
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Previous Ranking: 15
Overall Record: 10-7-0
Young center Seth Jarvis had gone five games without registering a single point, but he bounced back with three on two goals and an assist in Carolina's defeat of Pittsburgh on Saturday. The 21-year-old has seven goals in 17 games, a pace that would easily top his career high of 17 goals from 2021-22.
11. Washington Capitals
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Previous Ranking: 9
Overall Record: 9-4-2
One of the league's most surprising starts is continuing for the Capitals, who defeated visiting Columbus on Sunday for a fourth straight victory, which stretched their run to 8-1-1 over the last 10 games. Washington has killed off 23 straight penalties in those games and climbed to 11th-best in the league (84.4 percent).
10. Winnipeg Jets
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Previous Ranking: 11
Overall Record: 10-5-2
Center Mark Scheifele has continued a heater to begin the season, and the Jets have followed suit, winning six of seven. Scheifele has produced at least three points in three of his last six games, during which he has 12 points. He is tied for 19th in the league with 21 total points, including six goals and 15 assists.
9. Colorado Avalanche
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Previous Ranking: 8
Overall Record: 11-6-0
The Avalanche were 40 seconds away from a four-game win streak before they gave up two late goals at Nashville on Monday. "Unfortunate result when you play that hard," coach Jared Bednar said, "and you're in a position to win the hockey game with a few minutes left."
8. Toronto Maple Leafs
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Previous Ranking: 10
Overall Record: 10-5-2
International travel was no concern for Swedish-born William Nylander, who had two goals and three assists over two games in his home country as part of the league's Global Series. He's posted at least one point in all 17 games this season and is tied for sixth in the league with 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists).
7. Florida Panthers
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Previous Ranking: 6
Overall Record: 12-5-1
If you thought the Panthers were destined for a tumble after their storybook run to the championship brink last spring, you were wrong. Or at least wrong so far. Florida rallied from an early two-goal deficit to beat Edmonton on Monday and earn its seventh win in eight games and 12th in 18 overall.
6. Dallas Stars
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Previous Ranking: 4
Overall Record: 12-4-1
Pick Up Six was the game of the week for the Stars, who allowed six straight goals in a Saturday loss to Colorado before rallying to score six straight on Monday in a defeat of the New York Rangers. It was the first time Dallas allowed six and scored six in consecutive games since 2017.
5. Vancouver Canucks
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Previous Ranking: 5
Overall Record: 13-5-1
Norris Trophy front-runner Quinn Hughes (check out our early rankings here) did his bit to stall Vancouver's initial adversity of 2023-24, extending a point streak to eight games in beating San Jose to end a two-game skid. Hughes has 14 points in the eight-game run and is leading the NHL through Monday's games with 30 points.
4. Los Angeles Kings
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Previous Ranking: 7
Overall Record: 11-3-3
A win at Arizona on Monday made it eight in a row on the road to begin the season. The Kings are two shy of the NHL record set by Buffalo in 2006-07. "We've been together as a group for a long time," coach Todd McLellan said. "We understand what our structure is. All of those things are really important on the road."
3. New York Rangers
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Previous Ranking: 2
Overall Record: 12-3-1
Two good things finally came to an end for the Rangers on Monday night in Dallas, where the team's 11-game point streak (10-0-1) and Artemi Panarin's season-opening 15-game point streak were snuffed out in a 6-3 loss. Panarin's 26 points are eighth in the league, and his 16 assists are good for seventh.
2. Vegas Golden Knights
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Previous Ranking: 2
Overall Record: 13-4-2
It's a good thing the Golden Knights are the defending champions or there'd be concern about a 1-2-1 stretch in the last four games or a pedestrian 6-4-2 run since they began the season with seven wins. They've scored three or fewer goals in seven of the last 12 games and have dropped to 14th in the league (3.37 per game).
1. Boston Bruins
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Previous Ranking: 1
Overall Record: 13-1-3
Losing two leads in the last four minutes against Tampa Bay wasn't a good look, but the Bruins are still 4-0-2 in their last six and have failed to record a point just once in 17 games. "We need to develop a little more poise and understanding of time and score and how to close out games," coach Jim Montgomery said.
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