NHL Power Rankings: B/R Experts' Week 15 Poll

The Nashville Predators have held the top spot in our power rankings for two consecutive weeks, a worthy spot for a team that's been slicing through the NHL like a hot knife through butter.

Although, I'm not sure why you're heating your knife before slicing through butter as opposed to just heating the butter a bit, but that's neither here nor there.

Pekka Rinne will be out for around a month with a knee injury, and the Predators have already shown signs of faltering with him out of the lineup last week. Will that hurt the Predators' standing in this week's power rankings? Will the dominant New York Islanders or someone else usurp the Preds this week?

As always, our expert panel—Jonathan Willis, Steve Macfarlane, Allan Mitchell, Lyle Richardson, Carol Schram and myself—have voted to determine the ranking of the league's 30 teams, and that ranking is based on what's happened so far and what we expect to happen in the future. It does not mirror the NHL standings exactly.

Read on to see where all 30 teams are ranked and which rises to the top this week. 

News and statistics are courtesy of NHL.com, War-On-Ice.com and BehindTheNet.ca and are current through the start of action on December 29. 

Our experts participate in weekly voting for B/R's NHL power rankings. Once a vote is cast for a specific team, it's assigned a value—30 points for the No. 1 team in the rankings, 29 points for the second spot and so on. The totals are then added up to create the power rankings.

30-26: Buffalo Sabres-Carolina Hurricanes

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30. Buffalo Sabres (Last week: 30): Eleven consecutive losses, all in regulation. The Sabres haven’t won in regulation in their past 18 games. They haven’t won on the road since Nov. 29, a span of 12 games.

29. Arizona Coyotes (Last week: 27): The tank is on in Glendale, as the Coyotes traded Devan Dubnyk, their best goaltender, for a third-round pick. They have lost five straight, including three in a row since dealing Dubnyk, and are a dark-horse favorite in the chase for Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel.

28. Edmonton Oilers (Last week: 29): Since Dallas Eakins was fired, the Oilers are 4-7-4, which is somewhat of an improvement with Todd Nelson behind the bench. On Thursday, the Oilers and Sabres will square off in the McDavid Bowl in Edmonton. If it's not like the South Park baseball episode, I will be sorely upset.

27. New Jersey Devils (Last week: 28): Since Peter DeBoer was fired, the Devils are 4-5-1, which isn’t all that bad considering the schedule and the results beforehand. Cory Schneider left Saturday’s game in Anaheim with an upper-body injury, so if he’s out long term, the Devils can still have McDavid dreams.

26. Carolina Hurricanes (Last week: 25): After three months of jockeying for last in the league, the Hurricanes are 5-2-1 in January and playing much better. That’s about the worst thing possible for a team with no shot at the playoffs that should be focusing on selling assets (a la Arizona) to improve draft position. 

25-21: Philadelphia Flyers-Colorado Avalanche

Bill Wippert/Getty Images

25. Philadelphia Flyers (Last week: 26): A two-game losing streak that featured two shutouts was only ended because the Sabres were on the schedule for Saturday. They have two tough games with the Islanders and Penguins before the All-Star break.

24. Toronto Maple Leafs (Last week: 21): Seven regulation losses in eight January contests haven’t ended the Leafs’ playoff hopes, but they are on life support. The schedule softens over the next five games, so if the Leafs are to get on a run under new coach Peter Horachek, that’s the time.

23. Columbus Blue Jackets (Last week: 24): The once-sizzling Blue Jackets had lost four in a row before winning in Boston on Saturday. Despite improvement after a brutal start, the Blue Jackets are still closer to 30th place (10 points) than a playoff spot (14 points).

22. Ottawa Senators (Last week: 20): The Senators had a chance to earn points against non-quality teams this month, but they suffered losses to the Avalanche, Flyers, Stars and Hurricanes. Any hope of a wild-card push has croaked in recent weeks.

21. Colorado Avalanche (Last week: 23): The Avs were making somewhat of a drive for a playoff spot before losing three of four last week. The good news is two of those losses happened after regulation. Like Westley in The Princess Bride, the Avs aren’t dead, but they are mostly dead.

20-16: Minnesota Wild-Vancouver Canucks

Bruce Kluckhohn/Getty Images

20. Minnesota Wild (Last Week: 22): The Wild have won two games (one NHL, one exhibition that counts in the standings) against Arizona and Buffalo since acquiring Devan Dubnyk. The Wild are six points out of a playoff spot, but if they suddenly receive quality goaltending in the second half, they will be a playoff team.

19. Florida Panthers (Last week: 16): Oh, Florida. Every time you get people to start believing in you, you do something silly like lose three straight while allowing 14 goals in those losses. There seems to be this hump the Panthers can’t get over, but if they ever do, look out.

18. Dallas Stars (Last week: 18): The Stars are surging toward the All-Star break and sit two points out of a playoff spot in the West. They have won three of four and should find themselves back in the postseason if they can receive consistent goaltending from Kari Lehtonen.

17. Calgary Flames (Last week: 19): The Flames have won three straight, all on the road and all with a goaltender who hadn’t spent a second in net this season. Joni Ortio is 3-0-0 with a 1.33/.953 split that will be put to the test in Los Angeles and Anaheim this week.

16. Vancouver Canucks (Last Week: 15): The Canucks followed three straight regulation losses with two straight shutout victories on back-to-back nights by Ryan Miller. There have been more ups and downs with Vancouver since December than maybe any other NHL team.

15-11: Los Angeles Kings-Washington Capitals

Juan Ocampo/Getty Images

15. Los Angeles Kings (Last week: 12): At some point, the Kings will figure it out. Right? Don’t they always? They have nothing figured out as of late: They have one win in six games and two wins in nine games.

15. Boston Bruins (Last week: 15): The Bruins had a five-game winning streak snapped Saturday at home against Columbus. After an awful December (.898), Tuukka Rask has a .941 save percentage in January.

13. San Jose Sharks (Last week: 13): Antti Niemi has been a train wreck in January, which should make the Sharks feel all that more fortunate to be 4-3-1 this month. Niemi has an .874 save percentage this month, which includes allowing 11 goals in two games against the Blues.

12. Winnipeg Jets (Last week: 14): They’ve played two more games, but the Jets are now tied with the Blackhawks (!) in the standings after winning four straight games. Now seven points clear of ninth in the East, it will take something catastrophic (or miraculous, depending on your perspective) to keep the Jets from a playoff spot.

11. Washington Capitals (Last week: 9): A two-game trip through Dallas and Nashville yielded the Capitals zero points, a rare hiccup for a team that had been on a 14-1-4 run. Despite the brilliant play, the Capitals are fourth in the Metropolitan and not far from being out of a playoff spot.

The East isn't on the same level as the West, but the teams at the top are making it tough for anyone to feel secure in their position.

10. New York Rangers

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Record: 26-13-4 (56 points)

Last Week: 7

Recent Trend: After back-to-back shutout losses to Boston and Columbus, the Rangers were solid in wins against Columbus and Pittsburgh. After winning 13 of 14, it's understandable if some air comes out of the Rangers balloon, but they've been playing well since getting Ryan McDonagh and Dan Boyle back in the lineup.

Big Picture: It says a lot about the Metropolitan that this recent Rangers run still doesn't have them in a top-two spot in the division. The Rangers' 13-7-1 road mark says they don't need home ice in the playoffs, but it sure would be nice to have.

By the Numbers: With two more goals on Sunday, Rick Nash has 28 in 43 games. Last season, Nash had 26 in 65 games.

9. Detroit Red Wings

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Record: 26-11-9 (61 points)

Last Week: 15

Recent Trend: The Red Wings have won four straight and six of seven, which includes rallying from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Sabres 6-4 on Sunday. Although, that's like being a dad, letting your 5-year-old get the edge on you in a race before utterly destroying him.

Big Picture: After sputtering in December, the Red Wings are 9-3-0 in their past 12 games and making a run for first place in the East. As long as Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg stay healthy, the Red Wings can do damage as their younger players improve.

By the Numbers: According to ManGamesLost.com, the Red Wings have lost 101 man-games to injury this season. Once you get past all the redundant words in that sentence, realize the Wings lost 418 man-games to injury last season.

8. Montreal Canadiens

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Record: 28-13-3 (59 points)

Last Week: 10

Recent Trend: The Canadiens are 2-2-1 in their past five games after winning six straight. Five power-play goals in their past three games are largely responsible for the two wins.

Big Picture: Carey Price is out with an injury, making the upcoming All-Star break the most perfectly timed break in Montreal history, although Price could be back soon. The underlying numbers don't reflect well on the Habs, but they are still winning and pushing Tampa Bay for first in the Atlantic.

By the Numbers: Tomas Plekanec has nine points in his past seven games; in his prior 18 games, he had eight points.

7. Pittsburgh Penguins

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Record: 26-12-6 (58 points)

Last Week: 5

Recent Trend: Pittsburgh has been scuffling for about a month. After getting demolished by the Rangers on Sunday, the Penguins are 4-6-2 in their past 12 games.

Big Picture: Some of that scuffling has to do with injuries, and the Penguins are getting healthy. They won't be going anywhere in the East.

By the Numbers: Marc-Andre Fleury has been having his best season since 2007-08 but has been looking like his old self as of late. He has an .878 save percentage over his past 10 starts, which has driven his save percentage down to .921 for the season.

6. Chicago Blackhawks

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Record: 28-15-2 (58 points)

Last Week: 3

Recent Trend: Chicago is in a funk; after a 6-3 loss to the Stars on Sunday, the Blackhawks are 3-5-0 in their past eight games. 

Big Picture: It's not the end of the world, but with the Predators suddenly vulnerable, this is a chance for the Blackhawks to gain ground in the Central. They have a back-to-back with the Coyotes and Penguins before the All-Star break.

By the Numbers: Corey Crawford is and always will be the weak link on a potentially dynastic team, and he has been just that since returning from injury in December. In his past 11 games, he has an abysmal .908 save percentage.

5. Tampa Bay Lightning

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Record: 29-14-4 (60 points)

Last Week: 2

Recent Trend: The Lightning split their four games last week and are just 4-3-0 in January. The Lightning have won seven straight at home.

Big Picture: Despite winning more than they've lost as of late, the Lightning have been wildly inconsistent. They have been outshot by a combined 131-93 over their past four games, three of which have been against Colorado, Philadelphia and Edmonton.

Tampa Bay is contending for the top spot in the East now, but that will change if it doesn't improve.

By the Numbers: Steven Stamkos has one assist in his past 16 games. He also has nine goals over that time, but it seems odd that Stamkos hasn't earned more assists simply by accident.

4. St. Louis Blues

Scott Rovak/Getty Images

Record: 28-13-4 (60 points)

Last Week: 8

Recent Trend: The Blues are 6-0-1 in their past seven games, none of which involved Martin Brodeur. What a coincidence.

Big Picture: Pekka Rinne's injury in Nashville opens the door for the Blues to make a run at first place in the Central. When the Blues return from the All-Star break, they will host the Predators in a pivotal contest.

By the Numbers: The goaltending has been better over the past seven games, but the offense has been almost unstoppable as well. The Blues have five games with at least four goals and a total of 33 goals over that time.

3. Nashville Predators

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Record: 30-10-4 (60 points)

Last Week: 1

Recent Trend: There has never been a more depressing 5-1-0 run for a team, as the Predators lost Pekka Rinne for 3-5 weeks with a knee injury last week. The Preds allowed eight goals in two games without Rinne.

Big Picture: It's probably really good that the Predators banked so many points during the first half, as that cushion will be tested over the next month with Rinne out.

The injury may also be a blessing in disguise, as Rinne was on pace for an exhausting 72 starts; the last team to win a Stanley Cup with a goalie making 70-plus regular-season starts was the 2003 New Jersey Devils.

By the Numbers: With Rinne and his .931 save percentage this season out for the long term, the goaltending falls to Carter Hutton and Marek Mazanec, who possess career save percentages of .907 and .901, respectively.

2. New York Islanders

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Record: 30-14-1 (61 points)

Last Week: 4

Recent Trend: The Islanders had their four-game winning streak snapped in Montreal on Sunday, a product of playing a second straight road game in two days. Those four wins came against fellow Metropolitan teams; the Islanders are 14-2-0 within the division.

Big Picture: As long as Jaroslav Halak stays healthy, the Islanders will contend for home-ice advantage throughout the postseason. That's why someone should tackle coach Jack Capuano when he starts Halak in back-to-back games when the Islanders are basically locked into a playoff spot.

By the Numbers: Kyle Okposo has six goals in his past four games after scoring eight goals in his first 39.

1. Anaheim Ducks

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Record: 30-10-6 (66 points)

Last Week: 6

Recent Trend: Anaheim has won six of seven and simply can't be stopped (in regulation) in one-goal games. With their 3-2 shootout win against Los Angeles on Sunday, the Ducks are 22-0-6 in one-goal games this season.

Big Picture: With a 12-point lead over second-place San Jose, you can go ahead and put an "x-" next to the Ducks as Pacific Division winners. Home ice didn't matter in a seven-game loss to the Kings last season, but they are all but guaranteed home Game 7s in the first two rounds if they need them.

By the Numbers: Corey Perry seems to be at full strength after mumps ravaged him in December. In his past seven games, Perry has five goals, two assists and 24 shots on net.