-(1).jpg?w=1280 "Bleacher Report")
NHL Power Rankings: Capitals and Flyers Rise Into the Top 10
Old-school Patrick Division fans can celebrate this week.
Two alums of the final version of that grouping—the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers—are doing their lineage proud with positions among the top 10 teams in this week's edition of B/R's NHL Power Rankings.
The Capitals climbed five positions to No. 3 after staff voting, and the Flyers skipped up two rungs from No. 11 to No. 9.
Through 58 games this season, Washington and Philadelphia have a combined 34-18-6 record, and each is currently in an Eastern Conference playoff position. In fact, if the postseason had started before Wednesday's games, they'd meet in a first-round series.
B/R voters awarded 32 points for first-place votes all the way down to one point for a No. 32 ballot based on results and statistics through games played on Tuesday, Dec. 9.
Take a look at what we came up with and drop a thought in the app comments.
32. Vancouver Canucks
1 of 32
Previous Ranking: 30
Overall Record: 11-16-3
The blows are coming from all directions for the skidding Canucks, who fell to 2-7-1 in their last 10 games with a 4-0 loss to visiting Detroit in which starting goalie Kevin Lankinen was pulled after allowing three goals on 13 shots.
More ominously, defenseman Quinn Hughes has begun to publicly address rumors that he could be traded.
"As far as other things, I mean, I think I'm doing everything I can," Hughes said. "I think that (it's about) playing as good as I can."
31. Nashville Predators
2 of 32
Previous Ranking: 32
Overall Record: 11-14-4
There have been some rumblings of success lately for the Predators, whose shootout win over high-flying Colorado on Tuesday was their third win in four games and got them within a point of exiting the NHL basement.
"We're playing fast," defenseman Brady Skjei said. "When we're connected and we're helping each other out, being available, passing the puck crisply, it's a recipe for success for us."
30. Calgary Flames
3 of 32
Previous Ranking: 31
Overall Record: 12-16-4
The breaks have trended luckier and the mettle of the team has shown during the 7-2-1 run the Flames carried into Wednesday night, which has begun to erase a 5-13-3 start and gotten them comfortably out of the NHL basement.
"We found a way to win. You've got to win that way sometimes," coach Ryan Huska said after a 7-4 defeat of Buffalo on Monday. "Earlier on, we weren't winning that way. Now we find a way."
Unfortunately, a setback to the Red Wings at home on Wednesday has them back in the losing column.
.png?w=256 "NHL Mock Draft")
.png?w=256)
29. Buffalo Sabres
4 of 32
Previous Ranking: 27
Overall Record: 12-14-4
Game No. 2 of a back-to-back set on a long road trip isn't normally the place for a team to find itself, but the Sabres did so while winning, 4-3 in OT, at Edmonton in the fourth game of a trip that had begun with three straight losses.
Buffalo fell in Philadelphia, Winnipeg and Calgary to begin the jaunt and will continue in Vancouver and Seattle before returning home to host Philadelphia on Dec. 18. Still, the team hasn't won a road game in regulation since April 1.
28. St. Louis Blues
5 of 32
Previous Ranking: 29
Overall Record: 11-13-7
Some long-pursued prosperity was cut short for the Blues on Tuesday night, when they fell to visiting Boston and failed to secure their first three-game win streak of the season.
St. Louis has had recurring two-game increments since Nov. 24, initially losing to the New York Rangers and New Jersey before beating Ottawa and Utah, then losing to Anaheim and Boston and beating Ottawa and Montreal.
27. Winnipeg Jets
6 of 32
Previous Ranking: 23
Overall Record: 14-14-1
The absence of goalie Connor Hellebuyck continues to be an issue for the Jets, who've gone 1-3-1 in their last five games and are 3-7-1 with a collective 3.45 goals-against average since the long-term starter was lost with a knee injury.
Eric Comrie and Thomas Milic are 23rd in the league in goals-against average during that time frame and it hasn't helped that the team's goal-scoring rate (2.64 per game) is tied for 23rd best since Nov. 16 as well.
26. San Jose Sharks
7 of 32
Previous Ranking: 20
Overall Record: 14-14-3
The goal scoring has suddenly stopped for the Sharks during a desultory four-game streak in which they've lost three times and scored just seven goals.
San Jose scored six times in a win over Utah on Dec. 1 but has been held to a single goal in each of the subsequent losses, including a Tuesday night defeat in Philadelphia that ended 4-1 for the hosts.
The team's 2.6 goals per game this month were 24th-best in the league through Tuesday's games and the 3.80 goals-against average across those same five games hasn't helped, putting San Jose 28th in the league.
25. Seattle Kraken
8 of 32
Previous Ranking: 16
Overall Record: 12-10-6
It's not just one guy. In fact, it's every guy who needs to step up for the plummeting Kraken, whose 11-5-5 start had dissolved amid a six-game losing streak heading into Wednesday.
"We need to find a little bit better from everybody," forward Jordan Eberle said. "You can say we're working hard, competing, but I just think that we need to find a little more from every single guy. … The line between winning and losing is so thin."
Thankfully for Seattle, they put an end to the slide with a 3-2 OT win over the Kings on Wednesday.
24. Chicago Blackhawks
9 of 32
Previous Ranking: 19
Overall Record: 13-11-6
The transition to a youth movement in Chicago has been rapid, and phenom Connor Bedard is reaping the benefits in his third season. The 20-year-old entered Wednesday on a pace to score 51 goals, which is six more than he scored across his first two seasons with the Blackhawks. He tallied a goal and an assist in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Rangers.
"It's a lot different being 18 and 19 in a room full of 30- to 35-year-olds versus being 20 in a room full of 20- to 24-year-olds," GM Kyle Davidson said. "That's been a massive change for our group, and I believe that's also factored into some of the comfort that we've seen in him."
23. Ottawa Senators
10 of 32
Previous Ranking: 14
Overall Record: 13-12-4
The struggles continue both at home and away for the Senators, whose Tuesday loss to New Jersey was their third straight at the Canadian Tire Centre after they'd gone 1-2-0 in the final three games of a seven-game road trip.
Ottawa is 1-5-0 since beginning the trip with three wins in four games but the resolve doesn't appear to be an issue, according to forward Drake Batherson.
"It'd be more frustrating if we weren't getting the looks," he said, "but we've just got to clean up a few areas, I think, and just keep playing the way we [are] and be confident."
22. Utah Mammoth
11 of 32
Previous Ranking: 25
Overall Record: 14-15-3
The Mammoth were already skidding prior to Wednesday to the tune of a 2-6-2 record in their last 10 and the news didn't get any better when the team announced that forward Logan Cooley is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.
The 21-year-old hasn't played since logging 20 shifts and 16:47 of ice time against Los Angeles on Friday. He's pointless in his last four games after producing five goals and seven points in his previous three.
Utah continued its slide with heartbreaking loss to the Panthers on Wednesday.
21. Columbus Blue Jackets
12 of 32
Previous Ranking: 18
Overall Record: 13-11-6
A brief road trip to the East Coast didn't produce good results for the Blue Jackets, who were beaten, 4-1, in Carolina on Tuesday night for their third straight loss.
Columbus scored six times in an OT loss in Florida on Saturday before being shut out in Washington and scoring just once on 24 shots against the Hurricanes.
"We had some looks, but ultimately we fell short," forward Sean Monahan said. "This league is about production and winning, so we have to find ways to win here."
20. Edmonton Oilers
13 of 32
Previous Ranking: 28
Overall Record: 13-11-6
If you can figure out the Oilers, be our guest.
Edmonton had scored 15 goals in consecutive wins against Seattle and Winnipeg and was hosting a Buffalo team with three straight road losses, but fell into a three-goal hole and had to rally to force extra time before losing in OT.
"When this team wants to turn it on and play well most times they can play amongst the best," coach Kris Knoblauch said. "But to be one of the best you have to consistently do that."
19. Florida Panthers
14 of 32
Previous Ranking: 26
Overall Record: 15-12-2
Veteran center Carter Verhaeghe has been a reliable goal scorer for the Panthers in recent seasons, scoring a career-best 42 in 2022-23 and adding 34 and 20 in the two springs before the team's championship runs.
He'd only netted four in his first 24 games in 2025-26, but his eruption for four in his last three games has coincided with the end of a skid for Florida, which had lost four straight before beating Columbus and the New York Islanders over the weekend.
He tallied his ninth goal of the season in Wednesday's night thrilling win in Utah as the Panthers won their third straight.
18. New York Rangers
15 of 32
Previous Ranking: 21
Overall Record: 15-13-4
Two straight OT losses on home ice weren't the desired ending for the Rangers, but they did enable the team to prolong the four-game point streak (2-0-2) it carried into Wednesday night's visit to Chicago. Unfortunately for the Blueshirts, the visit to the Windy City ended in defeat.
"We're showing the right intentions in the way we play," said forward Mika Zibanejad, whose team is 3-2-2 at Madison Square Garden since an abysmal 0-6-1 start. "We talked about it earlier in the season. I thought we played similarly like this, but we didn't really get the result."
17. Toronto Maple Leafs
16 of 32
Previous Ranking: 24
Overall Record: 14-11-4
Swedish-born youngster Dennis Hildeby has been a positive revelation for the Maple Leafs during a recent five-game point streak (4-0-1) and the 24-year-old notched his first NHL shutout in Toronto's Monday win over Tampa Bay.
Hildeby, who made six starts with the team last season, has gone 2-0-1 in four appearances since Nov. 29 while stopping 104 of 107 shots (.972 save percentage).
16. Montreal Canadiens
17 of 32
Previous Ranking: 15
Overall Record: 15-11-3
Goalie Jakub Dobes was pulled after one period during a 6-1 home loss to Tampa Bay and Jacob Fowler was recalled from the AHL afterward for the Canadiens, who've gone 2-4-0 in their last six games with a 4.17 goals-against average that's 30th in the league since Nov. 29.
A 24-year-old in his second season, Dobes made news with wins in his first six starts in 2025-26 but the magic has worn off. He's 4-5-2 in his last 11 appearances with a 3.89 goals-against average and an .860 save percentage that matches teammate Sam Montembeault's number since Nov. 6.
15. New Jersey Devils
18 of 32
Previous Ranking: 7
Overall Record: 17-12-1
The Devils ended a five-game skid in prolific style on Tuesday night with three players producing three points apiece in a 4-3 victory at Ottawa.
New Jersey lost all five games in regulation during the streak, including four straight at home in which they were outscored, 16-6, and shut out twice. It then dropped a 4-1 decision in Boston before recovering to beat the Senators.
The Devils' 1.83 goals per game since Nov. 29 were tied for 30th in the league through Tuesday's games.
14. Detroit Red Wings
19 of 32
Previous Ranking: 22
Overall Record: 17-11-3
Veteran John Gibson was up and down in his first few games with the Red Wings this fall since arriving via trade from Anaheim, but his recent resurgence has at least partially helped Detroit ride a five-game point streak into Wednesday.
The 32-year-old made 39 saves in a Monday shutout at Vancouver, which was his first with the team and his third straight victory in December. Gibson stopped 87 of 94 shots (.926 save percentage) while defeating Boston, Seattle and the Canucks.
The Red Wings are on a roll and sit currrently in first of the Atlantic Division after Wednesday's win in Calgary.
13. Boston Bruins
20 of 32
Previous Ranking: 17
Overall Record: 18-13-0
The weekly trend is up for the Bruins, whose 5-2 win in St. Louis on Tuesday was their third in a row and was a successful return for forward David Pastrnak, who had three assists in his first game back after missing five with an undisclosed injury.
Boston, which is 6-8-0 in 14 road games, will continue its brief trip in Winnipeg and Minnesota before returning home to host Utah on Tuesday in the first game of a five-game stand. The team's 11 home wins were tied for tops in the league entering Wednesday's games.
12. New York Islanders
21 of 32
Previous Ranking: 13
Overall Record: 17-11-3
The sermons coach Patrick Roy has preached about resilience paid off in Tuesday's shootout victory against Vegas, during which the Islanders trailed, 2-0, gave up a tying goal with 14 seconds left in regulation, and killed a penalty in OT.
"We were controlling the puck very well, we had a lot of good looks, and I thought that was one of the things that I love about our guys," Roy said, "but resiliency was probably the No. 1 thing."
11. Los Angeles Kings
22 of 32
Previous Ranking: 12
Overall Record: 14-8-8
The scoring bug has certainly bitten the Kings as of late, as evidenced by a six-goal outburst against Chicago and four more in a win at Utah on Monday.
Los Angeles had scored just three regulation goals in its previous three games and had been held to less than three in seven of its previous nine. Still, the team's per-game rate of 2.72 goals was 27th in the league entering Wednesday.
They came away with a point on Wednesday in an OT loss to the Kraken.
10. Tampa Bay Lightning
23 of 32
Previous Ranking: 3
Overall Record: 17-11-2
The Lightning put at least a temporary end to a recent goal-scoring funk by bagging six in a road win at Montreal on Tuesday after losing two straight by shutout.
On the other end, goalie Jonas Johansson made 26 saves in his fourth straight start since veteran No. 1 Andrei Vasilevskiy was sidelined with an undisclosed injury.
Johansson has gone just 1-3-0 in those games but he's stopped 83 of 90 shots for a .922 save percentage and he's 6-5-0 in 12 overall appearances with a 2.53 goals-against average.
9. Philadelphia Flyers
24 of 32
Previous Ranking: 11
Overall Record: 16-9-3
Consistency in all phases has been the recipe for the Flyers during a 10-game run in which they've gone 7-3-0, including a 4-1 defeat of San Jose on Tuesday.
Philadelphia had gone 1-1-2 during an up-and-down four-game stretch in early November but both its scoring (3.30 goals per game) and defense (2.70 goals against per game) are among the league's top 12 since Nov. 20.
8. Minnesota Wild
25 of 32
Previous Ranking: 6
Overall Record: 16-9-5
Their seven-game win streak has faded into the rear-view mirror but the Wild rekindled the mojo with a 4-1 win at Seattle.
Minnesota has dropped three of four since the prolonged heater ended but the defeat of the Kraken allowed the team to end a four-game road trip at 2-2-0.
"It's not an easy trip," forward Kirill Kaprizov said. "Two wins, two losses, and it's nice to take two points (Monday) and get back home and be ready for the home games."
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
26 of 32
Previous Ranking: 9
Overall Record: 14-7-7
Extra time has been extra painful so far in 2025-26 for the Penguins, who dropped a 4-3 decision to Anaheim on Tuesday to fall to 1-7 when a game gets through regulation.
"We're going to continue to evaluate from game to game," coach Dan Muse said. "There's a lot of things that get looked at. You look at our guys, the options we have."
6. Vegas Golden Knights
27 of 32
Previous Ranking: 10
Overall Record: 14-6-9
The win streak ended at four but the point streak stretched to five for the Golden Knights, who dropped a shootout to the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
Goalie Carter Hart stopped 23 shots in his third start since signing with Vegas as a free agent and is now 2-0-1 with a 2.80 goals-against average and an .889 save percentage. The team's incumbent No. 1 goalie, Adin Hill, hasn't played since Oct. 20 after sustaining an apparent right leg injury while making a save against Carolina.
The team is 9-6-7 in 22 games without Hill.
5. Anaheim Ducks
28 of 32
Previous Ranking: 5
Overall Record: 19-10-1
The Ducks have assembled the talent and they've shown the mettle, so now it's no surprise that lucky breaks are going their way well. Anaheim tied a Tuesday night game with Pittsburgh on a deflection with less than a second remaining before winning in OT to extend their recent runs to three straight and four of five.
"I've seen some crazy endings," coach Joel Quenneville said. "I've seen an overtime game in the playoffs comparable, but not as dramatic in the dying second."
4. Carolina Hurricanes
29 of 32
Previous Ranking: 4
Overall Record: 18-9-2
The Brandon Bussi Show continued its magical early season run in Carolina, where the Hurricanes got 23 saves from their unlikely hero in a Tuesday night win over Columbus.
Bussi, claimed on waivers from Florida on Oct. 5, has won seven straight and is 9-1-0 overall in his first 10 NHL appearances. He's given up more than three goals just once and his 2.09 goals-against average is third in the league among goalies who've played at least nine games.
3. Washington Capitals
30 of 32
Previous Ranking: 8
Overall Record: 18-9-3
Location hasn't mattered much for the streaking Capitals, who pushed a season-long point streak to eight games with a 2-0 defeat of Columbus on Sunday.
The win over the Blue Jackets came at home on the heels of a four-game trip that saw Washington go 3-0-1 at the New York Islanders, Los Angeles, San Jose and Anaheim. The eight-game run had begun with home wins over Columbus, Winnipeg and Toronto.
2. Dallas Stars
31 of 32
Previous Ranking: 2
Overall Record: 21-5-5
The Stars continue to make a case to be among the league's super elites with their latest point streak, which stretched to 11 games (9-0-2) after Tuesday's win at Winnipeg.
Dallas has killed off 29 straight penalties in the last nine games of the run, and goalie Casey DeSmith made 30 saves to extend a personal streak to 10 games (7-0-3), which is tied for second best in franchise history.
1. Colorado Avalanche
32 of 32
Previous Ranking: 1
Overall Record: 21-2-7
Bad news for the rest of the league: The Avalanche, who've lost in regulation just twice and only nine times overall, can apparently improve from what they've been through the season's first 30 games.
"We stuck with it and ended up getting that late goal to get us a point," coach Jared Bednar said after Colorado rallied to get to OT against Nashville on Tuesday. "I'm pretty happy with the effort. There's some things that we can do better."
.png?w=480 "NHL Mock Draft")
.png?w=480)
.png?w=600 "B/R NHL Staff Second-Round Predictions 🏒")
