NHL Power Rankings: Seven straight wins sends the New York Rangers just outside the Top 5

Credit: © Matt Marton

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As we approach the holiday season and the new year, the top of the list continues to move a little bit, including the Devils dropping another spot. Other than that, there wasn’t much drastic movement, especially as you reach the bottom half of the list.

As I’ve done so far this season, I’ll be ranking teams not just on their results in the standings but also with how they’ve looked in several stats as well. Otherwise I’d just copy and paste the standings, right? No fun in that. The rankings are an aggregate of six different stats: points %, 5-on-5 goal differential, 5-on-5 xGF/60, 5-on-5 xGA/60, power play xGF/60, and shorthanded xGA/60, all coming courtesy of Natural Stat Trick. But, to ground the rankings a bit, no team can be above a team that’s more than five points ahead in the standings, regardless of the aggregate.

1. Boston Bruins

Record: 24-4-2 (.833%, 1st)
5v5 Goal Differential: +26 (2nd)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.82 (8th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.13 (2nd)
PP xGF/60: 9.38 (5th)
PK xGA/60: 6.1 (1st)
5v5 PDO: 102.4
Previous Week: 1st (0)

It’s another week on top for the Bruins, as they continue to pile up the points and still have yet to really slow down and let the rest of the league catch up, even to the point where they almost have the five-point rule kicking in over every team in the league. They got points in all three games last week, beating the Islanders and Blue Jackets while taking one in an OT loss to the Kings.

2. Carolina Hurricanes

Record: 19-6-6 (.710%, 2nd)
5v5 Goal Differential: +14 (6th)
5v5 xGF/60: 3.04 (3rd)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.03 (1st)
PP xGF/60: 9.26 (7th)
PK xGA/60: 6.55 (2nd)
5v5 PDO: 99.6
Previous Week: 4th (+2)

The Hurricanes move up to second after winning all four games last week, and now find themselves on a five-game win streak, and with points in their last 11 games, and they haven’t found themselves getting outplayed throughout this streak too much. Points aren’t everything for these rankings, but when the Hurricanes had the start that they did, it allowed them to get back into this super close top four.

3. New Jersey Devils

Record: 21-8-2 (.710%, 2nd)
5v5 Goal Differential: +30 (1st)
5v5 xGF/60: 3.22 (1st)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.15 (3rd)
PP xGF/60: 8.46 (14th)
PK xGA/60: 7 (4th)
5v5 PDO: 101.2
Previous Week: 2nd (-1)

The Devils drop another spot as they’ve found themselves on a bit of a skid, losing all four games last week against the Rangers, Stars, Flyers, and Panthers to create a five-game losing streak. Perhaps them falling out of first place last week was a bit premature, but they’ve certainly earned it now. Not to worry though, as the top four are all super close as far as the aggregate goes, so a hot week could shoot the Devils right back to the top. They’re still a really good team.

4. Toronto Maple Leafs

Record: 19-7-6 (.688%, 4th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +23 (3rd)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.83 (t-6th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.37 (t-6th)
PP xGF/60: 9.25 (8th)
PK xGA/60: 6.69 (3rd)
5v5 PDO: 102.4
Previous Week: 3rd (-1)

The Leafs weren’t going to stay hot forever, as their 15-game point streak came to an abrupt end last week. They did extend it one more game with a dominant 7-0 win over the Ducks before dropping two straight – in regulation – to the Rangers and Capitals, although they were still the better team in both games. Along with their point streak ending against the Rangers, Mitch Marner also saw his personal point streak end at 23 games in that game.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins

Record: 18-9-4 (.645%, 9th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +9 (12th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.98 (4th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.42 (10th)
PP xGF/60: 8.5 (13th)
PK xGA/60: 7.33 (5th)
5v5 PDO: 101.1
Previous Week: 6th (+1)

The Penguins come out of last week with wins in two of their three games on the week, and it was no easy stretch, as they faced the Stars, Panthers, and Hurricanes to do so, with the Canes providing them with the loss. Add in that two of those games came without Jason Zucker and Jeff Petry in the lineup (who will be out for the long term), and it’s an even more impressive feat.

6. New York Rangers

Record: 18-10-5 (.621%, 10th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +10 (t-10th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.6 (16th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.44 (12th)
PP xGF/60: 10.58 (2nd)
PK xGA/60: 7.54 (9th)
5v5 PDO: 100.6
Previous Week: 9th (+3)

The Rangers made the biggest move in the rankings this week, climbing up three spots thanks to four wins last week, and are now riding a seven game win streak overall. Two of those wins were more so taking care of business against Chicago and Philadelphia. Still, they also took on two of the top teams in the league in the Devils and Leafs, even ending the latter team’s point streak while doing so, earning themselves a much higher spot.

The Stars had another middling week, splitting their four games last week to keep with a slow December (by their standards). In their defense, both of their losses came against the Penguins and Hurricanes, who are also very strong teams, and even got a point from the Hurricanes, along with one of their two wins coming against the Devils, so they’ve been holding their own against top competition.

8. Vegas Golden Knights

Record: 22-10-1 (.682%, 6th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +4 (14th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.74 (9th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.32 (5th)
PP xGF/60: 8.44 (15th)
PK xGA/60: 7.73 (14th)
5v5 PDO: 100.3
Previous Week: 7th (-1)

The Golden Knights took two of their three games last week, just getting by the Jets in a high-scoring 6-5 win and beating Chicago 4-1 before finishing the week with a loss to the Islanders. They drop a spot not because of their record last week, but as a result of the drop in play with Jack Eichel, Shea Theodore, Zach Whitecloud, and Alex Pietrangelo for most of the week.

9. Tampa Bay Lightning

Record: 20-9-1 (.683%, 5th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +10 (t-10th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.92 (5th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.57 (16th)
PP xGF/60: 7.88 (20th)
PK xGA/60: 7.57 (10th)
5v5 PDO: 101.3
Previous Week: 10th (+1)

The Lightning keeps slowly climbing the rankings as they’ve been silently putting more and more wins together, as wins over the Kraken, Blue Jackets, and Canadiens have given them a five-game win streak. It’s probably gone under the radar because the two teams above them in the Atlantic have been just as hot, if not hotter, so they still haven’t made up a ton of ground in the standings.

10. Winnipeg Jets

Record: 20-10-1 (.661%, 7th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +11 (9th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.59 (t-17th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.62 (18th)
PP xGF/60: 9.31 (6th)
PK xGA/60: 7.74 (t-15th)
5v5 PDO: 101.9
Previous Week: 11th (+1)

The Jets are slowly becoming the inverse of the team that started the season, as they’ve gone from getting win after win while not looking good to being a bit less consistent with winning but actually driving play on a much more consistent basis. They’ll be missing Nate Schmidt for a little bit now, so we’ll have to see if that could possibly change things for the worse for the Jets.

11. Florida Panthers*

Record: 15-13-4 (.531%, t-19th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +16 (5th)
5v5 xGF/60: 3.13 (2nd)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.52 (15th)
PP xGF/60: 8.77 (12th)
PK xGA/60: 7.65 (12th)
5v5 PDO: 100.5
Previous Week: 12th (+1)

Once again, the Panthers should be much high on this list than they are, but they still haven’t quite caught up to some of these teams in the standings to not deal with the five point rule. They came out in ninth in the aggregate, and while they got wins in two of their three games last week, it still wasn’t enough to make up for their slow start – yet.

12. Minnesota Wild

Record: 18-11-2 (.613%, 12th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -1 (t-17th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.4 (24th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.18 (4th)
PP xGF/60: 9.18 (9th)
PK xGA/60: 7.41 (6th)
5v5 PDO: 99.7
Previous Week: 13th (+1)

The Wild are one of the many teams on a nice winning streak right now, as they won all four games last week to give themselves a five-game win streak, along with 10 in their last 11 games overall. That said, that wasn’t the reason they made headlines last week, as Ryan Reaves may have laid out the hit of the season on Filip Hronek, and at the very least showing that he’s been a noticeable addition to the Wild.

13. Seattle Kraken

Record: 17-10-3 (.617%, 11th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +18 (4th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.55 (20th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.43 (11th)
PP xGF/60: 5.6 (30th)
PK xGA/60: 7.42 (7th)
5v5 PDO: 101.5
Previous Week: 8th (-5)

The Kraken had the most significant drop in this week’s rankings, as a combination of losses in two of their three games last week and some poor play in those games resulted in them looking much less favourably in the aggregate. They did make an interesting addition by getting Eeli Tolvanen off of waivers from the Predators, so maybe that becomes something that helps the club down the road this season.

14. Calgary Flames

Record: 14-12-6 (.531%, t-19th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +2 (15th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.66 (t-12th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.4 (9th)
PP xGF/60: 7.57 (24th)
PK xGA/60: 7.63 (11th)
5v5 PDO: 98.3
Previous Week: 14th (0)

It’s starting to get ugly again in Calgary, as they were looking at a five game losing streak at one point last week, only managing two points as well, before salvaging the week with a win over the Sharks. Some of this slump has come without Chris Tanev in the lineup after he took a puck to the face, so that certainly hasn’t helped their cause, but this team just hasn’t seen the same success as last year’s.

15. Colorado Avalanche

Record: 16-11-2 (.586%, 13th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -1 (t-17th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.46 (23rd)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.37 (t-6th)
PP xGF/60: 8.09 (17th)
PK xGA/60: 7.74 (t-15th)
5v5 PDO: 100
Previous Week: 16th (+1)

The Avalanche’s stretch of surviving with all of their injuries continues, and last week they not only managed to stay afloat, they managed to take two of their three games, although all three games came against non-playoff teams in the Flyers, Sabres, and Preds. They also got outplayed in both of their wins as well, but we also know this isn’t the true Avalanche team, so all that matters for them right now is getting those points until the big guys get back.

16. Los Angeles Kings

Record: 17-12-5 (.574%, 15th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -3 (19th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.66 (t-12th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.37 (t-6th)
PP xGF/60: 7.67 (23rd)
PK xGA/60: 7.95 (18th)
5v5 PDO: 98.2
Previous Week: 15th (-1)

The inconsistencies continue for the Kings, as last week they started off with a 6-0 blowout loss to the Sabres (with all six goals coming in the third period), before taking their other two matchups against the Bruins and the Sharks. Off the ice, they made a big move extending the local boy Trevor Moore to a long-term contract, a player who’s made some excellent contributions to the team this season at both ends of the ice.

17. New York Islanders

Record: 18-13-1 (.578%, 14th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +12 (8th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.52 (21st)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.89 (29th)
PP xGF/60: 8.85 (t-10th)
PK xGA/60: 8.09 (20th)
5v5 PDO: 101.9
Previous Week: 17th (0)

The Islanders managed to stay stationary in the rankings even though they dropped two of their three games, losing to the Bruins and the Coyotes before salvaging the week with a 5-2 win over the Golden Knights. They’re still in a playoff spot right now, but that continues to slip away, with Ilya Sorokin hanging on tightly to keep them in it for now.

18. Edmonton Oilers

Record: 17-14-1 (.547%, 16th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -8 (22nd)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.69 (t-10th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.75 (23rd)
PP xGF/60: 9.91 (3rd)
PK xGA/60: 9.28 (28th)
5v5 PDO: 99.2
Previous Week: 18th (0)

The Oilers also stuck around in the same spot this week (although that’s been nothing new for them) as they lost three of their four matchups last week and continue to barely hold a playoff spot despite the absurd point totals from Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. That lone win came in Jack Campbell’s second start of the month, and even then the win was more due to another crazy McDavid performance than Campbell’s play.

19. Washington Capitals

Record: 16-13-4 (.545%, 17th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +1 (16th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.57 (19th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.5 (13th)
PP xGF/60: 7.79 (21st)
PK xGA/60: 8.68 (24th)
5v5 PDO: 100.1
Previous Week: 20th (+1)

The Capitals managed to see their win streak hit five games after they blew out Chicago 7-3, before seeing that end with a loss to the Stars, before rebounding with a 5-2 win over the Leafs. They even got a hat trick in the win over the Leafs, but not from their usual suspect, as defenseman Erik Gustafsson of all people scored three goals in the game.

20. Ottawa Senators

Record: 14-15-2 (.484%, t-23rd)
5v5 Goal Differential: -9 (t-23rd)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.83 (t-6th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.67 (t-19th)
PP xGF/60: 9.76 (4th)
PK xGA/60: 8.59 (23rd)
5v5 PDO: 98.5
Previous Week: 21st (+1)

The Sens have been playing much more consistently lately, almost finding themselves at .500 thanks to a four-game win streak that ended with a loss to the Wild on Sunday. They still find themselves at the mercy of the five-point rule, but at least they’re a bit higher up in the rankings and not stuck behind the (now 27th ranked) Canadiens.

21. Buffalo Sabres

Record: 15-14-2 (.516%, 21st)
5v5 Goal Differential: +6 (13th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.64 (14th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.69 (22nd)
PP xGF/60: 7.25 (25th)
PK xGA/60: 8.84 (25th)
5v5 PDO: 100.9
Previous Week: 23rd (+2)

It really goes to show how brutal that rough patch in November was to the Sabres considering that they’ve now won three games in a row and five of their last seven, and still aren’t anywhere close to a playoff spot. That win streak all came from last week, where they beat the Kings, Avalanche, and Coyotes to put the team back above .500%.

22. Detroit Red Wings

Record: 13-11-6 (.533%, 18th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -4 (20th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.19 (29th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.68 (21st)
PP xGF/60: 7.9 (19th)
PK xGA/60: 8.5 (22nd)
5v5 PDO: 100.5
Previous Week: 19th (-3)

Regression has hit the Red Wings hard, as they’ve now lost five games in a row, and once again, they continue to struggle to drive play consistently as well. While losing three places is also a result of the teams passing them going on hot streaks, this team has been flying too close to the sun for a while now, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this starts to be where they find themselves for a while now.

23. San Jose Sharks

Record: 10-17-6 (.394%, 29th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -14 (28th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.61 (15th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.51 (14th)
PP xGF/60: 8.85 (t-10th)
PK xGA/60: 7.52 (8th)
5v5 PDO: 98.7
Previous Week: 22nd (-1)

Another week of the Sharks losing a lot more than they win, and another week of Erik Karlsson trying his best to make this team look competent, as he’s riding a seven game point streak on route to hitting point number 700 of his career on Sunday against the Flames. They’re not even in the bottom three in their conference, as Anaheim, Arizona, and Chicago continue to put on a clown show below them.

24. Nashville Predators

Record: 12-13-4 (.483%, t-25th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -5 (21st)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.59 (t-17th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.67 (t-19th)
PP xGF/60: 6.64 (26th)
PK xGA/60: 10.16 (32nd)
5v5 PDO: 99.9
Previous Week: 24th (0)

The Predators are another team on a cold streak, as they’ve now lost their last six games, including four in a row last week, although they did get two points out of it. I wouldn’t exactly consider a team this far down in the standings in a position to get rid of young players either, but they did for some reason when they waived Eeli Tolvanen and he was claimed by the Kraken.

25. Vancouver Canucks

Record: 13-14-3 (.483%, t-25th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -11 (27th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.34 (t-25th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.9 (30th)
PP xGF/60: 7.76 (22nd)
PK xGA/60: 7.71 (13th)
5v5 PDO: 99.7
Previous Week: 25th (0)

On the ice, it was a quiet week for the Canucks with just two games on the week, and they split the two with a win over the struggling Flames before getting blown out by the Jets. Off the ice, it was anything but quiet, with plenty of headlines of captain Bo Horvat rejecting their most recent contract offer, and the team decided to look for a trade, with Horvat releasing a statement saying that he doesn’t want to talk about it. We might not talk with him specifically, but that certainly didn’t stop the chatter from happening regardless.

26. St. Louis Blues

Record: 15-15-1 (.500%, 22nd)
5v5 Goal Differential: -9 (t-23rd)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.5 (22nd)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.8 (t-25th)
PP xGF/60: 6.14 (29th)
PK xGA/60: 8.86 (26th)
5v5 PDO: 99.6
Previous Week: 26th (0)

It goes to show both how much of a hole the Blues have dug themselves as well as how poor their play has been regardless of the result that a three game winning streak didn’t move them at all in this week’s rankings. The fact that those three wins came against struggling teams also doesn’t help their case, as all of the Preds, Oilers, and Flames find themselves in some kind of skit at the moment.

27. Montreal Canadiens

Record: 14-15-2 (.484%, t-23rd)
5v5 Goal Differential: -9 (t-23rd)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.34 (t-25th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.8 (t-25th)
PP xGF/60: 6.19 (28th)
PK xGA/60: 9.55 (29th)
5v5 PDO: 98.9
Previous Week: 27th (0)

The Habs capitalized early last week when they beat the struggling Flames in a tight 2-1 game, but that was the highlight of their week as they dropped their next three to the Senators, Ducks, and Lightning. They suffered a bit of a scare last Monday when Cole Caufield went out with an injury, but thankfully, he managed not to miss any time.

28. Columbus Blue Jackets

Record: 10-18-2 (.367%, 30th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -29 (30th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.21 (27th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.87 (t-27th)
PP xGF/60: 8.03 (18th)
PK xGA/60: 8.34 (21st)
5v5 PDO: 98
Previous Week: 28th (0)

Add the Blue Jackets to the list of struggling teams near the bottom of these rankings, as they dropped all three of their games last week against the Panthers, Lightning, and Bruins, which in their defense, is no easy task regardless of the team you are. They’ve managed to comfortable distance themselves from the bottom four in the aggregate, but they still aren’t looking any more hopeful.

29. Philadelphia Flyers

Record: 10-15-7 (.422%, 27th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -10 (26th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.2 (28th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.76 (24th)
PP xGF/60: 5 (32nd)
PK xGA/60: 9.27 (27th)
5v5 PDO: 99
Previous Week: 29th (0)

The Flyers were in tough last week with matchups against the Avalanche, Devils, and Rangers last week, so the fact that they got one win out of it is impressive, never mind it coming against the Devils. Meanwhile, John Tortorella continued his tirade of bold healthy scratches, with last week’s victim being Kevin Hayes, who’s currently having his most productive season since joining the Flyers.

30. Anaheim Ducks

Record: 9-20-3 (.328%, 31st)
5v5 Goal Differential: -35 (31st)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.18 (30th)
5v5 xGA/60: 3.36 (32nd)
PP xGF/60: 8.19 (16th)
PK xGA/60: 9.69 (31st)
5v5 PDO: 98.1
Previous Week: 31st (+1)

The Ducks managed what many would have thought was impossible at one point, getting not one but two wins in regulation this week against the Canadiens and the Oilers. Of course, that doesn’t really save them from the previous three games, where they were outscored 16-1 by the Sharks, Senators, and Leafs, but it’s enough to move them up another spot and keep them within the Coyotes’ range to stay ahead.

31. Arizona Coyotes

Record: 10-15-4 (.414%, 28th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -17 (29th)
5v5 xGF/60: 1.9 (31st)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.91 (31st)
PP xGF/60: 5.4 (31st)
PK xGA/60: 9.66 (30th)
5v5 PDO: 100.3
Previous Week: 32nd (+1)

To add to the chaos this season for the Coyotes, they somehow have an above .500% record on home ice. Of course, that’s because they’ve only played eight home games vs. 21 road games, but that makes it even more chaotic. They’ve managed to win three of four on home ice since returning from their road trip, including a 5-4 win over the Islanders this week.

32. Chicago Blackhawks

Record: 7-19-4 (.300%, 32nd)
5v5 Goal Differential: -40 (32nd)
5v5 xGF/60: 1.85 (32nd)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.87 (t-27th)
PP xGF/60: 6.58 (27th)
PK xGA/60: 7.99 (19th)
5v5 PDO: 96.8
Previous Week: 30th (-2)

Chicago drops two spots this week, and it is quite simply due to their inability to get wins and points. Not that 30th is much of an improvement, but it’s where they would have been if not for the five point rule keeping them behind the Coyotes. That said, the fact that they have a -40 5v5 goal differential, and allow more than an expected goal of what they generate is grounds for a last place spot.