NHL Power Rankings: Six straight wins place Edmonton Oilers at their highest mark of the season

Credit: © Perry Nelson

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While the teams at the top and the bottom stay put for another week, the playoff teams along the fringes continue to bounce around as they start to make or break their seasons with hot and cold streaks. Some have jumped up as they secure their spots just a little bit more, while others drop down as their chances get slimmer and slimmer.

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: 37-5-4 (.848%, 1st)
5v5 Goal Differential: +50 (1st)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.81 (10th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.27 (2nd)
PP xGF/60: 9.03 (9th)
PK xGA/60: 5.98 (1st)
5v5 PDO: 103.5
Previous Week: 1st (0)

The Bruins whip out another five-game winning streak like it’s nothing, beating the Flyers, Islanders, Rangers, and Sharks last week to get there. They still remain in first, nothing’s changed, on to next week.

2. Carolina Hurricanes

Record: 29-9-8 (.717%, 2nd)
5v5 Goal Differential: +26 (t-4th)
5v5 xGF/60: 3.21 (1st)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.06 (1st)
PP xGF/60: 8.72 (13th)
PK xGA/60: 7.18 (5th)
5v5 PDO: 99.8
Previous Week: 2nd (0)

The Hurricanes stick around in second place, as even with just two games on the schedule, they won both games against the Wild and Islanders. They’re much closer to the Bruins than their records may indicate, but they may still need to make a big upgrade at the deadline to put them over the top, especially with their big offseason addition in Max Pacioretty out for the season.

3. New Jersey Devils

Record: 30-12-4 (.696%, 3rd)
5v5 Goal Differential: +36 (3rd)
5v5 xGF/60: 3.08 (2nd)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.39 (9th)
PP xGF/60: 9.4 (6th)
PK xGA/60: 7.48 (9th)
5v5 PDO: 101.2
Previous Week: 3rd (0)

After a brief sputter, the Devils are back to dominating with points in their last seven games, including wins over the Sharks and Penguins and an overtime loss to the Kraken last week. But to show how tight it is in the top four, the only thing keeping them ahead of the Leafs right now is their record.

4. Toronto Maple Leafs

Record: 28-11-8 (.681%, 4th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +26 (t-4th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.84 (t-6th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.34 (t-4th)
PP xGF/60: 8.73 (12th)
PK xGA/60: 6.84 (2nd)
5v5 PDO: 101.5
Previous Week: 4th (0)

The Leafs put an end to that two-game losing streak with points in three straight games last week, although the overtime loss to the Canadiens on Saturday probably stings a bit. The team’s biggest weakness continues to be its bottom six, but it might finally see some improvement with the Dryden Hunt experiment coming to an end.

If not for a 5-3 loss to the Sharks, the Stars could have had a 4-0 week with multiple 4-0 wins, beating their other three opponents last week by that score. The fact that they’re still hanging around the top five despite Roope Hintz’s absence the past couple weeks speaks to how good this Stars team is.

6. Winnipeg Jets

Record: 31-16-1 (.681%, t-5th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +13 (t-9th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.65 (17th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.58 (18th)
PP xGF/60: 9.04 (8th)
PK xGA/60: 7.2 (6th)
5v5 PDO: 101.5
Previous Week: 7th (+1)

The Jets have come a long way this season, going from holding up a lot of teams in the rankings with the five-point rule to earning a sixth place spot almost entirely on merit. They’re finally playing well enough to back up their record, which is why they move up a spot even though they only won two of their four games last week.

7. Vegas Golden Knights

Record: 29-17-2 (.625%, 9th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -2 (20th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.66 (t-15th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.36 (6th)
PP xGF/60: 8.96 (10th)
PK xGA/60: 6.99 (3rd)
5v5 PDO: 99.5
Previous Week: 6th (-1)

The Golden Knights continue to slide down the rankings as they just cannot seem to click these past several weeks. They’ve now lost four of their last five, including three last week, although their lone win was a strong blowout performance against the Capitals.

8. Minnesota Wild

Record: 25-16-4 (.600%, 11th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +3 (t-17th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.4 (24th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.29 (3rd)
PP xGF/60: 9.5 (5th)
PK xGA/60: 7.47 (8th)
5v5 PDO: 100.3
Previous Week: 11th (+3)

The Wild started off their week extending their win streak to three games with a win over the Capitals but then dropped their following two games to the Hurricanes and Panthers. Despite that, the Wild move up a few spots thanks to how close it is between eight and 10th place. With all three teams playing at about the same pace, the Wild playing only slightly better puts them at the top for the week.

9. Tampa Bay Lightning

Record: 29-15-1 (.656%, t-5th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +17 (t-7th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.98 (4th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.56 (t-15th)
PP xGF/60: 7.84 (20th)
PK xGA/60: 8.06 (18th)
5v5 PDO: 101.4
Previous Week: 9th (0)

The Lightning saw their win streak extend to five games thanks to a couple wins over the Kraken and Canucks to start their Northwest road trip, but it was snapped later on with losses to the Oilers and Flames. While splitting those games isn’t ideal, it was still a good week for the franchise, especially with Steven Stamkos hitting another milestone with his 500th goal.

10. New York Rangers

Record: 25-14-7 (.620%, 10th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +8 (12th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.56 (21st)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.47 (t-10th)
PP xGF/60: 10.03 (1st)
PK xGA/60: 7.82 (15th)
5v5 PDO: 100.1
Previous Week: 10th (0)

The Rangers had a light schedule last week, one that saw them dominate play in a 3-1 win against the Blue Jackets before playing a tightly contested match with the Bruins, only to lose 3-1. Chris Kreider also made his return to the lineup last week, so that will be a big boost for the Rangers going forward as they look to secure a spot in the division.

11. Edmonton Oilers

Record: 27-18-3 (.594%, 12th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +6 (14th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.84 (t-6th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.62 (20th)
PP xGF/60: 10.01 (2nd)
PK xGA/60: 8.6 (25th)
5v5 PDO: 100.4
Previous Week: 16th (+5)

The Oilers have gone from fringe playoff team to fighting for the top spot in the Pacific Division thanks to a six-game winning streak, beating the Kraken, Lightning, and Canucks last week to add to it. That gives them the biggest jump out of any team this week, and their play is also rising to back a higher rank, mostly because their defense is no longer one of the worst in the league.

12. Seattle Kraken

Record: 27-14-5 (.641%, 8th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +39 (2nd)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.59 (19th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.49 (12th)
PP xGF/60: 5.83 (31st)
PK xGA/60: 7.67 (12th)
5v5 PDO: 102.3
Previous Week: 12th (0)

The Kraken have certainly cooled down from their eight-game win streak, as they dropped three of their four games last week, with the lone win coming against the Devils. They stick around in the same spot for now, but a lot of that is due to the five-point rule keeping them ahead of the Flames (and the Panthers to a much larger extent).

13. Calgary Flames

Record: 22-16-9 (.564%, 17th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +7 (13th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.84 (t-6th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.37 (7th)
PP xGF/60: 8.16 (15th)
PK xGA/60: 7.02 (4th)
5v5 PDO: 98.5
Previous Week: 8th (-5)

The Flames had a couple of losses in important games with other teams they’re fighting with for a playoff spot in the Predators and Avalanche, but they managed to salvage the week with a dominant win over the Lightning. The Flames continue to be the most volatile team in these rankings, as that five-point rule held them back from being as high as sixth based on the aggregate.

14. Pittsburgh Penguins

Record: 23-15-8 (.587%, 15th)
5v5 Goal Differential: 0 (19th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.88 (5th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.56 (t-15th)
PP xGF/60: 8.92 (11th)
PK xGA/60: 8.36 (20th)
5v5 PDO: 100.3
Previous Week: 14th (0)

While splitting four games last week isn’t ideal for a cold Pens team, at the very least they got points in all four, with both losses going to overtime. It shouldn’t be a surprise that splitting their games keeps them around the same spot, as this team is starting to flirt with a tight finish to keep its playoff streak alive.

15. Los Angeles Kings

Record: 26-17-6 (.592%, 13th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -3 (21st)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.63 (18th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.34 (t-4th)
PP xGF/60: 7.8 (22nd)
PK xGA/60: 7.54 (t-10th)
5v5 PDO: 98.2
Previous Week: 13th (-2)

The Kings continue to slide down the rankings as more and more teams start to catch up with them, particularly in their own division. Losing three in a row certainly didn’t help that cause, although stopping the bleeding with a 2-1 win over the Blackhawks to end the week allowed them to keep ahead of the Panthers with the five-point rule.

16. Florida Panthers

Record: 23-20-5 (.531%, t-20th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +13 (t-9th)
5v5 xGF/60: 3.04 (3rd)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.57 (17th)
PP xGF/60: 9.34 (7th)
PK xGA/60: 7.78 (13th)
5v5 PDO: 100.1
Previous Week: 17th (+1)

Suddenly the Panthers being back in the playoff picture doesn’t feel like a long shot, as they’re riding a streak of points in five straight games, with four of those being wins. They currently rank 12th in the actual aggregate, dropping four spots because of the five-point rule, so those points are key to getting them up the rankings, and more importantly, into a playoff spot.

17. Washington Capitals

Record: 25-18-6 (.571%, 16th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +10 (11th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.66 (t-15th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.47 (t-10th)
PP xGF/60: 7.38 24th)
PK xGA/60: 8.19 (19th)
5v5 PDO: 100.3
Previous Week: 15th (-2)

The Capitals split their four games this week, beating the Islanders and Coyotes but dropping games to the Wild and Golden Knights. Now that they’re back in the playoff picture, they can afford to go .500 every now and then, although as they drop two more spots, they start to drift back into familiar territory in these rankings.

18. Colorado Avalanche

Record: 25-17-3 (.589%, 14th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +4 (16th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.52 (22nd)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.38 (8th)
PP xGF/60: 8.03 (t-18th)
PK xGA/60: 8.53 (23rd)
5v5 PDO: 100.2
Previous Week: 20th (+2)

Surprise, surprise, the Avalanche sitting in the 20s of these rankings didn’t last all that long, as they’re back to their winning ways and move up a couple spots as a result. They’ve won their last five games, including victories over the Red Wings, Flames, Canucks, and Kraken last week, to get back into a playoff spot.

19. New York Islanders

Record: 23-20-5 (.531%, t-20th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +17 (t-7th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.57 (20th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.8 (t-24th)
PP xGF/60: 8.03 (t-18th)
PK xGA/60: 7.93 (16th)
5v5 PDO: 101.7
Previous Week: 18th (-1)

The Islanders didn’t do themselves any favors in their playoff push last week, dropping four straight to the Capitals, Bruins, Sabres, and Hurricanes and only getting a couple points from overtime losses. Their losing streak and the Avs winning streak are what drops them down a place, and they make a playoff spot ever so harder to obtain considering their play is already making it a challenge to keep up with the rest of the competition.

20. Nashville Predators

Record: 22-18-6 (.543%, 19th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +5 (15th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.83 (9th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.84 (26th)
PP xGF/60: 6.95 (25th)
PK xGA/60: 9.07 (29th)
5v5 PDO: 101.1
Previous Week: 21st (+1)

The Predators keep their playoff aspirations on life support for the time being, winning three of their last four games, including key ones against other Western playoff teams in the Flames and Kings. That jumps them up a spot and starts to bunch them in with the other teams in the playoff bubble.

21. Buffalo Sabres

Record: 23-19-3 (.544%, 18th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +3 (t-17th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.68 (14th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.7 (22nd)
PP xGF/60: 6.52 (26th)
PK xGA/60: 8.8 (27th)
5v5 PDO: 100.3
Previous Week: 22nd (+1)

The Sabres started off last week with two straight losses to the Panthers and the Blackhawks, only to turn things around with wins over both the Islanders and Ducks to keep up in the playoff race. It’s still not a strong chance, but they might be the most fun option of the fringe playoff teams in the East, and Sabres fans deserve it at this point.

22. Detroit Red Wings

Record: 19-18-8 (.511%, 23rd)
5v5 Goal Differential: -10 (22nd)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.19 (29th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.61 (19th)
PP xGF/60: 7.72 (23rd)
PK xGA/60: 8.42 (t-21st)
5v5 PDO: 100
Previous Week: 23rd (+1)

The Red Wings are another playoff bubble team on a cold streak that’s jeopardizing the season, as they have lost four of their last five, with only one overtime loss of the bunch to salvage any points. They move up a spot, but that’s mostly due to the five-point rule dropping the Senators below them.

23. St. Louis Blues

Record: 23-21-3 (.521%, 22nd)
5v5 Goal Differential: -13 (24th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.43 (23rd)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.8 (t-24th)
PP xGF/60: 5.97 (29th)
PK xGA/60: 8.69 (26th)
5v5 PDO: 99.8
Previous Week: 25th (+2)

Like the Preds, the Blues are one of the few teams in this tier that seems to be keeping its playoff hopes alive, as wins over the Sens and the aforementioned Preds keep it within the realm of possibility. The fact that the Blues are still this low shows how much work needs to be done to catch up, and it certainly makes their game plan at the trade deadline harder to decide.

24. Ottawa Senators

Record: 20-23-3 (.467%, 25th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -35 (29th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.79 (t-11th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.68 (21st)
PP xGF/60: 9.54 (4th)
PK xGA/60: 8.56 (24th)
5v5 PDO: 96.5
Previous Week: 19th (-5)

While the Sens have spent the last couple months fighting back from a poor start to the season, they seem to have cemented their playoff fate with another tough stretch of four losses in five games, and seven of their last nine. That gives them one of the biggest drops this week, partially due to the play of the team itself, but the five-point rule kicked them down a few more places as well.

25. Philadelphia Flyers

Record: 20-21-7 (.490%, 24th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -11 (23rd)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.36 (t-25th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.74 (23rd)
PP xGF/60: 5.62 (32nd)
PK xGA/60: 8.42 (t-21st)
5v5 PDO: 99.3
Previous Week: 24th (-1)

After a decent hot streak for the past couple of weeks, the Flyers drop a spot as splitting their four matchups allowed other teams to catch up again. Of course, the wins and losses weren’t the biggest story this week for the Flyers, as Ivan Provorov made headlines for all the wrong reasons by refusing to participate in warm-ups during the Flyers’ Pride night, adding to an already disastrous season in Philadelphia.

26. Vancouver Canucks

Record: 18-25-3 (.424%, 27th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -17 (25th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.36 (t-25th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.9 (29th)
PP xGF/60: 8.04 (17th)
PK xGA/60: 8.93 (28th)
5v5 PDO: 99.4
Previous Week: 27th (+1)

Amidst the chaos of Bruce Boudreau’s unofficial firing, it’s clearly taken a toll on the team, as they lost all three games last week to the Lightning, Avalanche, and Oilers. With this situation in the rearview mirror going into this week, things will hopefully get better in Vancouver, along with the boost of the usual run teams go on when they bring in new coaches.

27. Montreal Canadiens

Record: 20-24-3 (.457%, 26th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -18 (26th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.33 (27th)
5v5 xGA/60: 3.08 (31st)
PP xGF/60: 6.24 (28th)
PK xGA/60: 9.69 (30th)
5v5 PDO: 99.4
Previous Week: 28th (+1)

The Habs find themselves on a bit of a heater, having won three of their last four games, including two against the Jets and Maple Leafs last week. That said, it’s probably not an indication of good things to come in Montreal, especially since top goal scorer Cole Caufield will now be out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

28. San Jose Sharks

Record: 14-25-9 (.385%, 28th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -21 (27th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.74 (13th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.54 (13th)
PP xGF/60: 8.05 (16th)
PK xGA/60: 7.41 (7th)
5v5 PDO: 98.6
Previous Week: 26th (-2)

It’s business as usual for the Sharks, as they slide down another couple spots on the rankings due to the five-point rule putting them behind more and more teams to where they probably should be. They lost three of their four games last week to keep this downslide going, with their lone win coming as the only team to score on the Stars last week.

29. Columbus Blue Jackets

Record: 14-30-2 (.326%, 32nd)
5v5 Goal Differential: -43 (30th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.24 (28th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.87 (28th)
PP xGF/60: 7.81 (21st)
PK xGA/60: 8.05 (17th)
5v5 PDO: 98
Previous Week: 29th (0)

The Blue Jackets’ efforts for Connor Bedard are going well, as a hot streak from the Blackhawks puts the Blue Jackets in last place in the league, and they got a key loss against the Ducks to keep them ahead as well. However, they stay only fourth worst in the rankings, as they’re all close enough in points for the Blue Jackets to keep ahead of the other tanking teams here.

30. Chicago Blackhawks

Record: 14-27-4 (.356%, 30th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -46 (31st)
5v5 xGF/60: 1.9 (32nd)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.94 (30th)
PP xGF/60: 6.42 (27th)
PK xGA/60: 7.8 (14th)
5v5 PDO: 98.1
Previous Week: 30th (0)

I don’t know what’s more surprising for the Blackhawks right now, the 6-1-0 run the team just went on, or the fact that the lone loss in that stretch was that blowout against the Kraken where they didn’t make a save until they were down 6-1. The fact that the streak didn’t even move them anywhere this week goes to show how far down they were to begin with.

31. Anaheim Ducks

Record: 13-29-5 (.330%, 31st)
5v5 Goal Differential: -62 (32nd)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.18 (30th)
5v5 xGA/60: 3.5 (32nd)
PP xGF/60: 8.3 (14th)
PK xGA/60: 10.25 (32nd)
5v5 PDO: 97.6
Previous Week: 31st (0)

The Ducks tank job continues, as they lost three of their four games last week. Unfortunately for them, they won the wrong game, beating a fellow tanking team in the Blue Jackets. At least Trevor Zegras is finding unique ways to stay motivated as it gets to the dog days of the Ducks’ season.

Trevor Zegras x Taylor Swift. The collab we need!@AnaheimDucks | #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/v6jzBp4Qio

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) January 21, 2023

32. Arizona Coyotes

Record: 15-27-5 (.372%, 29th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -26 (28th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.03 (31st)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.86 (27th)
PP xGF/60: 5.87 (30th)
PK xGA/60: 9.74 (31st)
5v5 PDO: 99.9
Previous Week: 32nd (0)

The Coyotes finally ended their nine-game losing streak last week with a win over the Red Wings, and then after getting shut out in back-to-back games by the Capitals and Stars, they got another win over the Golden Knights. However, they stick around in last place again this week, as they are consistently bad across the board, while other teams at least have one category that they’re mediocre at to slightly boost them up.