NHL Power Rankings: Penguins fly to the top
The Pittsburgh Penguins have flown to the top of this week’s NHL Power Rankings.
With the playoffs drawing near, the top teams are beginning to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. Obviously the Washington Capitals and St. Louis Blues are among those teams. However, a new king has fought their way to the top: the Pittsburgh Penguins. Let’s take a look at how the rest of the NHL has done over the past week.
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Pittsburgh Penguins. 1. team. 92. The Penguins are 9-1-0 over their last 10 games and have a six game winning streak. Even without Evgeni Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury, the Pens are looking like they could raise the Stanley Cup once again.. (46-25-8). Previous:
team. 119. Give credit to the Stars, who have been doing extremely well even without one of the best centers in the NHL, Tyler Seguin. Their playoff success will rely on their goaltending.. (48-23-9). Previous: . Dallas Stars. 2
St. Louis Blues. 3. team. 99. The Blue are getting a ton of production from their offense lately. Combine that with the impressive goaltending from Brian Elliott and this might be the year that the Blues finally win a Stanley Cup. . (48-23-9). Previous:
4. team. 19. The Capitals have been taking it easy as of late and they have to get Nicklas Backstrom healthy if they want to go far in the NHL playoffs. Braden Holtby is back to being the kind of goalie who can steal series, which is quite encouraging for them.. (55-17-6). Previous: . Washington Capitals
Previous: . Anaheim Ducks. 5. team. 105. Bruce Boudreau has to be the Jack Adams winner after the position that the Ducks were in back in October, right? . (44-24-10)
6. team. 97. The Panthers are heating up at just the right time. Led by one of the most underrated players in the NHL (Aleksander Barkov), they could be a sleeper pick to win the Stanley Cup.. (45-25-9). Previous: . Florida Panthers
7. team. 94. Only losing Duncan Keith for one playoff game has to make Chicago happy. If Corey Crawford can get healthy, look out for the reigning NHL champs in the playoffs.. (46-26-7). Previous: . Chicago Blackhawks
New York Islanders. 8. team. 106. The Islanders needed a strong week to grab hold of a playoff spot and that’s precisely what they did. Their reward, though, might be a first round playoff series against the Penguins.. (43-26-9). Previous:
(46-28-5). Previous: . Los Angeles Kings. 9. team. 67. The Kings are limping into the playoffs, but don’t lose faith in this team. They’ve shown they have the ability to flip the “domination” switch on come playoff time.
It wasn’t pretty, but the Rangers have finally clinched a playoff berth. How far they will go relies heavily on Henrik Lundqvist.. (44-26-9). Previous: . New York Rangers. 10. team. 95
Philadelphia Flyers. 11. team. 68. The Flyers are starting to click at the right time. If they get solid goaltending, they could pull off an upset or two in the playoffs. . (39-26-13). Previous:
Detroit’s playoff berth has yet to be clinched, but they’re doing themselves a huge favor by winning and the Bruins are helping them by losing.. (40-28-11). Previous: . Detroit Red Wings. 12. team. 72
Brent Burns should be getting Norris Trophy votes and head coach Peter DeBoer is a very strong Jack Adams candidate.. (44-29-6). Previous: . San Jose Sharks. 13. team. 120
Previous: . Tampa Bay Lightning. 14. team. 23. Tampa Bay is struggling without Steven Stamkos and Anton Stralman. That could be enough to ensure a first round exit. . (45-29-5)
151. Nashville’s combination of offense and defense could make them an attractive darkhorse candidate in the playoffs, but outside of one great stretch, they have rarely shown the consistency necessary to be one. . (39-26-14). Previous: . Nashville Predators. 15. team
16. team. 98. Losing three straight games is not good going into the playoffs. Luckily, Colorado has handed them a playoff spot on a silver platter. . (38-31-11). Previous: . Minnesota Wild
17. team. 70. Changes are going to happen in Boston if they don’t make the NHL playoffs. Sadly, the blame likely falls on head coach Claude Julien, who hasn’t had much to work with this season. . (41-30-8). Previous: . Boston Bruins
Their blue line is going to be one of the best in the league in a few years. They are in a unique spot with a ton of cap space. Keep an eye on them this offseason, this is a team that could improve rather quickly.. (34-29-16). Previous: . Carolina Hurricanes. 18. team. 109
91. Erik Karlsson is why Ottawa is where they are rather than where they should be (at the very back).. (36-34-9). Previous: . Ottawa Senators. 19. team
20. team. 85. Lots to be optimistic about with the Devils. Just need to get some elite talent.. (37-34-8). Previous: . New Jersey Devils
Buffalo has been playing noticeably better under Dan Bylsma. Give them a few years and they’ll have what it takes to be a great NHL team.. (33-35-11). Previous: . Buffalo Sabres. 21. team. 12
Previous: . Montreal Canadiens. 22. team. 152. Lone thing to be excited for as this NHL season for Montreal ends is John Scott’s getting to play.. (36-37-6)
103. Colorado has to take a long look in the mirror and consider why they aren’t as good as they should be. Could it be that Patrick Roy isn’t that good of an NHL coach?. (39-36-4). Previous: . Colorado Avalanche. 23. team
team. 121. Arizona could be in a position to make some noise this off-season. With some young forwards and young defensemen, adding the right pieces could make the Yotes a playoff contender next season. . (35-37-7). Previous: . Arizona Coyotes. 24
Previous: . Vancouver Canucks. 25. team. 104. Vancouver has been doing well lately, but they still have a ton of issues and not much cap space to solve them with. . (30-36-13)
Calgary has to get better goaltending. Despite their record, their future looks bright with their young players doing well.. (33-40-6). Previous: . Calgary Flames. 26. team. 112
107. Winnipeg has some very important decisions to make this NHL offseason. Hopefully they make the right ones.. (32-39-8). Previous: . Winnipeg Jets. 27. team
113. Boone Jenner and Cam Atkinson are giving Columbus reasons to be optimistic. Meanwhile, Nick Foligno is giving them reasons to be concerned.. (31-40-8). Previous: . Columbus Blue Jackets. 28. team
29. team. 116. Toronto is committed to the tank. Expect them to continue to rebuild, but they should do what it takes to keep Nazem Kadri. Despite his underwhelming numbers on paper, he’s a special talent. . (28-40-11). Previous: . Toronto Maple Leafs
Edmonton Oilers. 30. team. 148. Changes are coming in Edmonton. This time, they better make the right ones or they’ll continue to be the laughing stock of the NHL.. (30-43-7). Previous: