Another week has provided another shake up at the top of the NHL power rankings as teams continue to rise and fall. One constant all year has been the presence of the Chicago Blackhawks, so it’s no surprise to see them back in the top spot after another strong week of action.
1. Chicago Blackhawks
This Week: +700 Stanley Cup odds
The Blackhawks found their scoring touch with 17 goals during a three-game win streak before finally suffering a letdown in a 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. The lack of scoring had been a problem up until that point. It seems like Joel Quenneville has finally found the proper fits with his top six forwards as he lined up Jonathan Toews with Marian Hossa and Brandon Saad on the top line, while Patrick Kane skated with Brad Richards and Kris Versteeg on the second line.
Chicago has played excellent two-way hockey all season with Corey Crawford lowering his goal against average under 2.00. If they can add another piece while also getting Patrick Sharp back from injury, then the Blackhawks will undoubtedly be a Stanley Cup contender.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
This Week: +750
The Penguins climbed to top spot in the NHL power rankings with a blowout win over the Montreal Canadiens last week only to follow it up with back-to-back losses to the New York Islanders. That once again raised question marks about whether or not this team can hold up against some of the tougher teams from the Eastern Conference. The loss of Pascal Dupuis hurts up front and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Pittsburgh made a move soon to strengthen its forward core. For now, head coach Mike Johnston will continue to search for the right forward combinations built around Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
T-3. Anaheim Ducks
This Week: +900
Perhaps most impressive about the Ducks recent play is how they were able to overcome the loss of so many key players while still finding ways to secure points. Even with Corey Perry, Francois Beauchemin, and Devante Smith-Pelly all missing time, they still have managed to go 6-1-5 over their last 12 games to maintain the best record in the Western Conference. The importance of Ryan Kesler and development of Sami Vatanen cannot be overstated. There is a good chance Anaheim could make one or two moves to prepare its roster for what they hope will be an extended playoff run.
T-3. Boston Bruins
This Week: +900
The Bruins have lost all three of their games to Montreal this season, so whether it’s a mental thing or a case of injuries piling up, that is something they will have to address if they are going to make a run through the Eastern Conference. The key right now is to maintain their playoff position and find ways to keep earning points despite the loss of so many key players including captain Zdeno Chara. Word is that Boston is shopping for a scorer that can contribute on one of its top two lines and it’s clear at this point that scoring consistency is an issue for a team that will still be very good once they start to get key players back.
5. Los Angeles Kings
This Week: +1000
Consistency has been a major issue for the defending Stanley Cup champions and, while that could have been expected to a degree after last year’s run, management has undoubtedly examined the trade potential for this team. Los Angeles finally got some salary cap relief for Slava Voynov’s indefinite suspension, but Mike Richards is making far too much money to be centering the fourth line. He could end up elsewhere as the Kings have a need to upgrade defensively.
6. St. Louis Blues
This Week: +1100
An injury to Brian Elliott could be a blessing in disguise as the Blues get to see what they have in Jake Allen as their future No. 1 goalie. Allen has cooled off a bit following an outstanding start and it will be interesting to see how he handles the starting role. The return of Paul Stastny to the second line and the play of a third line led by Vladimir Tarasenko, Jori Lehtera, and Jaden Schwartz has made St. Louis arguably the deepest team in the NHL. There has been talk about them trading some of their depth pieces in exchange for a pure scorer, like Jordan Eberle, so now might be the time to invest in their Stanley Cup futures before a potential trade takes away from their value.
T-7. Minnesota Wild
This Week: +1400
The advanced metrics have the Wild near the top of the NHL but the one area they appear to need help in is the scoring department. Nino Neiderreiter has been on fire recently but Thomas Vanek has largely been a bust and Minnesota isn’t scoring enough goals to earn important points against the better teams on their schedule. The curious case of Josh Harding will continue in the AHL as the Wild appear intent on moving forward with rookie Darcy Kuemper and Niklas Backstrom.
T-7. Montreal Canadiens
This Week: +1400
Montreal fans probably wish they could watch their team beat up on the Bruins every week, but the key for this team will be maintaining that level of competitiveness and intensity against every team on their schedule. The Canadiens will have had plenty of time to prepare for a home-and-home with the lowly Buffalo Sabres this weekend, and they have to be careful not to fall in to the trap of underestimating them. Carey Price has played at an elite level and Montreal addressed its defensive depth with the additions of Sergei Gonchar and Bryan Allen. The Habs might not be done making moves just yet as they are also reportedly interested in upgrading their scoring depth up front.
T-7. Tampa Bay Lightning
This Week: +1400
One team that still doesn’t seem to get the respect it deserves is Tampa Bay. They’re one of the most dangerous teams in the Eastern Conference and a sleeper threat to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. A pair of bad losses to the New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t do much to boost their stock but they have phenomenal depth and talent at all three levels. Steven Stamkos no longer has to do it all on his own up front while Ben Bishop has quietly become one of the league’s better goalies. It’s only a matter of time before the Lightning make a run in the Eastern Conference and a corresponding rise up the power rankings.
10. New York Islanders
This Week: +1800
A win over the Lightning before back-to-back wins over the Penguins has the Islanders making a huge jump in to the Top 10 as they have really come together over the past two weeks. Jaroslav Halak has provided the outstanding level of goaltending this team with three shutouts in his last six appearances. Along with a revamped defensive core led by Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy, the improved defense and goaltending has made a huge difference in this team’s performance. It’s somewhat hard to believe that captain John Tavares is still just 24-years old. Now that he is healthy, he is ready to lead an Islanders team that is for real in the Eastern Conference.
Rest of the Top 15:
11. Vancouver Canucks +1900
12. San Jose Sharks +2000
13. New York Rangers +2200
14. Nashville Predators +2500
15. Detroit Red Wings +3300
