The Tampa Bay Lightning enter the week atop the NHL and (not surprisingly) the power rankings. This is a team that’s won 10 of their first 14 games and has looked very crisp at both ends of the ice. They lead the league with 54 goals scored. The Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues are right behind them with 21 points apiece. You can see a discrepancy in the standings and where the odds makers rank these teams as the Blues are fifth in the power rankings while the Kings are sixth.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are still second in line, according to the odds, even though they’ve started 8-5-2. Their -14 goal differential is worse than all but three teams in the league, which is a pretty bad sign. There’s still plenty of time for them to turn things around, though.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
Last Week: 1
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +800
The Lightning lead the Atlantic Division after losing at home to Anaheim and the New York Rangers in overtime, but they beat Florida on the road. Next, the Lightning will host Colorado, and then head west to take on San Jose and Los Angeles. The Lightning are still riding an offense that is first in the league in goals scored and third on the power play, but they’re also eighth in goals allowed and that is a tough combination to beat.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
Last Week: 3
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +950
The Penguins are third in the Metropolitan Division as they lost in Minnesota, Winnipeg and Calgary in overtime, but they did manage to beat Edmonton. They’ll finish off their five-game road trip in Vancouver, and then it is back home to host Arizona. In four games this week, the Penguins scored just six goals, and three of those came against the Oilers, so that has to change for the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.
3. Toronto Maple Leafs
Last Week: 2
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1000
The Maple Leafs sit third in the Atlantic Division after losing at home to Philadelphia, as well as on the road to San Jose and Los Angeles, but they did beat Anaheim in the midst of that West Coast swing. The Maple Leafs will wrap up their four-game road trip in St. Louis and then it is home to host Vegas and Minnesota. Toronto is still scoring at a solid clip, ranking second in goals scored, but they’re still 26th in goals allowed.
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
Last Week: 5
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1100
The Blue Jackets are second in the Metropolitan Division as they beat Winnipeg in overtime and Boston in a shootout, both at home, and they won in Florida, but they lost in St. Louis. The Blue Jackets will visit Tampa Bay and the Rangers this week, along with a home game against Nashville. While they’re 10th in goals scored, the Blue Jackets are 30th on the power play and they were 2-for-13 in four games during the week.
5. St. Louis Blues
Last Week: 4
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1200
The Blues top the Central Division after winning Carolina, then at home over Columbus and Los Angeles, but they fell at home to Philadelphia. They’ll stay home to host Toronto, and Arizona as well, and the Blues will travel to New Jersey. The Blues allowed six goals last week, and they’re second in the NHL in that category.
6. Los Angeles Kings
Last Week: 6
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1200
The Kings lead the Pacific Division as they won in Boston in overtime and lost in St. Louis, but they returned home to defeat Toronto. They’ll stay home to play Nashville and Tampa Bay this week, along with a quick trip to Anaheim. The Kings have been outshot in each of their last four games, and they have won three, largely because Jonathan Quick has been outstanding in goal, allowing seven goals and posting a shutout during that time.
7. Washington Capitals
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1800
The Capitals are sixth in the Metropolitan Division as they won in Edmonton, lost in Calgary and defeated the New York Islanders at home. They’ll head to Boston and Buffalo this week, along with a home game with Arizona. The Capitals have won five games so far this season, and they have scored four goals or more in all five, which means they’re dependent on their offense, which is 16th in goals scored, but 25th in goals against.
8. New Jersey Devils
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +2000
The Devils lead the Metropolitan Division (technically, they’re tied on 18 points with Columbus and Pittsburgh, but they have played two fewer games than the Blue Jackets and four fewer games than the Penguins) as they won at home over Ottawa in a shootout and Arizona. They also started a three-game road trip in Vancouver with a win, and they’ll head to Edmonton and Calgary next, along with home games in St. Louis and the Oilers. The Devils have not been known as an offensive team for the last few years, but they’re third in the NHL in goals scored and fifth on the power play, and they scored 11 goals over the week.
9. San Jose Sharks
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +2000
The Sharks are third in the Pacific Division after winning in Buffalo, then they defeated Toronto and Nashville at. The Sharks stay at home this week to host Anaheim and Tampa Bay. The Sharks are 4-3-0 at home so far this season, and the win over the Maple Leafs kicked off a stretch in which they have eight of their next nine games at home. This is a time where the Sharks can really build some momentum and pick up some points.
10. Dallas Stars
Last Week: 9
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +2000
The Stars are fourth in the Central Division as they won in Calgary and in Vancouver in overtime, but they fell in Winnipeg. The Stars will be back at home to host Buffalo and Winnipeg this week. While the Stars are just 21st in the league in goals scored, they’re scoring at a blistering rate on the power play, ranking first. Through their first 13 games, the Stars have scored a power-play goal in nine of them, and they didn’t have a power-play opportunity in Winnipeg. Tyler Seguin has four power-play goals to lead the way, while Jamie Benn has scored three times with the man advantage for the Stars.
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