The Columbus Blue Jackets maintained their hold on top spot in our NHL power rankings for the second week in a row thanks to the fact that they still own the best record in the entire league with games in hand on their top competition. Meanwhile, there was another shakeup behind them with another Metropolitan division team making its way on to the list while climbing all the way up to No. 3 in the process. The nation’s capital has been the focus of attention in the political world and now it is garnering attention in the hockey world too with an inauguration of sorts. Here is a look at the NHL power rankings for this week.
1. Columbus Blue Jackets (28-8-4)
Last Week: 1
Stanley Cup Odds: +800
The Blue Jackets finally had their win streak stopped at 16 games and while they have lost three of four overall they still own the best record in the NHL with games in hand. Columbus was bound to hit a bit of a wall at some point but a team that ranks in the top-five in both goals scored and goals allowed is bound to get back on track soon. It didn’t help that Sergei Bobrovsky missed a game with the flu but he should be back this weekend. The Blue Jackets are getting solid contributions across the board and until they slip from top spot in the standings they will likely hold down the position in the power rankings.
2. Chicago Blackhawks (27-12-5)
Last Week: 4
Stanley Cup Odds: +900
Chicago extended its win streak to four in a row with an overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday and has outscored its opponents 15-9 over that span. The Blackhawks have managed to compile the best record in the Eastern Conference thanks in large part to the play of their star players like Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin and Jonathan Toews so the fact that they will have the potential to improve their depth at the trade deadline could make them that much more dangerous.
3. Washington Capitals (27-9-5)
Last Week: –
Stanley Cup Odds: +900
The Capitals have won seven in a row to close the gap on Columbus at the top of the NHL standings and it seems as though they could be primed to challenge for a Presidents’ trophy for the second year in a row. Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Kuznetsov are heating up and while Washington ranks seventh in the NHL in goals per game it’s perhaps even more impressive that they lead the NHL with an average of just 2.0 goals allowed per game. The Capitals are firing on all cylinders heading in to the All-Star break and it will be very interesting to see if they can catch the Blue Jackets in the standings before the break, which is rapidly approaching.
4. Montreal Canadiens (26-10-6)
Last Week: 3
Stanley Cup Odds: +800
The fact that Montreal continues to win games is that much more impressive when you consider they are without Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher, Andrew Shaw and Andrei Markov. The Canadiens have found a potential gem in Phillip Danault, who has excelled while playing in between Max Pacioretty and Alexander Radulov on the top line. Meanwhile, young stars like Arturi Lehkonen and Sven Andrighetto have contributed of late and with news that a number of injured players are close to returning soon Montreal appears to be in a great spot moving forward.
5. Pittsburgh Penguins (26-9-5)
Last Week: 2
Stanley Cup Odds: +800
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are in a battle for top spot in the NHL points race for a Pittsburgh team that ranks first in the NHL with an average of 3.5 goals per game. The Penguins own the third-ranked powerplay in the NHL and as long as Crosby and Malkin are both healthy the offense should be fine. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is about to get Matt Murray back from injury and that will reignite the goaltender debate. Murray is the franchise goaltender and it will be interesting to see what the Penguins do with Marc-Andre Fleury knowing they could very well need both goaltenders on the roster in order to contend for a Stanley Cup this season.
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