The NHL power rankings this week has the top three teams staying the same. The Tampa Bay Lightning continue to play very well as they lead the league with 19 points. They have won four straight. But there is a lot of shuffling around underneath them as the rest of the league. That includes the Las Vegas Knights, who have won five straight and are 8-1-0 to start the season. The Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues have also impressed as those two teams are also in the top four of the league-wide NHL standings. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at this week’s power rankings and see how the odds makers rank the teams.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
Last Week: 1
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +800
The Lightning (9-1-1) had a perfect week, winning at home against Pittsburgh and Detroit, and in Carolina. Next week, they’ll be at home against Anaheim and the New York Rangers, and they’ll also head on the road to visit Florida. The Lightning won their three games by a score of 15-4, and Steven Stamkos had a pair of goals and five assists; he leads the league in points with 21, two ahead of teammate Nikita Kucherov. However, the Lightning aren’t just a one-sided team as they’re second in the league in goals scored and goals against.
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
Last Week: 2
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +850
The Maple Leafs (7-3-0) lost in Ottawa and at home to Carolina, but they also won at home over Los Angeles. Next, the Maple Leafs will host Philadelphia, and then they’ll head on the road to San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles. Toronto leads the league in goals scored, but they’re 25th in goals allowed and they have allowed six goals in each of their three losses. They have to get better defensively or eventually, it is going to catch up to the Maple Leafs.
3. Pittsburgh Penguins
Last Week: 3
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +900
The Penguins (7-3-1) lost in Tampa Bay, but they won overtime games at home over Edmonton and Winnipeg. They’ll head on the road to begin a five-game road trip, starting in Minnesota, then it is on to Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel all have 11 points apiece, but the Penguins are 29th in goals allowed and that is simply not going to cut it for the defending two-time Stanley Cup champions.
4. St. Louis Blues
Last Week: 6
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1300
The Blues (7-2-1) lost in overtime in Vegas, but they won at home over Calgary. The Blues will head to Carolina next, and then it is back home to host Columbus, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. The Blues snapped a four-game streak with no power-play goals as they scored a pair against the Flames; they’re 14th in the NHL with a man advantage and every little bit helps when they’re 12th in goals scored.
5. Columbus Blue Jackets
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1300
The Blue Jackets (6-3-0) lost at home to Los Angeles and then won over Buffalo, also at home. They’ll host Winnipeg next, and Columbus will also host Boston, along with road games against St. Louis and Florida. The Blue Jackets are fifth in the league in goals against, and Sergei Bobrovsky is fourth in the league in goals against average, so they’re very stingy on that end of the ice.
6. Los Angeles Kings
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1400
The Kings (8-1-1) won in Colorado, Ottawa in a shootout and Montreal, and they lost in Toronto. The Kings will then finish their road trip in Boston and St. Louis, along with a home game against the Maple Leafs. The Kings lead the NHL in goals against and second in penalty killing, and Jonathan Quick paces the league in goals against average and save percentage as he looks like the Cup-winning goalie of a few years ago.
7. Chicago Blackhawks
Last Week: 7
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1400
The Blackhawks (5-3-2) won in Arizona, and then lost in Vegas. They’ll continue at home against Nashville and Philadelphia, while heading out to Colorado as well this week. The Blackhawks continue to be a balanced team as they’re eighth in the NHL in both goals scored and goals against, although they could pick up the pace on the power play, where they’re 19th in the league.
8. Edmonton Oilers
Last Week: 4
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1400
The Oilers (3-5-1) lost in Philadelphia and in Pittsburgh in overtime, but they beat Dallas at home, which is where they’ll stay for the week to host Washington and Pittsburgh. The Oilers continue to have their troubles scoring goals as they’re 30th in the league in goals scored and they’re 26th on the power play. They’re not much better at the other end of the ice, ranking 18th in goals against and 31st in penalty killing. If this continues, the Oilers won’t be in the power rankings much longer.
9. Dallas Stars
Last Week: 9
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1500
The Stars (5-5-0) won at home over Carolina, but they lost in Colorado and Edmonton and they’ll stary on the road this week as they visit Calgary, Vancouver and Winnipeg. The Stars are 17th in the NHL in both goals scored and goals against. However, the special teams are carrying the Stars as they’re second in the league on the power play and third in penalty killing. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin have combined to score 13 goals and 24 points total through the Stars’ first 10 games.
10. Nashville Predators
Last Week: 8
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1500
The Predators (4-3-2) lost on the road against the New York Rangers this week, and they also lost at home to Calgary in a shootout. They’ll go on the road to face Chicago, then it is back home to host the New York Islanders, and then it is back on the road to start a road trip in San Jose. The Predators are still have their issues scoring goals as they rank 25th in the NHL in that category, but they’re also seventh in goals against, and then in terms of special teams, the Predators are sixth on the power play and fifth in penalty killing.
The 2017-18 odds to win the Stanley Cup have been posted. Click here to get the latest lines from BetDSI, including moneylines, totals, props and futures!
