It was only a matter of time before the Montreal Canadiens cooled off just a little but even though they have slowed down a bit from their record pace they still own the best record in the NHL. The New York Rangers are right behind them in the Eastern Conference while the Chicago Blackhawks have started to hit their stride. Meanwhile, the biggest change on this list comes with a new entry with a rising team in the Western Conference making its mark. Here is a look at the top-five teams in the NHL right now.
1. Montreal Canadiens (14-4-2)
Last Week: 1
Stanley Cup Odds: +650
The Canadiens finally suffered their first home regulation loss in a 4-3 defeat to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday and have now dropped three of their last four to fall to 14-4-2 on the season. Are they coming back down to earth? Yes. What is inevitable? Considering their pace, it had to be. Montreal owned a 13-1-1 record before their recent slump so it was more likely than not that they would cool down eventually but they still own the best record in the NHL and as long as Carey Price is healthy they will be a Stanley Cup contender. The Canadiens rank in the top-five in both goals and goals allowed this season so they are producing at the offensive end of the rink as well. Alexander Radulov has helped unlock Alex Galchenyuk’s potential as Montreal’s No. 1 center and suddenly Galchenyuk is in the top-five in NHL scoring this week.
2. New York Rangers (14-5-1)
Last Week: 2
Stanley Cup Odds: +800
The Rangers are the only other team in the NHL that ranks in the top-five in both goals and goals allowed including a league-best 4.1 goals per game average. Mika Zibanejad’s injury hurts, but New York is one of the deepest teams in the NHL and they didn’t miss a beat in their first game without Zibanejad as they delivered a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. 14 different players on the roster have registered 10 points or more while Henrik Lundqvist has been solid in net wit ha 2.27 goals against average and .918 save percentage. The Rangers are built to contend for a Stanley Cup this season and they are certainly off to an outstanding start to the season.
3. Chicago Blackhawks (13-5-2)
Last Week: 4
Stanley Cup Odds: +650
Chicago won 11 of 13 games to reestablish itself as the top team in the Western Conference. Now comes perhaps their toughest stretch of the year as they hit the back end of their annual circus road trip with three more games against San Jose, Anaheim and Los Angeles. A 5-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers might serve as a wakeup call but the Blackhawks should be just fine. Artem Anisimov and Marian Hossa have pitched in with some secondary scoring and that has helped take some of the pressure off of Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin as the Blackhawks top scorers. It also helps that Corey Crawford has lowered his goals against average to a solid 2.35 mark, as Chicago will need their No. 1 goaltender to help carry the load in an effort to negate their lack of depth up front.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (11-5-3)
Last Week: 3
Stanley Cup Odds: +750
The Penguins have been outscored 9-2 in their meetings with Montreal and New York but it’s worth noting that Marc-Andre Fleury started each of those games. Fleury is now 6-4-3 with a 3.18 goals against average and .907 save percentage while Matt Murray is 5-1-0 with a 1.68 goals against average and .945 save percentage. It seems inevitable that Pittsburgh will turn to Murray as their unquestioned No. 1 but for now they seem content to give both goalies ample playing time. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and company will make sure that the offense continues to carry the load and when it matters the most the Penguins will turn to their best goaltender in Murray come playoff time.
5. St. Louis Blues (11-6-3)
Last Week: –
Stanley Cup Odds: +1700
St. Louis has won four straight to push its way ahead of the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning and in to our top-five Power Rankings with the second-best record in the Western Conference. It should be no surprise that Jake Allen has allowed two goals or less in each of his last four starts while the offense is starting to click following a slow start to the season. Jaden Schwartz and David Perron have helped carry some of the load up front and that has taken some pressure off of Vladimir Tarasenko. The Blues are at their best when they play from the net out and right now they are playing some of their best hockey of the season.
