The Tampa Bay Lightning are starting to pull away in the NHL power rankings, with the Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins trying to keep pace. The hottest team in the NHL right now might be the Winnipeg Jets, who are 8-1-3 in their last 12 games. Much of their success has been based around goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who is 10-1-2 on the year with a 2.29 GAA and .930 save percentage. He has allowed two goals or less in seven of his last nine starts. As a result, the Jets have moved up to sixth on the list and look like a genuine contender.
Let’s take a look at this week’s power rankings based on how the odds makers rate the teams. All stats before games on Friday, November 17th.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
Last Week: 1
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +575
The Lightning (15-2-2) won in Anaheim and at home over Dallas this week to extend their winning streak to five in a row, and this week, they’ll host the New York Islanders and Chicago, and then start a road trip in Washington. The Lightning won their two games this week by a combined score of 8-2, and Andrei Vasilevskiy has been great over his last five games, allowing nine goals with a save percentage of .943. While the Lightning are first in goals scored, they’re also second in goals against.
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
Last Week: 3
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +850
The Maple Leafs (13-7-0) won twice in overtime last week, both at home against Boston and New Jersey, and they also won the second half of a home-and-home against the Bruins to run their winning streak to five games. The Maple Leafs will be on the road this week in Montreal, Florida and Carolina, and they’ll also be at home against Arizona. The Maple Leafs have been outshot in their last six games, winning five of them, and Frederik Andersen has allowed 13 goals in his last five starts (six goals in one game) with a save percentage of .925.
3. St. Louis Blues
Last Week: 2
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1000
The Blues (14-5-1) lost at home to the Islanders and in Calgary, but they also won in Edmonton. They’ll finish a Western Canada swing in Vancouver and then return home to host Edmonton and Nashville. Jake Allen has struggled as of late in goal for the Blues as he has allowed 16 goals in his last five starts with a save percentage of .883. The Blues are fifth in goals allowed, but that isn’t good enough.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins
Last Week: 4
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1100
The Penguins (11-7-3) lost in Washington and Nashville in a shootout, then won in Buffalo, but lost in Ottawa. This week, the Penguins will host Chicago and Vancouver, as well as a visit to Boston. The Penguins have been two different teams this season, going 6-0-1 at home, and then 5-7-2 on the road. Matt Murray has a 2.13 GAA and a .933 save percentage at home, and a 3.42 GAA and a .883 save percentage on the road.
5. Columbus Blue Jackets
Last Week: 6
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1300
The Blue Jackets (11-7-1) lost at home to Carolina, and then won in Detroit (in a shootout) and in Montreal (in overtime). They’ll host the New York Rangers, Calgary and Ottawa this week, along with a trip to Buffalo. Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed 12 goals in his last five starts, posting a save percentage of .921, and the Blue Jackets are seventh in goals allowed. They need to be better on the power play, though, as they’re 31st with the man advantage.
6. Winnipeg Jets
Last Week: 10
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1500
The Jets (11-4-3) lost in Vegas and won in Arizona, then won the second half of a back-to-back with the Coyotes and also at home over Philadelphia in a shootout. They’ll host New Jersey and then go on the road to Nashville, Los Angeles and Anaheim. Connor Hellebuyck has been a major reason as to why the Jets have had early success, allowing 14 goals in his last five starts (five in one game) with a save percentage of .919.
7. New Jersey Devils
Last Week: 8
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1600
The Devils (11-4-3) won at home over Florida and in Chicago, then lost in overtime to Toronto. They’ll stay on the road this week in Winnipeg and Minnesota, and then they’ll host Boston and Vancouver. Corey Schneider has been pretty solid for the Devils lately, allowing 12 goals in his last five starts with a save percentage of .929. The Devils are still rolling offensively, ranking eighth in goals scored and fifth on the power play.
8. Los Angeles Kings
Last Week: 5
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1700
The Kings (11-6-2) lost at home to San Jose, Vancouver and Boston and will go into this week on a four-game losing streak. They’ll be at home this week to Florida and Winnipeg, and they’ll also head to Vegas and Arizona. Jonathan Quick has allowed 15 goals in his last five starts with a save percentage of .911, but the Kings scored two goals or less in each of their last four games.
9. Nashville Predators
Last Week: 7
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1800
The Predators (10-6-2) won at home over Pittsburgh in a shootout and over Washington, and then lost in Minnesota. The Predators will stay at home to host Colorado, Winnipeg and Montreal, and they’ll also visit St. Louis. Pekka Rinne has given up 16 goals over his last five starts, posting a save percentage of .905 for the Predators, who are 14th in both goals scored and against.
10. New York Islanders
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +2000
The Islanders (10-6-2) were shut out in Dallas, but then they won in St. Louis and at home over Carolina. They’ll visit Tampa Bay and Carolina next, along with a home-and-home with Philadelphia. The Islanders are splitting time between Jaroslav Halak (5-4-0, 3.06 GAA, .898 save percentage) and Thomas Greiss (5-2-2, 3.37 GAA, .902 save percentage). They need one of these two goalies to step up and take control of the #1 spot because the Islanders are 22nd in the league in goals against, and that isn’t going to cut it if they want to be a serious Stanley Cup contender.
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