The Tampa Bay Lightning continue to rule the NHL power rankings even though they’ve cooled off of late. They are just 6-4 in their last 10 games. However, their 36 points are still tops in the NHL, so the odds makers see them as the favorite. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets are hot on their heels, though. Both teams have won two straight.
In the west, the St. Louis Blues are tied with the Los Angeles Kings at the top of the standings. The Blues have lost two straight but the Kings have won four in a row. Oddly enough, the hottest team in the NHL right now is the Montreal Canadiens, who have won straight. The return of Carey Price has fueled their turnaround. If they keep this up, we might see them back in the power rankings in the coming weeks.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning
Last Week: 1
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +700
The Lightning (17-6-2) lost in Washington, Pittsburgh and Boston, but they won in Buffalo. This week, the Lightning are at home to host San Jose, the New York Islanders and Colorado. Tampa Bay has lost four of their last five and have allowed five goals in two of those games, but they’re still incredibly balanced, ranking third in goals per game and fourth in goals against. They’re at home this week, and the Lightning are 9-2-1 on their own ice so far this season. That should get Tampa Bay back on track.
2. Toronto Maple Leafs
Last Week: 2
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +850
The Maple Leafs (17-9-1) won in Carolina, Calgary and Edmonton, but lost at home to Washington last week. Toronto will wrap up their road trip in Vancouver, and they’ll also host the Flames this week. Frederik Andersen was in goal for all three wins and he allowed nine goals with a save percentage of .925. Andersen has to be sharp behind Toronto’s freewheeling offense; no goalie in the NHL has made more saves than Andersen’s 722. That is 63 more saves than the second-place goalie, Calgary’s Mike Smith.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets
Last Week: 4
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +850
The Blue Jackets (16-8-1) won at home over Ottawa and Carolina in a shootout, but they lost in Montreal. This week sees the Blue Jackets hosting Anaheim and visiting Washington, and they have a home-and-home with New Jersey. The Blue Jackets have won seven of their last eight games now and they haven’t allowed more than two goals in any of their wins; they allowed three in their loss in Montreal.
4. St. Louis Blues
Last Week: 3
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1150
The Blues (17-7-1) lost at home to Nashville and Anaheim, but they beat Minnesota, also at home. The Blues will finish their homestand with Los Angeles, then travel to Minnesota and Montreal and return home to host Dallas. St. Louis has been great against their fellow Western Conference teams this season, posting a record of 10-3-1.
5. Winnipeg Jets
Last Week: 6
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1300
The Jets (15-6-4) lost in San Jose and in Colorado in overtime, but they also won in Anaheim and at home over Minnesota. They’ll be at home this week to host Vegas and Ottawa, then it is off to Detroit and Florida for the Jets, who have a fierce home-ice advantage. The Jets are 8-2-1 in front of their own fans, which has sparked them to a great start.
6. Nashville Predators
Last Week: 7
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1300
The Predators (15-7-3) won in St. Louis and at home over Chicago, but they also lost in Carolina in a shootout and at home to Vancouver. They’ll stay at home to host Anaheim, Boston and Vegas, and the Predators will also head out to Dallas. The Predators might be the best special-teams squad in the league, ranking third on the power play and fourth in penalty killing. That can take you a long way and the Predators have their sights set on another trip to the Stanley Cup finals.
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
Last Week: 5
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1400
The Penguins (12-10-3) lost in Boston, but they won at home over Tampa Bay and over Philadelphia in overtime. The Penguins have a home-and-home with Buffalo to start the week, then they’ll stay home to host the New York Rangers and Islanders. The Penguins might have to go to Tristan Jarry in goal as Matt Murray suffered a lower-body injury, but Jarry won both of his games last week, allowing a pair of goals in each. Jarry is 2-0-2 this season with a GAA of 2.83 and a save percentage of .907.
8. New York Islanders
Last Week: 10
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1600
The Islanders (15-7-2) swept a home-and-home with Philadelphia, then won in Ottawa and at home over Vancouver. They’ll try to extend their winning streak when they host Ottawa, while the Islanders head on the road to visit Florida, Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh. John Tavares and Josh Bailey each racked up a goal and four assists over the week for the Islanders, who lead the NHL in goals per game.
9. New Jersey Devils
Last Week: 8
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1700
The Devils (14-6-4) won at home over Vancouver and at Detroit in overtime, but they lost at home to Florida. The Devils will get out on the road this week to Colorado, Arizona and Columbus. The road doesn’t bother the Devils, who are 8-2-2 away from home so far this season. Backup goalie Keith Kincaid has been excellent on the road, going 4-0-1 in six games with a GAA of 2.91 and a save percentage of .915, both better numbers than that of #1 goalie Corey Schneider, who has been the better home goalie.
10. Washington Capitals
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1800
The Capitals (14-11-1) won at home over Tampa Bay and in Toronto, but lost to Los Angeles. The Capitals will stay home this week to host Columbus, San Jose and Chicago. Alexander Ovchekin has scored five goals in his last four games, with three goals coming in the win over Toronto. The Capitals are only 18th in goals per game, which is low when you consider a few of the players they have (Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, T.J. Oshie, Nicklas Backstrom), but they’re very top-heavy. They have to start getting goals further down in the lineup to climb to the top of the Eastern Conference.
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