What a week. Trades, suspensions, wacky finishes and Alex Ovechkin
smashing through the 500-goal barrier. How did it influence the Power
Rankings? You'll be both surprised and amazed. And OK, maybe a bit
perplexed. Read on.
| 2015-2016 Power Rankings: Week 14 | ||||
| RANK | TEAM / RECORD | TRENDING | COMMENTS | |
| 1 |
--
Last Week: 1 | So much to like about the NHL's best team. Even with key regulars Brooks Orpik, John Carlson, Jay Beagle and Marcus Johansson injured or suspended, Alex Ovechkin (Mr. 501), Evgeny Kuznetsov, Braden Holtby, Nicklas Backstrom and Justin Williams keep the Caps rolling. They are 13-2-3 in one-goal games, the top winning percentage in the NHL. | ||
| 2 |
--
Last Week: 2 | What a great story the Panthers are writing in South Florida. Roberto Luongo is having a Vezina Trophy-worthy season and the team is riding a franchise-best 12-game winning streak after grinding out a 2-1 win in Edmonton on Sunday, with backup Al Montoya giving Luongo a break. | ||
| 3 | 2 Last Week: 5 | The Blackhawks are very much in a position to reel in the skidding Stars atop the Central. And while there is no easy way out of the Central, it is going to be much, much better to be in first than anywhere else in this bone-crusher of a division. The Blackhawks are just four back of the Stars after their seventh straight win, a 6-3 beatdown of the Avs on Sunday. | ||
| 4 | 1 Last Week: 3 | The Kings welcome Vincent Lecavalier and Luke Schenn and continue to roll, going 6-1-1 in their last eight as the undisputed rulers of the Pacific while also taking aim at the big boys from the Central for the top seed in the West. | ||
| 5 | 1 Last Week: 4 | First tiny speed wobble from the Central-leading Stars. Not a bad thing, necessarily, to hit a rough patch. As head coach Lindy Ruff told me last week, that's when you start to find out about the mental toughness of your team. Still, defensive/goaltending woes on the East Coast trip were mildly troubling. | ||
| 6 | 7 Last Week: 13 | Don't look now, but the surprising Coyotes have won three in a row and rookie goalie Louis Domingue has provided much-needed stability in net. The Yotes, 7-1-2 in their last 10, have created a little space for themselves in second place in the Pacific. | ||
| 7 | 10 Last Week: 17 | The Wings have put together a nice little four-game win streak after poor play over the last month, capped by Sunday's 2-1 win over the Ducks. They still have to look over their collective shoulders at the Bruins, Lightning and Senators in the tightly bunched Atlantic, but it has been a nice stretch of quality hockey for the Wings. | ||
| 8 | 7 Last Week: 15 | I have wanted to count the Avs out more than once this season, but Patrick Roy's group keeps hanging around. Getting whipped by the Blackhawks on Sunday pushed them out of the playoff grid (based on games played) and the Avs would be in a much better position if they didn't stink at home with a 9-9-3 record. | ||
| 9 | 1 Last Week: 8 | Sure, coach Mike Yeo would like to see improvement on special-teams play (the PP is 20th and PK is 23rd), and offense continues to be an issue as the Wild lost 2-1 at home Sunday to a reeling Devils team. Still, this is a good team that should be playoff bound. | ||
| 10 | 4 Last Week: 6 | The Blues seem to lose a couple of players every night and have given way to the surging Blackhawks, who now own second place in the Central. The Blues will get more news on No. 1 goalie Jake Allen, Paul Stastny and others. They could use some good news for a change on the injury front. | ||
| 11 | 1 Last Week: 10 | The Lightning have a rare two-game win streak and have gone 4-2-1 in their last seven, which for them qualifies as a hot streak. Their recent play is good enough to sneak into a playoff spot. Unresolved issues with Jonathan Drouin, working on his game in the minors while awaiting a trade, and captain Steven Stamkos, who is awaiting an extension, will continue to dog the Lightning, though. | ||
| 12 | 1 Last Week: 11 | The Penguins came up with a nice road win in Montreal on Saturday and are quietly getting it under Mike Sullivan and are back in the playoff discussion in the Metro. Marc-Andre Fleury is quietly having a Vezina-worthy season with a .928 save percentage and is the team's clear-cut MVP. | ||
| 13 | 7 Last Week: 20 | The Ducks are 5-2-1 in their last eight after losing 2-1 on Sunday to the Wings. If John Gibson keeps playing as well as he has, he will shoulder his way into the Vezina Trophy discussion with his 1.84 GAA. The Ducks are tops in the league on the penalty kill and 10th on the power play and right back in the playoff chase in the Pacific. | ||
| 14 | 2 Last Week: 16 | The Canadiens have won three of 12. Carey Price won't be back until after the All-Star break; his return can't come soon enough, although the Habs' slide reflects problems much deeper than goaltending. | ||
| 15 | 4 Last Week: 19 | Something is still amiss with the boys in blue. A big win over the Stars last week was followed up by a disappointing loss in overtime to the Caps on Saturday. The Rangers have the Bruins, Islanders, Flyers and Capitals this week. Another off week and that once-comfortable playoff spot could become precarious. | ||
| 16 | 11 Last Week: 27 | The Flyers rebounded from an awful western trip with three straight wins. GM Ron Hextall continues to work his magic, somehow convincing the Kings to take Vincent Lecavalier and Luke Schenn while his squad stays in the hunt for a wild-card spot in the East. | ||
| 17 | 10 Last Week: 7 | Speaking of precarious, the Islanders are out of sync after losing three of four and have given up 18 goals as they try to battle through injuries to key defenders. | ||
| 18 | 4 Last Week: 14 | The Bruins are not exactly lighting it up in 2016, going 1-2-1, including their Winter Classic debacle against the Canadiens. Brad Marchand is back from suspension, but the B's really miss David Krejci. | ||
| 19 | 4 Last Week: 23 | The Senators were embarrassed in Washington on Sunday 24 hours after coming up with a big win at home over the Bruins. Now the Sens and their 28th-ranked penalty kill head out west for three. | ||
| 20 | 11 Last Week: 9 | A big test will come for the Devils, who are missing Mike Cammalleri, but they came up with a big road win against the Wild in the first of four Western tilts. Offense is still a major challenge and Cammalleri's long-term absence could adversely affect the Devils' continued presence in the playoff discussion in the East. | ||
| 21 | 3 Last Week: 18 | The Hurricanes are quietly better than most people thought they would be. It's still hard to imagine they will be anything but sellers at the deadline, but perhaps the Canes aren't as far away as many expected. | ||
| 22 | 1 Last Week: 21 | The Flames have gone into one-step-forward-one-step-back mode and lost ground to the Coyotes and Ducks in the hunt for one of two playoff spots in the Pacific, once you get beyond the division-leading Kings. | ||
| 23 | 1 Last Week: 24 | The Canucks want to move Chris Higgins as GM Jim Benning tries to retool on the fly. They are still very much part of the playoff discussion in the Pacific, although the great fade could come at any time. | ||
| 24 | 12 Last Week: 12 | Not surprising that GM David Poile went after help down the middle in getting Ryan Johansen from the Blue Jackets, just a bit surprised he opted to surrender Seth Jones to get it. Either way, the Preds are still going sideways, losing three straight and five of their past six, getting outscored 19-10 in that span. | ||
| 25 | 1 Last Week: 26 | The Sharks still look like a team that will be on the outside looking in come playoff time, no matter how tepid the Pacific is. After all, you only get to play the Maple Leafs so many times, right? | ||
| 26 | 4 Last Week: 22 | A disappointing loss to the Sabres at home on Sunday is a bitter pill to swallow as fans and the team were hoping to spoil Evander Kane's return; Kane generously set up the empty-netter in Buffalo's 4-2 win. Last place in the Central for the uneven Jets is another bitter pill to swallow. | ||
| 27 | 2 Last Week: 25 | Every week or two, the wheels come completely off for the Leafs, as they did Saturday in San Jose, where they lost 7-0. It reminds you that they just aren't that good. | ||
| 28 | 1 Last Week: 29 | Connor McDavid isn't back until after the All-Star break, and by then the Oilers will be firmly established as sellers in the trade market once again. Don't be deceived by their relative proximity to a playoff spot in the Pacific, it's better to look at where they sit in the conference standings -- and that is dead last. | ||
| 29 | 1 Last Week: 30 | The Sabres ended a six-game slide with a big win in Winnipeg on Sunday as Zach Bogosian and Evander Kane faced their former team. But the Sabres are what they are, and that is a team that still has little clue about winning consistently. | ||
| 30 | 2 Last Week: 28 | I really like the deal for Seth Jones and I think Blue Jackets fans will come to love it, even if they will have to settle for being spoilers as the second half of the season begins. | ||
Matt Hunsberger
The
Capitals now have 32 wins in 42 games. They have the best +/- in the
league by a country mile with a +49 compared to the Stars +33. They
have 6 forwards and 4 defenseman who are +11 or better and Ovechkin
leads the way with a +21. They're 2nd in the league in goals allowed
and 2nd in the league in goals scored. Holtby is on pace to be the
first goalie in the history of the NHL with 50 wins in the regular
season and he has a 1.93 GAA and a .932 SVP. They have an 18 point lead
in their division and an 11 point lead in the conference at the midway
point of the season. They are the best team in the NHL and are built
for playoffs success. All those guys that roll out that tired song that
the Caps will choke in the playoffs again are living in the past and
either don't actually know anything about hockey or haven't been
watching the Capitals play this year.
Andrew Moelis ·
I
mean, they're first in these rankings, so what exactly are you
complaining about? Until the Capitals do it in the playoffs, there will
be doubters. And that will be perfectly fine.
Frankly, there should be playoff questions about all teams not hailing from Los Angeles or Chicago. Its been what? 6 or 7 years since anyone else really stood a chance? I guess Boston won 5 years ago... 
William Angelo Smith ·
I hope the CAPS do not implode. It would be great to see a Washington and Chicago Stanley Cup Final! wink emoticon
Paul Cappitelli
Most
hockey fans see the Caps as a top tier team this year, but I don't
believe you can say definitively they are built for the playoffs until
you see them actually have success in the playoffs. I am not saying
they will not perform in the post season this year, but an intelligent
fan will remain reserved until they actually do get that monkey off of
their back.
Martin Wilbur
Paul
Cappitelli Agreed. They have everything in place to make a big run, but
that's something this franchise has mysteriously had trouble doing.
Scott Boyle ·
Caps
are great. But, they were great a few years ago also and still were
choking dogs in the playoffs. This team could certainly be different but
until they at least make the ECF I'll wait to proclaim them the Cup
favorites. Right now, LA and Chicago are and should be the teams to beat
until proven otherwise.
Rudi Luczyn ·
Works at Brio Tuscan Grille
Agreed
on everything. Caps are legit. They will at least make it to the SCF
thats for sure, baring injury crisis. Nobody out East stands a chance.
But there are a couple teams out of Chicago and Los Angeles that are
good enough to beat the Caps 4 out of 7, though it would be close.
Gary Krall
Given the fact they haven't had playoff success, how exactly are they "Built for playoff success?
David Tambeaux ·
Works at Center for Vein Restoration
Gary
Krall Well they do now have two players with Stanley Cup Champion cred
in Brooks Orpik and Justin Williams (3 times), so that is certainly
beneficial to the rest of the gang. Not one who believes that leopards
change their spots, I am skeptical about Ovie playing two way hockey in
the SC playoffs until proven otherwise. Floating does not work when the
games get tighter and the stakes get higher.
Adam Miller ·
Works at Passport Software Inc.
"Aww,
that's adorable." --said the 2012-2013 Blackhawks, who outscored their
opponents by 50% for the season...in the Western Conference!
Ace Demamp
We certainly haven't watched them 8n the playoffs this year either lol.. the future will tell
John Rogers ·
David Tambeaux You can add Mike Richards to the list of Stanley Cup winners also.
David Tambeaux ·
Works at Center for Vein Restoration
John
Rogers Right, forgot about him. However, it is certainly premature to
determine Mike Richards improving the Capitals' chances. He may well
still be working through his demons.
Adam Miller ·
Works at Passport Software Inc.
The
Kings...the Lightning...teams look great one year and mediocre the
next. This year Washington looks strong. Of course, two weeks ago
Dallas did too. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks lose Saad, Oduya,
Sharp...player after player, and they just keep rolling along. Ho-hum.
See you in June, rest of the NHL.
Rick Baran
The
Kings were injured and had there second best defender in prison for
being a complete pos. Now they are healthy and have filled in the gaps
with young great talent. aka, back to where they have been the last four
years before.
Andrew Moelis ·
Rick
Baran - Not to mention, at no point did the Kings look "mediocre".
They play a tight game which, as we've seen, doesn't lend itself to
crazy regular season point totals. But its stifling and almost
impossible to counter in a 7 game series.
Adam Miller ·
Works at Passport Software Inc.
Rick
Baran By "where they were before", do you mean: golfing, 6th place,
5th, 8th, 7th, 6th? Then abysmal before that? The Kings have been a
good playoff team and no one can take away the rings. But Andrew
Moelis--they have absolutely had mediocre regular season results and
have missed or nearly missed the playoffs consistently.
Richard Myers ·
ummm,
while the kings were "mediocre" and won 2 cups and made it to the
western conference finals the other time, what was happening to all the
president's trophy winners? BUILT FOR THE PLAYOFFS
David Tambeaux ·
Works at Center for Vein Restoration
Rick
Baran Why do you King fans whine about injuries? The Blackhawks played
the last month and a half last year without one of the five best
offensive players in the league. No one made excuses and hit the links.
Rosival broke his ankle and they made due with 4 real defensemen for
the WCF and SCF. No one on the Hawks or their fans whined about
injuries contributing to the problem. Why is it always an excuse when
the Kings do not win. Last year all they had to do was beat lowly
Edmonton and they could not do it.
Adam Miller ·
Works at Passport Software Inc.
Richard
Myers Is this really a debate you want to have? The Blackhawks have
finished ahead of the Kings in the standings every year except '10-'11,
when LA was ONE point ahead of them. They have 3 Cups to 2, and it could
be 4 to 1 but not for a WC game 7 OT coin-flip. Like I said, Kings
have been tough in the playoffs. But let's not go tugging on Superman's
cape.
Andrew Moelis ·
Adam Miller - Yes, and you could say it could be 3-2 Kings if not for Anze Kopitar being injured in 2013. Terrible argument.
No Kings fan should be whining about injuries last year. LA plays a game which isn't well suited to the regular season, but has been pretty dominant in the postseason. Tough to beat them in a 7 game series. Who cares where you finish in the regular season? LA is consistently the best team in the league by all the metrics which have long-term predictive value for success. Which would mean squat, if they didn't also have the second most successful history in the NHL over the last 5-7 years. 
Daniel Doyle ·
I
was hoping for a rematch with the kings last year in the playoffs as a
hawks fans but the kings couldn't get there for some reason. This year
it's setting up as hawks-kings again and I can't wait. That 7 game
series in 2014 was heavy weight slugfest.
Adam Miller ·
Works at Passport Software Inc.
Andrew Moelis Yeah, because a game 7 OT is the same thing as a 4-1 series.
Sergio Bonilla
Andrew
Moelis There's no real comparison. While there's no guarantee that the
Blackhawks would have won the Cup in 2014, there's a big difference
between what the Kings might have accomplished if not for an injury and
knowing that the result of the Blackhawks losing in the WCF contributed
to a rule change this year. 4-1 and 3-2 are wishful thinking, when it
probably would have been 3-1.
Daniel Doyle ·
Sergio Bonilla the hawks woulda trounced the rangers in '14
 
Enrique Comas ·
Caps
vs Panthers tickets purchased. Cannot wait for these two teams to meet.
Cats beat the caps earlier this year but the Caps are on another level.
Sucks though because the Panthers are not getting as much attention due
to the Capitals domination. It is warranted but man o man are these
teams hot and making noise. Feb 2nd can't come sooner. Go Cats! #RatAttack
Michael Brinton ·
How
about my Flyers, rising up 11 spots after a great week of play. If
these Power Rankings only counted GM play as well, as Ron Hextall
continues to dump salary, trade bad contracts, and players the ex GM
thought would be a great addition. They might be able to make a few more
deals around the deadline, and for gods sake.....they will be able to
be players in the F/A pool this upcoming year. All this, plus the young
talent in the minors gaining experience, this team could very well be a
contender in 2 or so more years.
#ronhextallforconsmythe 
Michael Weiss ·
Nice to see the flyers playing like God intended them to! Lol
I
THINK we are now at the point where fans should acknowledge that
Florida is ranked correctly. Its not the players fult we have crappy
hockey fans down here. On the bright side, once we get close to the
playoffs the arena will be the "IT" place to be seen for all the
insecure sheep who live down here. They wont know what icing is, butthey
will enjoy their cocktails and selfies so they cn show all their
"friends" how cool they are going to a hockey game. SoFla baby!!!!!
Michael Weiss ·
Chris Larson hey, I've been living this reality since 1982!!!' Not easy cheering for the local teams in SoFla
We
have a good group of core fans, about 8,000 - 10,000 strong. And it is
not a fan problem. Half the people here (me included) came here from
elsewhere. Most of the transplants never adopted Panthers as their team
like I have. So, they come when their Rangers, Devils, islanders, Red
Wings, Penguins, Flyers (I hate Flyers fans) come to town. Their kids
will be Florida fans.
|
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