Current NHL Power Rankings: Threats to the Capitals are surfacing

Updated: March 28,2016, 9:46PM,EDT

By Joe McDonald (posted March 28,2016)

ESPN Illustration

It's getting serious. No more messing around.
With 14 days remaining in the 2015-16 regular season, teams continue to battle for postseason positioning. The top teams are cementing themselves, while others are trying to secure a playoff berth. We've learned in the past that the regular-season standing really don't matter once the puck drops on the Stanley Cup playoffs, but these top teams have been impressive down the stretch.
Once again, we have some movement in the rankings this week.

2015-2016 Power Rankings: Week 25
RANK	TEAM / RECORD	TRENDING	COMMENTS
1	Washington 53-16-5	1 Last Week: 2	Clinched Eastern Conference title. Caps have eight games remaining and will next face the Blue Jackets on Monday. Still waiting to clinch the Presidents' Trophy and with a win against the Blue Jackets on Monday, Washington can clinch home-ice advantage throughout the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs. Capitals forward T.J. Oshie has missed the last two games with the flu.
2	Dallas 45-22-9	4 Last Week: 6	Clinched a playoff berth. On Saturday, Mattias Janmark scored twice to lead the Stars to a 4-2 win over the Sharks. It was their fourth win in the past five games. Dallas has six games remaining in the regular season and faces the Predators on Tuesday.
3	St. Louis 45-22-9	2 Last Week: 5	The Blues are getting hot at the right time, producing a four-game winning streak -- all shutouts -- and going 8-2-0 in their past 10 games. They have an identical record to the Stars, but Dallas has a 43-40 advantage in the ROW tiebreaker and remains atop the Central Division. The Blues have six regular-season games remaining and face the Avalanche on Tuesday.
4	Pittsburgh 42-25-8	1 Last Week: 3	The Penguins continue to roll without key players, and have won eight of the past nine games to move within three points of the Rangers for second place in the Metro. The Penguins are getting major contributions from Sidney Crosby, while teammate Phil Kessel has seven points in the past two games.
5	Los Angeles 45-25-5	4 Last Week: 1	Clinched a playoff berth. The Kings have seven games remaining and next face the Sharks on Monday. They are 6-3-1 in the past 10 games. On Saturday, the Kings snapped a three-game losing skid with a 6-4 win over the Oilers. Tyler Toffoli had two goals and two assists in the win.
6	Chicago 44-25-7	1 Last Week: 7	The defending champions clinched an eighth consecutive postseason berth with a 3-2 win over the Canucks on Sunday. Chicago is four points back of the Stars and Blues for first place in the Central Division. The Blackhawks have six games remaining and next face the Wild on Tuesday.
7	New York 43-24-9	5 Last Week: 12	The Rangers have played inspired hockey of late. On Saturday, they recorded their third consecutive victory with a 5-2 win over the Canadiens. Chris Kreider scored a goal and added an assist, matching a career-high for points in a game. It was his sixth career multi-goal game. New York earned a point Sunday against the Penguins, but lost 3-2 in overtime.
8	Florida 42-24-9	5 Last Week: 13	Sitting atop the Atlantic Division, the Panthers will face the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Roberto Luongo is 32-18-6 on the season, three wins shy of his own single-season franchise record, set in 2005-06. Jussi Jokinen has four goals and four assists in the past five games.
9	Anaheim 41-23-10	5 Last Week: 4	Clinched a playoff berth. The Ducks have eight games remaining and next face the Oilers on Monday. Forward Rickard Rakell has reached the 20-goal plateau for the first time in his NHL career.
10	Tampa Bay 43-27-5	1 Last Week: 9	Captain Steven Stamkos is on a five-game point streak, with five goals and two assists in that span. Tampa has seven games remaining and faces the Maple Leafs on Monday. Tampa lost defenseman Anton Stralman to a broken leg over the weekend and will be without him for the remainder of the regular season. The team hopes the veteran D-man will return at some point during the playoffs.
11	Nashville 39-23-13	-- Last Week: 11	The Predators have recorded a point in 10 consecutive games at home (7-0-3). Forward James Neal has reached the 30-goal plateau for the second time in his career. The Preds have seven games remaining and will next face the Avalanche on Monday.
12	Minnesota 37-28-11	6 Last Week: 18	The Wild have begun to separate themselves in the wild-card race. They've won five consecutive games and are now five points ahead of the Avalanche for the final wild-card position in the West. Minnesota has six games remaining and next will face the Blackhawks on Tuesday. Wild forward Erik Haula has three goals and five assists for eight points in the past eight games.
13	New York 40-25-9	1 Last Week: 14	The Islanders have scuffled of late and entered Saturday's game with four losses in their previous five, but New York posted a 4-3 win over the Hurricanes. The Islanders remain in the first wild-card spot in the East.
14	San Jose 41-28-6	4 Last Week: 10	On the verge of clinching a postseason berth. Have seven games remaining and will face the Kings Monday night.
15	Boston 40-28-8	-- Last Week: 15	The Bruins snapped a five-game losing skid with a 3-1 win over the lowly Maple Leafs on Saturday. Boston has six games remaining and will next face the Devils on Tuesday.
16	Philadelphia 36-25-13	8 Last Week: 8	The Flyers got a scare when captain Claude Giroux tumbled head-first into the boards over the weekend, but he could be in the lineup Monday against the Jets. A loss to the Coyotes prevented the Flyers from gaining ground in the wild-card race, though. They face the Capitals and Senators this week.
17	Colorado 38-33-4	1 Last Week: 16	Five points could be too much ground to make up with only seven games remaining in the regular season for the Avalanche. It won't get any easier for Colorado, which faces the Predators, Blues and Capitals this week. It doesn't help that the Avalanche are without Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene due to injury.
18	Detroit 37-27-11	1 Last Week: 17	While the Red Wings remain on the bubble in the Eastern wild-card race, veteran forward Pavel Datsyuk became the fifth player in franchise history to reach 600 assists when he registered one helper during Saturday's 7-2 loss to the Penguins.
19	Carolina 33-28-15	2 Last Week: 21	Forward Victor Rask, 23, reached the 20-goal plateau for the first time in his NHL career with a pair of tallies during Sunday's 3-2 win over the Devils.
20	New Jersey 36-32-8	-- Last Week: 20	The Devils have six games remaining and are 5-4-1 in last 10 games. New Jersey faces the Bruins and Panthers this week.
21	Arizona 34-34-7	2 Last Week: 23	Well out of the playoff structure with seven games remaining, the Coyotes are in the midst of a three-game winning streak. Arizona has also won six of its past eight games. The Coyotes are 10 points out of the second wild-card spot in the West.
22	Ottawa 34-33-9	3 Last Week: 19	The Sens have six games remaining and will face the Jets, Wild and Flyers this week.
23	Buffalo 31-34-10	2 Last Week: 25	Jack Eichel now has 23 goals and 27 assists to become the ninth rookie in franchise history to record 50 points.
24	Columbus 30-27-8	2 Last Week: 22	Not too much to get excited about with the Blue Jackets these days, but defenseman Dalton Prout inked a two-year contract extension last week.
25	Calgary 31-38-6	1 Last Week: 24	The Flames have dropped three in a row and have seven games remaining.
26	Edmonton 30-41-7	-- Last Week: 26	Rookie sensation Connor McDavid extended his point streak to seven games (1 G, 9 A). He ranks fourth among rookies with 45 points (15 G, 30 A), despite playing only 41 games this season.
27	Montreal 34-36-6	-- Last Week: 27	The Habs have dropped two in a row and are 4-6-0 in the past 10. Montreal has six games remaining in the regular season.
28	Winnipeg 31-38-6	-- Last Week: 28	The Jets are 4-5-1 in the past 10 and have seven games remaining in the regular season. Forward Mark Scheifele reached a career-high for points in a season with 50 (24 G, 26 A) in 64 games.
29	Toronto 27-36-11	-- Last Week: 29	The Leafs are 6-3-1 in the past 10 and have eight games remaining.
30	Vancouver 27-35-13	-- Last Week: 30	The Canucks have lost eight in a row.
Biggest Jump: 6 Biggest Drop: 8

Patrick Stancel · Brooklyn College Blues go the whole week without even giving up ONE GOAL, catch the Stars in the standings, and the Stars pass the Blues in the power rankings. Like · Reply · 23 · Mar 28, 2016 12:18pm Erick Ahlstedt · Transportation Specialist at My Wife and Kids Yes. The Stars are better than the Blues. Deal with it. Like · Reply · 8 · Mar 28, 2016 1:13pm Marvin Simpson I don't quite get that, either. The Stars have tended to be the team lower in these rankings than our record for quite a while, and that's fine. But having us leapfrog the Blues that have been even hotter than us? I have to disagree with it, too. That said, Go Stars! Like · Reply · 6 · Mar 28, 2016 1:16pm Bradley Willette Marvin Simpson power rankings are stupid anyway. I personally think the stars have more scoring ability than the blues but overall they both play extremely hard and are super talented teams. Is gonna be one hell of a playoff year at the rate we are going so I'm just trying to enjoy it. GO BLUES!! Like · Reply · 5 · Mar 28, 2016 1:27pm Ayman Aboshihata · Advanced Processing Geophysicist II at TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company Erick Ahlstedt na Like · Reply · 1 · Mar 28, 2016 1:56pm Jakob Lagerstedt · Photographer at Stocksy United Amazing, your season is basically over. Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 1:58pm Patrick Stancel · Brooklyn College Erick Ahlstedt Not saying the Stars aren't a great team, but the Blues are 4-1 vs them this year Like · Reply · 2 · Mar 28, 2016 2:02pm Chase Ross · Fort Worth, Texas Patrick Stancel, 3 of those Blues wins were in OT or a shootout, and all but 1 of the games between the two came when the Stars were on the second night of a back-to-back. The only exception was the first game of a home-and-home on consecutive nights. The season series between both teams has been incredibly close, and both teams are on fire. Over the last two weeks, I think both teams have identical records if I'm not mistaken. Also, don't forget that Dallas is playing without Tyler Seguin, Jason Demers, and Kris Russell. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top at the end of the regular season. Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 2:19pm Charles Franklin · La cordon bleu Erick Ahlstedt thay should be number 1 thay are the best team in the N.H.L Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 2:23pm Patrick Stancel · Brooklyn College Chase Ross No arguing that. Haha, I didn't say the Stars were 1-4, just never said 1-1-3! Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 2:52pm Carlton Blood · Production Manager at Innovative Machine & Supply Chase Ross Blues are playing without Steen (currently and for longer since Seguin has been out) and have had the most Player Games Lost due to Injury this year. Yes, they were close this season series, but 4-1 is still 4-1 and you cannot play the injury card with an argument comparing the Blues to Stars. Both teams are great and should (emphasis should) make runs. Like · Reply · 2 · Mar 28, 2016 2:59pm Raylan Harper Bradley Willette Agreed. A matchup between our teams would be great. The Blues size worries me a lot and I think they would ultimately beat us up too much over a series. Nevertheless, good luck to the Blues unless they have to go through Dallas. GO STARS! Like · Reply · 1 · Mar 28, 2016 3:35pm Bradley Willette Raylon the thing for me is the stars can score in an instant. I must say I'm so happy at the way the blues have been playing I mean four straight shutouts is nuts. I can't wait for the playoffs to start and see how this whole thing shakes out. Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 4:47pm Michael Weiss · Boca Raton, Florida Weird p Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 4:59pm Show 8 more replies in this thread Tommy Harrington The Predators are 11th? They have the best record in the NHL since Feb 12 at 14-2-5. The only other team besides Dallas with 2 30 goal scorers. One of the top D squads in the league. Haters going to hate. Like · Reply · 11 · Mar 28, 2016 12:29pm Chase Ross · Fort Worth, Texas Your Preds are hot right now. I would for sure put them in the top 8 at least. Rinne is on fire too. I'm looking forward to their game here in Dallas tomorrow night. Like · Reply · 2 · Mar 28, 2016 2:21pm Eric Johnson · Contracts Advisor at CDS Global The Predators are fourth in their division and have a losing record against all three teams in front of them. Their 11th place ranking is the result of playing in the toughest division in hockey and not consistently beating the teams they are chasing. Like · Reply · 2 · Mar 28, 2016 2:51pm · Edited Austin Nivison · Knoxville, Tennessee Eric Johnson Yeah even though they are 5-0-0 in their last five division games, they aren't beating the teams they are chasing Like · Reply · 1 · Mar 28, 2016 2:54pm Eric Johnson · Contracts Advisor at CDS Global Austin Nivison Two of those 5 games weren't against teams they are chasing, they were against teams behind them. And again, over the course of the whole season, they have a losing record against the three teams in front of them. They are 4th place in their division, I don't have much of an issue with them being 11th, although they could have been bumped up a few spots. Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 3:00pm Scott Brooks · Nashville, Tennessee Chase Ross, that should be a good game. You'll probably get to see our backup goalie, Hutton, since Rinne will most likely get the start tonight against Colorado at home. It'll be interesting to see how that game goes if we're able to wrap up a playoff spot tonight at home. That game has the potential to be an emotional black hole for us if we clinch a playoff spot tonight. Classic trap game. I personally would love to see a Preds v. Stars first round matchup. I think it would be an exciting series. Eric Johnson, you've make a couple of good points. And if you're looking at the season ...See More Like · Reply · 1 · Mar 28, 2016 3:05pm George Pevarnik What is the value of indicating that they have 2 30 goal scorers? The interesting thing then becomes the drop off after Forsberg/Neal - the next highest goal scorer is at 19 goals. Finally, if Malkin isn't injured (27 goals/57 games) he most likely has more goals than Crosby's 32 (only 9 goals in October, November and December). I still ask, what's the value of cherry picking stats!? Like · Reply · 1 · Mar 28, 2016 3:42pm Tommy Harrington Stats have no part in a power rankings article, how dare I bring them up, my bad. Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 3:48pm Kevin Nestra · Works at Music City Tents Scott Brooks no we need to play huts tonight n play rinne tom. we play dallas two more times n beat them couple weeks ago like 5-2. we could pull within 6 from dallas after tom or fewer if they lose Like · Reply · 2 · Mar 28, 2016 6:09pm Chris Cline · CCAC Chase RossWhats wrong with record since New Years or Feb 1st. Fans always pick random dates to make it seem like they are on top like Pens have won 9 of 10 or Best record since January 11th night games? Alot if good team but nobody is hotter than Blues or Caps. Dallas, Pittsburgh, Kings, Rangers all playing inspired hockey. Oh yeah Nashville also Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 7:49pm Phil Jenkins · Cary, North Carolina Ah yes, the oh-so-important "Feb 12th" demarcation. Like · Reply · Mar 29, 2016 10:08am David Lee Eric Johnson Preds are very dangerous...im not looking forward to playing them in the first round.... Like · Reply · Mar 29, 2016 10:55am Susan Graef · Pratt Institute Chris Cline actually the wild are they have been winning 6 straight i believe as of right now Like · Reply · Mar 29, 2016 10:42pm Dave McCue · Stand Worker at TD Garden Tommy Harrington so what. Sharks are the only team in the league with 3- 70 point players ( Thornton-74, Pavelski-74, Burns-70) and they have the best record in the league since Jan 19th. Once they beat the Canucks tonight they'll have 92 points and 42 wins. Only 8 teams in the league have more wins. Yet they're 14. Sharks should definitely be ahead of Nashville. Nashville is one of the few teams that's ranked where they should be. Sharks, not so much. They proved again last night with a beat down of the Kings that they can beat any team in the league. There isn't one team that I can truly say the Sharks cannot beat. Theyre 10-7-2 this season vs the leagues 6 best teams ( Was, Dal, LA, STL, Ana, and Chi) But theyre the 14th best team in the league lol Like · Reply · Mar 29, 2016 11:54pm Show 1 more reply in this thread Nick Just Blues havent allowed a goal in four games and just beat that crap out of Washington yet the Caps are back on top and the Stars are number two.... unsure emoticon Like · Reply · 6 · Mar 28, 2016 12:44pm William West · Works at Apigee The Caps were without Oshie, played the night before and had their back up goalie in. Caps won 3 straight prior to that and the Blues played Vancouver twice. Not saying the Blues aren't great but Caps are still ruling...for now anyway lol Like · Reply · 2 · Mar 28, 2016 1:45pm · Edited Eric Johnson · Contracts Advisor at CDS Global William West The Blues played the night before (also on the road, and they had to travel further than Washington). Blues also played their backup goalie. Blues also won 3 straight going into the game, and unlike you claimed, the Capitals only won the prior two (against Ottawa and New Jersey). Kind of odd that you point out the Blues beat up on Vancouver twice, while the Caps themselves were beating two non-playoff teams from the East, and got absolutely spanked by the Penguins before beating the Devils and Senators. Unless Oshie scores 5 goals by himself, there is no argument that the Caps should have won that game, and your points actually are more in favor of the Blues than the Capitals. Like · Reply · 5 · Mar 28, 2016 2:08pm Peter Somich Eric Johnson, one game erases an entire season? My Caps will be one and done but only Dallas, LA, or Chicago should be ranked ahead of them. Your Blues aren't any better than my Caps in the postseason. Like · Reply · 2 · Mar 28, 2016 2:14pm Nick Just I will admit Caps and Blues tend to not do great during the Post Season, but Caps are having their best year like ever and Blues are getting hot and the end of the season, have all their healthy players back and goalies are playing lights out which has never happened. Peter this is the year that both teams go to Conference Finals! P.S. I love Osh and was devastated when we traded him but I am glad its worked out for both teams! Good Luck in the post season! And as a proud St. Louisian F**k LA and F**k Chicago!!! Like · Reply · 1 · Mar 28, 2016 2:28pm Eric Johnson · Contracts Advisor at CDS Global Peter Somich I didn't bring up the subject about the Capitals season or even state that the Blues have had the better year and we should discard the Cap's record. My point was solely that the justification of why the Cap's loss against the Blues was bogus on just about every level since the Blues had been playing better leading up to that game and faced the same variables the Cap's did. Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 2:34pm William West · Works at Apigee Eric Johnson sorry yes two games prior...regardless not having your vezina winning goalie (most likely) and one of your top line players makes a big difference and that is factored into the rankings. Not to mention literally nothing to play for down the stretch for the caps. Not saying they are going to win the cup but they still have every right to be on top as of now. Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 4:06pm Joseph W Mosley · Works at Self-Employed William West The Blues didn't have Steen OR Bouwmeester. I won't mention everything that everyone else already pointed it but you brushed over 2 players, 1 would be top 6 forward and the other the top D man on the Caps. Arguement = Irrelevant Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 6:42pm Jon Liebman · Rental Management Representative at Enterprise Rent-A-Car Eric Johnson ...... Don't forget the Blues didn't have Steen either. I think the East is overall weak in general. Blues would thrive in the East. Unfortunately they have to go through powerhouses like LA and CHI every year. Blues have 2 stud rookies now, the best goalie duo in the league and a solid D. Hopefully they can finally put it all together. Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 7:52pm · Edited Andy Houska · Installer at Intereum William West the blues were without Steen!!!! Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 11:25pm Andy Houska · Installer at Intereum William West and the blues played the night before...never go full retard Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 11:27pm Lee Stinson · Belmont University "Sitting atop the Atlantic Division, the Lightning will face the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Roberto Luongo is 32-18-6 on the season, three wins shy of his own single-season franchise record, set in 2005-06. Jussi Jokinen has four goals and four assists in the past five games." - Lightning, Panthers, what's the difference? Like · Reply · 8 · Mar 28, 2016 12:11pm Adam Foldes · Queens College Both in florida Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 12:37pm Matt Kleffman · Circulation/Shelving Assistant at York University - Peter F. Bronfman Business Library Joe, I'm not here to flame you, just to suggest that in the future your power rankings include some insight/opinion beyond a simple "record over last 10 games, they lost to xyz team but beat abc, they have x games remaining". For example, nothing about Corey Crawford potentially missing the start of the playoffs with an UBI? That alone could change the complexion of the West if the Hawks get bounced in the first round. Share your thoughts on the teams, not just their records! Just my two cents. Like · Reply · 7 · Mar 28, 2016 12:27pm Doug Pippen I think the Hawk's main problem in the playoffs is their lack of Blueline depth. I think that is more likely to get them tossed out in the 1st round (espeically if they play the Blues), even if Crawford can play. Like · Reply · 1 · Mar 28, 2016 12:40pm Martin Wilbur They also need to get Patrick Kane going again. He's been pretty average recently. Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 1:00pm Joseph Martin I agree. I got bored reading these. I can look at the standings myself to see how they've fared in the last 10. I enjoy reading their opinions instead. Like · Reply · 2 · Mar 28, 2016 1:42pm Paul Georgiou · Engineer, Retail Technology at Eddie Bauer Doug Pippen They won the cup last year with basically 4 DMen. They'll be fine. 3 of the 4 DMen are Olympians. Like · Reply · Mar 28, 2016 4:09pm · Edited Gary Krall Doug Pippen They said the same thing last year. Like · Reply · Mar 29, 2016 1:49pm Dave McCue · Stand Worker at TD Garden Gary Krall it's a good thing this isn't last year. Leave the past in the past. THIS YEAR'S Chicago Blackhawks will get bounced in the 1st round if they don't wake up in the next 2 weeks. Because they look like crap right now Like · Reply · Mar 30, 2016 12:03am