The NHL season is officially in full swing, with each team having played at least six games. While it’s still early, we definitely have a better grasp of how each team’s season will play out. Let’s jump right into our Week 3 Power Rankings.
1. Colorado Avalanche
Record: 5-0-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 3
The new big three in Colorado; Nathan Mackinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas, have combined for 29 points this season. Necas has 11 points alone, and that Mikko Rantanen trade is looking more and more like a masterclass from general manager Chris MacFarland. Scott Wedgewood has started all seven games and has been stellar with a .927 save percentage.
2. Vegas Golden Knights
Record: 5-0-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 8
The Golden Knights have won four straight games following a 1-0-2 start. They are led by their high flying offense, with three players in double digit point figures already. Vegas is also second in the league in power play percentage. However, the goalkeeper situation is still in limbo, as both Adin Hill and Akira Schmid have sub .900 save percentages thus far.
3. Carolina Hurricanes
Record: 5-1-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 3
The Hurricanes started the season 5-0-0 before a slip up against Vegas Monday night. Carolina has been excellent at 5-on-5, as they usually are, with every forward having a positive plus-minus player. However, Nikolaj Ehlers, who signed a $51 million dollar contract, has only one point in six games.
4. Winnipeg Jets
Record: 5-1-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 5
The Jets are looking every bit like the President Trophy winners they were last year. Mark Schiefle and Kyle Connor have been outstanding, and Connor Hellebuyck’s .927 save percentage has led Winnipeg to five consecutive wins. They rank third in power play percentage and first in penalty killing. If you don’t think this team is scary, wait for Adam Lowry and Cole Perfetti to come back.
5. New Jersey Devils
Record: 5-1-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 7
Just like the Jets, the Devils have won five straight after an opening night loss. Also similar to Winnipeg, New Jersey ranks top five in both power play percentage and penalty killing. Jacob Markstrom is on the shelf for a few weeks with a lower body injury, but Jake Allen has been excellent in net with a .931 save percentage in four starts.
6. Montreal Canadiens
Record: 5-2-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 9
The Canadiens were a popular pick to take the biggest step forward in the league this year, and two weeks in and they’re proving those people right. The scary thing about Montreal is that it doesn’t seem like they have found their footing yet. Nick Suzuki and Ivan Demidov each only have one goal, and Patrik Laine has one point on the season. Despite that, the Canadiens sit at 5-2-0 and they’re only going to get better.
7. Detroit Red Wings
Record: 5-1-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 11
The Red Wings have been one of the league’s pleasant surprises early on in this young season. Dylan Larkin is red hot, as he is coming off a four point performance, and has 11 points overall for the season. Cam Talbot has been excellent in net, having won all three of his starts. The biggest takeaway from Detroit early on is their penalty killing, in which they are currently fourth-best in the league, a year after finishing dead last in that category.
8. Washington Capitals
Record: 5-2-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 10
Spencer Carbury’s team is continuing to show that last season was no fluke. They are dominating again at 5-on-5 hockey, and Washington has the best goalie duo in the league with Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren. The Capitals are in the bottom half of the league in both the power play and penalty killing, but because of their excellence at even strength they haven’t needed amazing special teams production.
9. Dallas Stars
Record: 3-3-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 1
It’s been a tale of two seasons so far for the Stars, as they followed up a 3-0-0 Week 1 with a pointless Week 2. The stars on offense have been just fine, but keeping the puck out of the net has been a huge problem. Dallas has surrendered multiple goals in every game this season, including at least four goals four different times. The Stars need more from their blue liners, or Jim Nill may have to find replacements.
10. Toronto Maple Leafs
Record: 3-3-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 12
It’s been an up-and-down season so far for Toronto, as they have struggled to find consistency thus far. William Nylander is third in the league in points with 13. John Tavares and Auston Matthews each have four goals. However, Anthony Stolarz’s sub .900 save percentage is unacceptable considering the contract he received this offseason.
11. Utah Mammoth
Record: 5-2-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 25
Four straight wins for Utah, as they are establishing themselves as a threat in the West. Nick Schmaltz has eight points in his last four games, and Clayton Keller is averaging over a point per game as well. Karel Vejmelka is 4-1 in net, and if he keeps it up this is a team to watch out for this season.
12. Edmonton Oilers
Record: 3-3-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 6
Considering how poor Edmonton usually is to start the season, a 3-3-1 record certainly isn’t bad at all. Stuart Skinner finally seems to be asserting himself as the starting goaltender, as he has a .909 save percentage compared to Calvin Pickard’s .865. Evan Bouchard has been uncharacteristically bad, with only one point in seven games and a minus-five when he’s on the ice. The Oilers need the quarterback of their power play to be better.
13. Pittsburgh Penguins
Record: 5-2-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 23
Dan Muse is off to a fantastic start in his first season behind the bench. The Penguins are a surprising 5-2-0, and they have taken advantage of a weak start from the Metropolitan Division early on. Tristan Jarry and Arturs Silovs may be the best goalie tandem in the league after the aforementioned Thompson and Lindgren of Washington. Evgeni Malkin is showing no signs of slowing down, as the 39-year old has 10 points in what is a contract year for the future hall of famer.
14. Florida Panthers
Record: 4-4-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 2
The Panthers are clearly missing their two stars, and unfortunately neither will be back anytime soon. Sam Bennett has only two points in eight games, and Florida is counting on him to be their top center with Aleksander Barkov on the shelf. Paul Maurice’s team has also been uncharacteristically bad at even strength. The Panthers have been bailed out by Sergei Bobrovsky, who like a fine wine only gets better with age.
15. Anaheim Ducks
Record: 3-2-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 16
Joel Quenneville is quickly building a winning culture in Anaheim, and the Ducks are looking like a dark-horse playoff contender this year. The young forwards are leading the way, as four of their top five scorers are no older than 22. In a weak Pacific Division, Anaheim not only has the opportunity to end their seven season playoff drought, but they have a chance to finish top three in the division.
16. Columbus Blue Jackets
Record: 3-3-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 21
Columbus has found their footing with back to back wins following a 1-3-0 start. Their top line has led the way, as they all have at least a 5 on the plus-minus scale. Kirill Marchenko has five goals in seven games. The Blue Jackets’ real calling card, however, has been their goaltending, as both Elvis Merzlinkins and Jet Greaves have been outstanding with save percentages over .925 each.
17. Minnesota Wild
Record: 3-3-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 13
The Wild have relied on their top-ranked power play to carry them through a slow start, and with that unit being so dominant early on they’ve stolen a couple of games. Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy each have 10 points, but the rest of the offense has been lackluster. Minnesota’s problem has been keeping the puck out of the net, as the penalty killing has been awful and Filip Gustavsson has a sub .900 save percentage.
18. St. Louis Blues
Record: 3-2-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 14
As I mentioned in my preseason power rankings, the Blues don’t have a bonafide superstar, but they have tremendous depth. That has shown early on with Jake Neighbours, their highest scorer, only having five points, however the Blues are 3-2-1. Jordan Binnington has settled in after a horrific start, and the Blues should be just fine this season.
19. Vancouver Canucks
Last Week’s Ranking: 26
Coming off a 3-1-0 road trip, it’s time to put Vancouver in the top 20 for the first time this season. Conor Garland has a four game point streak going, and he was the focal point of the Canucks successful road trip, which included wins in Dallas and Washington. It’s time Thatcher Demko has full reigns in British Columbia, as his .922 save percentage is nearly 50 points higher than Kevin Lankinen’s.
20. Seattle Kraken
Last Week’s Ranking: 17
Similar to St. Louis, Seattle likes to spread the puck around, as four players are tied for the team lead in scoring with five points. However, inconsistent goaltending has led to three losses in the last four games for the Kraken. We’ve seen three different goaltenders already this season in the Pacific Northwest, and none of them has been able to establish themselves as the top guy in net.
21. Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 3-2-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 27
The Flyers are taking advantage of their weak division, and this season is a great opportunity for them to dig themselves out of the bottom of the Metropolitan standings, somewhere they’ve been for a number of years. Sean Couturier has seven points so far, and Owen Tippet has put five pucks in the back of the net. Trevor Zegras is still looking for his first goal as a Flyer.
22. Los Angeles Kings
Record: 2-3-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 19
It has been a nightmare start for the Kings, and things only got worse when captain Anze Kopitar had to be put on injured reserve due to a foot injury. The Kings have been hurt by atrocious goaltending, with both of their current netkeepers having save percentages below .890. If their rough start to the season continues, don’t be shocked if Jim Hiller is on the hot seat, if he’s not already.
23. Tampa Bay Lightning
Record: 1-3-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 15
Jon Cooper’s team could not have had a worse start to their season. Nikita Kucherov has missed two games, yet still has a -8 on the ice. Only one player has more than two goals, that being Anthony Cirelli with three. It seems like father time may be catching up to Andrei Vasilevskiy, as the two-time Stanley Cup champion has not looked like himself this season.
24. New York Rangers
Record: 3-4-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 24
You have to feel for Igor Shesterkin, as despite a ridiculous .957 save percentage in six starts, he only has two wins. This offense can’t score to save their lives. In four games at Madison Square Garden, they have scored one goal total. The blueshirts desperately need Vincent Trocheck back, but with the alternate captain being on LTIR, they’re going to have to figure out solutions in the meantime.
25. Chicago Blackhawks
Record: 3-2-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 31
The Blackhawks finally seem to be turning a corner in what’s been a long and painful rebuild. Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar each have seven points so far. Spencer Knight has also been terrific as the new netkeeper, and it looks like the 24-year old could be the goalie of the future in Chicago. Who knows what the rest of the season will look like, but Blackhawk fans have to be excited about the young core they’re building.
26. New York Islanders
Record: 3-3-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 29
Matthew Schaefer has been everything Islander fans were hoping for as the No. 1 overall pick, as the 18-year old has seven points to lead the team. The veteran forwards are doing their thing as well, but Ilya Sorokin has been one of the worst goalies in the league this season. The former Vezina finalist has an .873 save percentage thus far. If that continues, look for backup David Rittich to see the ice more.
27. Ottawa Senators
Record: 2-4-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 22
It’s hard to believe how bad Ottawa’s goaltending has been this year, as they have surrendered at least three goals in each of their first seven games. The penalty killing has been laughably bad, as they have surrendered 11 power play goals on 26 attempts. Brady Tkachuk being out certainly doesn’t help either, and their outlook for the rest of the season looks troubling.
28. Boston Bruins
Record: 3-5-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 18
That’s five straight losses for the Bruins following three straight victories to open the season. Jeremy Swayman has regressed over the last week after a really strong start. David Pastrnak can only do much offensively for this team. This is a new Bruins team from previous seasons, and it may take time for things to fully develop.
29. Nashville Predators
Record: 2-3-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 20
It turns out Nashville’s strong start was an anomaly, and this team is every bit as bad as they were last year. The Predators can’t score to save their lives, and their power play, or lack thereof, is dead last in the league with a success rate of 8.33 percent. There’s only so much Jusse Saros can do if Nashville refuses to score goals.
30. Buffalo Sabres
Record: 2-4-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 32
The Sabres have won two of their last three following an 0-3-0 start. Did anyone think the Sabres would have the second best penalty killing in the league up to this point? I don’t think so. Alex Lyon has started all six games in net and has been outstanding with a .924 save percentage. A lack of scoring is holding this team back, and they are clearly missing the production of J.J. Peterka, who is now in Utah.
31. Calgary Flames
Record: 1-6-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 28
It turns out the Flames are just as bad as I thought they would be before the start of the season. They just don’t score, and that’s not too surprising considering their offensive outlook coming into the season. What has been surprising, though, is how bad Dustin Wolf has looked. The Calder Trophy finalist has been outplayed by backup Devin Cooley, who may be the only positive on this entire team right now.
32. San Jose Sharks
Record: 0-4-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 31
The Bay Area is home to the last winless team in the NHL this season. The Sharks haven’t really had any problems scoring this year, and former No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini is looking like a superstar. The problem for San Jose has been keeping pucks out of their net, as they have surrendered at least three goals in every game this season. Expect the growing pains to continue for a team as young as the Sharks are.
