There are three teams in the National Hockey League whose nicknames don't end with the letter ‘s’. Funny enough, those three teams dominate the headline of The Hoosier Network’s Week 8 NHL Power Rankings. Let’s dive into it:
1. Colorado Avalanche
Record: 17-1-5
Last Week’s Ranking: 1
This is the third straight week the three-time Stanley Cup champions are at the top of the power rankings, and it’s no wonder why. Nathan Mackinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas, and the league’s best goaltending duo lead the way for, what is without a doubt, the most complete roster in the league.
2. Dallas Stars
Record: 15-5-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 2
Right behind the Avalanche are their division foes, who have knocked them out of the postseason each of the last two years. They are led by the second best power play in hockey, highlighted by Wyatt Johnston with his league-leading nine power play goals. A big surprise for Dallas this season has been backup goalie Casey DeSmith, as the veteran has outplayed Jake Oettinger up to this point.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning
Record: 14-7-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 7
Five straight wins for the Lightning, who have also won 13 of their last 16. Andrei Vasilevskiy has won each of his last five starts with a save percentage over .950 in each of those games. Having the league’s top penalty killing unit certainly helps as well. Once this power play gets going, the Lightning might be the favorites in the East once playoff time comes. This team is still as dangerous as ever.
4. New Jersey Devils
Record: 15-7-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 4
The Devils still have a long way to go before they’ll get Jack Hughes back, however they have been able to do the job without their star so far. New Jersey possesses both a top ten power play and penalty kill, and, along with the solid play of Jake Allen, has led the team to a solid start. Once Jack Hughes comes back, this is without a doubt the most complete roster in the Metropolitan Division.
5. Anaheim Ducks
Record: 14-8-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 5
The Ducks have cooled off a bit following their seven game win streak in late October and early November. They haven’t had any problems scoring, with their young stars in the top six leading the way. Their problem has been killing penalties, leading to the Ducks being involved in shootouts basically every game. That can’t continue to happen if this team wants to contend in the Pacific.
6. Carolina Hurricanes
Record: 14-7-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 3
This team lives and dies with Pyotr Kochetkov in net, and with the Russian netkeeper currently out with an undisclosed injury, the Hurricanes have struggled tremendously to keep pucks out of their net. And, with a power play unit that has failed to break an early season slump, Carolina is in some trouble right now. That being said, the talent of this roster still has them near the top of the Metropolitan Division.
7. Ottawa Senators
Record: 12-7-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 11
Linus Ullmark has settled in after a brutal start, as the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner has won each of his last three starts and has a save percentage of .900 or better in five of his last six. In addition, their captain, Brady Tkachuk, will make his return to the lineup Friday in his hometown of St. Louis. An already solid Ottawa team is about to get even better.
8. Montreal Canadiens
Record: 12-7-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 10
Following a five game skid, Montreal has gotten back on track with back to back wins. Predictably, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield have led the way for an offense that is still developing. An underrated contributor for the Habs has been veteran blue liner Mike Matheson, as he is playing nearly 25 minutes per game and has a +13 on the season.
9. Minnesota Wild
Record: 13-7-4
Last Week’s Ranking: 19
It’s been a tale of two seasons in Minnesota, as they followed nine losses in 12 games with 10 wins in the next 12 games. The Wild’s resurgence has been led by a duo of duos. Offensively, Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy are both red hot and, funny enough, each have 14 goals and 14 assists. Their goaltending has been outstanding, with both Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt, particularly the latter, being brick walls for opposing offenses.
10. New York Islanders
Record: 13-9-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 9
The Islanders have been winning games thanks to their defense and their goaltending. All of a sudden, their penalty killing is a top ten unit after being in the bottom three for the past half decade. Ilya Sorokin and David Rittich have been a rock solid duo in net, particularly of late. Their power play will need to improve if they want to contend for the playoffs, but there certainly is a lot to be optimistic about on Long Island.
11. Boston Bruins
Record: 14-11-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 10
The Bruins are heavily reliant on Jeremy Swayman and their special teams, and, so far, that strategy has worked. Swayman has been excellent with a .915 save percentage in 16 starts, and Boston possesses the fourth best power play and the seventh best penalty killing in the league. They need to be more disciplined, however, as they have the second most penalty minutes in the league with 316.
12. Vegas Golden Knights
Record: 10-5-8
Last Week’s Ranking: 6
Mark Stone is back from injury, and that is a welcome sign for a Vegas offense that has stagnated without their captain in the lineup. Sure enough, Stone scored in his first game back against Ottawa. You have to think at some point bounces will start going Vegas’ way. Eight overtime losses this early into the season is unfathomable. Bruce Cassidy would also like to see more consistency in net, as no one has been able to assert themselves as the top guy yet.
13. Florida Panthers
Record: 12-10-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 14
Despite the Panthers lacking in many statistical categories, Paul Maurice’s team continues to grind out wins. Matthew Tkachuk has begun skating on his own, and that is a massive development for the back-to-back cup champs. Sam Bennett has woken up with six points in his last five games. Backup goalie Danill Tarasov has been excellent with a .913 save percentage in seven appearances.
14. Pittsburgh Penguins
Record: 11-6-5
Last Week’s Ranking: 13
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin continue to produce late into their Hall of Fame careers, however, the Penguins can’t rely on them to do all the heavy lifting as they could a decade ago. While the special teams and goaltending have been outstanding, Pittsburgh has not done enough at even-strength to win consistently. That being said, points in 16 of the first 22 is not bad for a rebuilding team with a first year head coach.
15. Winnipeg Jets
Record: 12-10-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 8
Connor Hellebuyck, last season’s Vezina and Hart Trophy winner, will be out at least a month after undergoing a knee procedure. Of course, Winnipeg would rather have their star goalie healthy for the long run, however, they have suffered in the short time without him. Backup Eric Comrie isn’t playing badly, but he’s also not playing well enough for this team to win games. It hasn’t helped that the offensive output just hasn’t been the same as a year ago.
16. Washington Capitals
Record: 13-9-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 18
The Capitals have looked more like last season’s team over the last week fews. This offense has exploded for 27 goals in the last five games. They are doing this all despite their atrocious power play and penalty kill. Thanks to the best even-strength play in the league, the special teams really haven't mattered, and Washington is right back in the Metropolitan Division race.
17. Seattle Kraken
Record: 11-6-6
Last Week’s Ranking: 21
The Kraken have been carried by their goaltending, with all three netkeepers who have seen time having save percentages well over .900. That’s quite impressive considering how awful their penalty killing has been. Despite a lackluster offense, the Kraken have managed at least one point in 17 out of 23 games.
18. Los Angeles Kings
Record: 11-6-6
Last Week’s Ranking: 17
It’s been all about Darcy Kuemper in the City of Angels, as the 2022 Stanley Cup Champion has not given up more than three goals in each of his last seven starts. He has been without a doubt their most valuable player this season, and it’s hard to believe where Los Angeles would be without him.
19. Detroit Red Wings
Record: 13-10-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 15
I don’t think there’s a more average team in the National Hockey League than the Red Wings. We know this team will hover around the playoffs all season long, and we’ll see if they can finally snap their nine year playoff drought. They won’t do it if their goaltending continues to let them down, as both John Gibson and Cam Talbot both have sub .900 save percentages.
20. Utah Mammoth
Record: 12-9-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 20
A cold offensive stretch has caused the Mammoth to slip in the standings. Nick Schmaltz, who at one point was rivaling Nathan Mackinnon for points leader across the entire league, has not scored in his last five games. Perhaps Logan Cooley’s recent four goal performance against Vegas can help reignite this offense.
21. Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 12-7-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 27
The Flyers, as usual, are winning games thanks to their penalty killing and their goaltending. Dan Vladar continues his solid play in net, and their penalty killing is as good as any team in the league. However, it will be hard for Philadelphia to end their playoff drought with minimal offensive production.
22. Chicago Blackhawks
Record: 10-8-5
Last Week’s Ranking: 16
The Blackhawks have lost four straight games, three of them being by one goal. That’s just part of the growing pains for such a young team. Connor Bedard is continuing on his breakout season, as the 20-year old has 33 points on the season. Spencer Knight has a legitimate case for the Vezina, as his .920 save percentage ranks second in the league behind Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt who has started half the amount of games.
23. Toronto Maple Leafs
Record: 10-10-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 24
It seems like the Maple Leafs have finally found their answer in net, as Joseph Woll has far outplayed any other goaltender they’ve used this year. An offense that has been stale all season long now has Auston Matthews back. If things go Toronto’s way, they should begin to stack wins and rise up the rankings.
24. Edmonton Oilers
Record: 10-10-5
Last Week’s Ranking: 23
You want to know how bad Edmonton’s goaltending situation currently is? In a recent 8-3 home loss against the Dallas Stars, Oilers fans would mock cheer every time a save was made. It certainly has felt at times this season that it is easier for opposing teams to score than have their shot stopped. The Oilers have been able to tolerate their lackluster goaltending for the last few years, however, it’s now gotten to the point where they could miss the playoffs altogether if they don’t address it immediately.
25. Columbus Blue Jackets
Record: 11-9-4
Last Week’s Ranking: 22
The Blue Jackets do all of their work exclusively in 5-on-5 hockey, as both their power play and penalty killing are in the blues right now. However, unlike teams such as Washington and Carolina, their even-strength play isn’t dominant enough to outweigh their pathetic special teams play. Jet Greaves can only do so much playing behind one of the absolute worst penalty killing groups in hockey.
26. New York Rangers
Record: 12-11-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 25
The Rangers are about as inconsistent as any team in the league, as they often follow up a three game winning streak with a four game losing streak immediately after. The one consistency in the Big Apple this season has been goaltending, as both 2022 Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin and three time Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Quick have been spectacular in net.
27. San Jose Sharks
Record: 11-10-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 26
The Sharks have hit an offensive drought, as they have only scored more than three goals once in their last 10 games. However, rock solid goaltending has made up for that, as both Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic have been extremely effective. Macklin Celebrini has carried the offense, as the Vancouver native has 34 points in 24 games, including a pair of hat tricks.
28. St Louis Blues
Record: 7-10-7
Last Week’s Ranking: 29
The Blues have been playing better the last few weeks, though that hasn’t been reflected in their record. Six of their last seven losses have come by one goal, with five of those six coming in either overtime or the shootout. Just a couple of lucky bounces and St. Louis would be right in the Central Division race. However, as we saw in 2019 and 2025, the Blues are certainly capable of midseason turnarounds.
29. Vancouver Canucks
Record: 10-12-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 28
For whatever reason, the Canucks have played better away from home, as only 3 of their 10 wins have come on home ice. They are led by their warrior, Quinn Hughes, whose 27 minutes of ice time per game is tops in the league. Their power play, which currently ranks eighth, has carried an offense that struggles to score at even strength.
30. Buffalo Sabres
Record: 9-10-4
Last Week’s Ranking: 30
The Sabres continue to be one of the best at killing penalties and their power play is middle of the pack. So what has been their problem this season? Similar to Vancouver, it’s been even strength play. There just isn’t enough upside for this offense to score consistently. In addition, Buffalo needs to pick a direction in net, as they can’t seem to decide whether to start Alex Lyon or Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
31. Calgary Flames
Record: 8-14-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 32
It’s hard to win when your offense refuses to score. When you combine horrible even strength play with the worst power play in hockey, the end result is usually not good. Calgary’s saving grace has been backup goalie Devin Cooley and their penalty killing. Surprisingly, Cooley has outplayed Calder runner-up Dustin Wolf up to this point.
32. Nashville Predators
Record: 7-12-4
Last Week’s Ranking: 31
Nashville has been so bad this season that GM Barry Trotz recently called out his players saying he “needs more” from them. In addition, hockey insider Frank Seravilli recently called Nashville “the most toxic locker room in the NHL”. As I’ve mentioned several times, a major firesale is coming, and basically every player on this roster should be available.
