NHL power rankings: Blues push to the top, Maple Leafs fall
Here are this week’s power rankings, determined by a blend of recent success and long-term potential. For an explanation of some of the advanced stats used below, check out this primer.
Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh received quite the wake-up call on Tuesday in the form of a 5-0 loss to the Rangers. That was avenged this weekend, however, when the Penguins downed New York, 3-2, in a shootout. As you may have heard, the ending was a bit insane.
We know the Penguins are going to score a lot of goals. Question is, can Marc-Andre Fleury live up to his pay stub? He's been solid of late, allowing more than two even strength goals once in his last nine starts. Backup Thomas Greiss has been stellar in limited time, too, stopping 90 of 96 shots on goal thus far. He stopped 30 of 31 against Toronto on Friday en route to a victory.
2. St. Louis Blues (12-4-1) | St. Louis Game Time
Winners of three in a row and 10 of 11, the Blues have found their stride. St. Louis has scored at least four goals in five of seven, and who but Vladimir Tarasenko is leading the way. Tarasenko, who has lit the lamp 10 times this year, has emerged as one of the best young players in the game. Jaden Schwartz and Jori Lehtera have provided secondary scoring with seven goals apiece.
Additionally, Brian Elliott and Jake Allen have goals against averages under 2.00 and save percentages above .930. This goalie tandem is arguably the best in the NHL and should carry the Blues when the scoring dwindles.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning (12-4-2) | Raw Charge
The Lightning dropped two decisions this week -- one to Chicago in OT, one to San Jose -- but earned a big 5-2 win over the Isles on Saturday. Tampa has now won 10 of 12 and appears to be a legitimate contender for the Eastern Conference crown.
Eight Lightning skaters have at least 10 points, and, perhaps more importantly, Ben Bishop has looked good between the pipes. It helps that his team is great at suppressing shots: Lightning opponents are taking just 25.7 5v5 shots on goal per 60 minutes. Bishop has yet to give up more than three goals in a single game.
4. Montreal Canadiens (14-4-1) | Habs Eyes On The Prize
Winners of six straight and first in the NHL in points, the Habs have done about as well as one could hope. Carey Price looks as good as ever, allowing five goals against in his last four starts; Max Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec are producing at near-point-per-game rates.
However, Montreal is still in the bottom-third of the league in nearly every shot differential metric. That needs to change.
5. Nashville Predators (11-4-2) | On The Forecheck
Nashville continued to look good last week, winning two of three. Its lone defeat came at the hands of St. Louis, which, as previously mentioned, has been on fire.
While much the talk has been about the Preds’ offense, it hasn't been outstanding. Nashville is actually scoring at a lower rate this year (2.47) than last (2.61). That low offensive output can be partially attributed to Nashville’s woes on the man-advantage. The power play is converting at a 13.7 percent clip, and the penalty kill is successful just 72.1 percent of the time -- good for 25th and 28th overall, respectively. If the Preds can improve their special teams, they’ll probably stay high in these rankings. If not, a rough stretch may be on the horizon.
While other areas continue to develop, Pekka Rinne has been the one to lead the charge. Now healthy, the Finnish netminder is an early front-runner for the Vezina Trophy with a 1.92 goals against average and .929 save percentage.
6. Anaheim Ducks (11-4-4) | Anaheim Calling
One win in its last six has pushed Anaheim down the rankings. At least Ducks fans can take solace in the fact that all but of those defeats came in an overtime or shootout.
On a more positive note, the Ryan Kesler trade is looking pretty great for Anaheim. Kesler has amassed 15 points thus far (six goals, nine assists), tied for second on the team with Corey Perry. Prior to Sunday’s loss, Kesler found the score sheet in five consecutive games -- including a three-point night against Los Angeles. A fresh start was just what the 30-year-old needed.
GIF: Ryan Kesler with a superb individual effort. Damn. http://t.co/nVGUiIvaY1
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) November 13, 2014 7. Chicago Blackhawks (10-7-1) | Second City Hockey
We’re more than a month into the regular season, and the Blackhawks have won just two more games than they’ve lost. Not exactly the start we envisioned from a Cup favorite.
According to hockeyanalysis.com, the Blackhawks' 5v5 shooting percentage is 29th in the league (5.94). That number is bound to rise with all the offensive firepower they have in tow. And as long as Corey Crawford continues to play well in net, an uptick in save percentage will result in a lot more wins.
Sunday’s 6-2 win over Dallas may be a sign of what’s to come: Chicago scored 1:18 into the contest and broke a 2-2 tie with four goals in the final 20 minutes.
8. Vancouver Canucks (12-6-0) | Nucks Misconduct
Ryan Miller is 11-3-0, but has stopped only 90.2 percent of shots he's faced and gave up five goals against Arizona on Friday. He needs to be better for Vancouver to stay on a winning trajectory.
The Canucks were outscored, 10-1, in their last two defeats. Also, five of their last six wins have come by a single goal. Not exactly a recipe for long-term success.
9. Boston Bruins (11-8-0) | Stanley Cup Of Chowder
The Bruins earned a win on Saturday over Carolina, and boy did they need it. Consecutive losses to Toronto and Montreal -- 5-1 and 6-1, respectively -- all but killed the momentum generated by their recent five-game win streak.
Bruins fans have been sounding off, because of course they have, but this is still a good team. And they'll be fine as long as Tuukka Rask is playing well. With the exception of Wednesday’s disaster in Toronto, Rask has allowed two or fewer goals in every start this month.
10. New York Islanders (11-6-0) | Lighthouse Hockey
The Islanders are not quite in the top tier, but when they’re on, they’re on. Winners of four straight to start the year, New York recently strung together five straight victories this month – two of which came this week.
The streak came to an end on Saturday, when the Isles fell 5-2 in Tampa. It'll be interesting to see how they respond next week when they take on the Lightning again and the Penguins twice.
11. Los Angeles Kings (9-5-4) | Jewels From The Crown
The Kings have been a tough group to figure out in the early going, but that’s nothing new. Los Angeles isn’t known for its fast starts. Last season, the Kings were eighth in the West on Nov. 18; in 2011-12, when LA won its first Cup, it was 9-6-3 on this date.
One of the differences in 2014-15 is the Kings’ possession numbers. They were first in the NHL in Score Adjusted Fenwick at this point in 2013-14. Right now they’re 15th at exactly 50 percent.
12. Detroit Red Wings (8-4-5) | Winging It In Motown
Detroit had a light week, playing just two games. The first one went extremely well, as the Wings downed Chicago, 4-1. Sunday’s contest against Montreal ended with the same score, but with Detroit on the losing end. That defeat was Jimmy Howard’s worst showing of the year, as he stopped 15 of 19 shots.
Mike Babcock is one of the most respected coaches in the game, but some have begun to question his tactics. Kyle of Winging it in Motown recently tackled this subject.
13. Minnesota Wild (10-7-0) | Hockey Wilderness
The Wild dropped four in a row from Nov. 4-11 but have since won three straight. Minnesota continues to drive possession well, and is still first in Score Adjusted Fenwick (56.8).
Zach Parise, who missed limited time with a concussion, returned on Sunday and scored twice in the opening frame as the Wild beat the Jets in overtime, 4-3.
GIF: Parise's 2nd goal http://t.co/r55z8NrQ4H
— Steph (@myregularface) November 16, 2014 14. San Jose Sharks (10-8-2) | Fear The Fin
The Sharks haven't found their stride yet, but that could soon change.
With Alex Stalock on the shelf and Antti Niemi in need of rest, San Jose called on undrafted goalie Troy Grosenick on Sunday in Carolina, and he did not disappoint. The rookie stopped all 45 shots that came his way -- an NHL record for a debut performance -- including this one from Canes forward Zach Boychuk:
The Sharks have a pretty easy schedule on tap with upcoming games against Buffalo, Florida and Arizona. Now is the time for them to make a push up the standings.
15. Calgary Flames (11-6-2) | Matchsticks & Gasoline
After Bob Hartley was fired by Atlanta in 2007, many believed his old-school brand of hockey was growing obsolete. There may still be truth to that sentiment, but he’s doing a heck of job with the young, upstart Flames.
Calgary is just two points behind Anaheim for the top spot in the West and is doing far better than anticipated. That’s all well and good, but the regression monster is putting on his bib and preparing to feast.
The Flames simply cannot maintain a 10.16 5v5 shooting percentage, which is more than a full percentage point above everyone else in the NHL. The losses will start piling up once they stop scoring at an unsustainable rate.
16. New York Rangers (7-6-4) | Blueshirt Banter
Following losses to Edmonton and Toronto, the Rangers earned four much-needed points in three contests this week. Their 5-0 victory over Pittsburgh was just what they needed.
The goaltending is starting to come around. Henrik Lundqvist’s save percentage (.916) is still weighted down by two October losses in which he stopped just 39 of 52. He’s won just two of his last six, but has posted a goals against average of 1.67 in that span.
17. Winnipeg Jets (9-7-3) | Arctic Ice Hockey
Ondrej Pavelec has been a lot better this season (1.99 goals against average, .928 save percentage), but the Jets could be in big trouble if/when he falls off. Winnipeg is currently 29th in the league in goals per game (1.84), ahead of only Buffalo and significantly behind the 28th-ranked Hurricanes (2.18).
Forwards Jim Slater, TJ Galiardi and Chris Thorburn have all played at least 17 games, yet none have tallied a single point. You can't carry that much dead weight in this league and expect to do well.
Blake Wheeler (eight goals), Andrew Ladd (six goals) and Bryan Little (five goals) have been productive, but no other Jet has scored more than twice. Dustin Byfuglien and Evander Kane will start converting more -- each has a shooting percentage below 4.00 -- and the Jets’ league-worst 5v5 shooting percentage will rise. But by how much?
#NHLJets player's 5v5 shooting percentage change this season from previous three seasons: pic.twitter.com/5YIuabUGKv
— Garret Hohl (@garrethohl) November 16, 2014 18. Washington Capitals (7-7-3)| Japers' Rink
A three-game win streak was snapped this week, as Washington dropped consecutive games to New Jersey and St. Louis. Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom continue to lead the way offensively, and Mike Green looks like his old self (12 points in 16 games).
Braden Holtby is looking better, as well, and has conceded two or less goals in his previous three starts. This is a welcoming development for the 25-year-old, who gave up four goals in three straight before this recent uptick. He needs to continue this trend for Washington to reach (or even approach) its potential.
19. Ottawa Senators (8-5-4) | Silver Seven
The Senators went a respectable 1-1-1 on their recent West Coast swing, but the trip further uncovered their problems on defense. Only Calgary, Colorado and Buffalo have worse Score Adjusted Fenwicks, and only Colorado and Buffalo have allowed more shots against per game.
Craig Anderson’s remarkable .935 save percentage has kept Ottawa above water. Question is, how much longer can he put up elite numbers?
20. New Jersey Devils (8-8-2) | In Lou We Trust
Peter DeBoer is, for some reason, hell-bent on riding Cory Schneider. DeBoer has used his starting goalie in all of New Jersey’s 18 games, and it’s not exactly working out. Odds are that won’t change until a new strategy is in place.
Schneider’s numbers have been subpar (2.71 goals against average, .910 save percentage), and running him into the ground isn’t going to make them any better. The Devils will need to start resting him if they wish to make the playoffs.
21. Philadelphia Flyers (7-7-2) | Broad Street Hockey
The Flyers lost both of their contests this week and goaltending is a legitimate problem. Sound familiar?
Neither Ray Emery nor Steve Mason appear to be good enough. As Philadelphia continues to get hammered in possession, this shortcoming will continue to be exposed.
Offensively, Jakub Voracek is paving the way with 26 points (7 goals, 19 assists) -- currently tops in the league, one point ahead of Sidney Crosby. Claude Giroux has been no slouch with five goals and 16 assists.
22. Toronto Maple Leafs (9-7-2) | Pension Plan Puppets
It was an up-and-down week for Toronto. A convincing win over Boston was nice to see. A one goal loss to Pittsburgh was nothing to be ashamed of. Then Buffalo came to town.
The Sabres smacked the Leafs in their own building, 6-2. It was a complete disaster for Toronto, which didn’t take the loss very well.
Kessel's exact reaction when asked for comment: "Get away from me."
— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) November 16, 2014 It will be interesting to see how the Leafs respond to Saturday's embarrassment. Their next four games are against Nashville, Tampa Bay, Detroit and Pittsburgh.
23. Dallas Stars (6-8-4) | Defending Big D
Everything was going terribly for the Stars. Then they snapped a seven-game losing streak with two straight wins. Then everything got terrible again.
Following victories over Arizona and Los Angeles, Dallas fell to Minnesota on Saturday and lost Valeri Nichushkin to a hip injury. Nichushkin, who has struggled mightily since his hot start last year, is expected to miss four months.
The Stars’ top line of Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza and Jamie Benn is fantastic. The depth just isn’t there. Other than those three, who have scored 20 of their team’s 49 goals, only two of Dallas’ players have double-digit points. Additionally, they're now in the bottom third in the league in virtually every shot differential metric.
When you’re constantly pinned in your own zone, and when only one forward line is effective, you need elite goaltending to lead the way. Kari Lehtonen has been good, but not great. He did earn a shutout against the Kings but also surrendered three or more goals in five of seven.
24. Arizona Coyotes (8-9-1) | Five For Howling
There aren't a lot of reasons to watch the Coyotes right now, but Devan Dubnyk is certainly one of them. With Mike Smith struggling in net, Dubnyk has stepped up with a .925 save percentage and a 4-0-1 record. This is the same guy who couldn't keep a job in Nashville while Pekka Rinne was hurt. It's also the same guy who posted sub-.900 save percentages in each of the last two seasons.
Arizona could jump up the standings if Dubnyk evolves into a legitimate starter. Still, this is a team that gets regularly dominated in possession, even when it comes out on top. There is hope in the desert, but not much.
25. Florida Panthers (6-4-5) | The Litter Box
The Panthers had a strong week that was capped off with a 6-2 win in Anaheim Sunday night. That victory, along with a 4-1 triumph over San Jose, has bumped them up a few spots in the rankings.
It's nice to see the Cats, who have been a poor offensive team, score 10 times in two nights. Aaron Ekblad is contributing a lot, as is Jussi Jokinen, who has 10 assists.
Roberto Luongo is quietly putting together an impressive campaign, and is now ninth in the NHL in save percentage (.927). As a team, Florida is fifth in the league in 5v5 save percentage (93.59) after finishing dead last in 2013-14 (90.81).
26. Colorado Avalanche (6-8-5) | Mile High Hockey
Colorado’s issues run deep, and two straight wins don’t change that.
Semyon Varlamov has been decent (2.95 goals against average, .918 save percentage), but he hasn’t been great. There lies the problem. Colorado was able to succeed last year in large part because of Varlamov’s Vezina-caliber play; now that he’s come back to earth his team is struggling. Funny how that works out.
Varlamov hasn’t had much help. The Avs are giving up 35.1 shots on goal per game. That's worse than everyone but the Sabres.
27. Edmonton Oilers (6-10-2) | The Copper & Blue
Just when it felt like the Oilers were moving in the right direction, they dropped three in a row -- all by one goal. Edmonton’s PDO is 29th in the NHL (97.0) so one has to think better days are ahead.
The Oilers appear to be better than last year, though the improvements have been moderate. They’re now 20th in the league in Score Adjusted Fenwick, up from 28th in 2013-14. Their shot generation and shot suppression rates are both moving in the right direction.
Nonetheless, goaltending remains a concern. Ben Scrivens and Viktor Fasth both have save percentages below .900, and neither appears capable of playing like a true No. 1.
28. Carolina Hurricanes (5-9-3) | Canes Country
After earning points in six straight, the Canes have predictably fallen off, dropping their last three. The offense isn’t coming; the defense, which still features Tim Gleason, Jay Harrison and John-Michael Liles, hasn’t been much better. But Cam Ward continues to play well.
The veteran goalie has allowed just 1.71 goals per game in November -- quite an improvement from October, when he gave up 16 goals in four starts.
Sunday’s 2-0 loss to San Jose was encouraging, as Carolina racked up 45 shots on goal to the Sharks’ 19. The Canes just couldn’t beat Grosenick in his NHL debut. They now have the lowest PDO in the league (96.7).
29. Columbus Blue Jackets (6-10-1) | The Cannon
Columbus strung together consecutive wins this week for the first time since Games 1 and 2 of the regular season. Now that Sergei Bobrovsky is healthy again, the Blue Jackets have a chance to right the ship.
Bobrovsky, who missed seven games with a fractured finger, played well on Saturday -- stopping 36 of 37 shots. With its goalie back and four of its next five at home, now is the time for Columbus to climb out of the basement.
30. Buffalo Sabres (4-13-2) | Die By The Blade
Hey, the Sabres won a game this week. And not only did they beat the Leafs, they actually out-shot Toronto, 35-34. Sure, they lost the possession battle, and they didn’t take a single shot attempt in the last 9:13 of regulation, but they’ll take it.
Buffalo now has four victories on the year and is on pace for 56 points in the standings. That would actually be an improvement over last year, when the Sabres finished with 52 points.
See More:
