NHL Power Rankings: Tampa Bay Lightning Take Over Top Spot

Welcome back to another edition of NHL Power Rankings here at Full Press Hockey

There is some change towards the top of the power rankings as another week of NHL action is in the books. Not to mention the NHL is dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak that will cause one of the teams in these rankings to miss some games going forward. However, the offence is the name of the game these days. And one team used their offensive prowess to take a massive leap in the power rankings. As there is a shakeup within the top 10 again.

Time to dive into the NHL Power Rankings and find out what shifts happen within the top 10.

NHL Power Rankings

1. Tampa Bay Lightning 

Despite a hiccup against the Ottawa Senators, the champs are showing why they are the champs. They continue to play without two key pieces to their offence. Steven Stamkos‘s resurgence is a reason why. Not to mention Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Up 3 spots from the previous week. 

2. Colorado Avalanche 

The Avalanche are finally healthy with Nathan MacKinnon back in the lineup. Their offence is one of the best in the league when they are clicking. It feels like they are averaging seven goals a night.

Up 8 spots from the previous week

3. Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs had an up and down week. No Mitch Marner is clearly hurting them offensively, though, Auston Matthews and John Tavares are picking up the slack.

Down 2 spots from the previous week

4. New York Rangers 

The New York Rangers gave up seven goals to Colorado but bounced back nicely against Buffalo. Gerard Gallant is the reason for that. Oh yeah, Alexander Georgiev is raising his draft stock and proving he needs to play more not less.

Down 2 spots from the previous week

5. Washington Capitals

Washington continues to find ways to win hockey games. Even with a loss to their division rival, the Capitals still sit in first place in the Metro Division. Washington is always when they take the ice.

Up 2 spots from the previous week. 

6. Vegas Golden Knights 

The Golden Knights are in the Top 10 for the first time this season. Max Pacioretty is on a seven-game goal streak and has 10 goals over that streak. Talk about an impact player.

Up six spots from the previous week

7. Florida Panthers

It was a tough week for the Panthers record-wise as they went 1-1, but they did get Aleksander Barkov back from injury so things are going in the right direction. Speaking of the right direction how about the play of Sergei Bobrovsky?

Down 1 spot from the previous week

8. Minnesota Wild 

The Wild are still hanging on to the top spot in the Central Division, however, there are rumblings they are looking to make some moves. You have to be impressed with what Bill Guerin has done considering he bought out Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Nobody expected this.

Down 3 spots from the previous week

9. Nashville Predators

The Predators make a huge leap in the standings and in the rankings. They sweep the NYC/NJ area and have won five straight all on the road. However, they are about to be hit with some COVID concerns.

Up 10 spots from the previous week

10. Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks are such a fun team to watch. Dallas Eakins is getting the most out of his players. Having Ryan Getzlaf back helps, but it is all about the youth movement with Troy Terry, Sonny Milano, and Trevor Zegras.

Up 3 spots from the previous week

11. Calgary Flames 

Four straight losses for the Flames take them out of the top 10. Now they are off more at least a week for COVID-19. Let’s see if they can reset themselves.

Down 8 spots from the previous week. 

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12. Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina has dipped a bit as they continue to deal with COVID issues having at least one game postponed. However, Sebastian Aho continues to be red hot with a five-game point streak.

Down 3 spots from the previous week

13. Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins are in a playoff spot as of these rankings and it is because of the play of Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith. It stinks for the Penguins that Jake Guentzel, who is on a 13-game point streak is on injured reserve. The Penguins still have won five in a row.

Up 5 from the previous week

14. St. Louis Blues

The Blues have points in six straight games going 4-0-2 over those six games as they sit in 2nd in the Central Division. Something has to eventually give with Vladimir Tarasenko and the Blues, right?

Up 2 from the previous week

15. Boston Bruins

The Bruins are another team that is facing some COVID-19 protocol issues. No Craig Smith or Brad Marchand, they will need to find some secondary scoring someone.

Up 1 from the previous week

16. Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers need Mike Smith to come back, Mikko Koskinen is not getting the job done. Dave Tippett‘s job is not in danger just yet. With sixth straight losses and five on home and being outscored 24-9 over that span that seat is getting warmer.

Down 8 from the previous week

17. Dallas Stars

The Stars did all that hard work to win seven games in a row, now they have lost three straight. This team is so tough to figure out. Total Jekyll and Hyde type team.

Down 7 from the previous week

18. Winnipeg Jets

Just when Blake Wheeler starts to get on the board offensively, he is lost to an injury. The good thing is Kyle Connor is starting to heat up again.

Down 3 from the previous week

19. Los Angeles Kings

Jonathan Quick continues to have a bounce-back year for the Kings. Having Drew Doughty back in the lineup also helps.

Up 4 spots from the previous week

20. San Jose Sharks

The Sharks continue to impress and rookie Jonathan Dahlen has fit right into the NHL. In 28 games, Dahlen has 14 points and does not look out of place when he is on the ice.

 

21. Vancouver Canucks

Bruce, There It Is! The Canucks are 4-0 under Bruce Boudreau as the head coach and Brock Boeser and Elias Petterson are finding their games. And when Thatcher Demko goes “Bubble Demko” lookout Canuck are unbeatable.

Up 11 spots from the previous week

22. Columbus Blue Jackets

Somehow the Blue Jackets are still hanging on to a playoff spot in the East. Well at least contending for one. Oliver Bjorkstrand is a big reason why that is happening.

Down 1 spot from the previous week

23. Ottawa Senators

Give credit to the Ottawa Senators with wins in five the last six games. Brady Tkachuk ever since he got bit by Brendan Lemieux has turned into Superman with points in six of seven games.

Up 1 spot from the previous week

24. Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings are starting to come back to Earth. It was a nice run and they are still in contention for a playoff spot, but losses in three straight games will not do them any favours.

Down 10 spots from the previous week.

25. Seattle Kraken

Time to face some harsh facts Philipp Grubauer‘s contract is just bad and he is not living up to what he did in Colorado. He is the reason the Kraken are where they are right now.

Down 3 spots from the previous week

26. Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers ended their 11-game winning streak and have now won three games in a row. Carter Hart is back to his old self and what a nice addition Cam Atkinson was.

Up 1 spot from the previous week

27. New York Islanders

The Islanders are starting to turn things around points in five of their last seven games. They still have work to do to climb out of the basement.

Up 2 spots from the previous week 

28. Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks are so up and down, some weeks good, some weeks not so good. They have a lot of players that could be moving at the deadline.

Down 1 spot from the previous week

29. New Jersey Devils

The Devils are a bad hockey team. Losses in six of seven games and no-compete in some of them. You have to wonder when Lindy Ruff and the coaching staff gets changed. Something not clicking.

Down 4 spots from the previous week

30. Arizona Coyotes

The Coyotes are a team turmoil as the rumours continue to swirl about them being sold yet again. Until they found a direction, the Yotes will struggle in the desert. – Still stands true this week.

Down 1 spot from the previous week

31. Buffalo Sabres

With one win in their 12 games have the Sabres falling one spot. Don Granato is trusting the process in Buffalo. The only good thing is Kyle Okposo with his 19 points.

Down 1 spot from the previous week

32. Montreal Canadiens

Things go from bad to worse for the Canadiens. More injuries for Montreal as Tyler Toffoli is lost for eight weeks. And who knows when Carey Price is returning this year?

Down 1 spot from the previous week

 

That does it for this edition of NHL Power Rankings… Stay Tuned for another edition next week.