Ladies and gentlemen, we are just two weeks away from Stanley Cup Playoff time. No, that’s not a mistake. We are, in fact, almost to that time. This NHL season feels like it’s just flown by. It has been a great week of hockey, too.
History has been made, playoff spots have been clinched, and some teams continue to face the plant. Enough talk. Let’s get right into the rankings this week.
Who are the top teams in the NHL power rankings after week 26?
32. San Jose Sharks (Previous rank: Unchanged)
If the Sharks don’t win the draft lottery and get the first overall pick, I’m pretty sure they may riot. They’ve tanked so hard for so long; just give it to them at this point. It’s pretty much the closest thing that they can get at this point to a consolation prize. They need something that they can salvage out of this season; otherwise, they quite literally just played 82 games for nothing.
31. Boston Bruins (Previous rank: 26)
There’s not a team in the league that has fewer wins than the Bruins these last couple of weeks. Their prize for that accomplishment was being one of the first Eastern Conference teams to be eliminated from NHL playoff contention. And it was the elimination heard around the world. It’s no secret that since the deadline, the Bruins have played worse and worse, but to actually be eliminated? Man, it was something else.
30. Chicago Blackhawks (Previous rank: 31)
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The Hawks are chugging along. Not much difference between them. They are losing more than they’re winning. They are trying to weasel their way into winning another draft lottery. They’re giving the Sharks pretty stiff competition this year, too. They may want to focus less on beating the Sharks in the lottery and more on appeasing Bedard, though.
29. Nashville Predators (Previous rank: 30)
The Preds decided to say forget it to finishing the season strongly and just tripped over their own skate laces and fell on their face. They’re riding a six-game losing streak at the writing of this article, and it’s just the perfect capstone on what has been an insanely embarrassing season for the Preds. I’m sure they’re hoping the end comes sooner rather than later.
28. Philadelphia Flyers (Previous rank: Unchanged)
The Flyers were the second eastern team to be eliminated from NHL playoff contention, and honestly, nobody is really all that surprised. I’ll be brutally honest. I think this team’s rebuild has completely fallen flat. Last year, it looked like they actually had something going on, but that’s all blown up now. It likely won’t get any better unless they can figure out their goaltending situation, either. Samuel Ersson is a good backup, but he’s not a starter, and his backups have been awful.
27. Anaheim Ducks (Previous rank: 25)
I think the Ducks might be the most boring team in the NHL, in all honesty. Their style of play is painfully dull. Their future isn’t exciting. They’re just kind of there. Existing. There to fill league spots, I guess. At least their goaltending was really good this year. That’s always a good building block to start from if they can keep John Gibson around, that is.
26. Seattle Kraken (Previous rank: 29)
The Kraken joined the ranks of the eliminated this last week as well. Much like the Ducks, they’re just a blob of a team at this point, though, unlike the Ducks, they almost had a future. Hey, what you were going for didn’t work out. It’s okay. Maybe you can still salvage what you have and build something off of there. You have a pretty good starter in Joey Daccord.
25. Buffalo Sabres (Previous rank: 27)
The Sabres have actually been playing pretty well lately, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. This was another disaster of a season, but they do have some genuine talent on their roster. That being said, they’ve kind of completely killed their NHL draft lottery chances, and adding another top pick to your roster is never usually a bad thing.
24. Pittsburgh Penguins (Previous rank: 22)
My question for the Penguins is, what are they going to do with Tristan Jarry? It’s pretty well known at this point that he has absolutely crashed and burned this season. It’s not your ordinary bad year either, and he was plain awful. It’s hard to bounce back from a season like that, but he’s still signed long-term to the Pens. For a decent chunk of change, too. Do they try to find someone to take on that contract, or do they just have to grin and bear this?
23. Columbus Blue Jackets (Previous rank: 21)
As sad as it is for me to admit, I think the Jackets’ playoff hopes are pretty much gone. It’s most likely going to take a miracle to get them in now. They just didn’t have the roster to push it all the way to the end like the other challengers. It’s sad, but they made the Gaudreau family proud with the heart they showed this NHL season. I’m proud of the Jackets, no matter what.
22. Detroit Red Wings (Previous rank: 24)
The Wings continue to fluctuate in their play, giving their fans false hope that they have a shot to make the playoffs. Even if they, by some miracle, squeaked in, they wouldn’t go far. There are just too many glaring flaws with this team. They’re six points behind Montreal for that last playoff spot now, and that gap only continues to get wider. It’s most likely time to chop this up as another disappointing year.
21. New York Islanders (Previous rank: 23)
To their credit, the Islanders are trying. They just can’t keep up. They’ve lost a lot of ground, and it’s hard to see them being able to put things together enough to make that ground up. Especially considering they would need Montreal to completely fall apart to really have much of a chance. Mathematically, they’re still in it, but realistically, you kind of already feel like the season is done.
20. New York Rangers (Previous rank: Unchanged)
The Rangers are in the same spot as the Islanders and Wings. At 79 points, they sit six points behind the last wild card spot. Given that, and the fact that they’re 4-5-1 in their last ten, it’s pretty reasonable to say they aren’t in the best position to make the NHL postseason. A lot of things would have to fall into place in order for them to make a run at it, but that’s just not likely to happen.
19. Utah Hockey Club (Previous rank: 18)
Utah’s playoff hopes are pretty much gone, but they don’t care. They just keep fighting tooth and nail against every team that they play, win or lose. This team has heart, and they’re tough as all heck, but they need some spark to push them over that next line. They get that, and they could very likely be a playoff team next year.
18. Vancouver Canucks (Previous rank: 17)
The Canucks knew they needed to turn it on at the deadline. They knew they were in danger of losing everything. What did they do? They fell flat. They traded wins and losses for a month. They’ve done everything but turn it on, and now they’re watching in real-time as their playoff berth disappears right in front of their eyes. Congratulations Vancouver. You’ve really outdone yourselves this time.
17. Calgary Flames (Previous rank: 16)
You gotta give the Flames credit. They’re really trying. They’re 6-2-2 in their last ten. They sit six points behind Minnesota for the last wild card spot. The thing is, it’s not totally unrealistic that they could catch up and sneak in. If they keep playing like this and Minnesota keeps floundering, they very well could close that gap. It’s a tough ask, and if I haven’t said it already, then I will now. Dustin Wolf deserves the Calder trophy.
16. Minnesota Wild (Previous rank: 14)
The Wild are in bad shape. They’re injured top to bottom, and they are clinging onto that last wild card spot for dear life. The Blues have already passed them by and are leaving them in the dust. Minnesota is basically the last scene in Cars, when Lightning blows out his tires and has to limp across the finish line, only crossing it with his tongue in the end. You’re almost there, guys, but just a little bit more.
15. Montreal Canadiens (Previous rank: 19)
Every time I expect this team to fall apart, they don’t. Riding the coattails of a five-game winning streak, Montreal can pretty much celebrate an NHL playoff berth if they can just stay the course. All they have to do is not collapse. That’s literally it. Can you do that, Montreal? Is that easy enough to accomplish?
14. New Jersey Devils (Previous rank: 15)
I just have no excitement for the Devils anymore this season. With Jack Hughes gone, what’s really the point? They’ve basically coasted the last three months. It’s been no different this week. I have no faith they’ll really do anything in the postseason at this point, and it’s really a disappointment for a team that has so much potential.
13. Florida Panthers (Previous rank: 9)
The Panthers are spiraling. They’re struggling to win games. They’re struggling to keep their position. They’re currently the only team in the top 3 of the Atlantic that hasn’t pulled away from Ottawa, at least slightly. This is not the form you want to have as a defending champion heading into the postseason. Let’s see if they can pull it together in the next couple of weeks.
12. Ottawa Senators (Previous rank: 13)
Ottawa fans try not to panic. The Senators are on the verge of clinching a playoff spot. This is not a drill. The Senators are on the verge of clinching a playoff spot. It’s actually going to happen. Someone pinch me because I must be dreaming. There’s no way they actually pulled this off, right? They’re really not a joke anymore?
11. Edmonton Oilers (Previous rank: 12)
The Oilers loss to the Kings was devastating. It truly felt like a passing of the torch. It’s safe to say this isn’t the same team that made it to the Finals last year. Granted, being without their starting netminder certainly doesn’t help things. Honestly, though, last season, I feel like they could’ve lost McDavid and Draisaitl and been okay with the amount of scoring they were getting from their depth. Plus, Skinner has been very hit-or-miss this year.
10. Carolina Hurricanes (Previous rank: 8)
The Canes secured their spot and most likely secured home ice advantage in the first round, and they’ve turned on coast mode. They can afford to do so at this point, to be honest. It’s been kind of a business-as-usual season for them outside of the Rantanen trade, but I’m fairly confident they at least make it out of the first round this year.
9. Tampa Bay Lightning (Previous rank: 11)
The Bolts are heading into the NHL postseason in good form. Honestly, they’re in better form than they have been in the past two seasons. They’re getting closer and closer to securing home ice in the first round of the playoffs, especially if the Panthers keep struggling. If something happens to the Leafs, they honestly have a decent shot at winning the division.
8. Vegas Golden Knights (Previous rank: 7)
Suddenly, the Knights have to worry about the Kings overtaking them. They’ve been doing a good job so far in keeping that spot, but there is a freight train coming at them right now, and they have absolutely no room to make mistakes. This is usually where Vegas shows their medal, and they’re going to need that again this year.
7. Colorado Avalanche (Previous rank: 4)
We’re getting to the point of the rankings where everyone is so competitive and playing so well that it’s really hard to rank them. The Avs didn’t do much to get dropped down three spots this week. They look great, honestly. Even if they end up getting Dallas in the first round, I’d be more confident in them than I was last year.
6. Washington Capitals (Previous rank: 2)
The Caps have been struggling a bit down the stretch, but that’s hardly the story of the week. Alexander Ovechkin is officially the greatest goal scorer in NHL history. He scored goal number 895 in the game against the Islanders, officially passing Wayne Gretzky on the all-time list. What a moment it was to watch, and what a moment it was for Ovechkin, who is truly one of the greatest talents we’ve ever seen in the sport.
5. Winnipeg Jets (Previous rank: 1)
It’s not often you see an NHL team that was ranked first last week drop to fifth this week, but that unfortunately happened to the Jets. They’re on the brink of getting overtaken by the Stars, which is absolutely insane when you consider how big of a lead they really have. At least they’re pretty much-guaranteed home ice in the first round.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs (Previous rank: 10)
I kept making fun of the Leafs, and they decided to get red hot just to prove me wrong. This team knows just how to push my buttons. If they can keep this form, they can pretty much guarantee themselves the Atlantic division title. They have to try really hard not to collapse, though. And for the love of everything, please make it out of the first round.
3. Los Angeles Kings (Previous rank: 6)
The Kings are a team possessed right now. They’re on a mission, and they’re determined to see it through. Unless something catastrophic happens, they’ve just about guaranteed themselves home ice in the first round. They’ve begun closing the gap on that division lead as well. Darcy Kuemper deserves all the praise this year. He’s been an absolute rock for the Kings this year. There’s also the fact that they’re currently the only team that hasn’t lost to the Jets.
2. Dallas Stars (Previous rank: 3)
Once again, I find myself blown away by the Stars around the end of the regular season. They somehow managed to close the gap between Winnipeg and Washington for the President’s trophy race, and I’m not overstating how tough of a task that was. Washington and Winnipeg had the league in a chokehold for most of this year. Hopefully, Dallas can turn this into something and not just another conference finals elimination.
1. St Louis Blues (Previous rank: 5)
In the 2018-19 NHL season, the Blues set a franchise record, winning eleven straight games to make the playoffs. They then went on to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. This season, the Blues have now won twelve in a row, stormed their way into a playoff spot, and have been by far the hottest team in the NHL right now. Who would’ve seen this coming after the last couple of seasons they’ve had?
