Stanley Cup Playoffs Power Rankings: New Number One
Stanley Cup Playoffs Power Rankings – Full 4-Team Analysis with Players to Watch, Injury Reports, Statistical Updates (Leaders, Special Teams, etc.), and More.
Welcome back to our Stanley Cup Playoffs Power Rankings. In addition to my top 4 rankings, I provide in-depth analysis and feature a weekly player to watch profile to help fans now who to keep on eye on during the conference finals. Seven new players appear in the top five below, and you’ll be surprised who is number one.
Site expert Matt Duscharme will be covering all 4 teams.
*all stats in this week’s NHL Playoff Power Rankings are heading into Friday (May.19th) night’s action.
Top 5 Forwards
1.Evgeni Malkin, PIT (15gp, 6g, 14a, 20pts)
2.Ryan Getzlaf, ANA (15gp, 8g, 10a, 18pts)
3.Leon Draisaitl, EDM (13gp, 6g, 10a, 16pts)
4.Phil Kessel, PIT (15gp, 6g, 9a, 15pts)
5.Sidney Crosby, PIT (14gp, 5g, 10a, 15pts)
Top 5 Defensemen
1.Erik Karlsson, OTT (15gp, 2g, 12a, 14pts)
2.Roman Josi, NSH (14gp, 5g, 5a, 10pts)
3.Ryan Ellis, NSH (14gp, 4g, 6a, 10pts)
4.P.K. Subban, NSH (14gp, 2g, 7a, 9pts)
5.Justin Schultz, PIT (14gp, 2g, 6a, 8pts)
Top 5 Rookies
1.Jake Guentzel, PIT (15gp, 9g, 5a, 14pts)
2.Shea Theodore, ANA (14gp, 2g, 6a, 8pts)
3.Brandon Montour, ANA (15gp, 0g, 6a, 6pts)
4.Auston Matthews, TOR (6gp, 4g, 1a, 5pts)
5.Brady Skjei, NYR (12gp, 4g, 1a, 5pts)
Previous Ranking: 2 (-2)
Team Record: (9-6)
Goals For:
44
Goals Against:
38
Special Teams
PP: (19.1 percent) (6th)
PK: (83.3 percent) (10th)
Injury List
Tom Kuhnhackl – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day
Justin Schultz – Upper-Body – Day-to-Day
Bryan Rust – Upper-Body – Day-to-Day
Patric Hornqvist – Upper-Body – Day-to-Day
Kris Letang – Neck – Indefinitely
Statistical Leaders in 2016-17
Top Forward: Evgeni Malkin (15gp 6g 14a 20pts)
Top Defenseman: Justin Schultz (14gp 2g 6a 8pts)
Top Rookie: Jake Guentzel (15gp 9g 5a 14pts)
Top Goaltender: Marc-Andre Fleury (9 wins 2.56GAA .924 save percentage)
Player of the Week: F Phil Kessel (3gp 1g 1a 2pts)
Pittsburgh has been dominant all post season but they are definitely having a tough time against the Sens. The biggest accomplishment definitely has to be the fact they have been able to keep Karlsson off the scoresheet.
In game three the Pens let in four goals on nine shots and Matthew Murray came in relief and was super solid. While head coach Mike Sullivan hasn’t made an announcement on who will start game four, it’s obvious Murray is going to be that guy. Evgeni Malkin definitely needs to step up play as well as Jake Guentzel, Conor Sheary, and Sidney Crosby, they are just way too skilled to not score.
Player to Watch: Sidney Crosby
2016-17 stats: 14gp 5g 10a 15pts
Crosby always thrives under pressure and with Ottawa now holding a 2-1 series lead, expect him to have all hands on deck in game four. He may or may not get on the scoresheet, but either way, he’s going to play a very significant part.
Previous Ranking: 3 (-)
Team Record: (10-5)
Goals For:
46
Goals Against:
43
Special Teams
PP: (15.2 percent) (11th)
PK: (76.3 percent) (14th)
Injury List
Logan Shaw – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day
Patrick Eaves – Leg – Day-to-Day
Simon Despres – Concussion – Indefinitely
Statistical Leaders in 2016-17
Top Forward: Ryan Getzlaf (15gp 8g 10a 18pts)
Top Defenseman: Shea Theodore (14gp 2g 6a 8pts)
Top Rookie: Shea Theodore (14gp 2g 6a 8pts)
Top Goaltender: John Gibson (9 wins 2.66GAA .917 save percentage)
Player of the Week: F Rickard Rakell (4gp 1g 2a 3pts)
Anaheim has had a tremendous series against Nashville so far, the Predators did jump out to a 2-1 series lead but after a clutch goal in overtime, the Ducks have evened the series. Ryan Getzlaf, Jakob Silfverberg, and Rickard Rakell have been superb for the Ducks so far.
Speaking of Silfverberg and Rakell, both have put in some very clutch goals, but when it comes down to a player who thrives in a pinch, it’s definitely Nick Ritchie. John Gibson has also been great posting nine wins and a 2.66 goals-against-average with a .917 save percentage so far.
Player to Watch: Jakob Silfverberg
2016-17 stats: 15gp 9g 4a 13pts
Silfverberg is almost at a point per game sitting at 13 in 15 games, he’s come through in the clutch during the first and second rounds. And so far against Nashville, he’s provided a lot of grit and opened a lot of ice for the rest of the team to score.
Previous Ranking: 1 (-1)
Team Record: (10-4)
Goals For:
38
Goals Against:
25
Special Teams
PP: (14.3 percent) (13th)
PK: (85.3 percent) (8th)
Injury List
Mike Fisher – Undisclosed – Day-to-Day
Craig Smith – Undisclosed – Day-to-Day
Kevin Fiala – Leg – Day-to-Day
Statistical Leaders in 2016-17
Top Forward: Ryan Johansen (14gp 3g 10a 13pts)
Top Defenseman: Roman Josi (14gp 5g 5a 10pts)
Top Rookie: Kevin Fiala (5gp 2g 0a 2pts)
Top Goaltender: Pekka Rinne (10 wins 1.66GAA .940 save percentage)
Player of the Week: F Viktor Arvidsson (4gp 0g 5a 5pts)
Nashville’s defensive core is easily one of the best in the NHL, out of the team’s top five scorers two are a defenseman. Ryan Johansen and Anaheim’s Ryan Kesler have had quite the rivalry going on.
Both Johansen and Filip Forsberg are leading the team in points but also have a crazy plus/minus rating at plus 12 and 13 respectively. Pekka Rinne has been lights out, almost. He’s been on the top of his game all post-season and has definitely returned to form. So far he’s got 10 wins with a 1.66 goals-against-average and a .940 save percentage.
Player to Watch: Ryan Ellis
2016-17 stats: 14gp 4g 6a 10pts
Ryan Ellis has only scored four goals this postseason but everyone was at a crucial time for the team. If Nashville keeps progressing through the playoffs, Ryan Ellis will be playing a key part in the team’s success.
Previous Ranking: 4 (+3)
Team Record: (10-5)
Goals For:
41
Goals Against:
36
Special Teams
PP: (12.5 percent) (14th)
PK: (88.0 percent) (4th)
Injury List
Alexandre Burrows – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day
Mark Borowiecki – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day
Statistical Leaders in 2016-17
Top Forward: Bobby Ryan (15gp 5g 8a 13pts)
Top Defenseman: Erik Karlsson (15gp 2g 12a 14pts)
Top Rookie: Fredrik Claesson (10gp 0g 2a 2pts)
Top Goaltender: Craig Anderson (10 wins 2.20GAA .923 save percentage)
Player of the Week: F Bobby Ryan (3gp 1g 3a 4pts)
Ottawa had a tough time with Boston and the New York Rangers but somehow they’re getting the best out of the Penguins and now hold a 2-1 series lead. A lot of the team’s success in against the Pens has come from some very key goals coming from all four lines of the ice.
Mike Hoffman, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Bobby Ryan, and Derick Brassard have really stepped it up in this series. And even though Erik Karlsson has yet to put up a point in this series he still holds an incredible +13 rating. Craig Anderson has been on top of his game as well putting up 10 wins, a 2.20 goals-against-average and a .923 save percentage.
Next: First Round Mock Fourth Edition
Player to Watch: Erik Karlsson
2016-17 stats: 15gp 2g 12a 14pts
As stated above Karlsson has yet to put up a point against the Pens but is still creating a ton of space for his teammates and it’s only a matter of time before he breaks out in a big way.