NHL Power Rankings: Highs and Lows, and the Western Conference mess

In this week’s edition of NHL Power Rankings and weekly review: Jamie Benn got clotheslined, Sasha Barkov entered the goal of the year conversation, and the Hurricanes hit a win celly out of the park.

Happy President’s Day, everyone. It’s time for the weekly NHL power rankings slash week in review.

A bit ago, I was given the task of coming up with a highlight and lowlight from the previous week, to really put things into perspective of how everyone’s week is different, and every week to each person is different. So we’re taking that to the NHL.

Here’s how the past week looked like for each team.

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1. Tampa Bay Lightning (3-0-0, +12 Goal Differential)
Last week: 1

Highlight: Andrei Vasilevskiy tying (vs Dallas) and breaking (vs Montreal) the franchise record for shutouts.

Lowlight: A failed clearing attempt by Mikhail Sergachev leading to a Sean Monahan goal.

2. Toronto Maple Leafs (2-1-0, +4 GD)
Last week: 3

Highlight: Auston Matthews scoring his 100th career goal on Thursday in Las Vegas. He would add #101 later that night.

Lowlight: Alex Galchenyuk finishing a great keep and pass by Jordan Oesterle to give the Coyotes the only goal they’d need in a shutout over the Leafs.

3. Calgary Flames (1-1-1, -2 GD)
Last week: 2

Highlight: Sam Bennett’s patience and hands leading to what would be the game-winning goal in Pittsburgh.

Lowlight: Dave Rittich taking his first regulation loss since December 18th.

4. San Jose Sharks (2-1-0, +2 GD)
Last week: 5

Highlight: On this play, Joe Thornton passed Gordie Howe for 9th all time in assists, and tied Teemu Selanne for 15th all time in points.

Lowlight: TJ Oshie banking the puck off a Sharks defender in Thursday’s loss in Washington.

5. Winnipeg Jets (1-1-1, -3 GD)
Last week: 4

Highlight: Andrew Copp putting the Jets ahead for good against the Rangers with a sneak behind the defense.

Lowlight: Struggles to control the puck and clear the zone leading to Dominic Toninato’s first career goal in Thursday’s loss to Colorado.

6. New York Islanders (2-1-0, +4 GD)
Last week: 7

Highlight: Either of Casey Cizikas’ breakaway goals to lead the Islanders to a shutout win in Columbus.

Lowlight: Jeff Skinner scoring right off a faceoff to give the Sabres a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

7. Boston Bruins (3-0-0, +8 GD)
Last week: 8

Highlight: Tuukka Rask’s old school stack-the-pads save to rob Alex Iafallo of the Kings on a rush.

Lowlight: David Pastrnak getting injured at a team event, causing him to miss a few weeks.

8. Nashville Predators (1-2-0, -3 GD)
Last week: 6

Highlight: Brian Boyle’s first goal as a Predator was a big one, leading Nashville to their only win this week.

Lowlight: Juuse Saros’ inability to handle a bouncing puck enabled Max Pacioretty to poke it through for a Golden Knights lead.

9. Pittsburgh Penguins (3-1-0, +5 GD)
Last week: 9

Highlight: Matt Murray stopping 50 of 51 Philadelphia shots in Monday night’s lead up game to the Stadium Series.

Lowlight: Evgeni Malkin should know that hockey and baseball are separate sports, and got a one-game suspension for it.

10. Columbus Blue Jackets (2-1-0, +3 GD)
Last week: 12

Highlight: Nick Foligno and Seth Jones perfecting the give-and-go to lock up a win against the Capitals.

Lowlight: Getting shut out at home by the stingy Islanders on Thursday.

11. St. Louis Blues (4-0-0, +16 GD)
Last week: 16

Highlight: Put up a total shooting gallery against New Jersey on Tuesday, then recorded shutouts in each of the next three games.

Lowlight: This team is in full wagon mode. No lowlights this week.

12. Washington Capitals (2-2-0, Even GD)
Last week: 13

Highlight: Evgeni Kuznetsov’s patience and hands produces an insurance marker against the Kings.

Lowlight: Defense decided to no-show on this play against the Ducks, leading to a Jakob Silfverberg give-and-go goal with Adam Henrique.

13. Vegas Golden Knights (1-2-0, -2 GD)
Last week: 11

Highlight: Paul Stastny’s hand-eye and Shea Theodore’s slick move gave Vegas a 3-0 lead against Nashville to pull away for good.

Lowlight: An awful third period against the Coyotes where they allowed three goals and lost the game.

14. Carolina Hurricanes (3-0-0, +8 GD)
Last week: 15

Highlight: This win celebration creating a walk-off home run scene, celebrating baseball’s imminent return.

Lowlight: Don Cherry calling the team a bunch of jerks in response.

15. Montreal Canadiens (0-3-0, -8 GD)
Last week: 10

Highlight: Max Domi’s game-tying effort against the Panthers for his second goal of the game.

Lowlight: A neutral zone turnover leading to Viktor Arvidsson finishing a gorgeous passing play to seal a win for the Predators.

16. Dallas Stars (1-2-0, -6 GD)
Last week: 14

Highlight: Tyler Seguin and Roope Hintz teaming up for a give-and-go goal which would ultimately be the game winner for Dallas.

Lowlight: Jamie Benn eating a linesman’s forearm later in that period.

17. Colorado Avalanche (1-2-0, -3 GD)
Last week: 17

Highlight: The top line combines for Gabe Landeskog’s 30th goal of the year on a wicked backhander in Winnipeg.

Lowlight: Second-period penalty trouble against the Leafs would ultimately decide the game in Toronto’s favor.

18. Minnesota Wild (0-2-1, -6 GD)
Last week: 18

Highlight: Luke Kunin taking advantage and being in the right place at the right time to score twice in the first period against Philadelphia.

Lowlight: Devan Dubnyk just didn’t have a good night against Philadelphia. Or against New Jersey for that matter. He gave up a combined 10 goals on just 54 shots.

19. Buffalo Sabres (1-2-0, -5 GD)
Last week: 19

Highlight: The population of Pominville increases by one against the Islanders on the eventual game-winner.

Lowlight: Linus Ullmark handing the Rangers and Vlad Namestnikov a goal on a silver platter, just eight seconds following another Rangers goal.

20. Philadelphia Flyers (3-1-0, +1 GD)
Last week: 22

Highlight: James van Riemsdyk putting home a late power play goal to give the Flyers a late lead in Minnesota.

Lowlight: Sidney Crosby will never score an easier goal in his career than this defensive lapse by the Flyers.

21. Arizona Coyotes (2-1-0, +1 GD)
Last week: 21

Highlight: Alex Galchenyuk scoring on his birthday in Vegas to give the Coyotes a 2-0 lead.

Lowlight: Offense left in the dressing room against the Blues, managing just 21 shots on net and not scoring once.

22. Vancouver Canucks (1-3-0, -7 GD)
Last week: 20

Highlight: Elias Petterson’s laser pass to Bo Horvat for a tap in goal against the Sharks.

Lowlight: Ben Hutton deflecting a lazy shot past Michael Di Pietro for one of three Sharks goals before Vancouver got a shot on net.

23. Florida Panthers (2-1-0, Even GD)
Last week: 22

Highlight: Alexander Barkov scoring what may be the goal of the year to give the Panthers a lead against Montreal.

Lowlight: Getting shut out at home against the Stars.

24. Chicago Blackhawks (1-2-0, -3 GD)
Last week: 23

Highlight: This Patrick Kane goal would be the first of five straight to bury the Devils on Thursday.

Lowlight: Pierre Luc Dubois opening the scoring on this odd-angled rush shot, in a game Chicago would eventually lose.

25. New York Rangers (1-2-0, +2 GD)
Last week: 26

Highlight: Boo Nieves taking advantage of some funny bounces to extend the lead in Buffalo.

Lowlight: Marc Scheifele finding a small hole in Henrik Lundqvist’s five hole to give the Jets an early lead.

26. New Jersey Devils (2-2-0, -4 GD)
Last week: 27

Lowlight: Keith Kinkaid’s play against St. Louis (giving up eight goals), then getting pulled against Minnesota (giving up four more).

Highlight: Cory Schneider getting his first two wins since December of 2017.

27. Detroit Red Wings (2-1-1, -1 GD)
Last week: 29

Highlight: Andreas Athanasiou showing his speed and hands on this goal against Ottawa.

Lowlight: A four-goal third-period comeback thwarted by the Flyers on Travis Konecny’s wrap-around in overtime.

28. Edmonton Oilers (0-3-0, -7 GD)
Last week: 25

Lowlight: The defense forgetting about Teddy Blueger on this scoring play for Pittsburgh.

Highlight: Their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield is on a 15 game win streak, so hey!

29. Ottawa Senators (1-2-0, -3 GD)
Last week: 28

Highlight: Ryan Dzingel’s beautiful forehand-backhand move to win the game in Winnipeg.

Lowlight: The entire third period against Carolina on Tuesday, giving up all four goals in a 4-1 loss.

30. Los Angeles Kings (0-2-1, -4 GD)
Last week: 30

Highlight: Austin Wagner tying the game seconds after Vancouver scored the opening goal.

Lowlight: Charlie McAvoy scoring off of Anze Kopitar’s skates with just 80 seconds left to give the Bruins a lead.

31. Anaheim Ducks (2-1-0, +1 GD)
Last week: 31

Highlight: Kevin Boyle earning his first career shutout in his first career start against Vancouver.

Lowlight: They went right back to losing with a 3-0 stinker against the Bruins two nights later.

Schmooze of the Week: Western Conference playoff race

The Western Conference playoff picture is a complete mess right now, hence the name of the Schmooze this week.

Technically, everyone’s in with a shout of one of those two wild card spots. The only five teams that can consider themselves safe barring disaster scenarios are Winnipeg, Nashville, San Jose, Calgary, and Vegas.

Every other team in the West has the potential to lock in their ticket to the playoffs with a nice hot streak. Some teams are riding a hot streak right now, in fact. Others are in hopeless freefalls (we all know who they are), but are somehow within reach of getting back in it.

With somewhere around 25 games left, give or take, and with a trade deadline in between now and mid-April, it seems as if anything can happen. Here, we’ll take a look and see who in the race is for real, and who’s a pretender.

Dallas Stars: While they are currently in the third place spot in the Central, they are closer to being on the outside of the bubble than they are second place Nashville. The scoring is very top heavy, but their defense and goaltending this year has been excellent, which are important for a playoff run. Verdict: They should get in.

St. Louis Blues: They’re on a mind bending hot streak right now. Put them at a craps table, and they’ll keep rolling for a while. This definitely has what to do with Jordan Binnington playing way above anyone’s expectations, and leaving the bipolar play of Jake Allen reserved for backup duty. The offense is picking up, too, which helps. Verdict: Third in the Central is theirs to lose.

Minnesota Wild: The Wild never really impressed me this year, but they haven’t shown themselves as bad either. They’ve been plain Jane just about the whole year. Losing their captain Mikko Koivu for the season is a huge hit, but not insurmountable. If they can hit a stride somewhere, they’ll be in good shape. Verdict: Final spot could be theirs if no one else makes a case for it.

Vancouver Canucks: The young talent is just so much fun to watch. Elias Pettersson is always finding his way onto highlight reels, and right behind him are Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat. The offense is coming together nicely, and Jacob Markstrom has shown flashes of brilliance. They just need to up their game defensively, and they could surprise a lot of people. Verdict: Can threaten for that second wild card spot.

Arizona Coyotes: At points over the last month or two, it looked like they could maybe make a run of it. At other times, it looked like nothing’s changed and they’re still bad. They probably won’t be buying at the deadline to add some muscle for the race, so what you see is what you’re gonna get the rest of the way. Verdict: Outside looking in.

Colorado Avalanche: The Avs are in a freefall. Their top line of Gabe Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen being as good as they are seems like the only reason they aren’t further down in the standings. The goaltending has been a train wreck all year so far, and may not improve enough to get back into it. Verdict: In the lottery twice now.

Chicago Blackhawks: They were riding a nice heater until running into the Bruins, and people actually started to think they’re worthy of turning the season around. However, one disturbing number prevents me from believing in this comeback. The Hawks currently have the worst goals against in this race, and it’s not even close. Verdict: That win streak is the outlier, they’re not making it.

Edmonton Oilers: If you’re banking on McDavid to drag this team into the playoffs, think again. It’s nice and all that they’re within a few wins of that spot, but the damage has been done by former GM Peter Chiarelli. It’s cleanup time in Edmonton. Verdict: They can buy all they want, it won’t help.

Los Angeles Kings: The Kings are another team that may have found a little pocket of wins, but this team is nowhere near contention. The team’s too slow, too old, and have too many bad contracts to work around to be looking to add. Verdict: California dreaming, not realistic.

Anaheim Ducks: Nope. Verdict: Nope.

Wrapping it up: Based on what we know now, and what trends we’ve seen lately in the West, it’s tight now, but there’s a lot of teams that are in it by virtue of the teams who above that cut line just not being that good. This means the real players for these spots will gradually separate themselves from the rest of the pack over the next few weeks. This’ll be St. Louis in third in the Central, Dallas, Vancouver, and Minnesota will fight it out for the Wild Card spots.