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NHL power rankings: Winnipeg keeps taking care of business
Winnipeg Jets players celebrate their win over the Chicago Blackhawks. James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports

The Daily Faceoff Power Rankings return. With only six games played in the week before All-Star weekend, it made sense to not worry about this list last week, but we are back, and we’ve still got some movement going on as teams are also making alterations on the trade front. The usual group in the six to 20 range made some more changes, we have a different team in last place, and let’s just say the Canes got oh-so-close to dethroning the Bruins in the top spot.

1. Boston Bruins

Record: 39-8-5 (.798%, 1st)
5v5 Goal Differential: +52 (1st)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.77 (13th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.31 (2nd)
PP xGF/60: 8.96 (11th)
PK xGA/60: 6.25 (1st)
5v5 PDO: 103.3
Previous Week: 1st (0)

The “struggles” for the Bruins continue, as they’ve now lost four of their last five games as they dropped their first game after the break to the Capitals, although they did end their initial three-game losing streak with a win over the Leafs before their bye week. The good news for Boston is that Jake DeBrusk should be returning soon and actually would have on Saturday if not for a flight delay.

2. Carolina Hurricanes

Record: 34-10-8 (.731%, 2nd)
5v5 Goal Differential: +25 (6th)
5v5 xGF/60: 3.18 (1st)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.03 (1st)
PP xGF/60: 8.57(13th)
PK xGA/60: 7.12 (4th)
5v5 PDO: 99.5
Previous Week: 2nd (0)

The Canes were one of the few teams that got into the action before the All-Star break, playing in two of the six games that week and winning both over the Kings and Sabres. They returned to action with a blowout loss to the Rangers, but that hasn’t stopped them from creeping closer to Boston. They were in first place in the aggregate and would have taken the top spot if not for the five-point rule keeping Boston ahead… for now.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs

Record: 32-14-8 (.667%, 5th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +26 (t-4th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.88 (6th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.39 (6th)
PP xGF/60: 9.14 (8th)
PK xGA/60: 6.75 (2nd)
5v5 PDO: 101.2
Previous Week: 3rd (0)

The Leafs dropped to 2-3 in this stretch without Auston Matthews, losing a big game to the Bruins before the break, and then split their home-and-home series with the Blue Jackets over the weekend. The Bruins' loss can be excused without Matthews, but the Blue Jackets' loss is a bit disappointing, especially with the 2-0 lead in the first period before falling flat for the rest of the game.

4. New Jersey Devils

Record: 34-13-5 (.702%, 3rd)
5v5 Goal Differential: +35 (3rd)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.97 (3rd)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.43 (9th)
PP xGF/60: 9.29 (7th)
PK xGA/60: 7.88 (13th)
5v5 PDO: 101.1
Previous Week: 4th (0)

The Devils keep trucking along in the top echelon of the league, extending their win streak to three games after beating the Canucks and Kraken before losing in overtime over the weekend to the Wild. Getting three of four points in those final two games is hopefully a good sign for the Devils, as both were without Jack Hughes, who will be sidelined week-to-week.

5. Dallas Stars

Record: 30-14-10 (.648%, 7th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +26 (t-4th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.78 (12th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.52 (13th)
PP xGF/60: 10.05 (2nd)
PK xGA/60: 7.26 (6th)
5v5 PDO: 101.9
Previous Week: 5th (0)

The Stars got off to a great start last week with back-to-back wins over the Ducks and Wild but ended it with a 3-1 loss to the Lightning. Both wins were in big part due to Jake Oettinger, with a .959 save percentage last week to add to the insane level the goalie has been at in recent weeks.

6. Vegas Golden Knights

Record: 32-18-4 (.630%, 9th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +8 (13th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.7 (14th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.32 (t-3rd)
PP xGF/60: 8.99 (10th)
PK xGA/60: 7.23 (5th)
5v5 PDO: 100.2
Previous Week: 6th (0)

The Golden Knights have come out of the All-Star break red hot, as not only did they win three straight games, they did so in dominant fashion by outscoring their opponents 17-4. Hopefully, they can keep those goals up, as their goaltending took another hit this week with breakout rookie Logan Thompson set to miss a good chunk of time for Vegas.

7. New York Rangers

Record: 31-14-8 (.660%, 6th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +18 (9th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.54 (22nd)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.5 (11th)
PP xGF/60: 10.5 (1st)
PK xGA/60: 7.74 (11th)
5v5 PDO: 101
Previous Week: 8th (+1)

The Rangers easily had the most entertaining week out of any team last week. First, they had arguably the game of the year with their fast-paced, physical 5-4 OT win over the Flames. Then, they spiced up the trade market even more by trading for Vladimir Tarasenko, who got on the scoreboard in his first game with the team. And the next night, they blew out the Hurricanes thanks to four goals from Artemi Panarin, giving him the most points out of any player on the week with nine.

8. Tampa Bay Lightning

Record: 34-16-2 (.673%, 4th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +24 (7th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.95 (4th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.61 (t-15th)
PP xGF/60: 7.95 (19th)
PK xGA/60: 8.2 (18th)
5v5 PDO: 101.7
Previous Week: 7th (-1)

It wasn’t the best start to end the bye week for the Lightning, as they dropped two straight games to non-playoff teams in the Panthers and Sharks, but they rebounded quickly with wins over the Avs and Stars. More impressive was that it wasn’t on the back of one player, or even two, three, or four, as they saw all of Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel, and Alex Killorn get five points last week.

9. Edmonton Oilers

Record: 30-19-5 (.602%, t-11th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +7 (14th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.86 (8th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.61 (t-15th)
PP xGF/60: 10 (3rd)
PK xGA/60: 8.26 (20th)
5v5 PDO: 100.3
Previous Week: 10th (+1)

The Oilers came out of the All-Star break with a trip out east, and it was an inconsistent one despite the easy competition, beating the Wings and Senators and losing to the Flyers and Canadiens. Help may be on the way, though, as they seem to be in plenty of trade conversations for an improvement on defense, linked to players like Erik Karlsson and Jakob Chychrun.

10. Winnipeg Jets

Record: 33-19-1 (.632%, 8th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +9 (12th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.66 (t-16th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.67 (t-19th)
PP xGF/60: 8.91 (12th)
PK xGA/60: 7.29 (7th)
5v5 PDO: 101.1
Previous Week: 12th (+2)

The Jets got into action just twice in the past two weeks, with a 4-2 win over the Blues before the All-Star break, and then a 4-1 win over the Blackhawks on Saturday. It’s a quiet rebound after losing three straight, and Connor Hellebuyck rocked a .948 save percentage in those games to keep working on that Vezina Trophy bid.

11. Calgary Flames

Record: 25-18-10 (.566%, 16th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +13 (11th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.87 (7th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.36 (5th)
PP xGF/60: 8.03 (17th)
PK xGA/60: 7.08 (3rd)
5v5 PDO: 98.5
Previous Week: 13th (+2)

The Flames didn’t have the best start out of the break, dropping two straight to the Rangers and Red Wings, but they bounced back with a blowout win over the Sabres to end it. They were a bit shaken up last week, though, after defenseman Rasmus Andersson managed to walk away from getting hit by a car with only minor injuries.

12. Minnesota Wild

Record: 28-20-4 (.577%, 15th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -8 (21st)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.42 (23rd)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.32 (t-3rd)
PP xGF/60: 9.57 (4th)
PK xGA/60: 7.57 (10th)
5v5 PDO: 99.4
Previous Week: 9th (-3)

The Wild did not get the start to the unofficial second half of the season that they wanted, dropping their first three games to the Coyotes, Stars, and Golden Knights before sneaking out a win to end the week against the Devils. Even crazier, they’ve scored just one goal at 5-on-5 in their last three games and haven’t scored three in a game in their last nine games.

13. Seattle Kraken

Record: 30-18-5 (.613%, 10th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +41 (2nd)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.59 (21st)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.44 (10th)
PP xGF/60: 6.2 (30th)
PK xGA/60: 7.81 (12th)
5v5 PDO: 101.9
Previous Week: 11th (-2)

Much like the Wild, the Kraken were ice cold out of their bye week, losing three straight games to the Islanders, Devils, and Rangers, but they managed to salvage the week with a 4-3 win over the Flyers. They also lost one of their leading scorers in Andre Burakovsky to a long-term injury, which is a big blow to an offense already without star power.

14. Los Angeles Kings

Record: 29-18-7 (.602%, t-11th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -4 (20th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.63 (t-19th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.4 (7th)
PP xGF/60: 7.67 (21st)
PK xGA/60: 7.38 (8th)
5v5 PDO: 98.3
Previous Week: 15th (+1)

The Kings didn’t go into their bye week on the best of notes, dropping their last two games before the All-Star break, including blowing a 4-1 lead to the Hurricanes. That said, they did bounce back in their first game back with a 6-0 win over the Penguins, and they may get a boost to the lineup if the rumors of them being close on a Jakob Chychrun trade are true.

15. Florida Panthers

Record: 26-23-6 (.527%, 22nd)
5v5 Goal Differential: +15 (10th)
5v5 xGF/60: 3.13 (2nd)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.71 (22nd)
PP xGF/60: 9.51 (6th)
PK xGA/60: 8 (15th)
5v5 PDO: 100
Previous Week: 16th (+1)

A big push in the second half of the season is necessary if the Panthers want to make the playoffs, and they got just that with back-to-back wins over the Lightning and Sharks. They did follow that up with a loss to the Avalanche, but they still move up a spot as they’ve started to catch up to more and more teams.

16. Pittsburgh Penguins

Record: 26-17-9 (.587%, 14th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -3 (19th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.94 (5th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.65 (18th)
PP xGF/60: 9.03 (9th)
PK xGA/60: 8.57 (23rd)
5v5 PDO: 99.8
Previous Week: 17th (+1)

As the playoff push continues, the Penguins need every point they can get in a tight playoff race, and they got a few big ones thanks to two wins out of the break over the Avalanche and Ducks before getting blown out by the Kings 6-0. That loss seemed to get to Sidney Crosby too, as the normally poised Pens captain got a 10-minute misconduct and was ejected from a game for the first time in his career, something he wasn’t too happy with after the game either.

17. Washington Capitals

Record: 28-21-6 (.564%, 17th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +4 (t-15th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.66 (t-16th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.51 (12th)
PP xGF/60: 7.65 (22nd)
PK xGA/60: 8.05 (16th)
5v5 PDO: 100
Previous Week: 14th (-3)

The Caps had a roller coaster of emotions over the weekend, starting with the highest of highs of handing the seemingly unbeatable Bruins their fourth loss in five games before getting hit with the lowest low in a loss to the Sharks at the hands of Erik Karlsson. They did manage to keep busy over the All-Star break, as outside of the shenanigans from Alex Ovechkin and his son at the actual event, the team also locked up Dylan Strome and Sonny Milano to extensions.

18. Colorado Avalanche

Record: 28-19-4 (.588%, 13th)
5v5 Goal Differential: 0 (18th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.63 (t-19th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.42 (8th)
PP xGF/60: 8.13 (16th)
PK xGA/60: 9.01 (28th)
5v5 PDO: 99.8
Previous Week: 18th (0)

It wasn’t the best week for the Avs, as they lost two straight to the Penguins and Lightning before salvaging the week with a win over the Panthers. However, the revolving door of injuries continues in the Mile High City, as while Bowen Byram and Valeri Nichushkin returned to the lineup, Cale Makar got a concussion to start the road trip and Erik Johnson got hurt on Saturday.

19. New York Islanders

Record: 27-23-6 (.536%, 20th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +19 (8th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.67 (15th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.77 (24th)
PP xGF/60: 7.96 (18th)
PK xGA/60: 8.59 (24th)
5v5 PDO: 101.5
Previous Week: 19th (0)

The Islanders had a busy couple of weeks, trading for and then extending top trade target Bo Horvat, and then played four games after their bye week, starting off with a couple of wins before dropping the final two. Horvat seems to have made himself at home already on Long Island with three goals and four points, including two points against his old team in Vancouver, although the Isles did end up losing that game.

20. Ottawa Senators

Record: 24-24-3 (.500%, 23rd)
5v5 Goal Differential: -28 (29th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.82 (t-10th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.68 (21st)
PP xGF/60: 9.56 (5th)
PK xGA/60: 8.79 (27th)
5v5 PDO: 97.3
Previous Week: 21st (+1)

The Sens got one game in before the All-Star break with a 5-4 win over the Canadiens that extended their win streak to four games, but after their bye week, they saw that end with a 6-3 loss to the Oilers. To put salt in the wound of the Oilers' loss, they also saw goalie Anton Forsberg get stretchered off the ice, a big blow for the team considering his recent play.

21. Nashville Predators

Record: 25-19-6 (.560%, 18th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +4 (t-15th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.82 (t-10th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.85 (t-27th)
PP xGF/60: 7.2 (25th)
PK xGA/60: 9.11 (29th)
5v5 PDO: 100.9
Previous Week: 22nd (+1)

The unofficial second half of the season didn’t get off to the best start for the Preds, as they got smacked 5-1 by the Golden Knights, but they bounced back with a thrilling OT win against the Flyers on Saturday. That Saturday wasn’t a good one to be named Forsberg, as along with Anton Forsberg’s injury that day, Filip Forsberg also left his game early with an injury.

22. Buffalo Sabres

Record: 26-21-4 (.549%, 19th)
5v5 Goal Differential: +1 (17th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.64 (18th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.67 (t-19th)
PP xGF/60: 6.43(28th)
PK xGA/60: 8.76 (26th)
5v5 PDO: 100.2
Previous Week: 20th (-2)

Buffalo only got into a couple of games throughout the break and dropped both of them, all important points if they want to sneak into the playoffs and get this young team some experience. At the very least, they locked up more of that young core last week with Dylan Cozens’ seven-year extension.

23. Detroit Red Wings

Record: 23-20-8 (.529%, 21st)
5v5 Goal Differential: -11 (23rd)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.16 (30th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.61 (17th)
PP xGF/60: 7.5 (23rd)
PK xGA/60: 8.22 (19th)
5v5 PDO: 100.1
Previous Week: 23rd (0)

Dylan Larkin had himself one heck of an All-Star game with five goals, and he carried that momentum into last week with another three goals and five points as the Red Wings took two of their last three games. However, they stick around in the same spot as they remain one of the few teams in this purgatory between the playoff teams and the tanking teams.

24. Philadelphia Flyers

Record: 22-23-10 (.491%, 24th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -9 (22nd)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.37 (26th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.74 (23rd)
PP xGF/60: 5.5 (32nd)
PK xGA/60: 8.16 (17th)
5v5 PDO: 99.6
Previous Week: 24th (0)

The Flyers found themselves on another skid out of the bye week, dropping three of their last four games with the lone win coming against the Oilers. It’s quite bleak in Philly at the moment (and that’s even before you start talking about the Eagles), but at least you have the odd highlight reel goal like this one from the team’s All-Star, Kevin Hayes.

25. Vancouver Canucks

Record: 21-28-4 (.434%, 27th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -18 (25th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.4 (24th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.81 (26th)
PP xGF/60: 8.17 (15th)
PK xGA/60: 8.7 (25th)
5v5 PDO: 99.1
Previous Week: 27th (+2)

The Canucks made good use of their bye week by finally dealing Bo Horvat and starting a fresh slate on what’s been a brutal season for the team. However, that fresh slate started out just as poorly, as they dropped three of their four games on a road trip out East, although the one game they did win was against Horvat’s new team.

26. St. Louis Blues

Record: 24-25-3 (.490%, 25th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -19 (26th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.38 (25th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.79 (25th)
PP xGF/60: 6.22 (29th)
PK xGA/60: 8.43 (22nd)
5v5 PDO: 99.5
Previous Week: 25th (-1)

The Blues needed a break after dropping five straight games before their bye week and almost made it six after blowing a three-goal lead to the Coyotes on Saturday before finishing the job in overtime. They were busy off the ice as well, moving on from one of their big free agents by sending Vladimir Tarasenko to the Rangers.

27. San Jose Sharks

Record: 17-26-11 (.417%, 28th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -17 (24th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.84 (9th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.57 (14th)
PP xGF/60: 7.88(20th)
PK xGA/60: 7.44 (9th)
5v5 PDO: 99.2
Previous Week: 26th (-1)

To put into perspective of how bad this Sharks team has been, they currently find themselves in one of their hottest stretches of the season… with three wins in their last four games. To the surprise of no one, that’s been thanks to Karlsson, who has three goals and nine points in that stretch.

28. Montreal Canadiens

Record: 22-27-4 (.453%, 26th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -20 (27th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.27 (27th)
5v5 xGA/60: 3.03 (31st)
PP xGF/60: 6.64 (26th)
PK xGA/60: 9.81 (31st)
5v5 PDO: 99.6
Previous Week: 28th (0)

The Canadiens keep fighting the tank, winning both games out of their bye week over the Islanders and the Oilers. Those points have a big impact on their ranking, as their underlying numbers have been bad enough lately that they actually ranked second last in the aggregate, but jumped up a few spots thanks to the five-point rule.

29. Anaheim Ducks

Record: 17-31-6 (.370%, 30th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -67 (23rd)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.21 (29th)
5v5 xGA/60: 3.55 (32nd)
PP xGF/60: 8.19 (14th)
PK xGA/60: 10.15 (32nd)
5v5 PDO: 97.9
Previous Week: 31st (+2)

Another week in Anaheim, another stretch of bad games, as they lost three of their four games out of the All-Star break, and yet once again spoiled their tank job a bit with the lone win coming against the Blackhawks. At least Mason McTavish is having fun with all the losing.

30. Chicago Blackhawks

Record: 16-30-5 (.363%, 31st)
5v5 Goal Differential: -49 (31st)
5v5 xGF/60: 1.96 (32nd)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.98 (30th)
PP xGF/60: 6.45 (27th)
PK xGA/60: 7.92 (14th)
5v5 PDO: 98.4
Previous Week: 30th (0)

Anything the Blackhawks managed to gain in their quest for Bedard from their aforementioned loss to the Ducks was lost shortly after, as another important game against the Coyotes saw Chicago take the win. The good news is that the trade market for centers and wingers is heating up, meaning they could help themselves in other ways by moving out Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, among others.

31. Arizona Coyotes

Record: 17-28-8 (.396%, 29th)
5v5 Goal Differential: -26 (28th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.13 (31st)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.85 (t-27th)
PP xGF/60: 6.06 (31st)
PK xGA/60: 9.53 (30th)
5v5 PDO: 100.1
Previous Week: 32nd (+1)

If the Coyotes are tanking, then Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz didn’t get the memo, as the duo has combined for five goals and 13 points since coming out of the bye week. That’s played a part in a five-game point streak for Arizona, although in typical Coyotes fashion, they are 2-0-3 in the stretch.

32. Columbus Blue Jackets

Record: 16-33-4 (.340%, 32nd)
5v5 Goal Differential: -48 (30th)
5v5 xGF/60: 2.24 (28th)
5v5 xGA/60: 2.9 (29th)
PP xGF/60: 7.48 (24th)
PK xGA/60: 8.4 (21st)
5v5 PDO: 98.2
Previous Week: 29th (-3)

While the other teams competing for Bedard are getting some points, the Blue Jackets are doing a much better job of getting that top lottery spot… for the most part. They had a three-game losing streak going into their break and added to it with a loss to the Leafs before beating those same Leafs the following night, but the lack of points drops them to last place thanks to the five-point rule.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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