NHL Power Rankings: Colorado Avalanche Claim Top Spot

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

We have finally hit the midway point of the season. Took some time, but we finally got there. Still a way to go until the NHL Trade Deadline. And while the Florida Panthers are still a top team in the NHL, there is a new number one at the top of the Power Rankings. Florida was holding on by a thread last week, and this week was passed by the red-hot Colorado Avalanche. Colorado is showing why they are the team to beat in the Western Conference. That is not only the shakeup in the Top 10 this week. Plus there is movement near the bottom of the rankings as well.

Time to dive into the NHL Power Rankings and find out where these teams stand.

NHL Power Rankings

1. Colorado Avalanche (Last Week 2) 

The Avalanche are riding a seven-game winning streak and have won 16 straight games on home ice. Top to bottom they are so complete. Goaltending is always the biggest question mark with them. Can Darcy Kuemper keep this up?

2. Florida Panthers (Last Week 1) 

The Panthers are human after all, especially on the road. Uncharacteristic losses to Calgary and Seattle. Florida has to be better on the road. The Sam Bennett–Anthony Duclair–Jonathan Huberdeau line continues to make magic.

3. Pittsburgh Penguins (Last Week 3)

The Penguins continue to be a remarkable story in the NHL. Head coach Mike Sullivan deserves a nomination for the Jack Adams award. Pittsburgh continues to find ways to win despite injuries to key players. Currently, Pittsburgh is on a six-game-winning streak.

4. Tampa Bay Lightning (Last Week 7)

Hey look, the Tampa Bay Lightning are fighting for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. Tell us if you haven’t heard that before. One loss in their previous six games, have the Lightning moving back into the Top 5. The champs are the champs for a reason.

5. New York Rangers (Last Week 6) 

The Rangers are once again in first place in a tough Metro Division. Chris Kreider leads the NHL in goals with 30, and four Rangers are in the top 20 in scoring.

6. Carolina Hurricanes (Last Week 9)

Despite the loss to New Jersey, the Hurricanes continue to look strong in a very good Metro Division. Their wins were very impressive over two good Eastern Conference teams. Carolina feels like they are ready to take the next step.

7. Boston Bruins (Last Week 4) 

You have to wonder about the health of Tuukka Rask and if he was ready to come back. It will take some time for him to recover from hip surgery. Hey, at least Erik Haula is playing well on the second line.

8. St. Louis Blues (Last Week 6) 

Despite their stinker against Calgary, the Blues are 7-3 over their last 10 games. Jordan Kyrou leads the team in every offensive category. What a breakout season this has been.

9. Toronto Maple Leafs (Last Week 8) 

The Maple Leafs are still in a good position, but their playoff demons are starting to show up in their regular-season game. It would be wise for Petr Mrazek to start playing more.

10. Vegas Golden Knights (Last Week 10) 

Vegas is still holding onto the 10th spot in the power rankings, but barely. 4-4-2 is not going to cut it. Robin Lehner performs best with someone pushing him. But don’t worry Jack Eichel is entering the lineup soon.

11. Nashville Predators (Last Week 11) 

It was a better week for the Predators, just on the outside looking in. Nashville was able to snap its four-game losing streak as Filip Forsberg continues to raise his off-season value.

12. Minnesota Wild (Last Week 13) 

The Wild are clicking again going 5-0-1 in their six games. Kirill Kaprizov has 15 points over this stretch for the Wild including points in eight-straight games. You notice the Wild are not the same team when he is not in the lineup.

13. Washington Capitals (Last Week 12)

The Capitals continue to be in a free fall. Washington continues to have up and down weeks. You wondered if their pace could be sustained and was this the year they were going to fall out of the playoff picture?

14. Dallas Stars (Last Week 17) 

The Dallas Stars have won three straight games and are riding Braden Holtby. Even with John Klingberg‘s and Joe Pavelski‘s names out in trade rumours, Dallas is not giving up just yet on their season. Stars right there with Calgary for the second-wild card spot.

15. Anaheim Ducks (Last Week 15) 

While the Ducks have cooled off a lot since their hot start. Even with one win in their last 10 games, the teams in the Pacific have not been able to take advantage of their slide. But how much longer can it last.

16. Los Angeles Kings (Last Week 14) 

The Los Angeles Kings are another team hanging on by a thread in the Pacific Division. While the Kings have points in two straight, they have won just one of their past five games.

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17. New York Islanders (Last Week 20) 

The Islanders have found some traction going 3-1 last week. Two of those wins came against the Flyers, but it is better than before. Let’s see if the Islanders can make up the ground with the games in hand.

18. Calgary Flames (Last Week 19) 

Calgary is starting to find its groove again. Two wins in three games over two of the better teams in the league have put the Flames back in contention. The key for them will be getting back to the pre-COVID form.

19. Vancouver Canucks (Last Week 18) 

The Canucks are only four points back of the Flames for the second wild-card spot. They continue to play well on home ice, but with no Thatcher Demko or Jaroslav Halak, this is a tough stretch for the Canucks. 

20. Winnipeg Jets (Last Week 17) 

The Winnipeg Jets have lost four straight games. Things do not get easier with the Panthers and Blues coming to town. They have to turn around quickly if they want a shot at making the playoffs. Connor Hellebuyck has to be better.

21. San Jose Sharks (Last Week 21)

Sure the Sharks have lost two straight, but come one Timo Meier is all anybody is talking about with six goals in two games. You have to wonder if the slide continues if they become sellers.

22. Chicago Blackhawks (Last Week 22) 

The Chicago Blackhawks will be an interesting team at the Trade Deadline as they have so many available players. The most interesting of all will be Marc-Andre Fleury.

23. Detroit Red Wings (Last Week 24) 

It was fun while it lasted, but the Red Wings are just running out of steam when it comes to the Wild Card spot. Their struggles can be linked to Lucas Raymond slowing down.

24. Ottawa Senators (Last Week 25) 

One thing is for sure, the Senators are doing things the right way. They have nice young pieces in Ottawa, you have to wonder what this team can be in a year or two.

25. Seattle Kraken (Last Week 29) 

The Kraken slide up four spots this week. They notched some nice wins this week with a record of 3-1. Just imagine if they got their acts together sooner. Playoffs might not have been a stretch.

26. Columbus Blue Jackets (Last Week 26) 

The Blue Jackets continue to struggle. Elvis Merzlikins is clearly the number one in Columbus. You have to wonder about the value for Joonas Korpisalo now.

27. Edmonton Oilers (Last Week 27) 

So the Oilers got a win against the Flames. This team still has flaws, especially between the pipes. The question is who do they go after.

28. Arizona Coyotes (Last Week 29)

The Arizona Coyotes have been a feisty team this past week especially when they have Karel Vejmelka play goalie. Lots of trade rumours surrounding this team. Jakob Chychrun definitely moves to a contender right?

29. New Jersey Devils (Last Week 23) 

The Devils cannot catch only luck when it comes to their goaltending. Things just go from bad to worse. Nothing worse than losing to the Coyotes. Surely this team has hit rock bottom.

30. Buffalo Sabres (Last Week 31) 

The Sabres continue to fight the good fight. If this team could only hold a lead they would be so much better. Pump the breaks on playoffs, but they would not be cellar dwellers. 

31. Montreal Canadiens (Last Week 32) 

The Canadiens are no longer 32nd in the power rankings. They are actually playing better too. Montreal stole two points against Dallas and then took points off of Colorado and Vegas. Still a seller at the deadline.

32. Philadelphia Flyers (Last Week 28) 

The Flyers have two losing streaks of 10 or more games this season. They are just a bad hockey club and changes need to be made.

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