NHL Power Rankings: Atlantic Division Takes Center Stage Amidst Central Division Decline

NHL Division Trends

The trend in the NHL appears to be shifting as the Atlantic Division gains momentum while the Central Division‘s performance has diminished. The Colorado Avalanche, despite maintaining a significant advantage in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy, have suffered four losses in regulation over their last ten matches, a notable change from just two such losses prior to December 4. Their current pace of 79 points in 50 games suggests a potential total of 129 points for the season, although they would fall short of the all-time best of 135 points achieved by the Boston Bruins in the 2022-23 season.

Atlantic Division Performance

In contrast, the Atlantic Division is heating up. The Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning are thriving with impressive records of 8-1-1 in their last ten games. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres have initiated a remarkable turnaround, boasting an 18-3-1 record that positions them favorably to break their 14-season playoff absence. The Bruins are making a push as well, recently going 8-2, placing them into wild-card contention.

Latest Power Rankings

Here’s a glance at the latest power rankings as detailed by USA TODAY, with statistics current as of January 25. Numbers in parentheses indicate changes from the previous ranking:

1. Colorado Avalanche (0): Recently, forward Brock Nelson made headlines with a hat trick during a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, helping the Avalanche halt a troubling stretch of 1-2-2.
2. Tampa Bay Lightning (+1): The Lightning’s remarkable 15-game point streak came to an end following an 8-5 defeat against the Blue Jackets, despite Nikita Kucherov’s standout performance, contributing four points in that match.
3. Carolina Hurricanes (+2): Jesperi Kotkaniemi is facing trade speculation as his performance has dipped, averaging just over 11 minutes of ice time and tallying two goals in 31 games with a cap hit of $4.82 million.
4. Detroit Red Wings (+2): Patrick Kane is nearing a significant personal milestone, just one point short of tying Hall of Famer Mike Modano for the most career points by a U.S.-born player.
5. Minnesota Wild (-3): Defenseman Jonas Brodin underwent surgery for a lower-body injury and will miss the upcoming Olympics, though fellow Olympians Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek are set to return from their injuries.
6. Dallas Stars (-2): Strength comes from two Stars players who are making a mark; Jason Robertson leads U.S. scorers with 30 goals, and Wyatt Johnston is at the top of the NHL with 17 power-play goals.
7. Buffalo Sabres (+3): After a managerial change, the Sabres have climbed from the outside looking in to firmly within playoff contention in the Atlantic Division.
8. Vegas Golden Knights (0): Goaltender Adin Hill has faced challenges since returning from injury, yielding a .848 save percentage in his last outings.
9. Pittsburgh Penguins (+4): The Penguins achieved a significant milestone, sweeping their Western Canada road trip for the first time since 2018, fueled by British Columbia native Ben Kindel’s impressive performance.
10. Montreal Canadiens (-3): The Canadiens have struggled recently, dropping to a wild-card position after two consecutive losses.
11. Boston Bruins (+5): Forward David Pastrnak has emerged as a key player, registering six goals and 17 assists across the last twelve games, during which the team has won ten outings.
12. New York Islanders (-3): Bo Horvat is back in action after a nine-game injury absence, being the Islanders’ sole participant in the Olympics.
13. Florida Panthers (+5): The return of Matthew Tkachuk has positively impacted the team; however, his debut was marked by the first goalie fight in six years, showing the intensity of the season.
14. Utah Mammoth (+7): Goaltender Karel Vejmelka, representing the Czech Republic in the Olympics, is enjoying a splendid January with impressive stats.
15. Edmonton Oilers (-1): Connor McDavid is leading the league in points, showcasing exceptional form with two points per game as of December’s start.
16. Philadelphia Flyers (-5): The team’s Olympics roster has taken a hit with injuries sidelining key players, including Rodrigo Abols, who has ruled himself out.
17. Anaheim Ducks (+10): The Ducks are on a roll, ending a winless streak with seven straight wins.
18. San Jose Sharks (+2): Kiefer Sherwood has made his mark statistically, ranking second in the league for hits.
19. Los Angeles Kings (0): The team is relieved as goaltender Darcy Kuemper recovered swiftly from a concerning injury incident.
20. Seattle Kraken (-3): After a recent slump, the Kraken find themselves tied on points with the Sharks for the wild card but remain behind due to games played.
21. Toronto Maple Leafs (-9): Mitch Marner issued a public apology for an inappropriate gesture during a televised game, indicating the pressures surrounding his recovery.
22. Columbus Blue Jackets (+6): The Blue Jackets have bounced back following a coaching change, with new head coach Rick Bowness leading them to a winning run.
23. New Jersey Devils (0): Dougie Hamilton’s stats have picked up significantly since his brief period as a healthy scratch.
24. Washington Capitals (-9): The Capitals sit on the verge of missing a playoffs spot, hampered by inconsistent play and a recent loss to the last-placed team in the league.
25. Ottawa Senators (-1): Linus Ullmark’s return is a notable story, addressing speculation surrounding his absence for mental health reasons.
26. Nashville Predators (-4): Steven Stamkos continues to deliver a strong season, with his second hat trick highlight.
27. Chicago Blackhawks (-1): Connor Bedard is struggling to regain his scoring form following an injury return.
28. Winnipeg Jets (+3): The Jets oscillate between playoff contention and struggle, depicting an unpredictable season.
29. New York Rangers (-4): The management has indicated an intention to rework the roster amidst trade rumors, including potential moves involving Artemi Panarin.
30. Calgary Flames (-1): The team has made a strategic trade, sending defenseman Rasmus Andersson away while acquiring Zach Whitecloud.
31. St. Louis Blues (-1): Goalie Jordan Binnington is experiencing a rough patch, suffering four consecutive losses, which has raised concerns among fans.
32. Vancouver Canucks (0): The Canucks engaged in a significant trade, sending Kiefer Sherwood away amidst ongoing speculation about his future.

Conclusion

This summary features the latest shifts and performances across the NHL, illustrating the competitive landscape of the league as teams battle for playoff spots heading into the second half of the season.