It was only a matter of time before the 31st NHL franchise did yet another historic accomplishment. The Vegas Golden Knights, which have been the best team in the Western Conference for quite some time, went into Winnipeg on Thursday and won their 34th game of the season. That passes the 1993-1994 Florida Panthers for the most wins in an expansion franchise’s inaugural season in NHL history. Now they have to go for being the first new team to reach the playoffs, and then some.
The Boston Bruins continue to rise in the NHL Power Rankings, while the New York Rangers, the team that the B’s creamed on Wednesday, are on the verge of becoming sellers at the trade deadline.
1. Tampa Bay Lightning: 75 points
Previously 1 (71 points)
Tampa Bay was that close to having a perfect road trip on the complete opposite side of the continent, but the travel took too much of a toll in Edmonton. Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Lightning had no answers for Connor McDavid and got rocked early and often. Boston is getting really close to passing them. Alex Killorn led another offensive blitz in Thursday’s win over the Flames, scoring twice and adding three assists (all on the first five goals), to help the Lightning score five unanswered goals to finish the game. Cory Conacher scored twice in the third period, and he doubled his goal total in Tampa Bay’s two wins.
2. Vegas Golden Knights: 74 points
Previously 2 (70 points)
Do not let the Knights losing two on the road (I guess that is a slump for them these days) distract you from the fact that they just blew every other expansion team out of the water. They now own the most wins for an expansion’s inaugural season in NHL history, and they did it with 32 games remaining on the schedule. They still have a sizable lead in the Pacific Division with a big road test by the San Francisco Bay this week. Reilly Smith had two game-tying goals in Washington on Sunday before Alex Tuch picked up his second NHL game-winning goal late in the third period.
3. Winnipeg Jets: 73 points
Previously 3 (68 points)
Winnipeg is four games into their 10-game home stand, and the best home team in the NHL is living up to the honor. With points in all four of their home games, including three wins, the Jets are making Nashville work to get first place in the Central Division. Another slew of playoff hopefuls, including St. Louis and Washington, trek up to Bell MTS Place this week. Connor Hellebuyck leads all Western Conference goaltenders with 31 wins, and his 25-save effort against Colorado on Saturday was his fifth shutout of the season.
4. Boston Bruins: 74 points
Previously 5 (66 points)
Make that one regulation loss in 23 games! The Bruins have won four straight and nine of their last 10 as their blitz toward the top of the NHL continues to rumble. One more win could give them the most points in the NHL, and a home match with Buffalo should do the trick. Tuukka Rask has not allowed more than two goals in any of his last seven starts, but his dominance has paled compared to how buttery Tim Schaller looked in his breakaway goal on Wednesday.
5. Nashville Predators: 72 points
Previously 4 (65 points)
Gimme five! The Predators scored five goals in each of their first three February games and find themselves fifth in the NHL Power Rankings. They take on the weaker Eastern Canadian teams this week as they try to pass another Canadian team, Winnipeg, in the standings. Filip Forsberg had two points in his return to the lineup on Thursday (he was suspended for three games after a hit on Jimmy Vesey the very next game), and Pekka Rinne picked up his fifth shutout with 19 saves on the Kings.
6. Dallas Stars: 66 points
Previously 9 (60 points)
They are rolling now! Dallas started things off light in the desert, but they showed their all-around talent against marquee opponents with an offensive madhouse over Minnesota and a defensive slugfest over the Rangers. Wins over Chicago (away) and Pittsburgh (home) would likely put the Stars in a comfortable position for at least the first wild card spot. Kari Lehtonen made 30 saves on Saturday while the balanced offense charged Alex Stalock with four second period goals.
7. Washington Capitals: 67 points
Previously 6 (65 points)
The Metropolitan Division suddenly looks downtrodden. Washington has the fewest points for a division leader by a wide margin, and an inconsistent Penguins squad is their closest competitor. After losing to them and Vegas over the weekend, the Caps recovered by taking the first of a home-and-home with Columbus. The common theme for Washington victories has been late dramatics, and Nicklas Backstrom was the hero on Tuesday. He gave the Caps the win in Ohio with a backdoor goal with 43 seconds left in regulation, and it was his 200th NHL goal.
8. Toronto Maple Leafs: 69 points
Previously 8 (63 points)
After losing in Boston, the Maple Leafs remain in third place, but the gap is closing fast. The week started with an impressive shutout win in Manhattan, and it ended with two tighter wins at home. They can really make a statement by knocking off Tampa Bay on Monday. Curtis McElhinney picked up two more wins this week, including his second shutout of the season in New York, and has now won three straight starts after going a month and a half without a win.
9. Pittsburgh Penguins: 63 points
Previously 9 (59 points)
It was an emotional day on Tuesday. Not only did Marc-Andre Fleury make his first appearance in Pittsburgh since Vegas took him in the expansion draft, but Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier made an appearance at the game as he recovers from a severe spinal injury. The Penguins took full advantage of what was a highly-touted game against the Golden Knights, and they survived a furious rally late to pick up a huge win. Evgeni Malkin continued his blistering run of nine goals in five games, including two goals and two assists in a 7-4 win over Washington on Friday. He is tied for fourth in the NHL for points and is the second player to reach 30 goals for the season. Pittsburgh will be without Patric Hornqvist, as he is week-to-week with a lower body injury.
10. New Jersey Devils: 62 points
Previously 15 (58 points)
Leave it to the Devils to pick up two big home wins against the Pennsylvania teams and then lose in Ottawa. Still, the Devils are still keeping pace with the Penguins in the Metropolitan Division. Travis Zajac took over on Saturday, scoring twice for the second time and picking up his first three-point game of the season.
11. St. Louis Blues: 67 points
Previously 7 (65 points)
As usual, the offense is holding the Blues back. They are in the bottom 10 for scoring and bottom five on the power play, and Dallas is on the verge of passing them in the Central Division. Carter Hutton held the fort down in a 1-0 win in Buffalo on Saturday, but as everyone saw on Tuesday, even he needs some help in front of him. If Dallas passes them in the standings, the Blues could be facing a first round battle with Vegas or Winnipeg, two teams with a huge home ice advantage. Not ideal for a team that is due for a Stanley Cup.
12. San Jose Sharks: 64 points
Previously 12 (60 points)
The defense had slipped in January, but things improved significantly this week. They held both Columbus and Carolina to one goal apiece before losing a low-scoring game in the Pepsi Center on Tuesday. A long string of division rivals will give the Sharks a clearer idea of where they stand out west. Martin Jones ended a personal three-game losing streak by stopping 28 Jackets shots on Friday.
13. Colorado Avalanche: 62 points
Previously 13 (58 points)
With the exception of last season, the Avalanche have had little luck in just getting over the wild card hill. Knocking off the Sharks in just the first of three home games over a 16-game span will certainly help them turn their fortunes around, but they still trail the Wild for the second wild card spot. J.T. Compher picked two perfect times to score this week, tucking in the OT winner in Edmonton on Thursday and ending a late charge from San Jose with an empty-netter on Tuesday.
14. Los Angeles Kings: 63 points
Previously 14 (59 points)
Jonathan Quick is struggling, but Darcy Kuemper is not. After a bad showing in Tennessee, the Kings returned home and took both home games against two bottom dwellers in the Pacific Division. They are barely in third place in the division, and they will need to convert on the seven-game road trip to stay out of the crowded wild card race. That may require pulling off some upsets in Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, and Winnipeg. Kuemper went nearly 194 minutes without allowing a goal before giving up two on Wednesday night, but he took his third straight win after Drew Doughty picked up his 300th career assist and 400th point.
15. Calgary Flames: 62 points
Previously 16 (58 points)
The Flames needed to save some dignity at home following six straight losses, and they turned their fortunes around with a sweep of the Blackhawks. They still sit just outside the playoff picture, but continued road success would be very welcome. Sean Monahan had game-winning goals in consecutive games, including the overtime winner on Saturday, and he now owns the NHL lead with nine game-winning goals.
16. Minnesota Wild: 63 points
Previously 19 (59 points)
Saturday’s blowout was forgettable, but the balanced scoring lived up to its billing for the rest of the week. Minnesota’s offense came alive against Vegas and St. Louis, and Eric Staal was the only player to pick up more than one goal in a game this week. He scored the last goal of the team’s six-goal outburst against the Blues, and no player had more than two points in that game.
17. Anaheim Ducks: 62 points
Previously 10 (59 points)
The Ducks must be thrilled to be out of Canada. A road trip that was not supposed to be demanding turned into a winless adventure. They followed that up by needing overtime to defeat the Sabres. They get Edmonton and San Jose at home before going back out east. Despite allowing seven goals in Toronto, Anaheim got a huge night from Corey Perry, who had four assists for his best night in a disappointing season.
18. Philadelphia Flyers: 59 points
Previously 17 (56 points)
Carolina had a chance to jump the Flyers in the standings on Tuesday, but the dramatics of overtime ended with Jordan Weal potting the OT winner with three seconds remaining. That ended a four-game losing streak for the Flyers and moved them up to the first wild card spot. They have a chance to put a winning streak together with Montreal and Arizona up next. Brian Elliott made 27 saves on Tuesday and only allowed one power play goal with a tired unit in front of him.
19. Columbus Blue Jackets: 58 points
Previously 17 (58 points)
Columbus just went from good to bad very quickly. With four straight losses and five in their last six, they are now clinging to the second wild card with big games against New Jersey and Washington coming up. The magic from last season is starting to evade the Blue Jackets. Cam Atkinson extended scored in four straight games with his eighth goal of the season in a tight loss to the Islanders.
20. Carolina Hurricanes: 57 points
Previously 18 (54 points)
Carolina cannot seem to get out of their own way. Their home stand went sour very quickly with losses to Detroit and Philadelphia, and the Canes have three big games against beatable Western Conference opponents before a slew of division games. Cam Ward outlasted Carey Price in a thrilling showdown on Thursday, stopping 27 shots for his 27th career shutout.
21. New York Islanders: 58 points
Previously 23 (55 points)
New York’s strategy for success remains the same as they head into a home-heavy February. The worst defense in the league continues to find themselves in high-scoring games, and that script followed suit in salvaging points in both. They remain on the brink of the wild card spots through 54 games. Ryan Pulock added to his breakout season with two assists, including one on Brock Nelson‘s game-winner, on Saturday, and Jaroslav Halak had to make 46 saves in the tight win.
22. New York Rangers: 55 points
Previously 20 (55 points)
Injuries have killed the Rangers all season, and the loss of Kevin Shattenkirk and now Jimmy Vesey has made this roster paper thin. The break attitude showed this week, as three of their four losses were not even close, and the starting goaltender was pulled in two of them. J.T. Miller had points in three of the team’s four goals this week, as the Rangers sit alone at last place in the Metropolitan Division.
23. Chicago Blackhawks: 56 points
Previously 22 (55 points)
Chicago is quickly falling out of playoff talks. They picked up a grand total of one point against Western Canadian teams this weekend, and the Flames sealed the series sweep following two one-goal victories. If this is the beginning of the end, then it will be interesting which players may be shopped. Patrick Kane ended a seven-game goal drought with a meaningless goal in the final seconds of the third period on Tuesday.
24. Florida Panthers: 52 points
Previously 26 (46 points)
Things are getting very intriguing. The Panthers have won four straight games, and they are suddenly just six points behind the Blue Jackets for the second wild card spot. While some players, like Radim Vrbata, likely do not have long-term value, it may be too early to consider Florida a seller at the trade deadline. Keith Yandle has been a key piece to Florida’s recent success, as he now has two goals and four assists during the winning streak following a three-point night in Buffalo.
25. Edmonton Oilers: 50 points
Previously 24 (47 points)
Let the Hart Trophy winner loose! The third-worst power play unit scored twice on the man advantage when Tampa Bay came to town, but Connor McDavid was on fire regardless of how many white sweaters were on the ice. A fluky own goal gave McDavid four goals in a 6-2 rout on Monday, and he joins Alex Ovechkin and Patrice Bergeron as the only players with four goals in a game this season. He had more goals in Edmonton’s first two February games than he did in his past 29 games.
26. Detroit Red Wings: 50 points
Previously 25 (48 points)
They are within striking distance in the Eastern Conference, but consecutive losses to division rivals are not going to give Detroit any hope. They lost to Florida and Boston this week, and they take on the teeth of the Metropolitan Division this week. Darren Helm steered the Wings on Thursday, scoring for the first time in two months and adding two assists in both road games. He is three points away from 200 career tallies.
27. Montreal Canadiens: 50 points
Previously 28 (46 points)
This weekend was a great one for Montreal. Not only did they have back-to-back home matinees, but the Canadiens had no problems disposing the Ducks and Senators. They were 5-12 on the man advantage and are starting to creep even closer to the wild card race. Carey Price is starting to return to his vintage ways, and he was finally rewarded on Sunday. Antti Niemi, however, had the better performance of the week. He made 43 saves to take down Anaheim for his second win of the season. After terrible tenures with Pittsburgh and Florida, Niemi has a GAA of 2.47 with the Canadiens.
28. Vancouver Canucks: 48 points
Previously 27 (46 points)
The Florida teams have not been kind to the Canucks, and it might be time to dissect potential trades pieces. After a plethora of free agent signings, the Canucks have a decent pool of skaters to work with, including Thomas Vanek, Michael Del Zotto, and Sam Gagner (the Sedins are also options, but that might be more difficult). Brendan Gaunce picked up his first two goals in Rogers Arena (and first multi-goal game ever) in a tight victory over the Blackhawks on Thursday, and the former first-round pick will likely get an extended look for the rest of the season.
29. Ottawa Senators: 45 points
Previously 30 (39 points)
The Senators snapped a six-game losing streak and strung together one of their best runs of the season. They got some extra time magic from Erik Karlsson and Mike Hoffman before turning in a complete offensive show on Tuesday. Can they play spoiler and knock off Nashville and Toronto? Matt Duchene led Ottawa on Tuesday with a goal and two assists, including one on Colin White‘s first NHL goal.
30. Buffalo Sabres: 38 points
Previously 29 (37 points)
The Sabres have now lost four in a row after winning three on the road. The offense will need to step up against the lowly Islander defense to avoid a winless home stand. Jack Eichel had two points in Tuesday’s overtime loss to Anaheim, including an assist on Ryan O’Reilly‘s game-tying goal with 14 seconds left in regulation.
31. Arizona Coyotes: 33 points
Previously 31 (33 points)
Antti Raanta was involved in a car accident before Thursday’s loss to Dallas, but that was just the beginning of another rough week for the defense. Arizona has never had a top two pick in the NHL draft since relocating from Winnipeg, but will they have better luck than Colorado did last year? At this rate, the Coyotes will certainly have the best odds at the top pick. The offense made some noise in a close loss to Winnipeg on Tuesday, and Derek Stepan ended a seven-game goal drought early in the third period.
BOLD PREDICTIONS:
Last week:
Jesper Bratt scores twice to help New Jersey defeat Philadelphia for the first time on Thursday. Bratt was not needed in a thrilling win.
Jeff Glass shuts out the Flames this week. Calgary’s offense has not always been smooth, but they were this week.
Dallas scores eight times on the Ranger defense on Monday. Defense ruled the Lone Star State, but Dallas still picked up the regulation win.
This week:
Toronto scores at least four goals in a period against Ottawa on Saturday.
Wayne Simmonds scores three times this week.
Johnny Gaudreau picks up four points in a game this week.
The post NHL Power Rankings: Expansion history appeared first on isportsweb.