It was an eventful week in the NHL. Big names are out, Brent Burns has a new extension, and Las Vegas officially have a new team name. In Carolina, the Hurricanes have surprisingly ripped off a five-game winning streak. It is perfectly timed, too, because they are still seventh in the Metropolitan Division after Columbus and Philadelphia held their ground. At least the Hurricanes can celebrate moving up in the NHL Power Rankings.
The New York Islanders, meanwhile, are continuing to find rock bottom week after week.
1. Montreal Canadiens (30 points)
Previously 1 (28 points)
The immortality that the Habs previously had is officially gone, but now they need to avoid the same fate they suffered last season. They have lost four of five and just lost to Ottawa for the second time this season. Alex Galchenyuk and Alexander Radulov have been terrific this season, and they connected on a beautiful Galchenyuk goal that proved to be the game winner against Toronto on Saturday. Carey Price stuffed the Leafs with 31 saves on 32 shots.
2. New York Rangers (29 points)
Previously 2 (26 points)
Losing in Columbus is not the end of the world these days. Losing 6-1 at home to the rival Penguins, however, is a different story. On the bright side, the Rangers collected one win this week, taking the front end of the home-and-home against Pittsburgh, 5-2. Kevin Hayes, Michael Grabner, and Rick Nash, the top three goal scorers on the team, each had a goal and an assist in that win. Ryan McDonagh had two excellent assists on the Grabner and Hayes goals.
3. Chicago Blackhawks (28 points)
Previously 4 (24 points)
Marian Hossa. Even at age 37, he is still taking over. His overtime winner in Vancouver capped off a stretch of eight goals in nine games. He has been held off the scoreboard in the last two games, however, and the Hawks have lost both of them. It may be hard for Hossa to jump into a tie for second on the season goal scoring list with Anaheim and LA next on the schedule.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (27 points)
Previously 5 (22 points)
Wednesday’s beatdown of the Rangers was a microcosm to why Sidney Crosby could run away with the Hart Trophy. In just 14 games, he has a league-high 14 goals. He led the Penguins by scoring two of the five goals in the second period against New York and he assisted on another. This came after his vicious retaliation after Ryan McDonough boarded Conor Sheary in the first period.
5. Washington Capitals (26 points)
Previously 3 (22 points)
The Great 8 was great on Wednesday. Alex Ovechkin recorded his first hat trick of the season in the win over St. Louis, with one of his goals requiring two tries to find the perfect slap shot. It was the 16th hatty of his career, the most for active players in the NHL.
6. Tampa Bay Lightning (27 points)
Previously 9 (23 points)
Now this is the Tampa Bay team that we have expected to see. They have won five of six and seem poised to race past the Canadiens without Steven Stamkos. Brayden Point has been one of the main beneficiaries this season. He had a goal and three assists this week, including two assists in the win over Philadelphia. He was Tampa Bay’s third round pick in 2014, and he could be another reason for Steve Yzerman‘s immortality.
7. St. Louis Blues (25 points)
Previously 6 (21 points)
The Blues’ four-game winning streak came to an end on Wednesday, but they did not go down quietly. After Ovechkin torched the potent defense with a hat trick, St Louis got two goals within the final two minutes to get within one goal. Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice in that game, giving him nine points in his last six games.
8. Edmonton Oilers (25 points)
Previously 10 (19 points)
Edmonton is like the Wings these days. They follow up one streak with another. The Oilers have responded from a five-game losing streak and ripped off a three-game winning streak with at least five goals in each. Connor McDavid had four goals and four assists during that stretch, including a hat trick in Dallas on Saturday.
9. San Jose Sharks (23 points)
Previously 8 (18 points)
Martin Jones has taken Thanksgiving week by storm. He shut out New Jersey on Monday, and only let up on Wednesday when Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin connected on one of the snazziest goals of the week. In total, he has 59 saves on 60 shots in his last two games. No wonder San Jose is second in GAA.
Brent Burns also signed an eight-year extension with the Sharks. That is likely a lifetime contract since he is already in his 30’s.
10. Ottawa Senators (23 points)
Previously 12 (21 points)
The home crowd did not get to see much this week in the Canadian Tire Centre. They only scored once in each loss to Nashville and Florida, but they turned up the heat in Montreal. Erik Karlsson scored the game winner, his first goal in 12 games, in the 4-3 win over the Canadiens. Mike Hoffman returned from a two-game absence and got a point in Ottawa’s first three goals in Montreal (one goal and two assists).
11. Minnesota Wild (22 points)
Previously 7 (19 points)
The Minnesota defense is so good that giving up three goals in two straight games is like a red flag. After shutting out Boston, Minnesota did just that and lost both games. Then they returned to their defensive ways on “Orange hat day” and allowed just one goal to Winnipeg. Mikael Granlund has five assists in his last three games, including two in each of the last two.
12. Boston Bruins (22 points)
Previously 13 (20 points)
The Bruins have only played eight games at home, but the mediocrity at the TD Garden is already showing up again. They are .500 at home compared to 7-4-0 on the road. This week, they split home matches against Winnipeg and St. Louis to remain with Ottawa and Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division standings. Veteran journeyman Dominic Moore had a shorthanded goal in the loss to St. Louis. With five goals, he only needs six more goals to not only pass his season high with the Rangers, but also to reach 100 career goals.
13. New Jersey Devils (23 points)
Previously 11 (21 points)
The only team that has yet to lose a regulation game at home brought the dramatics once again. After allowing Auston Matthews to break loose in the first period, Mike Cammalleri responded with a goal and three assists in the final two periods. He now has seven points in the last three games he has played (He missed the last six games due to a personal matter), and his heroics were rewarded when Jacob Josefson converted in the shootout.
14. Anaheim Ducks (22 points)
Previously 14 (21 points)
The Ducks hosted a marathon 14-round shootout on Tuesday, and they came up on the short end despite a game-tying goal and shootout goal from Rickard Rakell. He scored in three straight games this week. Since his first start in Pittsburgh, Jonathan Bernier has not allowed more than two goals in a game. Even though he lost the shootout on Tuesday, Toronto fans are probably wondering where all this was last year.
15. Florida Panthers (21 points)
Previously 15 (17 points)
The Panthers had two wins sandwiched between two bad losses, and they will not play again until Saturday. Their most thrilling game was a shootout win in Manhattan, where Aleksander Barkov salvaged with extra point with a tap that barely crossed the lone. He had three assists this week, including one against the Rangers, but he has not scored since October 15 against the Red Wings. That means he has not scored in 18 games.
16. Philadelphia Flyers (21 points)
Previously 17 (19 points)
Philly has alternated wins and losses over the past six games, giving them the dubious mark of being the middle of the pack. Of course, they would like to do better than the second wild card spot again. Ivan Provorov scored his first NHL goal in the loss to Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
17. Columbus Blue Jackets (23 points)
Previously 20 (20 points)
Their home winning streak is gone, and Calgary suddenly made the Jackets vulnerable at Nationwide Arena. They play their next three games against the Florida teams, so a five-game losing streak is not out of the question. Matt Calvert had an insane night on Friday. After J.T. Miller‘s slap shot hit Calvert in the forehead, the Brandon, Manitoba native required 36 stitches. He then scored the game-winning, shorthanded goal to lift Columbus over the Rangers.
18. Winnipeg Jets (20 points)
Previously 16 (20 points)
The Jets cannot wait for this road trip to end. They have lost four straight regulation games and have only scored more than one goal once. They start a home-and-home with Nashville on Friday. Blake Wheeler has two of Winnipeg’s last five goals, including the lone goal in the loss to Minnesota on Wednesday.
19. Dallas Stars (21 points)
Previously 19 (19 points)
The worst defense in the NHL is no longer worth saving, but the offense certainly is. It is crucial for Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn to take over again, something they pulled off in the overtime winner against Minnesota on Monday. Patrick Eaves, however, is also making a splash this season. He had scored in five straight games before that streak was snapped on Monday, but he leads the team in goals at the moment with nine.
20. Los Angeles Kings (23 points)
Previously 21 (17 points)
LA struggled to put away the worst team in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday, but the name says it all. Dwight King, who coincidentally plays for the teams that features his last name, came up big in the third quarter, scored twice off of Jaroslav Halak in the third period. Anze Kopitar returned from an upper body injury on Wednesday and provided an assist.
21. Carolina Hurricanes (20 points)
Previously 27 (14 points)
Did you know the Hurricanes have the longest active winning streak in the NHL? Their schedule was not even kind. They beat San Jose, Washington, Montreal, and Winnipeg at home before turning the Leafs away on the road. Unfortunately, eight of their next 10 games are on the road, and beating Montreal, the Rangers (twice), and Boston in their buildings will not be easy. Cam Ward has a .962 save percentage during the winning streak, and he received second star of the week honors for his dominance at home.
22. Nashville Predators (21 points)
Previously 22 (17 points)
After starting as a serious underachiever, the Predators have figured things out, winning six of their last eight games. Pekka Rinne has been outstanding during the surge, but so has James Neal. After being held without a goal in his first seven games, he is now on the verge of reaching double figures in that category, with eight of his nine goals coming in November. His empty net goal on Wednesday sealed Nashville’s victory over the Stars.
23. Toronto Maple Leafs (20 points)
Previously 23 (17 points)
Auston Matthews scored his first goals in 14 games with two at New Jersey, yet all eight of his goals have actually been wasted. The Maple Leafs have yet to win a game when Matthews scores, but that is more of a testament to their ugly 27th ranked defense.
24. Detroit Red Wings (19 points)
Previously 17 (17 points)
Detroit is now 3-0 in shootouts, but there is more to hockey than the shootout. They were 0-4-0 this past week before winning the shootout against Buffalo on Wednesday, and they are now in a share of the Atlantic Division basement. Thomas Vanek returned to Buffalo with style. His “Savardian-like” assist to Gustav Nyquist was the only Detroit goal, and Vanek would use an “around-the-world” fake to win the shootout.
25. Buffalo Sabres (19 points)
Previously 25 (14 points)
Buffalo can feel good knowing they salvaged points in their last three home games. They even got a shootout win against the Penguins. However, they could not follow up a complete game against the Flames with a victory against the division rival Red Wings. Once again, they had a ridiculous amount of close calls in the third period and overtime, but their shootout crew is dismal. That is why they are tied for last in the Atlantic Division with Detroit.
26. Calgary Flames (19 points)
Previously 26 (15 points)
There have been a lot of encouraging signs on this road trip, but the shutout win over Columbus revealed all. Chad Johnson is the go-to goaltender for the foreseeable future, and any other opinion is irrelevant. The Jackets had 34 great chances to score, and Johnson stopped all of them. Talk about stopping an unstoppable force. Clearly Johnson’s big year in Buffalo was no fluke.
27. New York Islanders (16 points)
Previously 24 (13 points)
Their shootout win in Anaheim was just their second win in November. That is brutal, but they are also winless against teams outside the Pacific Division this month. Now only Arizona looks worse. Nick Leddy ended the 14-round shootout in Anaheim with a delayed shot. It ended the longest shootout in Islanders history.
28. Colorado Avalanche (18 points)
Previously 29 (14 points)
At least they are within striking distance in the Central Division. It is hard to succeed, however, when both Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene are hurt. Duchene returned on Monday, however, and he tipped in Colorado’s game winner in overtime for his seventh goal of the season.
29. Vancouver Canucks (18 points)
Previously 28 (15 points)
The Canucks got points in all of their games this week, but they really let one away against the Blackhawks. Beating Arizona twice this week is probably not enough to keep Willie Desjardins off the hot seat, however. Bo Horvat had a huge game in Glendale, with a goal and two assists to pull Mike Smith. He now has goals in consecutive games for the second time this season.
30. Arizona Coyotes (14 points)
Previously 30 (12 points)
Not only does Arizona have the fewest points in the NHL, but their loss to Vancouver now has them four points behind everyone else in the Western Conference. They will have to hope that their home-and-home with Edmonton goes well before things really go haywire. Mike Smith had 43 saves against San Jose on Saturday, and Martin Hanzal redirected the game winner in overtime for his third goal of the season.
Congratulations to Las Vegas for officially being named the Golden Knights. Now it is time to wait for their official roster.
Bold Predictions:
Last week:
Jeff Carter gets the hat trick against New Jersey on Saturday. At least he got one goal.
Both Alberta teams score at least four goals on Monday. Edmonton came through against Chicago, but the Flames could only muster half that in Buffalo. No bueno.
Anaheim crushes the Islanders 7-0 on Tuesday. Annnnnnnnd they lost in a shootout. I guess a 14-round shootout was the better prediction.
This week:
Shea Theodore gets his first goal of the season against Chicago on Friday.
Mitch Marner collects the hat trick on Saturday against the Caps.
Both Thomas Vanek and Dylan Larkin combine for at least three goals on Tuesday against Dallas.