The Western Conference playoff picture is almost set in stone, and there is one significant drought that is gone. The Edmonton Oilers, which had the longest active playoff drought in the NHL, have clinched a playoff spot for the first time since their trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2006. They also moved up to ninth in the NHL Power Rankings. On the other side of the country, the Red Wings will watch the playoffs from home for the first time since 1990, but Andreas Athanasiou has prevented Detroit from falling into the bottom five of the rankings.
There will be one more NHL Power Rankings for this season, and it will be published after the final games end on April 9. Afterwards, stay tuned for offseason updates as well as plenty of playoff articles from across the NHL!
1. Washington Capitals (110 points)
Previously 1 (102 points)
The Jackets are trying to come back and take their first ever Presidents Trophy, but the Capitals are just not letting up. They have won six straight games for the fourth time this season, and their offense is once again burning through opponents. Alex Ovechkin picked up the hat trick, all on the power play, and eclipsed the 30-goal plateau for the 12th straight season. T.J. Oshie, however, scored twice in St. Paul and scored the overtime winner.
2. Columbus Blue Jackets (105 points)
Previously 4 (100 points)
Love offense? You would have hated going to Nationwide Arena this week. The Jackets won both home games this week despite there only being five combined goals. Even in Washington, the score was just 1-1 heading into the shootout. Sergei Bobrovsky is in perfect position to win the Vezina Trophy for the second time after allowing just two goals this week, and he shut out the Flyers on 36 shots on Saturday for his fourth shutout in March. He has not allowed more than one goal in his last five games and his season GAA has dipped below 2.00.
3. Chicago Blackhawks (105 points)
Previously 2 (100 points)
It was supposed to be a slugfest between two elite teams on Wednesday, but the Blackhawks won at Pittsburgh by a Magnificent Mile. They scored four goals in the first period, and they have likely put away the Central Division. Artemi Panarin and Patrick Kane connected on a nasty no-look pass to start the onslaught in PPG Paints Arena.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (103 points)
Previously 3 (101 points)
Pittsburgh’s chances at the Presidents Trophy took a hard hit this week. They have lost four straight games, and neither of their last two were close. They better figure their issues out soon, or they will be knocked out of the first round of the playoffs. Bryan Rust, who was out for a month and a half with an arm injury, scored for the first time since Jan. 22 in Pittsburgh’s 5-1 loss to Chicago.
5. New York Rangers (97 points)
Previously 6 (94 points)
In a lopsided turn of events, the Rangers have now clinched a playoff spot before any team in the Atlantic Division. Yet they still might be the first wild card in the Eastern Conference. They might have an easier path against the Eastern Canadian teams before a dogfight with one of the top three teams in the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference Finals. In his final start before Henrik Lundqvist returned from injury, Antti Raanta shut out Los Angeles on 30 shots. It was his fourth shutout of the season, which is only behind Mike Condon (does Peter Budaj count?) for backup goaltenders.
6. Montreal Canadiens (95 points)
Previously 8 (91 points)
After Montreal’s six-game home stand ends on Thursday, the Habs will only have one home game in April. Fortunately, a string against the bottom tier of the Atlantic Division should give the Canadiens a fast track to the division championship. Andrei Markov rode a three-point night, including two goals, in Saturday’s win over Ottawa, who allowed the veteran defenseman to get three points against them for the second time this season. After assisting Artturi Lehkonen on Tuesday, he is now tied with Guy LaPointe for second on the franchise leaderboard for points by a defenseman with 572.
7. Minnesota Wild (96 points)
Previously 5 (94 points)
The Wild have limped into a playoff spot with a despicable 3-10-2 record in March. Will playing the Avalanche help them avoid a disappointing finish from last season? The Blues and Predators are no longer far away from Minnesota in the Central Division. Eric Staal has goals in three straight games, and he has points in five straight games and nine of his last 11. He can reach 30 goals in a season for the first time since 2010-2011 with three more goals.
8. Anaheim Ducks (95 points)
Previously 9 (89 points)
After hanging with the Sharks and Oilers all season, the Ducks have pushed their way to the top of the Pacific Division with a 10-2-1 record in March. They gave neither the Rangers nor Canucks much hope in their two latest wins, and a visit from the Blackhawks in on the horizon. The Ducks should try to clinch the division before that game to avoid possible playoff seeding drama. After picking up three assists against Edmonton last week, Ryan Getzlaf added to his sharing barrage with four more assists to throttle New York on Sunday.
9. Edmonton Oilers (93 points)
Previously 10 (87 points)
Hell hath frozen over! Well, not really considering Connor McDavid‘s lofty expectations. In his first season as the Edmonton captain, the Oilers have ended their 10-year playoff drought after a 2-1 win over Los Angeles on Tuesday. Where they finish in the division, however, is still in question. McDavid continues to crush defenses. He is currently on an eight-game point streak after a goal and three assists in his last three games. He needs 11 points in Edmonton’s last six games to reach 100 for the season, and that is far from impossible.
10. San Jose Sharks (93 points)
Previously 7 (91 points)
I do not need to explain how important Tuesday’s game was for the Sharks. They had lost six straight regulation games and are currently tied for second in the Pacific Division. Thanks to two Chris Tierney goals and a laser from likely Norris Trophy winner Brent Burns, the Sharks got a big two points against the Rangers. The rest of their schedule is against the Western Canadian teams, and Edmonton and Calgary would like nothing more than to crush San Jose’s playoff position.
11. Ottawa Senators (91 points)
Previously 11 (88 points)
Eugene Melnyk was not pleased when Sidney Crosby slashed Marc Methot‘s finger off on Thursday, but the Sens won that game before essentially surrendering the division to Montreal. They better be careful because the Bruins and Maple Leafs are gaining ground and could hurt their seeding. Kyle Turris eclipsed 50 points for the third time in his career after contributing to all of Ottawa’s three goals in their two combined games on Thursday and Tuesday. He also scored the winning shootout goal to sink the Penguins.
12. Calgary Flames (90 points)
Previously 12 (86 points)
The Flames could not clinch a playoff spot on Wednesday, but there were plenty of fireworks. Lots of it stemmed from Matthew Tkachuk‘s elbow on Drew Doughty in the last meeting between the two teams. The two teams play one more time at the Staples Center next week, but Calgary should already have their ticket to the playoffs. Sean Monahan crushed the opposition this week with seven points for the week, including a goal and three assists in Calgary’s win over Colorado on Monday.
13. St. Louis Blues (90 points)
Previously 16 (83 points)
St. Louis is still not officially in the playoffs, but it is pretty much a done deal after taking both ends of the home-and-home against Arizona. All the drama that came with the Ken Hitchcock firing is going to have a smooth ending, but can the Blues make another Stanley Cup push? Alexander Steen assisted on all of St. Louis’s four goals on Monday, and he is one point away from reaching 50 points for the fourth straight season.
14. Nashville Predators (89 points)
Previously 14 (83 points)
This was supposed to be a week that tripped up Nashville’s playoff chances, but they burned past the Flames, Sharks, and Islanders before falling flat in Boston. They have not officially clinched a playoff spot yet, but it is only a matter of time. Colton Sissons had a big week for the Preds, and two of his three goals came in an offensive explosion over the fading Sharks.
15. Toronto Maple Leafs (87 points)
Previously 13 (83 points)
Let me give it to you straight. Auston Matthews is good. After scoring in Toronto’s win over Florida on Sunday, he now has the franchise record for goals by a rookie. Like the preceding #1 pick in Edmonton, Matthews is also on a lengthy point streak, as his is up to six. The Leafs are still barely ahead of the Bruins in the Atlantic Division.
16. Boston Bruins (86 points)
Previously 14 (82 points)
Boston better love day games. They have three left on their schedule, and flopping in those games will likely end their season for the third straight year. Tampa Bay, New York, and Carolina are just not going away. Riley Nash scored two of the biggest goals of the season, for he scored both goals in a must-win over the Islanders on Sunday. He then assisted on a breakaway to give Noel Acciari his first NHL goal on Tuesday.
17. Tampa Bay Lightning (83 points)
Previously 18 (77 points)
Even after recovering from their three-game losing streak last week, Tampa Bay is still chasing Boston. They put together their second winning streak of at least three games in March, and that includes a massive comeback win against Chicago that likely kept their season alive. Nikita Kucherov picked up the hat trick in the Lightning’s win over the Bruins on Thursday, and he has driven a five-game point streak to reach 80 points for the season.
18. New York Islanders (82 points)
Previously 17 (80 points)
The biggest headline in Brooklyn this week was the return of Jaroslav Halak. He was recalled for Friday’s roadie in Pittsburgh, and he won in a shootout. Unfortunately, Thomas Greiss got no offensive help in losses to Boston and Nashville, and the Islanders are now behind Tampa Bay in the standings. If there is any remaining hope for New York, it is that they still have the tiebreaker against the Bruins should they pull off the comeback.
19. Carolina Hurricanes (82 points)
Previously 24 (75 points)
It is unclear if Eddie Lack will play again this season, but he was stretchered off the ice following a collision with Andreas Athanasiou at the end of Monday’s overtime loss. That is not an encouraging sign considering there is one a week and half remaining in the season. On the other hand, the Hurricanes are still very much alive in the playoff race, and Lack could be relied on if healthy. Before Monday night’s battle with Detroit, Lack stopped 47 of 49 shots in two wins against the Canadiens and Devils.
20. Philadelphia Flyers (80 points)
Previously 23 (74 points)
The Flyers needed to pull of a few upsets to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, and they got it with three wins in their last four games. This included a shocking 6-2 drubbing of the Penguins on Sunday. Jordan Weal is making an excellent audition for next year, as the former LA third-round pick from 2010 has now scored in consecutive games. He also scored the shootout winner against the Senators.
21. Los Angeles Kings (79 points)
Previously 19 (75 points)
The Kings may have kept their playoff hopes alive, but they should not hold their breath. Ben Bishop won for just the second time with LA, and he should be a heavy target for Las Vegas next season. Jarome Iginla continued to look great (and surprisingly violent) with the Kings, especially in what could be his final game at the Scotiabank Saddledome, but even he could not save the Kings from an inevitable exit from playoff contention. It is safe to say the Kings blew it at the trade deadline.
22. Winnipeg Jets (77 points)
Previously 23 (73 points)
Winnipeg is officially out of playoff contention, but they have taken advantage of a light schedule this week. Unfortunately, their last five games are against likely playoff teams, and 77 points, which was their total from last season, may not be enough to get another #2 pick. After picking up two points in New Jersey, Blake Wheeler is just two points away from hitting 70 points for the second consecutive season after having no such seasons beforehand.
23. Florida Panthers (77 points)
Previously 22 (73 points)
In the awkward rankings category, the Panthers now own the best penalty kill unit in the NHL, taking that mark away from the Hurricanes. Unfortunately, that was not enough to keep the scorching power play unit of Buffalo at bay, and they are now on the verge of being eliminated. Jonathan Huberdeau was untouchable in a two-game stretch, with six points in games against Chicago and Buffalo, including a goal and three assists in the 7-0 blowout win over the Blackhawks. James Reimer shut out the Hawks on 25 shots on Saturday, but he had to leave Tuesday’s game in Toronto with an upper body injury.
24. Buffalo Sabres (76 points)
Previously 24 (72 points)
The Sabres have once again been eliminated from playoff contention, but they still had some bright moments this week. They put a dent into Toronto’s playoff chances and likely finished off the Panthers on Monday. The win over Florida was a huge night for Brian Gionta. The Buffalo captain played in his 1,000th game and scored in the second period.
25. Detroit Red Wings (74 points)
Previously 25 (69 points)
It is official, now. The Red Wings were eliminated from playoff contention after losing to the Hurricanes on Tuesday, and their 25-year playoff streak is over. They play four home games in April to end their tenure at Joe Louis Arena. This week was all about Andreas Athanasiou, as he scored the overtime winner in consecutive games against Minnesota and Carolina. It was the beginning of a rare back-to-back-to-back stretch after Detroit’s game in Raleigh back in December was postponed.
26. Dallas Stars (73 points)
Previously 26 (68 points)
For the second time in five days, the Stars got the better of San Jose at home. On Thursday, however, Dallas ran away with an easy 6-1 win. Adam Cracknell led the charge with his first career hat trick in that win, and Ales Hemsky had three goals this week after missing four months with hip surgery.
27. Vancouver Canucks (69 points)
Previously 27 (67 points)
Vancouver’s offense has been fading towards the bottom of the league, but they took advantage of a struggling Wild team on Saturday to extend their lead on Arizona for sixth in the Pacific Division. Reid Boucher scored twice in the win, and Brock Boeser, Vancouver’s first-round pick in 2015, joined the team right out of college and scored his first NHL goal in Minnesota. He also scored in the Canucks’ blowout loss to Anaheim on Tuesday.
28. New Jersey Devils (68 points)
Previously 28 (66 points)
New Jersey is realistically going to finish as the worst team in the Eastern Conference, and they will need to pick up a solid lottery pick, possibly #1, to pick up a reliable goal scorer. For the second straight season, the Devils have been atrocious on the offensive end. Taylor Hall is just one goal away from hitting 20 goals for the fifth time in his career, and John Moore scored twice in Thursday’s loss to Toronto. He can reach double figures in goals for the first time in his career with another goal and has tied for his career high in points, which was achieved last season in his first year with the Devils.
29. Arizona Coyotes (63 points)
Previously 29 (63 points)
One is a lonely number, especially when it results in four straight losses. That is how many goals Arizona scored in their four losses this week, and they have likely clinched the second-worst record in the NHL barring a perfect run to finish the season. Clayton Keller, the seventh overall pick from 2016, signed with Arizona on Monday, and he got his first career point on an assist to Alex Goligoski on Wednesday.
30. Colorado Avalanche (43 points)
Previously 30 (43 points)
Amazingly, this is only the second time Colorado has lost at least seven straight games this season. It seems like they have had way more. They certainly had their chances this week, but they just cannot avoid the big period. After allowing five third period goals to Chicago last week, they did it again in a home loss to Edmonton on Thursday. Sven Andrighetto had three goals this week, including both of Colorado’s goals in Calgary, to give him five with his new team.
Final Bold Predictions (Results for this upcoming week will be featured in the next NHL Power Rankings):
Last week:
New Jersey defeats Toronto within the first three minutes of overtime on Thursday. This was a horrible prediction.
Nikita Kucherov gets to 80 points this week. Got it! Another big week for Kuch!
Anders Lee notches a hat trick against Nashville on Monday. Another dead offensive performance when I did not want it.
This week:
Tampa Bay takes the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Dallas beats Colorado by at least five goals on April 8, and Tyler Seguin gets at least three points in that game.
Detroit wins in overtime in their final game at Joe Louis Arena on April 9.