Teams are still shaking the rust off as the NHL power rankings heads into the second week. The #1 team stays the same, then there is a lot of shuffling throughout the list and one new team enters the ranks.
Although it won’t get much attention here, what has been impressive are a couple of NHL teams that really labored last season. The New Jersey Devils are a perfect 3-0-0 so far and are doing well at both ends of the ice. They’ve scored 16 goals while allowing just six. As for the Colorado Avalanche, they were the worst team in the league last season but they’ve already picked up three wins in four games.
It is still very early, but it is shaping up to be quite an exciting season of NHL hockey and this list could see lots of movement over 82 regular-season games. All stats before games on Friday, October 13th.
1. Pittsburgh Penguins
Last Week: 1
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +900
The defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins are third in the Metropolitan Division as they went 2-2-1 over the week, losing to St. Louis at home in overtime, as well as at Chicago (by a score of 10-1) and Tampa Bay, and then they beat Nashville at home and won ay Washington. They will host Florida and head to New York to visit the Rangers this week. Bryan Rust led the way with a goal and six assists, while Matt Murray was 2-0-1 in four games with a 3.36 GAA for the Penguins.
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
Last Week: 5
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +950
The Lightning are second in the Atlantic Division as they went 3-1-0, splitting a home-and-home with Florida, then they beat Washington (in overtime) and Pittsburgh at home. They’ll stay home to host St. Louis this week, then head on the road to Detroit, New Jersey and Columbus. Alex Kilhorn (one goal, six assists), Nikita Kucherov (four goals, three assists) and Brayden Point (three goals, four assists) all had seven points over the week. Andrei Vasilewvskiy was 3-1-0 this week with a 3.74 GAA for the Lightning.
3. Edmonton Oilers
Last Week: 2
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1000
The Oilers are sixth in the Pacific Division after going 1-2-0 to open the season, winning at home against Calgary, but they lost at home to Winnipeg and at Vancouver. This week, the Oilers will host Ottawa and Carolina, then head to Chicago to start a three-game road trip. Connor McDavid had three goals and an assist to lead the Oilers this week, while Cam Talbot was 1-2-0 in three games with a 3.42 GAA.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs
Last Week: 6
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1100
The Maple Leafs lead the Atlantic Division as they were 3-1-0 this week, winning at Winnipeg, and then at home against the Rangers and Chicago, but they lost at home to New Jersey. The Maple Leafs will visit Montreal and Washington this week, along with a home game against Detroit. Auston Matthews notched three goals and three assists this week, while Frederik Andersen was 3-1-0 with a 3.96 GAA for the Maple Leafs.
5. Washington Capitals
Last Week: 3
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1100
The Capitals are second in the Metropolitan Division as they were 2-1-1 this week, winning at Ottawa and at home against Montreal, but they also lost at Tampa Bay and at home to Pittsburgh. The Capitals will travel to New Jersey and Philadelphia this week, and they’ll host Toronto as well. Alexander Ovechkin has scored eight goals, and Evgeny Kuznetsov has eight assists for the Capitals, and Braden Holtby was 2-1-0 with a 2.62 GAA this week.
6. Chicago Blackhawks
Last Week: 4
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1200
The Blackhawks are second in the Central Division after going 3-1-1, winning at home over Pittsburgh and Columbus, as well as at Montreal, and they lost in Toronto and at home to Minnesota. They’ll host Nashville and Edmonton this week, while also travelling to St. Louis. Ryan Hartman had a pair of goals and six assists for the Blackhawks, and Corey Crawford was 3-1-0 this week with a 1.50 GAA in goal.
7. Anaheim Ducks
Last Week: 7
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1400
The Ducks are fourth in the Pacific Division after going 2-1-1, and all their games were at home, where they beat Arizona and the New York Islanders, but they lost to Philadelphia (in overtime) and to Calgary. The Ducks will visit Colorado, and then back home to host Buffalo. Andrew Cogliano had two goals and three assists to lead the way for the Ducks, while John Gibson was 2-1-1 with a 2.79 GAA.
8. St. Louis Blues
Last Week: —
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1500
The Blues are atop the Central Division after going 4-1-0, winning at Pittsburgh (in overtime), at the New York Islanders (in a shootout) and also at the Rangers. They also won at home over Dallas, but also lost in Florida. The Blues will visit Tampa Bay and Colorado this week, and also be at home to host Chicago. Alex Pietrangelo lead the team in scoring from the blue line with a pair of goals and six assists, and Jake Allen was 3-1-0 this week with a 3.17 GAA for the Blues.
9. Nashville Predators
Last Week: 10
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1500
The Predators are fourth in the Central as they went 2-2-0, losing at Boston and Pittsburgh, but they won at home against Philadelphia and Dallas. They’ll be on the road this week at Chicago and Philadelphia, and then at home against Colorado. P.K. Subban (one goal, five assists) and Filip Forsberg (four goals, two assists) led the Predators in points for the week, while Pekka Rinne was 2-1-0 this week with a 3.08 GAA between the pipes for the Stanley Cup finalists.
10. Minnesota Wild
Last Week: 9
NHL Stanley Cup Odds: +1500
The Wild are sixth in the Central Division after going 1-1-1 in the first week of the season, and all three games were on the road as they lost in Detroit and in Carolina (in a shootout), but they also won at Chicago. The Wild will be at home to host Columbus this week, and then they’ll head to Winnipeg. Chris Stewart notched four goals and an assist over the week and in goal, Devan Dubnyk was 1-1-0 with a GAA of 3.04 for the Wild.
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