Photo: Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images
With a quarter of the 2021-22 NHL season in the books, NoVa Caps ranks all 32 teams in our monthly power rankings. Some teams who were expected to be near or at the bottom have dragged down a bit while the expected contenders have risen but not to the extent some have expected. (⬆️Up or ⬇️ Down represent spaces moved since last power rankings)
32. Ottawa Senators
The Senators came into the season hoping their youth would take a big step forward but instead they entered Wednesday dead last in the NHL as losers of five straight (and nine of 10) in regulation and a 4-14-1 record. They waived goaltender Matt Murray last week. The Senators’ average of 3.84 goals-against per game is an NHL-high. ⬇️ 6
31. Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes have gone 4-3-1 in their last eight games but that does not make up for their 0-10-1 start to the season (yet). Defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere has been a pleasant surprise as he leads the team with 13 assists and 16 points in 23 games as has their goaltending as Karel Vejmelka has earned a .916 save percentage while Scott Wedgewood has posted a .913 save percentage. The Coyotes are dead last in goals-per-game (1.83) and in the bottom-six in goals-against per game (3.48, fifth-worst), power-play (12.7% efficient, fifth-worst), and penalty-kill (72.4% efficient, fourth-worst). ⬆️ 1
30. Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens fired GM Marc Bergevin after starting 5-15-2 and split their first two games without him in charge. They rank 28th in goals-per-game (2.29), 31st in goals-against per game (3.54), 30th on the power-play (12.5% efficient), and 31st on the penalty kill (68.1% efficient). Not much is working in Montreal. ⬇️ 1
29. New York Islanders
After starting the season with 13 straight games on the road and a 5-2-2 record, the Islanders have lost eight straight in regulation and have been outscored 13-3 in four games at UBS Arena. They had two games postponed due to COVID-19 but will return to action on Thursday. ⬇️ 12
28. Vancouver Canucks
A 2-1 win over the Canadiens at Bell Centre on Monday snapped a four-game losing-streak and a stretch where they went 1-8-1. Noise is getting louder in Vancouver as GM Jim Benning and head coach Travis Green’s seats are getting very hot. ⬇️ 5
27. Buffalo Sabres
After a 5-1-1 start, the Sabres have come back down to earth as they have gone 3-10-2 since. At least they finally got the big monkey off of their back when they traded center Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights. ⬇️ 15
26. Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks are 7-5-0 since starting the season 0-7-2 and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has improved since a rocky start to his tenure in Chicago as he has gone 5-4-0 with a .935 save percentage and a 2.12 goals-against average in November. ⬆️ 5
25. Philadelphia Flyers
Since starting 6-2-2, the Flyers have gone 2-6-2. Their average of 2.45 goals-per-game ranks 26th, 2.95 goals-against per game is tied for the league average, 13.1% power-play efficiency ranks 27th, and 84.6% penalty-killing rate is 10th. Their goaltending has bounced back nicely as Carter Hart has earned a .920 save percentage while Martin Jones has posted a .921 save percentage. ⬇️ 17
24. Seattle Kraken
After a 4-12-1 start to the season, the Kraken have gone 4-1-0, including victories over the Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, and Florida Panthers, three of the top five teams in the NHL in terms of points percentage. Their goaltending has lived up to its expectations during the Kraken’s stretch as Philipp Grubauer has earned a .941 save percentage in three games while Chris Driedger has posted a .929 save percentage in two after disappointing starts by both tenders. ➡️
23. Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings have gone 7-7-1 since a 4-2-2 start but are 3-0-1 since a three-game regulation losing-streak. Left-wing Lucas Raymond is leading the Calder Trophy race as the league’s best rookie with nine goals and 21 points in 23 games. ⬇️ 8
22. Winnipeg Jets
Since g0ing 9-1-4 from October 18-November 18, the Jets have lost five of their past six games in regulation, including a 1-0 loss to the Coyotes on Monday night and the Colorado Avalanche’s hot-streak has led them to be breathing down the Jets’ neck for third in the Central Division. ⬇️ 11
21. Los Angeles Kings
Since a seven-game winning streak ended, the Kings have gone 1-3-3 and are falling behind in the Western Conference wild card race. ⬆️ 9
20. Nashville Predators
Since an 8-1-1 stretch, the Predators are 3-4-0, including a 6-3 loss to the Canadiens on November 20. Center Matt Duchene is finally living up to his $8 million cap hit with 13 goals and 24 points in 22 games. ⬇️ 7
19. San Jose Sharks
The Sharks have won four of their last five games, including a 2-1 win at home over Carolina on November 22. ➡️
18. New Jersey Devils
The Devils have faded since a 4-2-1 start as they are 3-5-3 since but got center Jack Hughes back after the 20-year-old missed 17 games with a dislocated shoulder. ⬇️ 3
17. Pittsburgh Penguins
Since a five-game winning-streak ended, the Penguins lost to the Canadiens and Calgary Flames by a combined score of 7-4 and visit the surging Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. ⬇️ 7
16. Anaheim Ducks
This season’s surprise team has won two of their last three since a three-game losing-streak, which followed an eight-game winning-streak and 8-1-3 stretch. Center Troy Terry has arguably been the surprise player of the season with 14 goals (tied for fifth in the NHL) and 24 points (tied for ninth) in 22 games. ⬆️ 12
15. Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights have missed some significant parts of their team in right-wing Mark Stone, left-wing Max Pacioretty, and center William Karlsson but are 12-9-0. Since winning eight of 10, they have won just three of six. ⬇️ 1
14. St. Louis Blues
The Blues are 3-1-1 in their last five after losing five of their previous seven. Center Jordan Kyrou has stayed consistent with 23 points in 22 games this season. ⬇️ 11
13. Dallas Stars
The Stars have won five straight, including wins over the Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, and Edmonton Oilers, and seven of their last eight since losing six of seven. Center Joe Pavelski has 17 points in 20 games this season while their goalies have combined for a .931 five-on-five save percentage (eighth). ⬆️ 9
12. Boston Bruins
The Bruins have dropped three of their last five with their only wins coming against the Canucks and Sabres. They are currently three points out of a wild-card spot but have at least three games in hand on two of the three teams that they are chasing and two on the other. Left-wing Brad Marchand leads the team in goals (nine), assists (15), and points (24). ⬆️ 6
11. Columbus Blue Jackets
After a 6-0 loss to the Predators on Tuesday, the Blue Jackets have allowed six goals in each of their past two games (both losses) since winning five of six. Right-wing Oliver Bjorkstrand leads the team with 19 points in 20 games. ⬆️ 14
10. Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche have found their game lately with seven wins in their last eight games before starting a five-game Eastern Conference road-trip in Toronto on Wednesday. On a team with center Nathan MacKinnon, right-wing Mikko Rantanen, and defenseman Cale Makar, center Nazem Kadri has been a surprise this season with 27 points (tied with Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov for fourth in the NHL), including 20 assists (tied with Kuznetsov and Oilers center Leon Draisaitl for second). ⬆️ 10
9. Tampa Bay Lightning
Since winning three straight games and going 11-1-2 in a span of 14 games, the Lightning fell in back-to-back games with the Blues and Minnesota Wild. Center Steven Stamkos has earned 11 goals and 24 points through 20 games. ⬆️ 4
8. Minnesota Wild
The Wild have won four straight games and are 4-0-1 in their last five, including taking three of four points in two games against the defending Stanley Cup Champions. They enter Wednesday tied with the Calgary Flames for the Western Conference lead. ⬇️ 2
7. Calgary Flames
After going 6-1-2 in their past nine games, the Flames begin a four-game road trip where they face all division opponents in Los Angeles on Thursday. They currently lead the NHL with a .9527 five-on-five team save percentage. Jacob Markstrom has a .938 save percentage and a 1.75 goals-against average while Dan Vladar has a .946 save percentage and a 1.57 goals-against average. The two have also combined for an NHL-lead seven shutouts, including five by Markstrom. ⬇️ 2
6. New York Rangers
The Rangers have won three straight and seven of eight since returning from a 0-1-2 trip through Western Canada. ⬆️ 3
The Hurricanes have lost two straight and four of five (1-3-1) following a four-game winning-streak. Goaltender Frederik Andersen has had a solid first season in Carolina with an 11-5-0 record (tied for third in wins), a .928 save percentage (tied for 12th), and a 2.05 goals-against average (eighth). ⬇️ 4
4. Florida Panthers
After back-to-back losses to the Capitals and Kraken over the weekend, which followed a six-game point-streak (4-0-2), the Panthers responded by dominating the Capitals in a 5-4 win on Tuesday despite trailing 4-1 in the third period. Their .750 points percentage is tied with the Oilers for the NHL-lead. ⬇️ 2
3. Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs are an NHL-best 14-2-0 since four straight losses in October and have won eight of their last nine. Center John Tavares leads the team in goals (10) and points (22) in 22 games. The team is now tied with the Panthers and Capitals for the league lead in points (33). ⬆️ 18
2. Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers have the best points percentage in the Western Conference and are tied with the Panthers for the NHL-lead (.750). They have won four of their last five and centers Leon Draisaitl (40 – first) and Connor McDavid (36 – third) make up two of the top-three in scoring. ⬆️ 2
Before Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to the Panthers, the Capitals won three straight (including wins over the Panthers and Hurricanes) and are 9-2-1 since November 7. Left-wing Alex Ovechkin (37 points, second) and Kuznetsov are both among the NHL’s top five in scoring while goaltender Ilya Samsonov has appeared to take the No. 1 job in net as he is 9-1-1 with a .915 save percentage, 2.52 goals-against average, and three shutouts this season. With the team due to get right-wing T.J. Oshie and center Nicklas Backstrom back from injury in the near future, this team will have some decisions to make as seven of the team’s rookies has scored their first NHL goal this season. ⬆️ 6
By Harrison Brown
