November 8, 2023
By Tab Bamford
POWER RANKINGS
CHICAGO, IL — As we inch closer to Thanksgiving in the United States, injuries are mounting all over the NHL to key players. Teams are trying to make do without important pieces, and others are trying to figure out what the heck is wrong with their mix. It’s a wild time in the NHL.
We have at least one coach on the hot seat already, star players getting benched for extended periods of time, and... hold on! Did I just hear the San Jose Sharks won a game?!? The NHL no longer has a winless team!
As we try our best to sort through the messes and praise the accomplishments of the league’s leaders, let us know what we got wrong and where we’re right. Let’s jump into this week’s Power Rankings.
32. Edmonton Oilers
Congratulations to the Oilers for hanging onto the last spot in our Power Rankings for a second consecutive week. Or should I say weak? Because they’re waiving veteran goaltenders, coaches are getting tossed and the losses keep piling up.
31. San Jose Sharks
Hey, guess who’s only two points behind the Oilers in the Pacific with a game in-hand?
30. Ottawa Senators
They should send a nice flower arrangement to the Oilers for taking some of the attention away from the smoldering embers in their dumpster at this point. They need to get the turmoil into the past and play hockey – and win.
29. Montreal Canadiens
Losers of four straight, the Habs have been bad away from home (one win in five starts) and their goal differential (minus-eight) is sliding the wrong direction.
28. Calgary Flames
Jonathan Huberdeau is now getting stapled to the bench for extended periods and doesn’t look thrilled. They’ve won their last two, but that improves them to just 3-6-1 in their previous ten.
27. Seattle Kraken
They have sub-.500 record at home and on the road and a minus-12 goal differential in 13 starts. Having lost two in a row, this season has not started as well as they had hoped after a playoff berth.
26. Washington Capitals
Their offense has been one of the bigger disappointments in the league to date; they’ve scored only 21 times in 10 games and seven of those have been on home ice.
25. Chicago Blackhawks
This team is either terrific or bad. Saturday night they beat the Panthers soundly; Sunday night they looked pedestrian against a Devils team without Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier. They’re searching for consistency.
24. Minnesota Wild
A team that has big financial limitations this season was supposed to be strong defensively. They’ve allowed 49 goals in 12 games. That isn’t good for a team many assumed was a lock for a playoff spot because the Central is so bad.
23. Nashville Predators
The Preds are 2-5-0 away from home in their first 12 games and the offense hasn’t been there. But the Central is a mess, so they aren’t out of it yet.
22. St. Louis Blues
Yeah, it’s a run on the Central in the bottom third of our Power Rankings this week. The Blues are 4-2-0 at home, which is nice. But they have a minus-six goal differential and a 1-3-1 record on the road.
21. Philadelphia Flyers
Will they write off the loss to San Jose on their taxes as a charitable donation or are they really starting to slide the wrong direction? They’re 3-4-0 at home.
20. Pittsburgh Penguins
Good luck figuring this team out. In 11 games they have a plus-seven goal differential and they’re 3-2-0 on the road, but they’re 2-4-0 at home. Feast or famine doesn’t get a team in the playoffs.
19. Columbus Blue Jackets
Another team in turmoil, they’ve been without Patrik Laine for an extended period already, Kent Johnson is in the AHL and Johnny Gaudreau has been slapped on the wrist for lacking effort.
18. New York Islanders
They’ve played eight of their first 11 at home and have three wins to show for it. They have a minus-two goal differential and have only scored 29 times in those 11 games.
17. Florida Panthers
They got their lunches handed to them by the Blackhawks this past weekend and have been very average on the road all season, but a 4-1-0 home record balances the scales.
16. Detroit Red Wings
They’ve cooled off since their hot start, especially Alex DeBrincat. They’ve played a balanced home-road schedule thus far and have been a middle-of-the-road team. They do have an opportunity to take advantage of some other teams not starting well, however.
15. Winnipeg Jets
They’ve done a nice job on the road (4-2-1) and have a break-even goal differential in 12 starts. Winners of their last two, the rest of the Central being terrible gives them hope.
14. Buffalo Sabres
They have the same goals for/against (41) as the Jets in one more game played and are one game under .500 at home. They’re still searching for consistency in their game and dealing with some health issues.
13. Arizona Coyotes
Do not sleep on the young Yotes this season. They have a plus-six goal differential and have a 4-2-0 record at Mullett Arena. This does not appear to be the same Coyotes who have looked like a tanking team for the past (checks notes) decade.
12. Toronto Maple Leafs
They’re only a .500 team in Toronto and have a break-even goal differential in 12 games. Their defense continues to be a mess, but – unlike the Oilers – their offense is covering for their deficiencies.
11. Dallas Stars
With only 11 games played, their offense hasn’t quite been there yet, but their defensive excellence has helped. They have a plus-three goal differential after two straight losses entering Wednesday.
10. Anaheim Ducks
Welcome to the top ten, Anaheim! The Ducks are this year’s resurrection story, and it’s been fun to watch. Their goaltending has been good and their young skaters are playing like veterans. This is an exciting team (finally).
9. Los Angeles Kings
What do we make of the Kings? They’ve played six of their first 11 games on the road and haven’t lost yet. But they’re 1-2-2 at home. This is a really good team that’s getting it done away from home.
8. New Jersey Devils
How they survive without their top two centers will be interesting; they got away with one in Chicago. They only have a plus-one goal differential but are 4-2-0 on the road early.
7. Tampa Bay Lightning
The Bolts haven’t lost a game in regulation in six home starts but they’re 2-3-2 on the road. They get the Blackhawks at home on Thursday night as they look to get a roll going.
6. Carolina Hurricanes
Their defense has been a disappointment and their goaltending situation is a hot mess, but they keep winning games. They’re a perfect 4-0-0 at home and have won their last two games entering Wednesday action.
5. Colorado Avalanche
Like the Canes, the Avs haven’t lost in four home starts. They’re also over .500 on the road and have allowed just 31 goals in their 11 games to start the season.
4. New York Rangers
The Rangers have been the league’s most impressive road team early this season, winning six of eight (6-1-1) away from MSG. They have a plus-12 goal differential even though the offense has only provided 39 goals in 12 games.
3. Boston Bruins
They’re allowing less than two goals per game (23 allowed in 12 games) and have only one regulation loss on their ledger. It’s hard to imagine they’re third this week, but...
2. Vancouver Canucks
Boasting a league-best plus-30 goal differential in only 12 games, it appears the Canucks are a juggernaut that finally woke up and put it all together. They’ve allowed 24 goals in 12 games, which is great. They’ve scored 54 – which is huge.
1. Vegas Golden Knights
How long will it take for someone to knock the defending champs out of our top spot? They’ve lost twice in 13 games, only once in regulation. They’re 7-0-1 at home and have a plus-24 goal differential.