March 20, 2023
By Tab Bamford

CHICAGO, IL — We’re now a couple long weeks past the trade deadline and some acquisitions are starting to really show they’re comfortable in their new jerseys (see: Kane, Patrick).

The impact of those new players on good teams and the losses of key players to injury (see: Svechnikov, Andrei) will continue to make an impact as the playoff races heat up as we head into the home stretch.

I’m going to mix up the bottom of the league a bit this week because four teams have already been eliminated from the playoffs. Those four teams will stick at No. 29-32 until others see their chances officially end, at which point Montreal can dip further into the abyss.

As always, please feel free to let us know what we got wrong and where we’re spot on in this week’s Power Rankings. Let’s go!

32. e – Columbus Blue Jackets

The Jackets are 2-6-2 in their last 10 and have lost their last three. The Sharks do have one game in-hand but Columbus is three points clear for the bottom of the barrel in the tank standings.

31. e – San Jose Sharks

With a 1-7-2 mark in their last 10, the Sharks are chasing the bottom ferociously and get a date with Edmonton (tryout for Erik Karlsson?) on Monday night. Only the Ducks and Blue Jackets have a worse goal differential than San Jose (minus-69).

30. e – Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago has the same goal differential as the Sharks and are 3-6-1 in their last 10 but the Blackhawks have been playing hard for Luke Richardson. Recent wins over the Bruins, Sens and Preds have been impressive for a team third in the Bedard Sweepstakes.

29. e – Anaheim Ducks

Their minus-100 goal differential is actually pretty impressive at just 70 games played. The Ducks are 4-3-3 in their last 10 and would probably be higher if a couple other teams were already eliminated.

28. Montreal Canadiens

The Habs would probably be in the 30s based on their 1-7-2 run over their last 10 games, but they are still mathematically alive for a playoff berth. They’ve lost their last two and have a minus-64 goal differential.

27. Philadelphia Flyers

At only 2-6-2 in their last 10 the Flyers are working their way down the ladder. They’re at a minus-48 goal differential in 69 games and have a 13-16-5 record on home ice this season.

26. Detroit Red Wings

Like the Flyers, the Red Wings have only two wins in their last ten and are headed the wrong direction after hoping for a playoff berth earlier this year. They’re still 17-13-4 on home ice this season, though.

25. Buffalo Sabres

Losers of three straight and with a 2-6-2 mark over their last 10, the Sabres’ hopes of making the postseason have faded since the trade deadline. They’re still an impressive 20-11-3 team on the road this season.

24. Arizona Coyotes

Hey, they beat the Blackhawks this weekend! That was worth another fun graphic from their social media team. But the Yotes are still at a minus-45 goal differential on the season and are 7-21-8 on the road.

23. St. Louis Blues

Winners of their last two and at 5-5-0 on their last 10, the Blues sold at the deadline but have already committed to a few pieces of their next generation long-term. We’ll see how deep their retool job goes this summer as they look to rebound after a disappointing season.

22. Vancouver Canucks

The “too little, too late” champions for a second straight season, the Canucks are 8-2-0 in their last 10 and are actually moving up the standings in vain once again this year. They’re just under .500 as a team despite a minus-25 goal differential.

21. Ottawa Senators

Their next important victory will be the sale of the franchise, which commissioner Gary Bettman indicated last week could come soon. They’ve lost five straight on the ice and are just 14-18-2 on the road.

20. Washington Capitals

The worst-ranked team in our power rankings with a positive goal differential (plus-two), the Caps just haven’t been able to be anything more than a .500 team this year. They’ve already played 71 games so the playoffs are looking more distant with every loss.

19. Nashville Predators

A fun surprise run after the trade deadline was dashed with a loss to the Blackhawks, but the Preds are a fascinating team. They’re 17-4-4 on the road and 17-12-4 at home but have a minus-11 goal differential.

18. Pittsburgh Penguins

Losers of their last three and at 5-4-1 in their last 10, the hopes of getting the band back together for another run at a championship appear to have been in vain. The Pens are just 15-15-5 away from home.

17. Winnipeg Jets

Once a possible Central Division champion, the Jets have fallen apart. They’re 4-5-1 in their last 10 and are now just 18-17-1 on the road. The Jets have a plus-12 goal differential but need to string together some wins to get out of the wild card mess in the West.

16. Calgary Flames

The Flames are just 4-3-3 in their last 10 and are down to a plus-five goal differential on the season. They were forced to make some significant changes last summer and many were excited about their new-look roster but it simply hasn’t clicked consistently.

15. Seattle Kraken

It’s odd that a second-year expansion team with a terrific home barn is just 16-15-4 there but a stronger 22-9-3 on the road. Their improvement this season has been terrific ad they’re 6-3-1 in their last 10 starts.

14. New York Islanders

The aging Islanders made the biggest swing at the deadline, landing Bo Horvat in a blockbuster trade with Vancouver. And they’re 6-3-1 in their last 10 games, so the trend is relatively good. But the loss of Mat Barzal to injury was huge.

13. Florida Panthers

Don’t look now, but Florida is 7-2-1 in their last 10 and appear to have found the recipe for wins that their big summer trade partner in Calgary has not. They’re 21-10-4 on home ice this season and have been rolling lately.

12. Tampa Bay Lightning

The Bolts are just 5-4-1 in their last 10 and 17-16-1 on the road this season. I get it; they know when the games matter most and they aren’t worried about their postseason placement. But in this week’s specific power rankings, they’re falling.

11. Los Angeles Kings

The Kings are a terrific 7-1-2 in their last 10 and have climbed to a plus-12 goal differential, but that mark is the worst on our after the Islanders. They’re climbing in the Paciifc, but have a crowded field with which to contend down the stretch.

10. Minnesota Wild

One of the stronger defensive teams in the Western Conference playoff field, they’re now just one point behind the Stars for the top spot in the Central with both teams having 12 games left on the schedule. The Wild are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games.

9. Dallas Stars

They better keep an eye on the Wild because they’re coming. Dallas is 7-3-0 n their last 10 but have given up some of their cushion for the top spot in the division, still.

8. Edmonton Oilers

Winners of their last three and now at 86 points in the standings – with two players having already reached 100 points in their individual seasons – the Oilers appear to be ready to do some real damage in the playoffs… if their goaltending is ready for the challenge.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs

With just six wins in their last ten, the Leafs slide a bit this week. Their 93 points are still good for fourth-best in the NHL and they have a strong plus-50 goal differential. They’re going to be a tough out in the playoffs.

6. New Jersey Devils

The Devils are third in the league with 97 points in the standings, but they’re only 5-3-2 in their last 10 so they slide a little this week in our rankings. If they can get settled with their new additions, beware.

5. Vegas Golden Knights

With an 8-2-0 run in their last 10 the Knights have sprinted to the top of the Western Conference. They’re a stunning 21-7-5 on the road this season and have a lovely plus-34 goal differential.

4. Colorado Avalanche

When the defending champs own the longest win streak in the NHL (five games) and host the Blackhawks on Monday night, they climb into the top four almost by default. They’re up to a plus-35 goal differential and are 21-11-3 on the road.

3. Carolina Hurricanes

At 6-4-0 in their last 10, Carolina has dealt with their share of depressing injuries this season but have kept winning games. The big question now is if they have enough to stay this strong in the postseason, especially when…

2. New York Rangers

Did you see what they did this weekend? The Rangers have won four straight and suddenly have a plus-48 goal differential. They’re 20-8-6 on the road and it looks like Patrick Kane is getting comfortable. Look out, Eastern Conference!

1. Boston Bruins

Yeah, they lost to the Blackhawks. But they’re 7-3-0 in their last 10 and have a 13-point gap between them and Carolina, who are second in the league. They’re still the standard and the team to beat in the entire league.