New year, new NHL power rankings. After the holiday break and many postponements due to a Covid-19 outbreak across the league, power rankings are back for the first edition of 2022. Even though this is a new year, the power rankings remain the same which means a loss or win doesn’t always mean that one team will be ranked higher than a team they beat or lost to. Let’s get into it and see how things look to start 2022.
Numbers in parentheses reference last week’s rankings and all stats are current as of 1/2
No.32: Arizona Coyotes (+0)
New year, same Coyotes. Nothing has changed with this team. Bad statistically and with the eye test. Moving on.
No.31: Montreal Canadiens (+0)
The Canadiens have been struggling coming out of their postponement period. With only one point in their first three games back, it has been rough sledding in Montreal and will more than likely continue to be for some time.
No.30: Ottawa Senators (-5)
After going to 25 in the last power rankings, Ottawa comes back down to 30. It feels a little dirty to put the Sens back here after only just one game back, but the facts are they haven’t been great during the season and they are second-worst in the league in goals against per game averaging 3.80 goals.
No.29: Seattle Kraken (-1)
The Kraken have continued to struggle mightily and their statistics reflect that. They are third-worst in the league in goals against per game averaging 3.67 goals against. In case people forgot what an expansion team normally looks like, the Kraken are providing you with a great example.
No.28: Buffalo Sabres(+1)
The Sabres swap places with the Kraken this time around, but that doesn’t mean that they’ve been doing well. Since coming back from their postponements, the Sabres and the Canadiens have one thing in common: they both have one point in three games. Not good enough.
No.27: Chicago Blackhawks (+0)
For the third straight week, the Blackhawks stay at 27. Their goals against per game has taken a step back though, now sitting tied for ninth-worst averaging 3.32 goals against. Their offense is still struggling, sitting third-worst in goals for per game averaging 2.26 goals.
No.26: Columbus Blue Jackets (-2)
The Blue Jackets continue to slide down the ranks. It’s been rough for Columbus as of late going 3-6-1 in their last ten games. Statistically, their offense has been decent, but they need to fix some things on the back end as they currently average 3.47 goals against per game, sixth-worst in the NHL.
No.25: New York Islanders (+1)
Slowly but surely, the Islanders are doing some good things. Their offense still has some problems, averaging 2.29 goals for per game which is fourth-worst in the league, but that is an improvement for them. Not to mention they’ve gone 5-2-3 in their last ten games.
No.24: New Jersey Devils (+6)
It’s amazing what a three game winning streak can do for a team. The Devils are finally coming out of their massive slump, but they are still 4-6 in their last ten games. This may not be a very short increase for New Jersey, but who knows?
No.23: Philadelphia Flyers (+0)
The Flyers stay put at 23. Their defense has gotten better, but their offense still has a lot of issues, averaging 2.66 goals for per game, seventh-worst in the NHL. They are 5-3-2 in their last ten, so that’s a good sign.
No.22: Dallas Stars (-1)
The Stars fall back to 22 this week. Their offense has improved as of late, but sometimes it just comes down to the teams around you in the rankings, and the eye test.
No.21: Detroit Red Wings (-5)
Just as quickly as they went up, the Red Wings come back down. On a two game losing streak since coming back from their postponements and the holiday break, Detroit might need a little time to get back up to speed, but they might not have that time either.
No.20: Boston Bruins (+2)
The Bruins move up a couple spots this week. Their defense has been among the best in the league sitting at sixth-best in the league averaging 2.57 goals against per game, but their offense is still struggling despite the talent they have.
No.19: San Jose Sharks (+1)
The Sharks move up a spot this week not for their record, but for their vast improvement on the offensive side of the ice. They are now out of the bottom ten in the league in goals for per game averaging 2.82 goals. It still isn’t great as it is tied for thirteenth-wrost with the Boston Bruins, but it’s in a much better place than in the last edition of power rankings.
No.18: Winnipeg Jets (+0)
The Jets stay put at 18 in this edition. They are on a two game winning streak but when compared to some of the other teams around them and their forms as of late, Winnipeg slots in here.
No.17: Vancouver Canucks (+2)
Well it wasn’t going to last forever, but even though the undefeated streak under Bruce Boudreau may be over, the Canucks have still looked like a fantastic team since Boudreau has taken over. Their offense still has some issues to figure out still sitting at fifth-worst in the league in goals for per game, but their defense is starting to figure it out and put everything together.
No.16: Los Angeles Kings (+1)
The Kings are on a two game winning streak which moves them up this week to 16. Not to mention going 6-3-1 in their last ten. Statistically, Los Angeles sits ninth-worst in goals for per game, but also ninth-best in goals against per game. Opposites attract in Tinseltown, apparently. If it works though, stick with it.
No.15: Edmonton Oilers (+0)
The Oilers have sputtered clinging onto the top fifteen this time around. Sitting at 2-6-2 in their last ten, the Oilers offensive talent is top notch, but their defense is still a problem, and a problem that is growing.
No.14: Colorado Avalanche (+0)
The Avalanche feel like they are so close, but just need to get over a hump to get into the top ten. For now, they stay put at 14. While they are the best in the league in goals for per game averaging 4.21 goals, they need to get their defense in order as they are tenth-worst in goals against per game still.
No.13: Minnesota Wild (-2)
The Wild are in a funk and their slide down the rankings continues. They at least made the Winter Classic interesting after an abhorrent second period, but any hockey fan could tell this was a team that had a long time off. Their defensive woes are still very apparent and concerning.
No.12: Anaheim Ducks (-3)
The Ducks’ two game losing streak drop them out of the top ten this edition. They’ve had a little bit of a tough time as of late finding any form, currently 4-3-3 in their last ten games, but that could quickly change for them and put them back in the top ten.
No.11: Calgary Flames (-1)
Calgary falls here simply because of the streaks of the top ten teams in this edition of the rankings. Statisitcally they are one of the more well-rounded teams in the league right now on both ends of the ice.
No.10: St. Louis Blues (+2)
Boy did the Blues look good in the Winter Classic. At least on one end. Jordan Kyrou looks like he could be on his way to star status, but there were still issues on the defensive side in that third period. Regardless, the Blues are still in the top ten in goals against per game, but that is something to keep an eye on as the season moves forward.
No.9: Nashville Predators (-2)
The Predators are just the latest victims in the teams that are hot right now trend that seems to be happening across the rankings. The main thing holding the Predators back right now is that their offense is middle of the pack statistically. But boy has Tanner Jeannot come out of nowhere.
No.8: Vegas Golden Knights (+0)
The Golden Knights are once again sitting at eight. The entire hockey world knows how great their offense is, but their defense is still experiencing some struggles which they’ll need to figure out to keep climbing the rankings.
No.7: Tampa Bay Lightning (-3)
After going into the top five in the last power rankings, Tampa Bay finds themselves back at seven this time around. It’s a very tight race for those top five spots and there are some teams that are scorching hot as of late. The statistics also indicate that the Lightning offense isn’t as lethal as it has been capable of being in the past as of late.
No.6: New York Rangers (-1)
As mentioned with the Lighting, this is a tight race at the top, and the Rangers are simply another victim of that. Defensively, they are very sound being in the top five in goals against per game, but their offense could be something of concern, although Artemi Panarin and Adam Fox are certainly trying their best.
No.5: Florida Panthers (+8)
Now that’s how a bounce back is done. The Panthers are now riding a three game winning streak, and their offense is still one of the most elite offenses in the league. Their defense is a little bit of a concern currently in the middle of the pack in goals against per game, but as long as they keep scoring like they have been, that can be fixed.
No.4: Pittsburgh Penguins (+2)
The Penguins are on an eight game winning streak. That’s really all the evidence needed for this spot, but if more is needed they are currently fourth-best in goals against per game averaging 2.48 goals. Their offense is incredibly close to being top ten statistically, but as long as they have this winning streak, the Pens will keep rising.
No.3: Toronto Maple Leafs (+0)
The Leafs stay put at three. Currently riding a three game winning streak, they statistically absolutely belong in this spot, but the three teams at the top could really switch positions with each other any week it seems like right now.
No.2: Carolina Hurricanes (-1)
The Hurricanes after their surge in last week’s edition to the top spot fall just a hair to number two. They are the best team in the league in goals against per game averaging 2.13 goals, and they are seventh in goals for per game averaging 3.42 goals.
No.1: Washington Capitals (+1)
The Capitals are back on top this edition after a small hiatus. They are sixth-best in the league in goals for per game averaging 3.44 goals, and are seventh-best in the league in goals against per game averaging 2.59 goals. Ovi Watch continues as Alex Ovechkin sits now 12 goals behind Jaromir Jagr for third all-time, but he did recently become the all-time power-play goal scorer passing Dave Andreychuk, who had scored 274 in his career.
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