Well, ladies and gentlemen, we have reached the end of the road. The 2021-22 NHL regular season is entering its final chapter. This means that we will be ranking teams for the final time. One last time, a loss or win doesn’t necessarily mean that one team will be ranked higher than a team they beat or lost to. Let’s do this one last time.
The numbers in parentheses reference last week’s rankings and all stats are current as of 4/25.
No.32: Arizona Coyotes (+0)
It’s only fitting that the same way these rankings first started, they end starting the same way. The Coyotes have not won a game in their last 10, going 0-8-2. That’s the epitome of the Coyotes’ season.
No.31: Montreal Canadiens (-2)
And the nostalgia continues. The Canadiens find their way back to the bottom after losing their last nine games. Another streak that is the epitome of Montreal’s season.
No.30: Chicago Blackhawks (+0)
For the first time in quite some time, the three teams that were in the bottom three at the start of the power rankings 26 weeks ago are in the bottom three once again. The Blackhawks stay put at 30 this week after a 2-7-1 record in their last ten games. They are clearly deep into a rebuild and things could get worse before they get better.
No.29: Philadelphia Flyers (+2)
The Flyers climb up as many spots as their current winning streak to end the season in the rankings. Things will still be difficult for the Flyers for potentially quite some time, but at least they have a little bit of momentum lately.
No.28: New Jersey Devils (-1)
The Devils fall to 28 to end things. It was a difficult season for the Devils after the loss of Mackenzie Blackwood to injury especially. It was nice to see the combination of Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes shine.
No.27: Seattle Kraken (-1)
The Kraken end the season falling to 27. Their offensive struggles had been well documented all season long. On the plus side, the small sample size of Matty Beniers looks extremely promising for the future of Seattle.
No.26: Anaheim Ducks (-4)
What a roller coaster of the season it has been for the Ducks. After a dynamite first half of the season, the Ducks find themselves far from a playoff spot but have plenty of reasons to be optimistic with Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras to name a few. Also, congratulations to Ryan Getzlaf on a well-deserved retirement cementing himself as one of the greatest to don the Ducks sweater.
No.25: San Jose Sharks (+3)
The Sharks jump up three spots this week. Aside from San Jose causing celebration in the entire hockey world Sunday night by defeating Vegas in the shootout, the Sharks had a rough go of things this season. However, Timo Meier has had quite the coming-out party this season and will look to continue that momentum.
No.24: Ottawa Senators (+0)
The Senators stay put at 24. Despite having a three-game winning streak currently, the Senators haven’t been able to build any sort of momentum this season. Their offense has been getting better as of late, which is some great momentum to take into these last few games of the season and into next season.
No.23: Detroit Red Wings (+2)
The Red Wings come back to 23 this week. The Red Wings are another team that had quite the twisted season after starting the year on a tear before coming back down to Earth. Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider were two of the best rookies in the NHL this year and both should get some recognition for the Calder Trophy, and Seider might just win it.
No.22: Winnipeg Jets (-2)
The Jets fall down to 22 to end things. Hovering in the early 20s for most of the power rankings, the Jets have been the definition of a middle-of-the-road team. Statistically, that fits the bill for Winnipeg and they will need to see the Connor Hellebuyck of old in order to make it back to the postseason.
No.21: Buffalo Sabres (+0)
The Sabres stay put at 21 this week, even with a four-game winning streak. Buffalo, like the Ducks and Red Wings, had quite the season jumping from one of the best in the Eastern Conference back down to Earth and outside of the playoff conversation. But how about Tage Thompson‘s season as well as the resurgent season of Jeff Skinner? Both are bright spots for Buffalo to take notice of heading into the future.
No.20: New York Islanders (-1)
The Islanders fall down to 20 this week after a three-game losing streak. The Islanders may be one of the most disappointing teams of the season after many had predicted that they would be contenders for the Stanley Cup. Their offense struggled mightily and that is what got them into trouble as the season went on.
No.19: Columbus Blue Jackets (+4)
The Blue Jackets move up to 19 this week. Even with a 4-4-2 record in their last 10, that gets the Blue Jackets into the top 20. The biggest issue for the Blue Jackets that was visible all season was their goaltending. Both Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo were horrid all year long and it took Columbus out of many games during the year.
No.18: Vancouver Canucks (-3)
Just as quick as the Canucks had entered the top 15, they have exited and finish the season at 18. The Canucks are still in the playoff conversation distantly, but no one would have expected that after their start. But as soon as Bruce Boudreau came in as the head coach, the team seemed to change on a dime. Thatcher Demko has been one of the most consistent goaltenders of the season and should get some Vezina Trophy love.
No.17: Nashville Predators (+1)
The Predators move up one position this week to 17. What a season it has been for Nashville. From going at one point to being second in the Central and now looking at a Wild Card spot, the Predators have consistently been in the playoff picture. Multiple franchise records were broken by Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg, to name a couple, and now Nashville is primed and ready for a playoff run.
No.16: Dallas Stars (+1)
Nostalgia wants Dallas to be 18, but they climb up to 16 this week. The Stars, after offensive struggles significantly hindered them early on in the season, have rebounded nicely and are now in a heated Wild Card battle with several other teams. What a year for Joe Pavelski and a continuing breakout of Jason Robertson gives Dallas a couple of solid memories from this season with the hardest part yet to come.
No.15: Vegas Golden Knights (+1)
The Golden Knights, somewhat controversially, move up a spot to 15. The Knights could realistically be in the spot of the Stars or Predators as these three teams are that close this week. The Knights put their playoff hopes in severe jeopardy after a shootout loss ot the San Jose Sharks Sunday night. They could be a team to watch as the Robin Lehner issue develops and would likely have to continue to lean on Logan Thompson in between the pipes.
No.14: Los Angeles Kings (+0)
We have now come down to the playoff teams, and the Kings stay put at 14, despite being on a four-game winning streak. They haven’t had the greatest stretch as of late, going 6-4 in their last 10. Their offense had started off hot, but has cooled as of late and could potentially be a problem come playoff time, assuming they make it there.
No.13: Pittsburgh Penguins (+0)
The Penguins stay put at 13. They have been on a very concerning run as of late, going 4-5-1 in their last 10 which isn’t the biggest concern but that this run hasn’t been snapped is. There has been a lot of losing in the Steel City as of late and that has to be concerning heading into the playoffs.
No.12: Edmonton Oilers (+0)
The trend of staying put continues as Edmonton stays at 12. Obviously, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the heart and soul of this team. But their offense needs more than just those two, or this will once again be a short playoff run for the Oilers.
No.11: Boston Bruins (-1)
The Bruins fall another spot this week after a 5-5 run in their last 10. When you get this high in the rankings, a run like that becomes a crucial factor. The offense of the Bruins will continue to be one of the strongest heading into the playoffs with David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand leading the charge.
No.10: Washington Capitals (-3)
The Capitals cling to a top 10 spot to end things. The Caps just haven’t quite looked the same as of late and Alex Ovechkin now may be hurt, which is not good. And that’s a massive understatement.
No.9: Tampa Bay Lightning (+0)
The Lightning stay put at nine. Yes, even on a three-game winning streak. The Lightning has put themselves in a fantastic position to aim for the back-to-back-to-back. Steven Stamkos has proven to everyone again why he is one of the best in the NHL.
No.8: Carolina Hurricanes (+3)
The Hurricanes end things back at eight. At one time, let’s not forget, the Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers were in a fierce battle for the top spot in the rankings as well as the Eastern Conference. They have found offense from many contributors and that will certainly continue into the playoffs.
No.7: New York Rangers (-1)
The Blueshirts fall a spot into seventh. They have been a little bit inconsistent as of late, but it begs the question where would this team be without Igor Shesterkin. Shesterkin has been one of the best goaltenders in the NHL and will get Vezina Trophy consideration and potentially Hart Trophy consideration.
No.6: Toronto Maple Leafs (-2)
The Maple Leafs fall to sixth this week through no fault of their own. Let’s be honest with ourselves, this team will revolve around Auston Matthews and will continue to throughout the playoffs. Their goaltending is one of the biggest question marks going into the playoffs and is the team’s Achilles heel.
No.5: Calgary Flames (+0)
The Flames stay put at five this week. Calgary has been one of the hottest teams all year in many facets. The comeback of Jacob Markstrom and the offensive explosion of Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk have combined to make a scary foe come the postseason.
No.4: Minnesota Wild (+4)
All of a sudden this Wild team has been en fuego as of late. Largely due to Kevin Fiala leaving a trail of fire everywhere, he skates as of late. They are undefeated in regulation in their last 10 games, have a five-game winning streak, and will have one heck of a matchup with the St. Louis Blues.
No.3: Colorado Avalanche (-1)
The Avs have been in quite a funk as of late losing their last four games. Now, that isn’t to say that this team won’t be one of the most feared come playoff time. With all the depth they have in every aspect, any hockey fan that is putting them on the back burner because of this recent run is foolish.
No.2: St. Louis Blues (+1)
Wow. This team has been absolutely on fire. Ville Husso is looking like the real deal and Robert Thomas of all people has become an offensive firehouse. The Blues are also undefeated in regulation in their last ten games, are on a three-game winning streak, and look to secure home ice in their series with the Wild.
No.1: Florida Panthers (+0)
It was too sweet not to have the rankings end the same way they began: the Panthers are still on top. Before losing to the Lightning Sunday night, the Panthers had won 13 games in a row. That is absolutely wild at this stage of the season. With all of the offensive weapons that this Florida team has, along with a terrifying goalie tandem, Florida is many hockey fans’ Stanley Cup pick.
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