NHL Power Rankings: Avalanche, Flames leap up

Here are the Top 10 teams in the NHL, as ranked by TwinSpires Edge.

1. Colorado Avalanche (37-10-4)

They’ve been at the top of the Stanley Cup leaderboard for almost all of the regular season, and they’re currently pacing the NHL in both wins (37) and goal differential (+59). And now the Avalanche have reached No. 1 our power rankings.

It’s been a balanced effort since the All-Star break (5-2 record), with Cale Makar leading the team in points (nine, all assists), and Gabriel Landeskog leading in goals (six).

2. Florida Panthers (35-12-5)

The Panthers appear to have put their road struggles behind them, as they’ve won seven of their last nine outside of the Sunshine State. However, back-to-back home losses to the Predators and Blue Jackets – in which they allowed 12 total goals – has to be concerning.

Interestingly, Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov have taken a back seat of late, combining for only three goals but 17 assists in February (six games).

3. Carolina Hurricanes (35-11-4)

The Hurricanes have been unable to supplant the Panthers in these power rankings, as they dropped to 0-1-2 against that conference rival on Feb. 16.

But Carolina was able to shake off that defeat by winning three in a row, with two victories coming over playoff contenders (Predators and Penguins). Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and Teuvo Teravainen combined for 11 points in that span.

4. New York Rangers (33-13-5)

Since returning from injury on Jan. 13, Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin has won 10 of his 12 starts, allowing only 12 goals while posting an incredible save % of .947. At this point, the Vezina Trophy is his to lose.

5. Tampa Bay Lightning (33-11-6)

The Lightning head into their outdoor Saturday night showdown with Nashville on a three-game winning streak. Their only loss since the All-Star break came against the surging Avalanche by one goal.

Captain Steven Stamkos has been leading by example in this stretch, notching four goals over his last three outings.

6. Calgary Flames (30-14-6)

Though their 10-game winning streak came to a screeching halt on Thursday night with a 7-1 loss to the Canucks, the Flames remain one of the NHL’s hottest teams.

Three Calgary players are into the double-digits in points since the All-Star break (eight games), including Elias Lindholm, who lost his eight-game scoring streak on Thursday.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs (33-14-4)

No team was busier than the Maple Leafs during what was supposed to be the Olympic break, and fatigue must have played a part in their recent 4-4-1 record. However, Thursday’s 3-1 win over the Wild was encouraging.

Auston Matthews is showing no signs of slowing down, accumulating seven goals and six assists over his last nine games.

8. St. Louis Blues (30-14-6)

The Blues – winners of four of their last five games – have been getting good goaltending of late, but not from Jordan Binnington. Ville Husso (12-3-2, 1.97 GAA, .936 save %) has supplanted Binnington, who is 12-10-3 with a 3.25 GAA and .900 save % this season.

9. Pittsburgh Penguins (31-14-8)

The Penguins continue to be the streakiest team in the NHL. They closed out their “first half” schedule with four straight losses, then came roaring back with four straight wins. Now they’re on another three-game losing streak, with the red-hot Rangers coming up on Saturday.

10. Vegas Golden Knights (29-18-4)

The Golden Knights have been surpassed by Calgary in the Pacific Division, and they’ve done themselves no favors by losing three of their last four. That includes a 6-0 thumping at the hands of the Flames on Feb. 9.