NHL Power Rankings: Bruins bound into Top 10

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

1. Colorado Avalanche (40-11-5)

Have the Avs already put things into autopilot? Pavel Francouz has started four of the last six games in net in lieu of Darcy Kuemper. One of those Francouz starts was a puzzling loss to the Coyotes.

Colorado will have to turn things around quickly with five of their next six games being on the road. Expect Nathan MacKinnon to lead the way, as he’s scored at least once in seven of his last nine tilts.

2. Florida Panthers (37-13-5)

The Panthers lost their last three games of February by an aggregate score of 16-10, but they seem to have put that “hiccup” behind them with two straight blowout triumphs at home, both with Sergei Bobrovsky between the pipes.

We’ll see what transpires for this team with nine of their next 10 taking place on the road.

3. Carolina Hurricanes (39-12-5)

The Hurricanes wrapped up a grueling stretch of six games within 10 days with a 4-2 record, winning all their home games and dropping both their road tilts.

Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta were both solid in goal, but the offense (15 goals) left something to be desired. Their upcoming Thursday matchup with the Avalanche could be telling.

4. New York Rangers (36-15-5)

Igor Shesterkin has started 10 of the Rangers’ last 11 games, and was ESPN’s “top performer” eight times.

It’s a great luxury to have the presumptive Vezina Trophy winner in net, but the Blueshirts have to start scoring more, and soon. Perhaps GM Chris Drury will put his team’s $6.7 million in cap space to good use by the trade deadline.

5. Tampa Bay Lightning (37-12-6)

The Lightning have been fattening up against soft opponents over their last nine games, going 7-2. But the two losses came in their only meetings with bonafide playoff contenders in that span (Avalanche and Penguins).

Tampa will play nine of their next 10 games on the road, taking on the Flames, Rangers, Hurricanes and Bruins in a potentially crucial stretch.

6. Calgary Flames (33-14-7)

Since the last edition of these power rankings, the Flames have tamed the Wild twice, lost to the Canadiens, then beat the mighty Avalanche in Colorado with their backup goalie in net. Such is the ebb and flow of the NHL.

Johnny Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm are each off to a rollicking start in March, notching six points apiece.

7. Pittsburgh Penguins (34-14-9)

The Penguins have earned seven of their last eight possible points, beating the Rangers, Blue Jackets, and Lightning before settling for an OT loss against the Hurricanes.

Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel each have a goal and an assist over their last two contests.

8. Boston Bruins (34-18-4)

Jeremy Swayman is now the unquestioned No. 1 starter in Boston after authoring a 1.13 GAA and a .960 save % in February. He also won his first two starts of March, meaning the Bruins have now claimed victory in seven of their last eight overall.

9. Toronto Maple Leafs (35-16-4)

The bad news for the Maple Leafs is that they still haven’t figured out their goaltending situation, as the tandem of Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek have surrendered 37 goals over the team’s last eight tilts. The good news is that John Tavares snapped his 14-game scoreless streak with a tally against the Canucks on Saturday.

10. Vegas Golden Knights (32-21-4)

Though they may not be as good as everyone thought they were when the season started, the Golden Knights still have plenty of fight in them.

Vegas bounced back from a 3-2 loss to the Avalanche – in which they surrendered a third-period lead – by winning three of their next four overall. Jonathan Marchessault has been a key contributor in this span, scoring a club-high six points.