On this week’s version of the NHL Energy Rankings the Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild proceed to inch their method nearer to the league’s elite because of their nice play in latest weeks. Whereas they might not be on the identical degree as Colorado, Florida, or Carolina when it comes to total report for the season, they’re positively beginning to hit their stride on the proper time.
The Bruins have been one of many hottest groups within the league for greater than a month now and are shaping as much as be a brutal opening spherical matchup for one of many division winners within the Jap Convention.
Within the West, the Wild have been on a 9-0-1 run over their previous 10 video games and have acquired a lift from Marc-Andre Fleury who’s 3-0 with a .958 save share in his first three look with the group. Don’t sleep on these two because the Stanley Cup Playoffs strategy.
We take a look at these groups and extra on this week’s rankings.
The place does your group sit?
To this week’s NHL Energy Rankings!
1. Colorado Avalanche (Final week: 1). Only a whole buzzsaw of a hockey group. Expectations will rightfully be by means of the roof. Something lower than the Convention Finals can be a large, large disappointment.
2. Florida Panthers (LW: 2). The most effective offense we have now seen within the NHL in practically 30 years. They’ll embarrass anyone on any given night time.
3. Carolina Hurricanes (LW: 3). So good, so deep, so properly rounded, and nonetheless such a younger group. With the goaltending strikes paying off there isn’t a apparent weak point to use right here.
4. Tampa Bay Lightning (LW: 5). Steven Stamkos remains to be a beast, and they’re nonetheless a critical contender.
5. Boston Bruins (LW: 6). They’re 16-3-1 of their previous 20 video games. Beginning to peak and hit their stride on the proper time. Not a group you wish to play in a best-of-seven sequence proper now.
6. Minnesota Wild (LW: 9). Marc-Andre Fleury is off to a unbelievable begin right here. This might make them scary.
7. Toronto Maple Leafs (LW: 10). Simply have to hope that goaltending state of affairs is okay. That is a game-changer that could go either way.
[Related: Marner, Gaudreau, Crosby and the top scorers of 2022 so far]
8. Calgary Flames (LW: 4). They’ve cooled off a bit bit over the previous two weeks, however that defensive play, that goaltending, and that high line ought to nonetheless make them a fierce playoff opponent.
9. Pittsburgh Penguins (LW: 7). Jason Zucker‘s damage might be a fairly large deal given how a lot they’re hoping for him to spherical out their second line with Evgeni Malkin and new commerce deadline acquisition Rickard Rakell.
10. New York Rangers (LW: 8). That is Igor Shesterkin‘s most important droop of the season. This isn’t the precise time of the yr for that.
11. St. Louis Blues (LW: 14). They have already got six 20-goal scorers this season. Extremely deep offensive group.
12. Edmonton Oilers (LW: 16). Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are both over 100 points again (already) and the team itself looks dramatically better after the coaching change. Nonetheless some considerations on the again finish and in objective.
13. Dallas Stars (LW: 15). Jason Robertson is turning into a star (no pun meant) right here. A unbelievable participant that deserves extra consideration.
14. Washington Capitals (LW: 11). Vitek Vanecek‘s play has not been good since they didn’t handle goaltending on the commerce deadline. Not good.
15. Vegas Golden Knights (LW: 17). Simply when it seemed like their season was in all probability completed they received 5 in a row and 7 out of 9 video games. A wholesome Golden Knights group within the playoffs will likely be an issue.
16. Los Angeles Kings (LW: 13). Can’t say sufficient good issues concerning the acquisitions of Philip Danault and Viktor Arvidsson. Big pickups that actually remodeled this group within the brief time period.
17. Nashville Predators (LW: 15). They’ve by no means had a 40-goal scorer of their complete existence, they usually might need two (Filip Forsberg and Matt Duchene) this season.
[Related: Josi, Shesterkin and the top goalies and defensemen in the NHL this season]
18. New York Islanders (LW: 19). Don’t be shocked if they’re again within the playoffs subsequent season.
19. Winnipeg Jets (LW: 18). The factor to observe for right here is that if Kyle Connor can attain the 50-goal mark this season.
20. Columbus Blue Jackets (LW: 20). They really want a bounce again season from Elvis Merzlikins subsequent season.
21. Buffalo Sabres (LW: 23). Is Tage Thompson a late-bloomer or is he simply the man that will get probably the most ice time and scores all the targets on a nasty group? If it’s the former that will be a really optimistic growth for the Sabres.
22. Vancouver Canucks (LW: 21). It’s not going to lead to a playoff spot however they actually do look higher beneath Bruce Boudreau. That ought to get him a brand new contract extension.
[Related: Canucks turnaround should lead to Boudreau contract extension]
23. San Jose Sharks (LW: 22). They simply appeared destined to be caught in mediocrity for some time.
24. Montreal Canadiens (LW: 24). Cole Caufield would possibly nonetheless finish the season with 20 targets, which might be superb given the best way he began.
25. Ottawa Senators (LW: 30). Their leap has extra to do with what all people else has achieved currently.
26. Detroit Pink Wings (LW: 26). Such a promising begin to the season adopted by such a disappointing end. Nonetheless some nice items in place.
27. New Jersey Devils (LW: 27). Goaltending ought to be on the high of their offseason to-do listing.
28. Anaheim Geese (LW: 25). Trevor Zegras shouldn’t should defend himself or battle for being proficient and expert.
29. Philadelphia Flyers (LW: 29). Nothing unsuitable with the best way they dealt with Keith Yandle‘s streak. It was time. He has had a great career, the streak is impressive, but it was time for it to end.
30. Chicago Blackhawks (LW: 28). Jonathan Toews deflecting a puck into his personal internet in extra time, towards the worst group within the league, on the night time they honored him for enjoying in 1,000 video games is an ideal end result for this season.
31. Seattle Kraken (LW: 31). Matt Duchene (possible 40-goal scorer) and Vladimir Tarasenko (59 factors in 61 video games) have been each out there to them within the growth draft. Whoops.
32. Arizona Coyotes (LW: 32). Clayton Keller has been the big positive for this team this season, and then his season ended in a brutal way. That stinks.
Extra NHL Information
Canucks turnaround should lead to deserved Boudreau extension NHL Rink Wrap: More Ovechkin history; Draisaitl reaches 50 and 100 Panthers first NHL team to clinch playoff spot, plus a Claude Giroux review
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Adam Gretz is a author for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or observe him on Twitter @AGretz.
NHL Power Rankings: Bruins, Wild peaking at right time initially appeared on NBCSports.com
