TWC Power Rankings: Week 25

Welcome to Week 25 of the TWC Power Rankings! Here at TWC, we use a statistical model to effectively rank teams on a week to week basis. The model takes into effect winning percentages, CF%, SCF%, HDCF% as well as SV%. Each statistical category is weighed and scored differently, giving each team a unique TWC Score that determines their ranking after each week. The formula puts the highest emphasis on winning percentages over other statistics. All numbers are taken in all situations, to incorporate special teams into the fray. Don’t like where your team is ranked? Unfortunately, they will have to turn it around on the ice, as we take zero personal opinions into effect.

Rank	Change	Team		Last Week	Record	TWCScore
1	–		Tampa Bay Lightning	1-1-0	59-15-4	875.9
2	–		Calgary Flames	2-2-0	49-23-7	815.2
3	+1		Toronto Maple Leafs	1-1-1	45-26-7	794.7
4	-1		Boston Bruins	1-3-0	47-23-9	793.8
5	+2		San Jose Sharks	1-3-0	44-26-9	783.3
6	+2		Pittsburgh Penguins	2-1-0	43-25-11	781.2
7	+2		New York Islanders	2-1-0	46-26-7	779.5
8	-2		Carolina Hurricanes	1-3-0	43-29-7	777.3
9	+1		St Louis Blues	2-1-0	42-28-8	771.6
10	-5		Vegas Golden Knights	0-3-1	42-30-7	771.6
11	+2		Washington Capitals	3-0-0	47-24-8	768.9
12	+3		Columbus Blue Jackets	4-0-0	45-30-4	765.0
13	-1		Montreal Canadiens	2-1-0	42-29-8	758.6
14	–		Nashville Predators	2-1-0	44-29-6	758.0
15	+2		Dallas Stars	3-0-1	41-31-7	744.8
16	-5		Winnipeg Jets	0-3-0	45-29-4	739.6
17	+1		Colorado Avalanche	2-0-0	36-29-13	733.1
18	-2		Minnesota Wild	1-2-0	36-34-9	725.5
19	+2		Arizona Coyotes	2-0-1	38-33-8	709.8
20	-1		Philadelphia Flyers	1-2-0	37-34-8	707.0
21	-1		Florida Panthers	2-2-0	35-32-12	699.9
22	–		Edmonton Oilers	1-1-1	34-35-9	682.6
23	–		Chicago Blackhawks	1-1-1	34-33-11	672.6
24	+1		Vancouver Canucks	2-1-0	34-35-10	671.9
25	+1		New York Rangers	2-2-0	31-34-13	662.5
26	-2		Buffalo Sabres	0-4-1	31-38-10	656.3
27	–		New Jersey Devils	1-1-1	29-40-10	651.5
28	+2		Detroit Red Wings	4-0-0	31-38-10	649.5
29	-1		Anaheim Ducks	2-1-0	33-37-10	646.2
30	-1		Los Angeles Kings	2-1-1	29-40-9	640.6
31	–		Ottawa Senators	2-1-0	28-44-6	619.2

Power Ranking Notables

All of a sudden, after 24 weeks of hockey, we are entering the final week of the regular season. Playoff seeding has yet to be finalized, but the playoff picture is starting to clear. The Tampa Bay Lightning received their President’s trophy last week. The Calgary Flames clinched the Western Conference and Pacific Division last night. The other two divisions are still up in the air, as are the final few wild card positions. It’s looking like the final week will bring tons of drama; as if there was any doubt.

What is interesting to note that of the current teams in our top 16, the Montreal Canadiens are the only ones not in a playoff position at the moment. Out of the final wild card spot by a single point at the moment, the Canadiens have extremely strong underlying numbers. They sit 5th in CF%, 9th in SCF%, 13th in HDCF%, and 11th in SV%. They need to finish strong, but based on their numbers they have the potential. It’s unfortunate that they must overcome some other strong teams in order to make it into the playoffs.

The opposite can be said for the Colorado Avalanche, who sit in the playoffs but outside of our list. They only sit in the top half of the league in two categories measured in our rankings: SCF% and SV%. They sit 13th and 12th respectively, but are getting some firepower back with Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen returning from injury. They haven’t clinched yet, but have a great shot.

Biggest Gainer and Loser

Gainer: Columbus Blue Jackets (+3)

Did we count them out too soon? On the heels of a five game winning streak, the Blue Jackets have now jumped into the first wild card position in the Eastern Conference. Things are clicking at the right time for Columbus, and all of a sudden they look like a handful for their first round opponent.

Loser: Winnipeg Jets & Vegas Golden Knights (-5)

Yikes, not the best stretch for two teams that have already clinched a playoff spot. The Jets have lost three consecutive games, while the Knights suffered their first five game losing streak in franchise history. Winnipeg looks to be in a bit of a lull, while Vegas would love to have Marc-Andre Fleury back sooner rather than later. Their drop in our rankings doesn’t have much of an effect on their playoff status, but it does show that both teams are limping into April.

What are your thoughts? Are you surprised where your team landed this week? Let us know at @wincolumnblog.

Related:

TWC Power Rankings:

Week 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21| 22 | 23 | 24 |

All data courtesy of Natural Stat Trick.