For the first time in a while, the TWC NHL Power Rankings have a new number one team. Add in some newcomers into the top 10, a week where finally all 32 NHL teams were in action, and some teams on the wrong end of the spectrum, Week 14 of the TWC NHL Power Rankings is one you cannot miss.
TWC Power Rankings explained
If you’re new to our power rankings, this is how it all works.
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.
We got some excellent feedback over the course of last season from our readers as to how we could improve this model moving forward. We have slightly altered the weightings of the statistical categories, but also added a large recency component to make sure that each week the teams that are riding hot streaks are more appropriately demonstrated in the rankings.
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.
Have any suggestions for the TWC Power Rankings for next season? Leave us a comment and let us know. Without further ado, this week’s power rankings are below!
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Week 14 NHL Power Rankings
| Rank | Change | Team | Team Name | Last Week | Record | TWCScore |
| 1 | +1 |  | Florida Panthers | 3-0-0 | 26-7-5 | 791.2 |
| 2 | -1 |  | Carolina Hurricanes | 1-1-0 | 25-8-2 | 785.6 |
| 3 | – |  | Toronto Maple Leafs | 2-1-0 | 24-9-3 | 773.5 |
| 4 | – |  | Colorado Avalanche | 3-0-1 | 24-8-3 | 772.4 |
| 5 | – |  | Tampa Bay Lightning | 3-0-0 | 26-9-5 | 772 |
| 6 | +6 |  | Boston Bruins | 4-0-0 | 22-11-2 | 745 |
| 7 | -1 |  | Pittsburgh Penguins | 2-1-0 | 22-10-5 | 740.7 |
| 8 | +2 |  | Minnesota Wild | 1-0-0 | 22-10-2 | 727.5 |
| 9 | -1 |  | New York Rangers | 2-1-0 | 25-10-4 | 720.5 |
| 10 | -3 |  | Washington Capitals | 1-2-0 | 21-9-9 | 718.9 |
| 11 | – |  | Nashville Predators | 1-1-1 | 24-12-3 | 714.5 |
| 12 | -3 |  | Calgary Flames | 0-1-0 | 17-11-6 | 714.2 |
| 13 | +3 |  | Los Angeles Kings | 3-0-0 | 20-13-5 | 706.2 |
| 14 | -1 |  | St Louis Blues | 1-1-0 | 22-11-5 | 702.9 |
| 15 | -1 |  | Vegas Golden Knights | 0-0-1 | 23-14-2 | 700.4 |
| 16 | +2 |  | Winnipeg Jets | 1-0-0 | 17-12-5 | 684.8 |
| 17 | -2 |  | Dallas Stars | 1-2-0 | 18-15-2 | 675.7 |
| 18 | +2 |  | San Jose Sharks | 1-1-1 | 20-17-2 | 670 |
| 19 | – |  | Edmonton Oilers | 0-1-0 | 18-15-2 | 663.3 |
| 20 | -3 |  | Anaheim Ducks | 0-3-0 | 19-15-7 | 659.6 |
| 21 | – |  | Vancouver Canucks | 1-3-0 | 17-18-3 | 633.2 |
| 22 | – |  | New Jersey Devils | 0-1-0 | 14-18-5 | 632.9 |
| 23 | +1 |  | New York Islanders | 1-1-0 | 11-13-6 | 611 |
| 24 | +1 |  | Detroit Red Wings | 1-1-1 | 17-17-5 | 609 |
| 25 | -2 |  | Columbus Blue Jackets | 1-2-0 | 17-18-1 | 607.9 |
| 26 | +1 |  | Chicago Blackhawks | 3-0-0 | 15-18-5 | 607 |
| 27 | -1 |  | Philadelphia Flyers | 0-2-0 | 13-17-7 | 581.4 |
| 28 | – |  | Seattle Kraken | 0-4-0 | 10-23-4 | 553.6 |
| 29 | +1 |  | Ottawa Senators | 2-0-0 | 11-18-2 | 552.9 |
| 30 | -1 |  | Buffalo Sabres | 1-2-0 | 11-20-6 | 542.4 |
| 31 | – |  | Montreal Canadiens | 0-1-1 | 7-24-5 | 499.2 |
| 32 | – |  | Arizona Coyotes | 1-1-1 | 8-24-4 | 488.7 |
Well well well, how the turn tables. After a few weeks of being the number two or three team in our rankings, the Florida Panthers have finally climbed the mountain and claimed the number one position in the league over the Carolina Hurricanes.
What is even more fascinating is the discourse we have seen between Panthers and Hurricanes fans over the last few weeks between their position jostling, and this is bound to continue the conversation. The Panthers had a very slim edge in their TWCScore this past week, and it primarily was a result of their underlying numbers. See how the two teams compare here:
| Team | P% | CF% | xGF% | SCF% | HDCF% | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLA | .750% (1st) | 55.2% (2nd) | 55.4% (2nd) | 55.4% (3rd) | 53.0% (9th) | 91.1% (13th) |
| CAR | .743% (2nd) | 55.3% (1st) | 53.8% (5th) | 54.1% (5th) | 52.9% (10th) | 91.8% (3rd) |
The battle is close, but the Panthers have the edge in P%, xGF%, SCF%, and HDCF%. Even when the Canes have the edge (CF%, and SV%), the edge is by a tenth of a percentage point which causes them to be almost nothing in our model.
The Panthers have won four straight games—all in quite decisive fashion—and are tied for the NHL lead in point and wins. Will they ever lose again? Maybe, but the Panthers are absolutely legit this season. The Hurricanes on the otherhand weren’t able to hold on to the top spot, after going 1–1–0, but this absolutely isn’t the last we have heard of them.
The rest of the top five teams remained the same. The Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, and Tampa Bay Lightning went a combined 8–1–1 last week, but it wasn’t enough to knock the top two teams off their podium, though they aren’t far behind.
The real story of the week was the Boston Bruins. Now in the middle of a five-game winning streak, the Bruins have moved in to seventh in CF%, third in xGF% & HDCF%, sixth in SCF%, and 11th in SV%. The team that started off the season on the rocks has finally turned on the jets and separated themselves in the Eastern Conference. Now sitting in the second wild card position, the Bruins are seven points up on the Red Wings with four games in hand. Excluding a significant change, the Eastern Conference more or less looks to be set in terms of playoff teams.
Moving down the list, we have the Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, and Washington Capitals rounding out the top 10.
Speaking of the Capitals, they were the biggest losers this past week along with the Calgary Flames and Anaheim Ducks. A combined 1–6–0 record will do that to you.
Other notables from last week’s rankings:
- The Los Angeles Kings are on a four-game winning streak, and 7–3–0 in their last ten. They moved up three spots in our rankings and now sit second in the Pacific Division.
- The bottom 12 teams were in action last week, but didn’t fare all too well. The Philadelphia Flyers went 0–2–0, the Seattle Kraken went 0–4–0, and the aforementioned Ducks went 0–3–0. Not the best time at the bottom.
- Special shoutout to the Ottawa Senators who overcame a COVID break and took out both Alberta teams in shocking fashion.
Past Power Rankings
Check here for how teams have done over past weeks and stay tuned for upcoming power rankings.
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